Here's what's going on here on the farm.  But, first...

"A travel advisory is asking Canadians to "familiarize yourself on how to respond to an active shooter situation" when visiting the United States, in light of the mass shooting trend looming over the country.

The Government of Canada’s travel information page reminds travellers to be cautious and take security precautions when visiting down south, while pointing in particular to the common nature of gun violence in America.

“The rate of firearm possession in the United States is high,” notes the official travel advisory, last updated on May 19, 2023.

“Incidents of mass shootings occur, resulting most often in casualties. Although tourists are rarely involved, there is a risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Each clock was completely disassembled and all parts were cleaned ultrasonically.

The end result was four clocks restored to working.  I have several waiting for this winter.

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The drought continues and it seems a number of trees died over the winter.  We have gone into July like temperatures already and most of the grass is suffering also.

 

We are trying to keep up with watering, but there is no practical way to water the entire acreage.  At the very least we are watering the baby trees daily.

The nice neighbor farmer's heifers are drinking a lot of water in this heat and otherwise doing fine.

Now for a quiz.  With all the pasture available why are the cows always bunched up in the daytime?  Answer below.

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I've taken on another project that is testing the limits of my nearly 73-year-old body.  The tailpipe on our trusty 2006 Dodge pickup fell off. 

 

It was clear that the muffler was also shot.  While we were in town I checked with the Dodge dealer and they wanted $800. for just the parts.  Likely a couple of hundred more for labor.  So, I decided to tackle the job myself.

Needless to say, it was a bit more problematic than expected.  Especially crawling under the pickup numerous times and chiseling the old rusted muffler off.

The hardest part is getting up off the cement floor.  Fifteen years ago when I was a man it wasn't a problem.  I restored six Model T's and don't remember being this sore. And at the "mere sum" of $459. I have a replacement exhaust system on the way.

If my body holds out it will have been worth the expense to do it myself.

Finally, the answer to why the cows stay bunched up, even in the heat of the day...

FLIES!  For some reason they think trying to get to the middle of the pack will chase off the flies.  It doesn't work.

Has it actually been four months since the last post?  It has.

As America continues to run off the rails with a partisan Supreme Court and out of control Congress, Covid style isolation has become the norm.  A resulting combination of depression and frustration has set in and "what's the use" has taken over. Even still, life here on the farm goes on.  

Other things are going on, so more later.  For now it's one day at a time.

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