Another busy day here in North Central PA

I left the house at 5:45 in the morning yesterday and never got home until almost 6:30 p.m. I worked until 2 p.m. then went over to the fire hall to see if they needed help in the kitchen with anything. Ended up staying there cleaning leeks for the join fundraiser that the legion and fire department are doing. As I walked in the house *T* handed me the phone and said "here *MK* wants to know what you are doing". *MK* was calling to see if I'd order a pizza and she'd pick it up on the way to the house. *T* had helped her change the tires on her car the other night and she had planned on taking us out to dinner last night as a "Thank You". But we decide that since I hadn't been home all day we'd just order pizza and call it good. As soon as I got off the phone *T*, the boys, and I went out to get the chores done before *MK* got here. We ate outside at the picnic table and then *T* and the boys played ball with the dogs while *MK* and I chatted. It was getting dark and a bit cool outside so we came in the house and sat here and chatted some more while *T* got the boys in the tub for a bath (from the dirt that was in the tub after thier bath, I think we could have planted the garden in the bottom of the tub). Shortly after the boys were out of the tub *MK* was ready to leave and I walked her out to the car and by the time I came back in the house two of the boys were sleeping on the couch, and the thrid was saying he was ready for bed. They had played outside all day, poor little guys were tuckered out.

The firemen in North Central Pennsylvania got a workout yesterday. Here is a link to "Potter County Fire News" that posted the news story below.


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Things started off with a report of a wildfire in Farmington Twp. in the Nelson area around 1100 hrs. Before it was all said and done (many hours later) that fire would result in the loss of several structures and an unknown number of acres of property. This fire saw the seldom seen use of an All-Call for manpower in Tioga County requesting all available manpower to the scene. We have received reports that an air tanker was also called in to the scene of that fire.

At aproximately 1130 hrs Singlehouse Dept 39 was dispatched to a reported structure fire in Oswayo. This blaze required resources from Shinglehouse Dept 39, Coudersport Dept 48, Genesee Dept 37, as well as Bolivar and Portville, NY (and possibly more). Reports indicate that two structures were lost in this blaze.

Then at aproximately 1200 hrs, while working at Station 47 in Ulysses, Dept 47 personnel noticed heavy smoke in the area of Jackson Rd. in Bingham Twp. Upon investigation it was found that a large wildfire was in progress on the hillside above Jackson Rd. aproximately 1/4 mile from the Ulysses/Hickox Rd. This resulted in units from Depts 47, 20 and 10 responding in what would become a 3+ hour effort to quell an aproximately 3-4 acre blaze. Normally Genesee Dept 37 would have also been requested but they were already committed to the structure fire call in Oswayo.


And if that wasn't enough already, as units were responding to the Ulysses incident a call went out for a reported wildfire in Westfield Twp in the Potter Brook area. This incident would ultimately burn aproximately 50 acres and endanger several homes. Dept 20 split its response between the Ulysses and Westfield fires sending P2024 to Ulysses and T2015 and E2022 to Potter Brook. Ulysses Dept 47 was requested to respond but had no units avalable to do so because of the ongoing incident in thier district. Several area departments were involved in battling this blaze including some that had been tranfered to cover at other stations as the result of the Farmington Twp incident.

If all this hadn't already made things busy enough, at some point doing all the already ongoing incidents a reported wild fire in Troupsburg caused for further mayhem. It is unknow how many (or what) area companies responded to that incident but it is reported that several structures were also lost in this blaze.

And at about 1434 hrs Austin Dept 44 was dispatched to 809 Cowley Hill Road for a Wildfire. Chief 44 (D. VanWhy) Responded in minutes to arrive on scene to establish "Austin Command" and reported fire under control by the residence themselves. Luckily this one turned out to be minor.

So, to say the least, the dispatchers in Tioga County earned their money today as they certainly had their hands full as did all of the departments that responded to the various incidents through out the area.
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I know people want to get thier lawns cleaned up but WHY do they burn on these kinds of days? There was a steady breeze ALL day long with occasional gusts that were quite high force. I don't know why anyone would think that it was a good idea to burn trash with these conditions.

Two more calves

We had two more calves born on Friday. One in the morning and one early in the afternoon. I was told by one family member that they are both boys... then that yesterday Mom told me that *HC* (the guy that owns the cows) came to check them today and said "we have three heifers now". I haven't been close enough to any of them to be able to tell what they are, and I'm not going to argue with the one who told me that they are boys... but considering he isn't used to babies of any kind and *HC* has been farmer for 50 years I think I'll go with the idea that we have 3 baby girls. ;)
Friday I was on the go all day long. As soon as I got home from work we left to pick up feed in Ulysses (30 miles away). We came home, unloaded our feed, took Mom's feed over to her, and put in away for her. Came home, let the dogs out and then left to go pick up the boys from Wellsville (20 miles in the other direction). Just got home from there, while *T* and the boys fed the animals I went shopping to get groceries for the weekend (I didn't take time to before I came home the first time), so I didn't get home to stay until 8:45 p.m. and I had left to go to work at 5:45 a.m.

We buy our feed from an Amish farmer about 30 miles from here, because it is so far away and considering the price of gas we try to get a month's supply when we do go.
I could get feed locally but I'd pay about twice what I do in Ulysses. Friday, I paid $63.78 for 431 lbs. of feed. The feed we got for Mom totalled 511 lbs. for $64.82. I don't know what feed prices are in your area but this is a smoking deal around here. Feeding our menagerie for less then $100 a month's worth of grain seems like a dream.

Good Morning

Good Morning

I'm sitting here sipping my coffee, cruising the net, waiting for the boys to wake up. I can't believe they are still asleep, because they went to sleep at nine o'clock last night. They were so tired. *T* and I went to get the boys last evening and when we got home they played outside until it was almost dark. The boys were playing with the dogs in the sandbox, and watching the skydivers' plane flying around. Freefall Oz was having their annual Boogie (lots of pro skydivers coming to sky dive) and since we only live a couple of miles from there the plane was quite low when it would go over the house, we could watch it circle around as it was climbing to the right elevation to for the skydivers to jump. *C&B* (the boys), and of course Ace (the puppy) helped *T* feed all the animals while I cooked dinner and then we took it out to the picnic table to eat. So we all had a very enjoyable evening. *A* (the boys' BM) called about 9:35 pm to talk to the boys before they went to sleep. when I told her they were already asleep I think she was a disappointed. She was at work when we picked the boys up, so she hadn't seen them all day. I kind of felt bad that she didn't get to talk to them, but maybe she'll call again this morning.



In the barn, to my surprise, the old hen that got broody and I set 6 eggs under is still setting on them. I can't remember what day I put the eggs under her :-? I really need to get them candled to see if there are any chicks in them.

The cows have been moved over to Mom's pastures so it seems odd not to have to fill both water tubs 4 or 5 times each day. The horse is still over here, she must really like my pastures because she will not go over to Mom's. She used to stay with the cows no matter which pastures they were in, but anymore Lacy (the horse) just looks at us like "are you crazy" when we are moving the cows over. Then she will go to the back corner, and stay there until we have the cows all moved and the gates closed. I think she has just gotten to the point in her life that she doesn't like change. She is 25 years old now, so I guess she has earned her right to decide which pasture she wants to live in. :-)

I'm still looking for a milking goat. I know where there are some nice looking Alpines for sale, but I'm not sure what breed I want. I like Nubian, but I don't like how vocal they are. I also like Saanens but I like the color patterns on the Aplines. Maybe I'll just have to get one of each ;-P

I'd also like to get a couple more meat rabbits. We saw a litter of Black New Zealands for sale at the fair, but the sign did not have a contact name on it and we did not see anyone around who knew who's bunnies they were. I wanted to check back another day but we didn't get back to the fair until late Saturday evening after all the animals had gone home. :-(

The I have the turkeys in the barn and would like to let them out to free range, but *T* is afraid the coyotes will eat them. And I'm sure they would too if we didn't shut them in at night just like the other small animals. We let the chickens, ducks, geese, guinea hens free range and then close them in at night, so why can't we do the same with the turkeys??? I think he is just a bit over protective...LOL.



I have got to get this house cleaned! I keep trying (at least I think I am) but I just don't seen to be getting anywhere. I have been trying to work on something for a certain amount of time each day, and if I can stick to it I know it will work. I'm just not disciplined enough.