April 20, 2008

Git along little doggy

Today it was time to move the little calf up with the rest.
It was also time to give the cows new balage. Even though the grass is coming on strong, they need to have lots to eat. Three of them will calf in July. They follow Gary on the tractor as he brings the bale in.
Once unwrapped and untied, the bale is ready to go inside its feeder. Meanwhile the cows have been eating it the whole time!
This is how a cow says "Thank you" to Gary!
Hank loves the cows.
He likes cow pies too. Mmmmm. Yeah, we think that's digusting too. :)
Down off the hill, away from the cows, Liddy runs around with Annie's kids.
The kids are playful and it's hard to get them to stay still for a picture.
But Murphy is always ready for the camera.

Posted by roosterh at 5:32 PM | Comments (0)

April 10, 2008

Signs of Spring

The turkeys can go where ever they want. This can be a good and a bad thing :) I love how they come running when I call. But when Gary works on his truck, he could probably do without the extra help.
You will have to click this picture to get the whole effect. Everyone came out to help Gary change his oil. Another downside of letting turkeys free range this time of year is that it is also breeding season. When I was taking these pictures, I heard a wild tom on the hill behind us. It wasn't too long until one of my hens answered his call and made the trip up the hill herself. I saw her tom, and he was large and very handsome, but afraid of me. He ran and I led the hen back down the hill. I might have to rethink this free range thing.
Some flowers have started to bloom which I hope will attract the bees away from the grain. They still swarm our grains every afternoon, hungry things. These crocus should stick around until we get some really warm days, or until my birds discover them.
These snowdrops, or Galanthus, are in my rock garden, hopefully protected from most curious beaks around here.

Posted by roosterh at 7:24 PM | Comments (2)

January 27, 2008

Lotsa Bull

We watched a Built Ford Tough Series PBR event today in Albany. I took over 200 pictures, most of them bad (note to self: save up for that telephoto lens).
I will post more once I have gone through the pix.

Posted by roosterh at 6:12 AM | Comments (1)

August 29, 2007

Progress on the house

Gary is making progress on staining the house ((shudder)).

Posted by roosterh at 9:22 AM | Comments (0)

August 19, 2007

Quiet Sunday

After yesterday's big adventures it was good to have a quiet day at home. It iwas cool and fall-like today although the sun warmed things up a bit.

The calf spent the day outside and we moved the pigs outside for good.



They look pretty happy! The temp is supposed to go to the mid-40s tonight so we filled their house with hay.



The other pigs are in their own pasture.



If the little pigs keep eating like this they will be as big as the others in no time!



We also worked on the garden fence. The chickens have been getting in and eating tomatoes as soon as they get ripe - not good! We've hardly been getting any. The corn is almost ready. Would you say Gary is outstanding in his field?

Posted by roosterh at 8:59 PM | Comments (2)

August 18, 2007

Gary wins at bull riding

Gary entered the mechanical bull riding contest at Groton Old Home Days this year. There was a good crowd and 11 entries.
For some reason the person operating the bull had a tough time. Gary's first ride stopped at 30 seconds. Just stopped. Gary was left just sitting on a non-moving bull.
They started the ride again and Gary was well on his way to a long ride.
When the bull stopped again. Dead in the water. Gary had to sit and wait.

The operators finally figured out what was happening and Gary started up again. The person who stayed on the longest won - Gary won at 35 seconds! That's just counting his last ride. ;)

Posted by roosterh at 8:18 PM | Comments (0)

June 3, 2007

PBR at Vernon Downs

The PBR tour came to Vernon Downs Saturday and Sunday. We managed to get away for a day and meet Chris Shivers. In case you didn't know, Chris Shivers is the 2000 and 2003 PBR World Champion with over $3 million in prize money.
Although we sat in the front row, it was hard to take pictures through the fences. You should click on these and view the large version to really get a good view of the details. The bulls milled around and tested each other before the event.
Some riders watched as the bulls were sorted.
Chris Shivers stands with some very young riders and the Pledge of Allegiance is said.
Chris Shivers' first ride. He is still nursing a broken leg from early this year.
I can't remember this rider's name. I do know he is initially from NY and lives in Arkansas, and won a championship in Illinois. He wore a turkey feather in his hat and when I met him later, I showed him a picture of Murphy. "Nice turkey, " he said, " Can we eat him?" :-/
One of the bull fighters.
There were a lot of kids there too and it was good to see so many of them really into it.
On the way home we passed a steak house with this huge hereford out front. Gary had to get a picture. It's "Joel's Front Yard Steakhouse" so let us know if you have ever been there and how it is!

Posted by roosterh at 12:00 PM | Comments (0)

May 12, 2007

Camping Out

It was one of those days in early May when the daytime temps were oh so hot. Night time - not so hot. I think we got a frost that night. So we pitched our tent, made a fire ...
Ate hot dogs and beans ...
Admired the sunset and went to bed .

Posted by roosterh at 6:19 AM | Comments (0)

April 22, 2007

PBR comes to Binghamton

The Enterprise Tour of the Professional Bull Riders came to Binghamton this weekend. Unfortunately no pictures were allowed to be taken inside the arena. The show itself was great but the venue seemed very unorganized. Most disturbing was the lack of an emergency medical crew. When the first rider got hurt, it took several long minutes for anyone to show up. The Fire Department is just across the street but it seems as if they should have been on site at the start of the event. Luckily it was not a terrible injury.

One of the announcers of the event was Rob Smets. Rob Smets knows about injuries. Until last year he was the ultimate bull fighter - one of the guys who stays in the ring for every ride to ensure the rider can escape to safety after he gets off the bull. In his career, Rob Smets broke his neck 3 times. Now he is an announcer.



Gary asked him to sign his hat. He also got autographs from other riders at the event. Now he will need to get a new hat :)

Posted by roosterh at 2:26 PM | Comments (0)

April 3, 2007

Dry Spell

I am talking about the blog, not the weather! Although the blog has not been busy, Gary and I have!

First off, the website, the blog, the whole kit and kaboodle has been moved to a new server. I have implemented a new photo gallery system so you should be able to click on pictures to see more.

Hank went to the vet. He only peed in the exam room once and tried to bite 2 people, but it went well. *sigh

Turkeys strutted. And strutted.

We went snowshoeing. There was a lot of snow.

We sold the goats.

Gary rode the mechanical bull at the Ithaca Chili Fest. And won. Again! second year in a row.

Posted by roosterh at 1:32 PM | Comments (0)

October 14, 2006

A Day Spent at the Auction

We meant to go there just to sell some goats. We ended up coming home with more than we brought.

Gary bought some cows, a bull calf and a red hereford heifer.



I ended up buying some chickens.

And more chickens.
And more chickens.
And more chickens.
And more chickens (not pictured, her tiny babies).

Posted by roosterh at 9:36 PM | Comments (0)

August 13, 2006

Who you calling jerky?

Gary used his smoker to make jerky this week. Usually this is a dead of winter project, and he uses the oven, and the smell of smoked meat permeates the house. The smoker is a great alternative!

The first step is to marinate thin strips of meat. This is venison. This time, Gary used a dry rub his dad brought back from one of their many hunting trips to Canada. But he has also used a combination of commercial jerky seasonings, liquid smoke and seasoned salt in past batches. The meat has to sit for at least a day after it is covered in the seasoning.

Each strip is laid over a rack of the grill. Helper is optional.
Then he leaves them in the grill for a long time. At the bottom of the smoker are some apple chips for premium smoky flavor.
By the end of the day, Gary has a nice supply of jerky. He also smoked a couple of ducks we had in the freezer this week. He brined them for a day or so in salt water first, then sat them in the smoker all day. I didn't have any but I am told it was dee-lish.

Posted by roosterh at 3:36 PM | Comments (0)

May 7, 2006

Seeing PBR Live

Every weekend Gary looks forward to watching PBR on OLN. The bullriding season starts in January and ends in December, but they take time off between May and June.

You might remember Gary's own foray into bullriding last February.

We ordered our tickets early. I had to call the ticket office 2 more times to ensure we had seats right by the chute (where the riders and bulls come out). Then I had to call the office to ensure we had tickets since we received no confirmation, and while I was at it, could I ask again if our seats were by the chute?
Needless to say, Gary was excited about going!

We arrived at the event at Turning Stone Casino early. We thought we would have plenty to keep us busy there. Turns out, neither of us like gambling or playing the video games that pass as gambling these days. We don't like shopping for jewelry or Native America art either. So by the time the arena opened for the event, we were more than ready.

First off were Guilherme Marchi and Paulo Crimber, signing autographs.



Our seats were indeed right by the chute and right by all the riders getting ready. Here they are putting some safety gear on. Not a lot when you consider what they are about to do!



Here's Corey Navarre and, uh, other guy, getting their bullropes ready.



Boots.



Spurs.

Our seats were right by the chute, or where the riders get into a stall to get on the bull. Not too much room there. Guess you don't need too much, of you think about it.
The bulls are in a pen behind the chutes.
Cory Navarre leaves the ring. He just got bucked off, but there he is, 3 feet away. I learned that the riders are smaller in person than on tv.
Like the guy in the brown here. He is Brazilian Claudenir Souza and also particiaptes in ultimate fighting, kind of like boxing but about anything goes. He's solid, he's big, but in person he is about 5'3". The guy in the blue is Allan Moreas, one of the 3 or 4 brothers who all ride in PBR. Adriano is the most famous.
By the end of the night we decided we had a great time and were ready for more! The Built Ford Tough tour of the PBR where the best riders of the world compete will be coming to Reading, PA, in September. It's the closest PBR comes to this area. I think we'll be there!

Posted by roosterh at 11:12 PM | Comments (0)

March 27, 2006

Pink Hats Rock!

Spring is almost here. Almost. It's enough that Hank can find the many gloves and rags that he has stolen from Gary over the past couple months, and recover them from whereever they have been hidden.
It's been a constant fight between Gary and Hank, and Gary's many gloves, boots and rags. Surely, Hank must think, Gary has plenty to go around.

Last weekend I decided I needed something. A pink spring hat. Yup I admit - it's fugly. I would not appear in public in this hat (although one could argue that this picture on this website qualifies as appearing in public). But it is pink and springlike unlike my brown winter hat and my navy hat. I put this hat on and I feel better - it's pink! even though the animals look at me funny and the turkeys and goats want to eat it.
And Gary? He hates this hat.
He hates this hat so much that he wished today Hank would find it and stash it with the many things he has tucked away over the winter months. But even Hank leaves this hat alone.

He should leave this hat alone - it's pink! and it's spring and I can be fugly if I want to!

So Gary left us alone and changed the oil on his truck. He has to use a ladder because his truck is so big. And his hat is brown.

Posted by roosterh at 9:10 PM | Comments (4)

March 3, 2006

In Like a Bull...

As I described a few entries ago, Gary won an overnight stay at a local inn, La Tourelle by riding a mechanical bull. The overnight stay included an which could be a trip on snow shoes, corss coutnry skiis or mountain bikes. Figuring we pretty much live in the same area as La Tourelle and have our own shoes, skiis and bikes, a room with a jacuzzi would be more of an adventure for us. So they allowed us to forgo the adventure and get a tub. Since I have been working very hard at the day job, and Gary's work is about to get very hectic we decided to take off Thursday night and stay over til Friday.

As it turned out, March came in like a lion for sure. Driving there alone was an adventure. Thursday afternoon a nor'easter struck but we were determined.
And as it turned out, their definition of jacuzzi varies greatly from ours so the trip really wasn't that exciting. We got back home around 8am and got to work on chores.

Posted by roosterh at 10:10 AM | Comments (0)

February 26, 2006

Cowboy Up

Following Gary's foray into bull riding, we ordered tickets for a bull riding event in May at Turning Stone casino today. Yee haw!

Posted by roosterh at 5:54 PM | Comments (2)

February 18, 2006

Bull or No Bull

It was way too cold to work outside today, so Gary suggested we go to downtown Ithaca and see what the Chili Fest was all about. For one thing, it was all outside and it was still cold! When Gary refused to buy any tasting tickets, I started wondering why we came. Did I mention it was cold?
But then we saw it. Gary was entranced. Enthralled. Drawn to it.

The mechanical bull.

We watch bull riding every weekend. Gary knows every rider, every bull, every standing.

He had to ride that bull.

I couldn't believe I had to talk him into it, but he finally plunked down the $5 fee and stepped up to ride. Cowboy up!
His first ride came up 5 seconds short of the record. No problem. This bull proved to be not rank enough for Gary - his next ride he went 5 seconds greater than the record, staying on for 1:06:27.

Not only did he get a bull riding trophy, but he also won an overnight stay at a local hotel. I am hoping they have rooms with jacuzzis!

Posted by roosterh at 10:43 PM | Comments (1)

November 22, 2004

Gary gets a 9 point

Gary went out in the afternoon in back of the house. He had to wait a long time while the buck played peekaboo with a tree, but right at dark he had the chance to get him and dropped him with one shot. The buck, an older fella, had been in rut for a while so there was not much fat on him for me to keep. The little there was went to the chickens -- they love it.

Posted by roosterh at 6:47 PM | Comments (2)