November 17, 2007 

hen I checked my fencelines the other day before I brought my horse home from summer pasture, I found 2 downed trees and thankfully, with the way the trees were laying, I could get under them and lift them back over the fence to where they came from. I had to shut a back gate and pull a bit of debris off here and there. All-in-all, with those 2 major windstorms that happened a few days ago, I was thinking it would be way worse of a mess out there.

Other than the usual chores and firewood hauling, it is normal winter stuff currently. I am getting my half pig today and stowing it in the freezer. Then I can determine how much room I will have for putting chickens and those Bronze turkeys in there with the hog. It has not snowed in a few days and the snow which came down the last time is shrinking in size. I can even see bare ground in places now.

I also liked walking in the snow checking fencelines. Sometimes you never see the animals which are out there, but the snow holds a record of their passing through. The lone deer who must have an "ouchie" back right leg, as it seemed to drag a bit more than the others in her tracks. The short legged varmit who left the trail of his/her body in the snow as well as footprints. The really light guy who barely left any marks at all. I saw lots of squirrel track, where one sat on the edge of open water in the snow and drank and then leaped across to a stump. I was admiring (and I always laugh for some reason) at grouse tracks. Then the male grouse suddenly burst into the air. The dog and I must have been almost standing on top of him. Needless to say, both the dog and I flinched.

I love my new job outside the farm and magazine. That said, I also can work alot of the time at home, so I have the best of both worlds. I don't have a window in my office, but I do have a potted plant, so I am happy. My new job is in the publishing field (which I actually went to college for and had not used until now) and DTTR opened this wonderful and exciting path to me. No worries, DTTR will continue to be.. and to grow. But what I am learning here, I can also utilize for DTTR, So it is a win-win situation.