Wile E. Coyote

We've had multitudes of coyotes close to our house this fall.  Tonight their yiping could be heard over the ten o-clock news.   (Canis latrans), the American coyote, is a member of the canine family just like our pet dogs (well, sort of.)    Coyote means "barking dog" in Latin.  No kidding, on the barking or yiping as we heard it tonight.
Photo of a coyote from Wikipedia.

Coyotes around here are not usually very big, but on average may be 34 inches long w/o tail and weight from 15 to 46 pounds.   If you want to creep out:  They have been known to be five foot long and weight up to 75 lbs.  And forget about out running them:  In pursuit, they can reach speeds of 43 mph and jump a distance of 13 feet.  They can climb a fifteen foot chain link fence if hungry enough.


Most are in a pack of six but they tend to hunt in pairs.  They can dig dens or use dens and burrows of other animals.  They stick to a territory using the same paths (swell, I suppose we are now on one of their territorial paths.)  Their life cycle is usually ten years but can live longer and actually can be trained in captivity.  No thanks!!

Coyotes are mostly nocturnal but only because it's easier to hunt when humans aren't out and about.  Thet average six pups per litter; typically only half survive.

I found the following:  "When a coyote calls his pack together, he howls at one high note. When the pack is together, he howls higher and higher, and then they yip and yelp and also do a yi-yi sound very shrill with the howl."   Sooooo, that's what this orchestra of caterwauling has been - just a little conversation between the family.

Mostly carnivores, they are opportunist as to what and where they find food.  In the winter, they will also eat fruit and vegetables.  Items like garbage, pet food, and sometimes feeding stations for birds and squirrels will attract coyotes into backyards.  Yes, they prefer wild meat (especially rodents) but are not above attacking cats and smaller dogs.  A pack, in the wild, can pursue a deer (or other larger animals) for up to 21 hours until the animal is exhausted.  The population explosion in the Midwest is because the Midwest does not have the natural predictors of the coyote (wolf and cougars). 

The good news:  Attacks on humans are few because the coyotes are so much smaller and are typically afraid of adults humans.  They have been known to stalk small children in urban areas.  They cause the most domestic cat, sheep, goat and cattle losses of any predictor in the Midwest.
 

  Wile E. Coyote nose-to-nose with the Road Runner.  And with that, I'll say that enough said about the coyote and "Beep Beep".

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Here's a good hint to do every Fall when Daylight Savings Time ends:

1. Change the batteries in your smoke and CO detectors
2. Check the batteries in your flashlights and radios.  (keep an extra supply of batteries for emergencies)
3. Put emergency supplies in your vehicles: 
1. Bag of Kitty Litter, flashlight, flares, ice scraper, blanket, power bars and always take a fully charged cell phone.
4. Plug in the cat and dog water heater bowls and make sure they have warm dry bedding protected from wind and rain/snow.  (Bring them in a protected warm area if the temps get too cold.)
5. Start your snow plow, generator, snow blower and make sure they are fueled and ready to go.
1. Have enough extra fuel on hand to last through a prolonged outage.

None of these particularly apply to gardening, but having one day set aside to do these things makes sure you aren't caught when "the going gets tough."

Memories Are Made Of This

I have my mother’s recipes. They are in various forms: Notes in an old cookbook, 3 x 5 recipe cards, and scrapes of paper. You can tell the ones she loved most by the amount of food stains. Many are simply titled by a person: “Lizzie’s Angel Food Cake” or “Betty’s Meringues”.

Garden equipment and lore can have the same kind of memories. Some of us had parents and grandparents who were frugal or maintained and saved equipment long after new inventions made them obsolete. If you are the recipient of these garden gems, you are indeed fortunate.


I might add a disclaimer: Having a bunch of old stuff might be fortunate to some, but, if you’re married to a neat freak (a term we holders of sentimental stuff use) it might not always be termed fortunate…


I’ve copied my collection of old recipes, put them in plastic sleeves and a three-ring binder. The old recipe fits behind the new copy. It protects the old and allows me to find a recipe when needed – or – just browse for the memory of it all.

Garden items and lore can be treated in the same manner:


• Hand write or type notes and stories connected to different garden tools and lore.


• Include a picture of items, plants or people.


• Arrange in a plastic clear sheet protector w/ 3 holes and add to a three-ring binder.


• Subject dividers may be added with categories. Use subjects that make sense to your collections and make it easier to find.


• The “Lore” part can be the most fun. Add stories of how the owner used it or stories that had been told over the years. A note of how this item or story became important to you.


Some people make copies and give a “book” to their loved ones as a way of preserving family history. Others simply enjoy the book for its trip down memory lane. A word of caution: Some will treasure it today and always. Others will put it away and only realize its joy as they, too, age. And then, there are those that will eventually let it be trashed because they aren’t sentimental.


As the freeze of winter settles upon our Midwest, it’s a great time to gather those family and friend gardening stories and make sure they don’t get lost. I included friends in this statement. As an example, I plant blue bachelor buttons because they bring a smile to me at the thought of my dear friend, June. A picture of these pretty flowers and of my friend with a note to why I included in my book makes the story complete.


Some say gardening is over after the first freeze, but, only if you want it to be. Winter is the time for planning, organizing and memories. To preserve these treasures is a way of saying “Thank you” to those that instilled a love of gardening.

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom that springs from the soul.”

- Henry Ward (Harry) Beecher, American clergyman (born 6/24/1813)

Goodnight Tree

One of the favorite books of my little grandchildren is "Goodnight Moon".  For some reason, it made me think of our old apple tree out in the woods. 

This old tree was oddly shaped, probably from lightening strikes.  It had character.  The first few years we lived here (about 14 years ago) it produced these juicy tart green apples.  Just right for making applesauce.

It was a favorite of one of our cats, Boots, who was forever climbing up the inside and examining the world from his perch.  

The tree then started a steady decline and had no leaves this past summer.  During our recent heavy wind storm (40 to 60 mph winds), it finally toppled.

I hadn't noticed until I was planting my daffodils bulbs and I'm kinda sad about loosing this old tree.  It takes a long time for a tree to have character as beautiful as this old apple.  It was so beautiful, we positioned a little bench under it and kept the area mowed.  It was the perfect spot to sit a bit and enjoy the quiet of the woods. 

I suppose we'll have to reconfigure the little area, but today it's "goodnight tree".    

Hippy Dippy Weatherman

The one that gets a red flag:  The Whitetail does rut (their first estrus or in-heat) peaks by mid-month.  For male deer this is a time for them to run crazy through the country side seeking "female companionship."  For humans this only means one thing - deer vs. vehicle collisions peak (in 2008 there were 24,212 vehicle/deer accidents and two human fatalities.)
  Picture of a deer vs. vehicle windshield taken from the net.

Other animal love life:  River otters breed and the great-horned and barred owls court.

Moving on:  Crow migration peaks, Bluebills should be migrating as I'm writing, Canvasback and Mallard migration peaks, and the Lesser Scaup migration occurs.  I've been hearing the honking of large flocks of geese almost daily.  Quail form coveys in preparation to finding winter cover. 

Most doves are en-route to winter areas along the Gulf Coast, but, I always have several that tough out winter in our woods and visit our feeder when it really gets nasty.  Doves prefer to feed on the ground or our seed catch all under the feeder.  This photo shows them picking away at stale cereal and popcorn after one particularly nasty overnight storm - note the ice on their feathers and beak.

Moving in:  Winter birds, such as juncos, tree sparrows, and purple finches, start arriving this month.  If you fill your bird feeders with sunflower seeds, they'll find it almost immediately.  All three are active and entertaining birds and provide hours of "bird watching" enjoyment outside my computer room window.

Dipping a pole in the water:  Sauger/walleye are good in rivers this month. 

Turkey talk:  Turkey flocks split up and the males group up into "jake flocks".    I saw an unusually large number of turkey this summer in most every location we ventured.  I'm guessing the price of Thanksgiving turkeys will be reasonable - noticed about $0.89 per pound at our local grocery.

Weather talk:  Average snowfall for November is three inches, although in 1974 we received 15.6 inches.  Now that would wake you up to winter!  Record low temperature was in 1977 with minus two and in 1891 at a nasty minus ten degrees - burr farbs!  Record high temperature was in 1950 at a nice 81 degrees.  Average low is 25-37 degrees - average high 41-57 degrees.  The 1970s were more unpredictable than a hippie at a Pink Floyd concert!  

(Remember the "Hippie Dippy Weatherman"?  Most famous line:  "Tonight's forecast: Dark. Continued dark throughout most of the evening, with some widely scattered light towards morning.")
George Carlin performing a Hippie Dippy routine - taken from web.

Hippie Dippy might be a good term when looking at November weather:  The Midwest weather is trying to settle into winter but takes some extreme ups and downs along the way.  Those of us who actually enjoy winter, are grumbling about why it's taking so long for a good deep snow.  Those of you who really would be more happy in Arizona, start your major grumbling every time the temperature dips below fifty degrees. 

I really don't know what people do who live in areas where the weather seldom gets extreme.  What do they talk about when they see neighbors?  What would be the point of standing and looking at the sky if you're not waiting for that predicted weather change?  Aren't they deprived of the child-like excitement at the beginning of a really good snow storm?  They miss the satisfaction that comes from laying-in, hunkering down, preparing for, and complaining about winter!  Four good months of winter weather - bring 'er on!

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A lot of the animal information is thanks to former Peoria Journal Star sports writer, Jeff Lampe.
Much of the record weather data was thanks to Anthony Peoples' BLOG at WQAD.   

Gardening & Diabetes???

This November, the American Diabetes Association is sponsoring its annual American Diabetes Month to raise awareness about the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of diabetes prevention and control, and to promote its national Stop Diabetes campaign.

WHAT???   What does diabetes and gardening have to do with each other?   One of the things a diabetic must deal with is their eating habits.  Doing this can make the world of food seem like "the enemy" and they may experience the feeling of "deprivation".  

Growing your own food and herbs can help enhance the flavors of food and make those foods you do eat seem more like a gift rather than the punishment.

When I speak of herbs for diabetics, I'm not referring to herbal treatments.  I'm referring to herbs and spices being used to enhance the flavors of the food.  They allow things to taste better and allow your satisfaction to be enhanced.  It's difficult to stick with dietary restrictions when you feel deprived.  A big huge boat load of flavor can put a grin on your face and keep your sugar levels within the guidelines.

Growing your own herbs and vegetables allows you to have them available all the time so you're not as tempted to grab a quick harmful snack.  Large flavor will help satisfy your food satisfaction without large quantities.  Although some vegetables contain so much sugar and carbohydrates that they must be eaten in limited form, having that limited amount in the most flavorful fresh or fresh preserved manner adds to the satisfaction. 

Gardening is a great way to add exercise to the diabetics' routine - one of the ways to enhance your physical health, maintain your correct sugar levels and add a huge level of well-being to your life.

Although I have family-in-law members with diabetes, I'm not an expert.  I know the struggles they have experienced and how difficult the whole food thing is for them.  Get a list of the vegetables and herbs you can eat - the amount, the sugar levels and percentages you can eat - and plan on a garden next year.  Get a POW! from herbs and spices and not from fluctuating sugar levels. 

Check out the American Diabetes website (see the enclosed link) for more information. 

Hunker Down

I have a few "favorites" on my Facebook page.  They are actually a way for a commercial enterprise to advertise.  Since I choose to let them advertise on my FB page, it means they have more to offer than just their products.  One site is Lehman's Country Life - a catalog of products designed for those who do not have electricity at their properties.  


The Lehman's store is located in Kidron Ohio, smack in the middle of one of Ohio's Amish communities.  Because they do mail order sales, it's available to anyone who might enjoy their products.  Not only do they have home and farm supplies, they also have food products (think penny candy).  What got me there today was their recipe on how to roast pumpkins.  Might give it a try!  


The site has equipment similar to what my grandparents used.  I've ordered supplies from them, especially when I want garden, kitchen or preserving item that I can't find locally. 


The products I've used are made to last and of first rate materials.  Where my parents' items were cast iron and could rust, most now days are stainless.  Anyway, even if you aren't in the market to buy, it rather fun to look at all the stuff and the articles.


Their web site   http://www.countrylife.lehmans.com/  has an interesting blog site:   http://www.karensgarden.net/


Karen's is a simple blog about all things on their farm relating to produce: garden, farm, animal, and responsible sustainability. 

(Old walnut tree that still produces an abundant crop each year)

  

As we in the Midwest prepare to "hunker down" for the onset of winter - this wholesome blog is inspiring and informational. 

November This and That

Our flag flying; a freedom we have in the USA.  Another is the right to vote - hope you exercise that right today.  Even though political leaders and the media like to blame everything from the economy to the weather for the county's problems, the elected officials (500 plus) are the only ones in our US that can make decisions, make changes, or improve our country.  When you think of what a mess our government is in today, it is all the more important to elect or re-elect those who will make good decisions.  That's where good government begins:  with you!

What might we do today and tomorrow?  

• Bring in the last of the summer equipment and decorations.  Hoses in particular need to be drained and stored.
• Why wait any longer to put up Christmas lights.  Maybe not the large twelve-foot lighted Santa, but, certainly the ice cycles on the eves, the ones on that pine, and any that require a ladder.  Unless - you just don't feel it's the Christmas season if you aren't freezing and cracking the ice off the rungs of your ladder...
• Plant any spring-flowering bulbs you may have tossed on the garage work bench and forgot.  I finally managed to get 100 daffodil bulbs in the ground yesterday out in our woods.
• Make sure your bird feeders are clean and filled.  Same, if you feed squirrels.  Lay in a supply of bird feed and corn so you don't have to haul in heavy sacks all winter.  I use the large plastic tubs with lids to keep away mice.  
• Find your vehicle ice scrapers.
• Put Sta-bil in the gas tanks of your gas motors (lawn mowers, snow plows, tillers, etc.). 
• After cleaning garden and lawn tools, make sure the metal is covered in a coat of oil to prevent rusting.
• Don't store tools sitting on cement - it conducts moisture and speeds rusting or rotting.

The sun is shining and it's a great day to get out and vote - see you at the polls!