There are many birds on the farm, before that I’d like to ask that Margie contribute a piece on farm life, whether it be cattle, goats or birds, as a guest editorialist. Let’s hope she accepts the challenge.
Just this morning, I saw at least ten male cardinals, Jim saw a bluebird. I saw a hawk 20 feet away sitting on a fence post, the largest hawk I’ve ever seen and the first I’ve seen so close. I think she had her eye on the sick pup, who wisely hid in the garage. I watched her for a moment and yearned for my camera 350 miles away. Then I opened the door to see her take off and fly and see those wings. It was magnificent.
I can’t tell you that my eye or camera would have gotten any of those shots but my mind did and I’ll always remember this morning as I did yesterday afternoon, when I walked into the bathroom and saw goats in the driveway! The gate was left open and they were five feet away. We herded them back into the pasture.
It’s very interesting watching herding animals and seeing how they reflect on human culture. Picture fashion. One fancy goat goes one direction, everyone else follows.
We left town this morning and watched cardinals flitting across the road. Later on we saw guinea hens right by the highway. Going to the farm centers us, lets us be in touch with the land and people who strive every day to make a living. They’ll have nothing to do with this “stimulus package” and only think of it as government robbing peoples’ pockets to give more money to Wall Street and the rich.
The farm we see now, where Jim’s parents have lived for nearly 30 years, will be flooded by the government, and they’re forced to move. Today Margie was looking at a farmer’s magazine saying that the EPA wants to exact a tax of $187 per cow for a “methane tax,” and they just sold cows they’d bought and spent hundreds to raise for $500 per head. They made no money and if they were assessed another $187 on top of that loss and our recession farmers would be out of business.
I don’t think the American public wants to give up milk or beef anytime soon, so one might look to ask the farmers what they think. Not the farm lobby, the farmers. So before you let the EPA put all farmers out of business, if Senators or Representatives want to visit I’m sure folks there will make the time. Don’t be put off by some sweet tea or a dessert, it’s just tradition.
The stimulus package is evident. It’s us! In 1776 we pledged to be an independent nation. We never envisioned having the government owning and buying our banks and insurance companies. This is we, the people, paying forever for this bailout. We, the people need to do better and make our Congress and President accountable. Did I tell you how beautiful is the male Cardinal, flitting about? Dee
Cooking with Dee 
The cardinals make their homes in the trees and brush that come with every ‘grown up’ fence row. In the winter we sometimes see several dozen males at a time flocking to or from their hiding places. The females are just as abundant although less obvious.
I also watched a red-headed woodpecker this morning but could not get a good photo for Dee. That critter has been the pest most likely to kill my oldest Chinese Pistach tree. Last year it riddled the trunk and major limbs but the tree did not show evidence of problems…..yet.
I quoted the wrong # concerning the cow and pig tax. It is $175 for each dairy cow, $87.50 for each beef cow and $20 per pig on any operation larger than what we would consider a ‘hobby’ farm. This is recommended to offset their “greenhouse gases”.
We believe the government for the people and by the people has become government for the government and that people need to wake up and see what is really going on.
It is always good to have our family home for a time and we enjoyed the visit this weekend.