Looks like I jumped the gun on declaring no Bald Eagle sightings. This morning I went out to feed about 7:30 and while forking hay over to one of the rams and harem looked up and there was a Bald Eagle soaring only about 30 or 40 feet in the air. I'm pretty sure it was a female as it wasn't as big as some I see down towards the river but it wasn't a juvenile cause it's white head was unmistakable.
She glided down the full length of the hay field and pasture and landed in the top of a one of the sycamores that line the creek about 100 yards or so passed my North boundary line. She stayed there a long time, long enough I got tired of watching her and went back to work but by the time I had finished all the hay forking and feeding she was gone.
Definitely not big enough to be a danger to any of the sheep but I wouldn't want to be a cat caught out in the open with one on the prowl that's for sure.
In other news I got about a third of the wall hanging done today. I made my Mother help me and by the second sheet of paneling she mentioned that she understood why I tried to talk her out of all those wall outlets. The top of her little ceiling comes out at 6'10" so I have to cut a bit off the top of each sheet but of the entire 26 sheets I measured out as needing to cover the downstairs room only two will not require measuring out and cutting a wall outlet somewhere in the middle of. The outlets are also set for the OBS boards she originally told the electrician she was going to use so I have to pull the nails holding them onto the studs and move em back a quarter inch or so.
Needless to say it's slow going but having my Mother admit I was right about something was almost priceless :)
The routine is I measure and carry the paneling piece out while she holds the door and then helps me manipulate the flimsy stuff onto my outside work table I built. Much easier to slide the paneling around on than saw horses. I measure out the first cuts and clamp down my guide boards then it's her job to cover the cut line with painters tape and hold the end up even while I cut it. Then I measure out the outlet positions and cut the holes with my jig saw.
Of course by the end it's easy to see the cabin is not as completely square as they claim. Well that and I am not a professional so I imagine I get off a bit but so far by starting in the middle and working out it all comes together nicely by the edge and any little lines that are off square are nicely hidden.
My goal is to have the walls finished by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning at the latest at which point my job is finished for a few months and things can get back to normal in my routine a bit. Other than the added feeding chores morning and evening now I suppose. She is planning on moving in without the ceiling in place for now as she decides what/how she wants up there and the extra addition won't be started until Spring thaw at this point. She also has a team of friends lined up to help her move her stuff and isn't bringing anything heavy enough to need me there.
I guess if this whole arrangement doesn't work out for her, and really she doesn't have any other choice now anyway, The Small-Hold now has a guest house at the very least. Certainly that wasn't in any of my plans but what the hell eh? I bet the county assessor notices and raises our taxes next year though. I prolly should tell em next year soon however. One reason I don't want her moving in until after the first :)
At this point I am about 2 to 3 weeks behind schedule though. I have 26 yearlings to sort into slaughter, market and keep groups and I need to get the slaughter and market sheep out of here. They have fattened up considerably and as it stands right now are quickly reaching the red line point on returns from all the feed they are getting. I also wanted to have some fences fixed this month that I never got to get to and maybe won't be able to now until February or March if the weather breaks too cold and stays that way and I am haven't cut wood in three weeks either. I really need to get this thing done and get back to the business at hand.
Oh ya and I signed up for a sheep shearing class that starts in March so I got that coming up too.
The New Year is going to be busy.
Keep Prepping Everyone!!!
Hey PP, You are a good son nonetheless. Believe me when I say that, as I have a Mom to move as well. Let's hope she doesn't fuss as much though. Can't be a guarantee no matter what, since they have a mind all their own.
ReplyDeleteDFW - Well she is my mother and my brother certainly doesn't have the time to fool with her. He has a ball breaker Wife and one of those good paying jobs so it's my duty to take care of the parents more. That and the fact that my Mother has to be near her damned horses. I offered her a house we own in the city but she wouldn't hear of it. My guess is in another 5 to 10 years I will jst be wheeling her out on her little porch in a wheel chair and bringing her baby lambs to cuddle while wiping drool off her chin.
DeleteGood show, PP.
ReplyDeleteThankee Rob :)
DeleteThere are some eagles around here but so far I haven't heard of any problems. Red tail hawks have taken an interest to the chickens but a high fence and over hanging tree provide a good no-fly zone.
ReplyDeleteSf - I saw the eagle and at least three red tailed hawks this morning just driving the 2 miles into the little town near us. Red tails are everywhere out here and do get the neighbors chickens quite regularly. The guy down the road who raises hair sheep had four lambs eaten this Spring and Summer by eagles. We keep our lambs inside the barn until they are big enough to be above eagle gettin size, or so I hope :)
Deletedoesn't it make you feel so darn patriotic when you see one of those majestic birds? We would see them all the time in Florida. They along with the Osprey make their nest high up in the towers for power lines..
ReplyDeleteJuGM - They are pretty. My old job int he warehouse was right by the river and had a dump just over the hill so I used to sit out at lunch time and watch the baldies take out the seagulls. They are fun to watch that's for sure.
DeleteAre you aware eagles make great BBQ. Not to bad in a stew, too.
ReplyDeleteStephen - I hear they make a good pigeon pie substitute as well :)
DeletePP,
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous picture, love that bird!!! We have eagles up in the NE section of the state. One day, we will head up that way again and fish, check the area for eagles.
Your Mom really appreciates all you've done for her on this home. Do you think she would like and large open room without a ceiling? When you're done with your Mom....we have things down here that need to be made :P
Sandy - This time of year up on the Mississippi there are a few spots where you can see literally 100's of them hanging out in the frozen coves. Up near Hannibal especially.
DeleteI am not sure what kind of ceiling she is going to eventually get. I think she maybe running out of funds a bit too. Personally I would be happy looking at a tall ceiling with insulation on it but I am pretty utilitarian. ATM we are looking at some ceiling that will also double in for storage though. I know she is in a hurry to get out of the relationship she is in too so that is also a factor.
I will add you to the list :)
I think it stretches to about 2022 at this point :)
Well, it's good to know that the eagle has flown to your place. I wondered where the booger went once the snow started. Actually, I think they head on over to the river to avoid the heavy snowfall. We always keep an eye on them. We get a breeding pair that nest in one of the fields every year.
ReplyDeleteSounds like your mother's house is coming along quite nicely. With all the work you've been doing, it keeps you off the streets and out of mischief! :-)
hobo - Ya the rivers nearby are the places to go to really see em. I am generally about 15 miles or so from a river but there is a major tributary creek only about 2 miles away that they often fly up looking for fish.
DeleteI hope she likes it. Personally I think she is going to be a bt dismayed at the smallness but when she makes up her mind you cannot talk her out of it. I guess we will see but I am about 90% sure she is going to lose her big quilting machine in the end. I just don't see how she can fit it in there. I have been toying with a pully system into the rafters for her spinning wheels too.
well, that's an easy fix (re: quilting machine)..... make a quilting shed. And I do mean shed. It wouldn't be living space. It could even have windows but would still be a shed. Then keep all the hobby stuff in there. We have an old grainary that I'd like to fix up so I can put the spinning wheel, sewing machines, etc. in it plus girlie can put all her painting supplies in there, too. Just a thought... you're having so much fun working I don't want you to be unemployed. :-)
Deletehobo - I would gladly build her a quilting shed but she is going to pay for the lumber :)
DeleteAnd she better not pick the spot I want for the chicken coop this time...
With birds of prey, including eagles, the females are larger than the males.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the little house! Having just had to redo some odds and ends in our bathroom I can sympathize with the lack of square.....
Ruth - I guess that explains why they almost went extinct there for a while :)
DeleteSeriously though I remember reading that now that you mention it. It's called reverse something or other when the males are smaller and faster rather than larger as normal in most animals.
Ya that cabon has settled some I noticed about a 1/8th or so drop from back to front finishing up the side walls today.
A sheep shearing class. That sounds fun!
ReplyDelete