So, after much discussion with my neighbor on what was happening to his big turkeys, I think I have captured a picture of the culprit. This was taken in the mid afternoon as you can see, about 500 meters from my farmhouse.

Nice Kitty.

Trail Cam Pics

Black Cat

Sky view

Kiaser and the Bear

Friendly folks and meeting more neighbors

This is going back a couple weeks, but on Nov 11th, while Laura and I were in New Germany participating in the Remembrance Day ceremonies, following tradition we went to the local legion and were quickly embraced into the community. I have to say New Germany and area has some of the most welcoming and friendly folks I have met. We filled out or membership application, and will soon be the newest members of the New Germany Legion.

We are very happy we have decided to settle in this part of Nova Scotia.

Weekend wrap up

So, I tagged out last weekend and have some venison for the freezer, I won't post pictures of that, but I will say Laura was a champ. She helped track and blood spot, and once we found the deer, she held the leg for me while I did the gutting. It's a great start for her if she is going to take to the woods next fall and try for her own deer.

More importantly, I finally had some non raccoon action on my trail cam. So far the buggers have hauled of or eaten about 200 lbs of apples, yet finally a couple days before the big 1st snow fall, these little fellas showed up.

Good to see.

Have a great week.

Weekend Snapshots

Since Laura and I are pretty much only spending weekends at the Homestead, I won't have as much to post as if I was full time, had livestock or a big garden and greenhouse. However I will try to keep updates with some pics, hunting stories and etc. So, lets begin with a few of the animals. The cottage is a fun place for the animals, but it wipes them out and they always end up in the "crashed position".

Here is Laura's "Thirty Something" birthday present, ya that's right, its a Savage .243 for deer hunting next year!

Here she is mowing the lawn while I keep the dogs entertained and her beer cold.

And me and the beginning of my little orchard.

The Reno's Continue

So, we got the house barn and property for a song, BUT the house was built in the 20's, there is some odd old world German building design in the house. The roof has been reshingled, I fixed up the eaves, and the new windows and doors are in. I have to do the inside trim, and fix the brutal instal of the new back door.

Also, I had an electrician in, and got an amazing quote, if his work is a good as I expect it to be, I will not have any problem recommending him. 

After the electrical is done Laura and I can get on with the reno's we want to do, like making the wood burning oven more efficient. It only currently heats the tiny kitchen and I want it to heat the majority of the house so I can severely reduce the amount of oil we are burning each winter.

My new buddy Larry burns big logs in a home heating system and has offered me his ends. This is perfect because the logs I need are much much smaller than he can use. It's a great deal.

Summer turns to fall...

I have been extrordinarliy negligent of keep this fledgling Blog updated, but with the Autumn Equinox just around the corner, specifically summer ends on Spetember 23rd at 0914 HRS. Check The Hearth page for my planned Fall Equinox Menu.

So in the past few weeks we have installed a new roof, all new windows, a new back door, took down a wall upstairs to make the second floor one big bedroom, a small guest room and bathroom. Laura mowed the meadow several times, she loves the tractor especially if I bring her beer.

We planted our small orchard, just three tree's but we have an eating apple Trent a pie and cider apple Northern Spy and a supposedly hardy Sweet Stella Cherry Tree.

I caught several Bass in our small Creek, a couple very nice Brook Trout and I bought a gold panning kit. I have found lots of fools gold, but nothing valuable..............yet!

I decided to call the beaver "Justin" (I know very original Justin Beaver), but I had to name him something that would make me less likely to feel emotionally attached just on the off chance I have to go all Soprano's on him. He might end up "sleeping with the fishes" if he makes his dam any bigger.

I also bought an air compressor, Mig welder and a few other things to make my life easier around the homestead.

Oh, and I am picking up an awesome tow behind post hole auger with 6", 9" and 12" augers and a 5.5 HP Honda motor. It will be nice to get some fencing up next spring.