Spikey ice cubes!

Our icemaker was leaking so we turned it off and have been using plastic trays to make ice cubes. Recently we had some interesting ice cubes form, with spikes growing out of the top of the cube. How did this happen? Google to the rescue:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/aprilholladay/2005-10-24-ice-spikes_x.htm

Tyson goes home

This morning I called a neighbor to find out if he or someone he knew might be missing a dog. He called a relative and sure enough they lost their dog on Saturday. The dog is named Tyson, he is a six month old bull dog, although I thought he was a pit bull. The neighbor said this was the first time Tyson had ever gone missing. He weighs 100 lbs already. Tyson is a very friendly big clumsy puppy that just wants to play.

Tyson was intrigued with the horses and wanted to play with them. Morgan was not interested but naturally Spirit, who is a playful youngster himself, was ready to play.

My neighbor Mr. Grayson drove up in his 4wd truck and picked up Tyson. I gave Mr. Grayson a couple dozen fresh eggs, we have too many, so whenever someone comes up to our place I give them some eggs.

I'm very happy with the way this turned out, I thought I would have to take the dog to the animal shelter and I was not looking forward to that.

Driveway, road condition

More pics

Snow tracks

I tried to go to work this afternoon. On the way down the driveway I stopped and looked at some deer and rabbit tracks. I parked the car and walked down to see what Clifty Creek road was like. The road was covered in ice. Nope, not going anywhere today. I saw a set of deer tracks that crossed the road at the bottom of our driveway, the deer apparently hit the ice and skidded. I tried to drive my car back up the driveway to the barn, however I could not make it all the way up. I tried to go up in reverse but that did not work either. I parked the car on the side of the driveway about half way up and hiked back to the house.

Snow III

A few more pictures.

Stray dog

Yesterday I was out hiking in the snow with Pup-pup. At the stream near the camping field in the woods we came up on this guy. He was hard to see because he is mostly white. It looks like someone perhaps shot him with a paint ball gun, he has a couple of purple splotches on him. I noticed some blood in the snow, he was bleeding from at least one paw. I could not get rid of the dog, he followed Puppy and me back to the house. He's very friendly and acts like he owns the place. I think perhaps someone dropped the dog off nearby.

Snow II

photo 749: snow in back field
photo 750: in woods, below pond
photo 752: in woods, hemlocks
photo 755: small waterfall in woods
photo 756: creek in woods

Snow, pics

G. Collins came up and put out a couple of large round bales for the cows Thursday evening, forecast was for 6 - 12" of snow. It started snowing Friday afternoon, we had about 4 or 5" of snow by evening, then overnight it warmed and changed to a mix of sleet, freezing rain, and snow. Saturday afternoon it snowed hard again for a few hours, then clear sky and cold. Bright moon, especially with all the snow. Temp was down to 17 Sunday morning, roads are ice covered.

photo 736: well house
photo 737: field
photo 741: cows
photo 744 and 745: horses, perky, high stepping, Morgan sure is a handsome boy

Snow, getting home from work

It started snowing Friday afternoon, I just made it home from work in time
photo 730: clifty creek road
photo 731: road at bottom of driveway
photo 732: view of snow coming down at home

Water, water, everywhere

We recently had some heavy rain here, and the ground was already saturated. This was the most water I've seen yet here.
photo 703: water overflow from lower pond
photo 704: horse drinking area
photo 709: white water through forest from upper pond
photo 719: water flowing down road from old homesite
photo 721: water flowing through culvert under driveway
photo 723: so much water flowed into/through culvert that it backed up and came back out onto both sides of lower driveway
photo 724: bottom of driveway
photo 728: waterfall at bottom of driveway

Gotta love craigslist

I like craigslist. I have bought and sold things on craigslist. They have a farm and garden section which is usually appropriate for our interests.

This morning I checked the Knoxville farm and garden craigslist, there are always some interesting ads, and you can learn things as well.

For instance, today there is a post by an attorney who wants to trade legal work for angus cows and heifers. Or the post from a guy in West Knoxville whose cattle farm is surrounded by subdivisions and he needs a guard dog because of coyote problems. Or the real pretty beginner's horse for $600. ...

Warmth

A couple of nights ago we were outside doing horse chores, the temperature was 32 F, and ... it felt so warm! Knoxville remained below freezing for about 10 straight days, something that has not occurred since 1895.

Today is even warmer, it is supposed to go up to 48 degrees and is sunny.

Cozy chicks

The chickens are doing OK with the weather, still laying eggs. We put a heat lamp in their chicken house. Picture shows the glow of the heat lamp and some chickens ready for bed.

Snow and cold

It snowed a little again last night. Kids had a friend over for the weekend.

Snow tracks

Warming up

I split some wood, with help from Mary, and we had a nice fire going most of the weekend. Ahh, that feels good!