On One Leg!

When we leave our driveway, we then have another, oh, let's say 1/4 mile of easement road just to get to a "primitive" road that takes us to the narrow, paved 2 lane road that gets us to the highway...you get all that?! Ok, let's get back to the easement road...there are trees on both sides. To the north there is thick woods, to the south after the narrow row of trees, there is a field. So, as you can imagine, there are a plethora of critters that go back and forth across that easement road, from the field to the woods.

I personally have seen deer, moose, grouse, quail, raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, coyotes, turkeys...I'm sure I've missed a few! And, there's the domestics, dogs, cats, horses and an occasional human! Anyway, right now, the turkeys are out in force. Sometimes I will see a rafter...oh ya, that's what a group of these guys is called...a "rafter"....pretty smart, huh? Ok, wikipedia! -- So, sometimes I will see a rafter of 10, sometimes 100...I'm not kidding!! Lately, there has been a turkey in the rafter with either a leg tucked up under himself or a missing leg, regardless, he only has one useable leg! We have seen this guy for a few weeks now, hopping back and forth across the easement road.

Well, it snowed last night...not much, but a decent skiff, enough that it is perfect for tracking. At O-dark-30a.m., I went out to feed the horses...still dark. I see a track coming into the driveway, over the gate, across the yard, to the hay barn. The weird thing, it is a turkey track, the right leg of a turkey, in a straight line. No left leg, just the right, and where do the tracks go from the hay barn...well, to the chicken house of course!! It's a free meal, why the heck not!  Do you think my 2 BIG dogs know he is crippled up, because they sure aren't stopping him!!

All said and done, this little one legged, chicken scratch steelin, thieving turkey is pretty crafty! He has survived a pretty harsh winter, deep snow, underlying ice, extreme low temps, lots of owls, raccoons and a mega population of coyotes...and my dogs! I'm impressed with this turkey's survival skills. Maybe he will soon join into my daily follies, he seems to feel pretty comfy here on the farm!!

hmmm...

Why did the cowboy buy a dachshund? 



He wanted to "get a long little doggie!"
                                           
....YEEE HAW!!



                                                     

                                    

The Little Dog

I wish Christ had a little dog

All soft and loving like mine,

With two long ears and a nose all wet,

And big brown eyes that shine

I know that He hadn't because I have read

How He prayed in the garden alone;

For all the disciples had fled from his side...

Even Peter...the one called a stone.

I'm sure that a little dog

With a heart so tender and warm

Would never had left Him to suffer alone

But would have crept up under His arm

Would have licked the dear fingers in agony clasped

And counting all favors but loss,

When they took Him away, would have trotted along

And followed Him right to the cross.

ua