After dragging myself and my suitcase across America and back again I was more than happy to put on my work clothes and get stuck in to farming again.
After being away a few days in the tidy suburbs It strikes me is what a lot of junk we have accumulated over the last few years or am I still clearing out junk that accumulated over the years before my arrival here eleven or so years ago. 
Anyway, even though we are in the shortest days the chickens are still laying quite well, the ducks still give around a dozen a day, I think runaway Molly is pregnant though she made a real mess of the old gate she broke through – that needs replacing. Both sets of cows are up on the concrete waiting for the fields to dry up a bit.
Poppy and Sheila are all good in the rat house ( called the rat house because when I first arrived it housed whole families of enormous rats – then I sold the grain bin and got cats and housed the chooks in the rat house and they soon sorted that out). No rats now.
Jude the little rescue pig is fat and happy – yesterday I sorted his house and bed back out and set him free again. He loves to run all over the yard. In fact he seems quieter and less manic after a week without me.
Tima and Tane are well, Wai is vigorous though his skin is so thin. Tane the crippled boar is so grateful for this incredibly warm winter so far.
Who else? Cats, dogs – all good. Mr Flowers and Pania present and accounted for.
On our way back from the railway station the night before last we saw four coyotes – big healthy animals – caught by the drift of our headlights in a field a mile from here. They watched us pass with interest. There have been wolves and cougars sighted around these parts but I have never seen one. We have no large stands of trees for them to hide in. I am saving for one of those motion activated field cameras to put down by the creek. Anyone have any recommendations for a reasonably priced one? The long grass and young trees down the back houses many pheasants and wild birds – my ‘no shooting’ signs (as well as my attack dogs and waving arms) have taught strangers to keep out for a few years now. With a little protection and the trees, the birds are flourishing. It stands to reason that other species might be there too.
Anyway- today I hope to get my teaching assignment finished in the nick of time – you were right I had NO TIME to write in California. Sorry about that.
I still have all your questions listed though and will answer them as we meander into the new year.
Take care. I will do the chores then come back in to chat!
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
55 responses to “HOME, AND IT IS STILL WET”
Teaching assignment? I think I missed something…wait…you’re teaching English, yes? How exciting. Another new adventure. Can’t wait to hear about that. Funny how the mud puddles stayed on to welcome you back. (I do hate mud. Which is why I LOVE rubber boots.) Take care.
Yes. Finally it is filed – not perfect but their template is driving me NUTS. Hopefully she grades me on content and not tech savvieness!
I’m so glad you found everything to be good & fine (except that gate) & are suited back up & ready to welcome the New Year with plans, ideas & familiar routines. Those gorgeous California lemons will certainly brighten the darkest winter days. Happy New Year to all at the Farmy & in the Fellowship.
I love these lemons – they have thin fragrant skin and lots of juice!
Might be Meyer Lemons. I have a dwarf tree of them and they are thin skinned and a bit less tart than other lemons
Glad you had a good enough time that there was no time to write 🙂 but happy to have you back as well.. welcome to the new year!
It is coming straight down the pike!
Glad you had a good visit with family. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Merry Christmas for you also
Good to be back on the farm with you again. Judes legs look like they grew six inches while you were away. So pleased you took time off to enjoy the family. Laura
Jude is huge! But still let’s me pick him up. Soon he will be too heavy!
Welcome home Celi!!! Thanks for the update on the farmy animals! Seems like all is well and animals and humans are ready to welcome in the New Year!!! xoxoxo
It is still so warm and wet. Chilly nights but the new year will rain itself in by the look of it!
We watch for good sales on game cameras. We have several different brands, though I can’t say any of them are outstanding. We’ve had the best luck with Browning cameras – decent still photos and video. And we use lithium batteries – they last amazingly long and endure the heat and the cold well.
Thankfully, I do not think wolves have ventured this far south, though we do have mountain lions. Smaller species of cats exist too. And the coyote population is completely overrun here. We see them venture into town now and then… I no longer write on my blog about taking out coyotes, due to horrible comments about being “killers”. Many people do not understand the threat and disease of overpopulation of any species. We’ve seen mange in the coyote population for a couple of years now. Quite sad to see, especially in the winter months. And because of the competition for food, we rarely see small mammals like skunk, opossum, rabbit, and armadillo anymore. Even the foul that visit the slough and old river channel are prey to the coyote. It is no wonder the deer have fled the area. A single coyote is not a threat but when they run in packs they are certainly killers.
We are lucky then – as this is the first time I ever saw four together. I look forward to a camera – it might be fun for the blog to see what is out at night.
I agree with your comment on the Brownings. I have many brands of trail cams and always get the best pix and video with the Brownings. I live in upstate NY and always use the lithium batteries. I have twenty plus cams out year round and those lithium batteries last like crazy! Well worth the extra cost.
TWENTY!!! Wow you must have lots to see out there.
Yeah, it’s an addiction! I just love watching the wildlife. I get some unique pictures every once in a blue moon. Looking forward to seeing what you get on yours….:)
Welcome home! I think coyotes must be amazingly versatile. You see them there, which seems normal to me, but then we get reports of them resident in a massive park in downtown Toronto, which doesn’t seem normal. Very mild here yesterday (11c./mid-50’sF) but won’t get above freezing today, so I guess time to hunker down now for a long winter’s snooze. Would be nice, though, if the milder weather held on. Have a great day ~ Mame🙃
I think the milder weather is going to be around for at least 10 more days. As far ahead as my weather looks anyway
Welcome back. I’m glad the visit reinvigorated you.
I was a bit surprised at how the last keg wore be out. I am used to feeling billet proof when I travel
Glad your are back. Missed you!!
Good to be back at my own desk
😊
welcome back )
Welcome home. Isn’t it wonderful we only have 2 more months until spring? We can do this!!
Brilliant! Thank you for that. 😜
Two more months – where are you? It would be so nice to have a warm March!
Welcome back! Didn’t that go fast! One minute looking forward to Christmas and whoosh it’s gone.
Exactly!!
Glad you’re home safe and sound. Those lemons look spectacular.
I’ve said it before but I just can’t help wishing little Jude would stay little. He’s so cute the way he is.
I feel sorry for coyotes and think they should be humanely culled. Same with deer. There are too many and often starving. You never see tubby ones!
These four looked a good size but I would say there is not much for them to eat around here at this time of year – rabbits I suppose
Welcome home. I’m sure you were missed by one and all especially Jude. Are those duck eggs (3rd pic down from the top with Jude and the chicken in it)? Or balls/toys? Or veggies? I can’t tell. 🙂
Oh I will go back and look – I can’t remember what was in that shot. It might be veggies? Maybe a rejected onion. Those pigs have a habit of batting rejected food back under the gate.
Someone commented that they might be ‘lemons’?