tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25848120644918454532024-03-13T15:06:18.583-04:00Down on the FarmTwo Pregnant Cows and No Experience!Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13847570896226092615noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-25146683976208276312014-09-09T10:05:00.001-04:002014-09-09T10:05:30.130-04:00Maisie c. 2000 to September 8th 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-CgfwCn2rQ/VA8D_JjoNrI/AAAAAAAAAvY/AvK5JJtekUQ/s1600/Maisie%2Blast%2Bday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-CgfwCn2rQ/VA8D_JjoNrI/AAAAAAAAAvY/AvK5JJtekUQ/s1600/Maisie%2Blast%2Bday.jpg" height="181" width="320" /></a></div>
Yesterday we said goodbye to a dear old friend. We never knew exactly how old Maisie was - she came with the farm when we bought it in 2006. By all accounts she had had a hard life up until the previous owners had taken her in a few years previously. A Walker hound, she had deformed paws and claws, which may have been due to early days kept in a cage. A road accident had left Maisie with a permanently injured back and leg, which never stopped her outrunning on three legs, the other dogs on four! For all her troubled past, Maisie was the eternal optimist, grinning from ear to ear her lopsided dog smile accompanied by the ever swishing tail whenever dog cookies were mentioned. Evenings, after supper when the other dogs went out, were her special time and "first dessert" was called! Especially good were those times we reached fourth and even fifth dessert as she conned Jorg and I into believing we hadn't reached her limit! There is a big hole in the evening routine now, and although time will heal it, Maisie's particular enthusiasm for life, despite its setbacks, will always be remembered. She is free now to run unfettered by a gammy leg and enjoy time in the sun with old friends Jack, Shandy and Brigitte. RIP Maisie.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wiZx2HMKcSk/VA8JBxbqDbI/AAAAAAAAAvk/LOFiB8Tc3Us/s1600/Maisie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wiZx2HMKcSk/VA8JBxbqDbI/AAAAAAAAAvk/LOFiB8Tc3Us/s1600/Maisie.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />Jorghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12197735871009343601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-48323214452865188062013-09-16T12:24:00.002-04:002013-09-16T13:10:25.574-04:00Welcome Violet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nbpGcPxUXes/Ujct6RaROoI/AAAAAAAAAd4/d0Zme6Au9Cw/s1600/Violet+Day+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nbpGcPxUXes/Ujct6RaROoI/AAAAAAAAAd4/d0Zme6Au9Cw/s200/Violet+Day+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Violet just a few hours old</span></div>
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Triskelion's Violet finally appeared at breakfast time on Saturday 14th September 2013. Mother and daughter doing fine. Another successful delivery by Rosebud, even though she was some 3 weeks late by our reckoning! Never mind, she's a healthy heifer and that gives us two beautiful girls who will be looking for homes in 2 to 3 months time after weaning. As with all our calves we will start handling them and teaching them to halter and tie straight away. With a height of 21 inches a few hours after birth she will be a mid-sized adult, perfect for milking and will undoubtedly have the easygoing personality of her mother.</div>
Jorghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12197735871009343601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-89150433607692722212013-09-07T08:08:00.002-04:002013-09-07T08:11:23.708-04:00Phoebe at 5 Weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOgFs7gyuM4/UisT0ACsTiI/AAAAAAAAAYo/uqbq-8CDZe0/s1600/Phoebe+and+Tuna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOgFs7gyuM4/UisT0ACsTiI/AAAAAAAAAYo/uqbq-8CDZe0/s320/Phoebe+and+Tuna.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Phoebe with Tuna </i></span></b><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-naVt3xpVJdk/UisT2VbLGoI/AAAAAAAAAYw/wHuf8bIBFts/s1600/Phoebe+and+Tuna+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-naVt3xpVJdk/UisT2VbLGoI/AAAAAAAAAYw/wHuf8bIBFts/s200/Phoebe+and+Tuna+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Phoebe is now showing her real character. Still a baby she is playful and has a lovely personality. As with all our calves, she is being taught to lead and be tied, with lots of handling. This time we are trying something new. The mini-Jerseys do pose problems with keeping their feet trimmed. If they are easy to handle you can try trimming in place, but even our even tempered ladies find that a bit much! There are trimming boxes that have an array of supports and pulleys, and we have used the services of such a trimmer. However our smaller girls do not fit the adjustments intended mostly for full grown Holsteins, and the consequent anxiety and rubbing of lower legs is upsetting. Phoebe is going to be taught to lift her feet and be trimmed by hand! Absolutely no reason why not, if horses can be taught then so can our cows. More in future posts.Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13847570896226092615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-39951871141243436812013-08-14T10:37:00.003-04:002013-08-14T10:38:52.518-04:00Corn SmutNow growing corn in Virginia is hardly newsworthy in the Country where it is the main crop. However, after two previously unfruitful attempts, that included not getting a stalk never mind a cob, we were pleased to see two healthy rows of corn complete with cobs. I initially spent some time watching over them, as one does with a new born, but a freshening cow and a plethora of new rescue horses drew me away; watching paint dry might be more rewarding than watching corn ripening, but it is a close call! So imagine my disappointment on returning to the corn rows, expecting to see bounteous fruits ready for picking, only to see some of these:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oJHtLn-YFhI/UguQanYcy4I/AAAAAAAAAYU/edLfBT4KKcc/s1600/Corn+Smut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oJHtLn-YFhI/UguQanYcy4I/AAAAAAAAAYU/edLfBT4KKcc/s320/Corn+Smut.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/27/huitlacoche-corn-smut-goo_n_553422.html" target="_blank">Corn Smut</a></div>
Aghast, I call on our chief researcher (Jorg) to identify the offending horror, and find out what new blight has descended on our veggie plot. This year the rain has been the main offender, as many of the bugs of previous years seem to be in limited numbers, and rain it seems unleashed this fungus on the corn. Huitlacoche, pronounced WEET-LA-KO-CHEE is well know in Mexico, and by corn growers all over North America. The latter have been trying to eradicate it, without success, for many years. The Mexicans, however, love it, and the article in the link under my photo gives a number of good nutritional reasons to try it. It also transpires that a crop of "corn smut" sells way over the price of regular corn!<br />
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Well, Jorg and I have always been willing to try new dishes, and as huitlacoche is supposed to be packed with lysine a nourishing meal of corn smut is on the cards. We'll let you know how it goes, but that evil looking corn cob might just have a saving grace.<br />
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<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13847570896226092615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-77792191186522666772013-08-11T08:32:00.000-04:002013-08-11T08:32:46.988-04:00Phoebe <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VirK9uOP1Sw/UgeAy3zwGbI/AAAAAAAAAYE/tH4ZJc-bvZU/s1600/Phoebe+and+Bessie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VirK9uOP1Sw/UgeAy3zwGbI/AAAAAAAAAYE/tH4ZJc-bvZU/s320/Phoebe+and+Bessie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Phoebe and Bessie</div>
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Mother and daughter doing well. I have to say that each birth brings with it a different crop of fears for me. Last year I worried for days that a calf's eyes didn't seem right, and was worried that she was blind! There has been the inevitable "slow to feed calf", with some bottle feds over the years. This time I agonized over Phoebe's stiff gait and apparent "bandiness". Now if you had been ejected onto the ground head first, then expected to stand up and walk around, all in the space of a few hours, you might find yourself a little stiff, even after three or four days! In the end both stiffness and bandiness have gone as you might expect (although just occasionally there are joint problems in new calves) and Phoebe is a normal week old calf. Our cow vet, Dr Lincoln Rodgers, is to be thanked for his patience in answering our interminable questions. We may have got over the initial "Two pregnant cows, and no experience" phase, but we still have a lot to learn!</div>
Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13847570896226092615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-51050407996572267212013-08-11T08:15:00.000-04:002013-08-11T08:15:53.056-04:00Trophic Levels<a href="http://people.oregonstate.edu/%7Emuirp/trophic.htm" target="_blank">http://people.oregonstate.edu/~muirp/trophic.htm</a> <br />
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Possibly a confusing post title. and yawn inducing grimace for those of you without a science background! Simply put, every time we convert energy (in this case by consuming plant or animal life) we lose efficiency. We happen to be vegetarians, for ethical reasons, and so our animals will live out their life spans and return to the soil; where their nutrients will once again be part of the process that has gone on for millions of years. Now this isn't a sermon on "veg is better than meat", we leave each and all to decide how they wish to approach that question, but Trophic conversion is important from a sustainability issue, given ever increasing populations, countries aspiring to first world status, and looming climate changes.<br />
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Understanding the trade-offs in water usage, protein and other nutritional factors, cultivation, and the use of pesticides, between different crops and food chain elements, is more than an esoteric discussion for scientists. As farmers, even on a small scale, it is essential to understand the impact that lifestyle has on food production and, in our "designer-led" society where appearance seems to matter so much more than substance, what pitfalls that might lead us to in the future.<br />
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<a href="http://people.oregonstate.edu/~muirp/trophic.htm" target="_blank">http://people.oregonstate.edu/~muirp/trophic.htm</a>Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13847570896226092615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-64114894240756373902013-08-02T15:54:00.001-04:002013-08-02T15:54:52.681-04:00Welcome Phoebe! <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0AnBO7QQAKY/UfwLtz7784I/AAAAAAAAAXs/0EYFqONL2GU/s1600/Phoebe+Day+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bessie has done it again, presented us with a pretty new heifer - Triskelion's Phoebe. She stands 21 inches, is 30 inches long and her canon bone is 5 inches. Phoebe has a good solid looking bone structure, and should top out at the top of the mini-range. Born some time during the night, she took us a little by surprise (as Bessie often does) as Bessie wasn't due for a few more days and didn't have all the imminent signs last night! Never mind we can live with pleasant surprises, like Phoebe, on our morning walk-through.</span></span><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0AnBO7QQAKY/UfwLtz7784I/AAAAAAAAAXs/0EYFqONL2GU/s200/Phoebe+Day+1.jpg" width="193" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FN44ZW_ZSls/UfwLzzSjqLI/AAAAAAAAAX0/IQtLnA32REE/s1600/Phoebe+Day+1+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FN44ZW_ZSls/UfwLzzSjqLI/AAAAAAAAAX0/IQtLnA32REE/s200/Phoebe+Day+1+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13847570896226092615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-54566632748412772442013-02-22T09:29:00.002-05:002013-02-22T09:33:06.087-05:00Shelter Challenge The Shelter Challenge link on the right is for anyone to vote for their favorite rescue. We would like you to vote for the farm's resident rescue the White Bird Appaloosa Horse Rescue if you have a few minutes every day. Just click on the link and search for White Bird in VA. There are some great prizes for the top voted rescues.<br />
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<a href="http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_shelterchallenge">http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_shelterchallenge_from_shelterchallenge</a>Jorghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12197735871009343601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-82294151601074896492013-02-21T16:20:00.000-05:002013-02-21T16:23:33.796-05:00Back Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you had been wondering if Triskelion Farm was still going strong then let me assure you we are alive and well, and running like the wind (the snow has gone but the mud remains)! The year passed us by really fast and we find ourselves once again with two pregnant cows, but with a little more experience! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0xZtY7YZuEg/USaLftKy9DI/AAAAAAAAAcA/VKWJSzj4VVg/s1600/P7270007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0xZtY7YZuEg/USaLftKy9DI/AAAAAAAAAcA/VKWJSzj4VVg/s200/P7270007.JPG" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gynmIQ1A7kM/USaL2n85_rI/AAAAAAAAAcI/q5A_COyDM3U/s1600/P7270009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gynmIQ1A7kM/USaL2n85_rI/AAAAAAAAAcI/q5A_COyDM3U/s200/P7270009.JPG" width="200" /></a>Bessie and Rosebud are due in August, and we are hoping for their usual charming additions to the bovine world.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Bessie Rosebud</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8EiIOMMY5jo/USaJnF2FtDI/AAAAAAAAAbw/4Lpmwanccsg/s1600/Guineas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8EiIOMMY5jo/USaJnF2FtDI/AAAAAAAAAbw/4Lpmwanccsg/s320/Guineas.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> "The Bug Patrol" (photo courtesy of Kate Follett our Intern)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Following on from our last post (geez was it May last year!) the Guineas have gotten bigger and look ready to combat the might of the crittur world. Hopefully no more ticks, and a few less veggie eaters in the garden!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We have continued to add to our fruit trees and in addition to apples, pears, peaches, and cherries we have blueberries, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts and chestnuts (hybrid Dunstan for disease resistance). In a few short years (and critturs permitting) we should be getting a veritable cornucopia to grace our vegetarian table.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well back in the saddle (or yoke, depending on your animals) again and hopefully posting more frequently. A Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New year to all you cow and horse lovers out there, from all here at Triskelion Farm.</span></span><br />
<br />Jorghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12197735871009343601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-19931664639796298702012-05-01T10:11:00.000-04:002012-05-01T10:11:36.071-04:00Bug Brigade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uf6vc-RhqG8/T5_roZNyv_I/AAAAAAAAAXM/df9k5fFO98Q/s1600/Bug+Brigade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uf6vc-RhqG8/T5_roZNyv_I/AAAAAAAAAXM/df9k5fFO98Q/s320/Bug+Brigade.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Bug Brigade</div>
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To avoid last year's bug invasion, which basically halted veggie growing over the Summer (after a great Spring start) we have brought in a secret weapon - the "Bug Brigade". A heavy duty, highly active (as can be seen from the photo above) dedicated group of bug destroyers - The Guineas! This year we are not messing with the little critturs who demolish our carefully landscaped vegetable garden. It's total war! Non-chemical and wholly organic, our little friends will be sent out to off anything alien that dares to set foot on our pristine leaves. There is nothing as frightening as a Guinea with a mission. That is, provided we can persuade them that our garden is a better home than our neighbors, or the farm down the road! Ah well, every solution has a drawback, and we are always optimistic. </div>Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13847570896226092615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-11138866755264237072012-04-17T08:24:00.000-04:002012-04-17T08:24:35.507-04:00"'Tis the Season"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qAhXg4MDsZE/T41blDTRIKI/AAAAAAAAAbY/LOwWIPV3Ito/s1600/Summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qAhXg4MDsZE/T41blDTRIKI/AAAAAAAAAbY/LOwWIPV3Ito/s320/Summer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Dogwood (Virginia's State tree) in the yard is now in full leaf, which means that gardening is in full swing! Now, I am a reluctant gardener whereas Jorg is an enthusiastic one. While I am dragged, kicking and screaming, to the various veggie beds I do, of course, enjoy the fruits of our labors. We have already tasted the first strawberries from our small patch, have harvested the early beet, and have lettuce and spinach available in satisfying amounts for our regular salads (along with eggs from the chickens). Now that the last frosts are over (we hope!) the tomatoes from the greenhouse are in the ground, as well as broccoli, brussel sprouts, and snap peas. If the bugs don't get them (mild winter, so a possibility) and a possible drought is avoided, we shall have a great Summer feast. In the pipeline, it takes a couple of years to get them established, are asparagus, paw paws, plums and blueberries, and with the existing figs, peaches, pears and apples, promise a "fruitful" future. Funnily enough writing that all down makes the back aching work in tending the beds, and keeping the bugs at bay almost worthwhile!Jorghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12197735871009343601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-43033899548250630022012-03-27T09:29:00.001-04:002012-04-17T07:59:24.915-04:00Real Life vs Virtual Life: Patience and BenI have just noticed (well known it for some time time but chose to ignore!) that I haven't posted for 4 months. Now, as there aren't thousands out there hanging on my every word, I'm sure the world hasn't stopped turning. Not blogging, facebooking, tweeting, texting or whatever in the virtual world is not a capital crime, but is of course antisocial in this non face-to-face society we now live in. So mea culpa, real life has got in the way of the virtual one, and I have been experiencing life instead of just writing about it. Fortunately, that has been more than interesting enough for Jorg and I and although we like to post about some of our derring-do's it isn't essential in running the farm.<br />
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However, publicizing our new arrivals is. In recent days we have seen the arrival of Mayfield's heifer calf Triskelion's Patience, and Edy's bull calf Triskelion's Benedict seen below. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patience and Ben</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Both doing well and were enjoying the sunshine and warm days (at least until the cold snap last night!). Patience will be going off to her Mum's former owner, and inquiries about Ben will be welcome.Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13847570896226092615noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-34293139978728314582011-11-03T08:39:00.000-04:002011-11-03T08:39:12.401-04:00Irene and Flora Meet<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First meeting of Flora and Irene</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunshine we have been having here in Southside, VA has been great for getting Flora up and about. At first confined to the space in front of the cow stalls, and then actually in the cow paddock where she and Irene could meet. Irene has been racing around trying to impress Flora with her speed and agility, and Rosebud did the dutiful momma thing by pushing her away until Flora was ready to touch noses! Lovely for Irene to have a playmate instead of those stuffy old "aunties".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Jorghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12197735871009343601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-88999929186256478002011-11-02T08:37:00.002-04:002011-11-03T08:28:00.747-04:00Welcome Flora<div style="text-align: right;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TrW99eDmico/TrE2l7_z9tI/AAAAAAAAAa4/Q_pi-MF_T7c/s1600/Flora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TrW99eDmico/TrE2l7_z9tI/AAAAAAAAAa4/Q_pi-MF_T7c/s1600/Flora.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flora after one hour</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After 2 days</td></tr>
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Triskelion Farm is proud to announce the arrival of Triskelion's Flora and our second heifer in 3 months. Thanks to Rosebud for Flora, who is just about our smallest calf yet. Measured the day after birth she is 22 inches tall and looks very like her very small sire Baby LP (son of Little Professor). She came equipped with a good covering of hair as the nights had just dropped to frost level, but has acclimatized well to her new environment. Irene is excited to see another calf to play with.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br />
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</div>Jorghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12197735871009343601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-31921703899342202772011-10-12T18:48:00.000-04:002011-10-12T18:48:43.881-04:00Irene- once again!This calf is too sweet. She is the daughter of Riverview's Baby LP and we were surprised at how cuddly she is! All of Bessie's girls have been sweet, but Irene just wants to hug everyone. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-USda6xm5OlQ/TpYY-P0n8iI/AAAAAAAAAaw/maZCRQs-GYg/s1600/Cows068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-USda6xm5OlQ/TpYY-P0n8iI/AAAAAAAAAaw/maZCRQs-GYg/s320/Cows068.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Jorghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12197735871009343601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-8364047301051866432011-09-01T16:47:00.004-04:002011-09-01T19:17:15.443-04:00Welcome, Irene!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_22A1Fjn8Ws/Tl_xkVkdpvI/AAAAAAAAAW4/eOec9TDGo9U/s1600/irene%2Bat%2Bbirth.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_22A1Fjn8Ws/Tl_xkVkdpvI/AAAAAAAAAW4/eOec9TDGo9U/s320/irene%2Bat%2Bbirth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647498064313558770" border="0" /></a>
<br />"Welcome, Irene!" was probably not the message we had in mind on Saturday! However, it seems totally apt that Bessie's new heifer calf should be named Triskelion's Irene. She was born today, September 1st, 2011, to Tanglewood Cookie Dough (Bessie). Mother and daughter are doing well. The sire is Riverview's Baby LP, making Irene a Foundation Pure Miniature Jersey, small and cute. After a long and anxious night, we were assured that Bessie had decided to wait another day. We let her out with the other cows, and within an hour, we were greeting our newest arrival. It was a very warming experience to be able to watch, and remarkable how quickly they stand and take their first wobbling footsteps. A great day.
<br />Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13847570896226092615noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-76779107576526227992011-02-28T17:06:00.000-05:002011-02-28T17:06:12.086-05:00Right School, Wrong Year.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r-mfGFuV8Os/TWwUw_DbArI/AAAAAAAAAas/VCQakURFR7w/s1600/women_summersession.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r-mfGFuV8Os/TWwUw_DbArI/AAAAAAAAAas/VCQakURFR7w/s320/women_summersession.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This photograph appears in the current University of Virginia Magazine and portrays a summer school course at the University of Virginia in 1907. Women were not allowed general admission to Mr. Jefferson's University in those days, except to take summer classes like this one, or to earn degrees in a few traditional women's disciplines. It wasn't until 1972 that students were allowed to enroll in all programs regardless of gender.<br />
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Throughout the years, classes in stock judging gave way to more mundane foundation courses, as well as the occasional "gut" course such as "Circus in America." While I never signed up for "Circus," I would certainly have been intrigued by the class shown in this photograph. I am sure that I would not have met the style requirement, though, since it appears that wearing an over sized hair bagel was necessary for acceptance. <br />
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Photo from: University of Virginia Magazine. Full article at: http://uvamagazine.org/features/article/women_at_the_university_of_virginia/Jorghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12197735871009343601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-24143685668238164422011-01-28T07:47:00.002-05:002011-01-28T08:06:03.713-05:00Agricultural animals; care by owner, penalty. (HB1541)<a href="http://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2011/hb1541/">This bill</a>, which loosens the regulations governing the care of both food animals and horses, has now passed the full committee. We need to make the full GA aware of the implications of this bill by lobbying our representatives. For horses in particular, it would mean that they would lose the option to be taken to a rescue and the obvious conclusion is an increase in the slaughter truck population. Once that happens then the calls for US equine slaughter houses (already showing up across a number of States) will be intensified. This is part of a concerted effort by pro horse slaughter advocates to shoe horn their agenda into as many legislative bills as possible. In VA they can conveniently attach themselves to the big Ag attacks on food animal care regulations as horses are included. In other States they are using bills on the relaxation of food sources to push horse meat production and, in yet another approach, to use the economy and high jobless rates to promote slaughter houses (which employ relatively few people, have little impact on the local economy, but make big profits for the private owners!).Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13847570896226092615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-78017340831870558592011-01-16T16:01:00.009-05:002011-01-16T16:16:26.881-05:00VA Bill HB 1541 Would Weaken Protections for Horses and Farm Animals<table bg="" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td rowspan="1" colspan="1" width="100%"><table class="yiv191466598" style="background-color: rgb(0, 204, 0); margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; color: rgb(0, 204, 0);" id="yiv191466598content_LETTER.BLOCK1" bg="" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:18pt;" rowspan="1" colspan="1" align="center"><span style="font-family:'sans-serif';">Virginians for Animal Welfare </span></td></tr></tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="1" colspan="1" width="100%"> <br /></td> </tr> <tr style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);"> <td rowspan="1" colspan="1" width="100%"> <table id="yiv191466598content_LETTER.BLOCK13" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td rowspan="1" colspan="1"> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" align="center"><b>ALERT</b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">It hasn't been our posture to take a position nor to ask our membership or Alert readers to take a position on farm animals or equines but the language of and strategy for a Farm Bureau/Agribusiness bill (introduced simultaneously in both houses (HB1541-Orrock and SB1026-Puckett) with identical language) which would dilute minimum care standards for these animals not only makes our doing so justified and appropriate but an imperative.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">We trust you will agree and will speak actively and often against these bills, starting immediately.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The language of these bills replaces the animal care standards presently in the Code at 3.2-6500 and elsewhere with new "standards". These new standards are no more than enough "food to prevent emaciation, water to prevent dehydration and veterinary care to prevent <b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[but not repair]</span></b> impairment of health or bodily function, but none of these are required if the animal is to be humane destroyed or if an act of God or of a veterinarian or if "animal husbandry" makes any of these requirements unnecessary". </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">This is the pending "pushback" against animal welfare the Farm Bureau/Agribusiness has promised in news stories.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">The bill strategy is to call these "<b><i><span style="text-decoration: underline;">unprecedented care standards</span></i></b>" and offer both through seasoned Agriculture Committee members in a short session with many momentous issues and no advance collaboration with the animal welfare community, or any public notice of intent to exempt farm animals from present care standards other than by warning a "pushback" against care standards was coming.. </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">A broad and effective response is critical to each of the Agriculture Committee members below before Wednesday, January 19, 2011, and thereafter until this bill is dramatically changed or defeated. So is a broad and effective response to all your Delegates and Senators whether serving on the Agriculture Committee or not. For any who don't know how to do this, please see below or email us for guidance.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">We oppose this bill and ask that you do as well for your own reasons or those which follow:</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">1) There are presently standards in the Code of Virginia for animals at 3.2-6500 and elsewhere, and penalties for cruelty violations;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">2) There is Virginia case law upholding these standards and violations thereof, all decided in local Virginia courts and by the Virginia Supreme Court, among which is <b><i>Sullivan v. Commonwealth</i></b>;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">3) To demonstrate the need for or merit of new "standards", an Attorney General Opinion could have been sought or issued as to the adequacy of the present (or even the new) standards, or whether there were any enforcement defects in the present standards, but no such Opinion was requested;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">4) There is a long history of successful enforcements under the present standards;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">5) The widely accepted veterinary standards used in prosecutions of animal cruelty cases are nowhere to be found in these new "standards", and are in fact superceded thereby;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">6) The new "standards" are both vague and exculpatory, and as such are putatively unenforceable and unconstitutional on these grounds;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">7) It appears that no Commonwealth's Attorney or law enforcement groups (VACA or Sheriffs) were consulted about the enforceability or desirability of these new "standards";</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">8) The bill was introduced "under the radar", without fanfare (the manner in which the legislation was proposed and absence of full and complete disclosure to animal welfare groups and the general public of its need, purpose and content speaks of its patently self-serving character);</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">9) The bill mirrors and implements a national Farm Bureau "pushback" strategy;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">10) The bill is another step in the promotion of animals as creatures without any feelings, awareness or susceptibility to pain and suffering, is a stark reminder of the treatment of chattels under slavery laws, and likewise unwisely promotes the notion that "animal husbandry" is tantamount to care or compassion.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Read the bills and see the existing Code by <b>Googling</b>.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;" align="center"><b>Legislative Information System, Virginia</b></p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Or, if you prefer, you may use <span style="text-decoration: underline;">either</span> of the following links:</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><i>Legislative Information System</i></b>, <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=ghihr8bab&et=1104253185303&s=1055&e=0015wuRGvUSbzI4mJsy4PBTBdmj1xQTvMUef56O9Mc6GzPbSC1Ffv-YUL-38fqz2SHN7ifwGmdz7oxh87MlAmfmQBe3dMyi72JHWu1MOzmpalJSOvVoALpv5Q==">http://leg6.state.va.us/</a></p> <p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span> </span></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><i><b><span> </span>For your legislator, </b></i><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=ghihr8bab&et=1104253185303&s=1055&e=0015wuRGvUSbzLbH0VKrko5kVzqI0gWBq2u8L4NaB9mN9STw2Q-L7hZbjW10Tmg6JP-uRNUPeU_R-Rx-yzcs5ItipQnF7F_5C8GDsM0tX0RPWG41OPPk_eUYNu93o0li9cQY131eDi7v4SehuwbqSJwj_HWtFOD_27A">http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform</a></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><i>(neither gives you Code of Virginia access conveniently; for the bill, go to the following) </i></b></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><i> </i></b></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=ghihr8bab&et=1104253185303&s=1055&e=0015wuRGvUSbzJmpNPBFGAl904JUi6u_Ypne7YRT0Oo5DwbjOLeIZgvOp34JWTSbLf5PQ60xmGBEbvH6GFKI5X4Wa9QJ0d_rbkBZOhe_jtWAxld0gHovkAhcyyhyojWxYl8x2aOLIWWe85FQUKo5SsO2tF8UZ9G4fhoPfxoWzp0nxk=">http://leg6.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+HB1541</a></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><i> </i></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=ghihr8bab&et=1104253185303&s=1055&e=0015wuRGvUSbzKG9LAIKHaBY-mAmLZ5BOD_uSm8w_rKx6JWH8AAOpqYfJGFZNwmFJE62YlD34NVBmG9AvE3kUuGv5qN6dh0SwKchACdXUoAmiaLqi6hqWFq5E-4pbcbfw7a2HcgDnLUMC4dCi7GiwA5n7IikId_h-rZzt4Et-9SqJQ=">http://leg6.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+SB1026</a></p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-left: 0.5in; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><b>If you use Google</b>,</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">select Bills and Resolutions then enter the bill number (HB1541 or SB1026) to see the bills;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">select Code of Virginia and Table of Contents then Title 3.2 then Chapter 65 (6500 et seq) to see the present Code;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">select Standing Committees and House Agriculture and Senate Agriculture to list Committeemembers;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">select General Assembly Members and Who's My Legislator to find your legislators (Delegate and Senator) if you don't already know;</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Email contact is best, but phone contact, fax or letters work fine if that's what you prefer. All this contact information is available on the Standing Committees membership lists by clicking on each member. </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Be sure to send your first emails (or contacts) to House Ag Subcommittee members: Bobby Orrock, <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://webmail.peoplepc.com/mc/compose?to=DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov">DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov</a>, (D.W. Marshall, <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://webmail.peoplepc.com/mc/compose?to=DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov">DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov</a>, Charles Poindexter, <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://webmail.peoplepc.com/mc/compose?to=DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov">DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov</a>, Barry Knight, <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://webmail.peoplepc.com/mc/compose?to=DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov">DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov</a>, Richard Bell, <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://webmail.peoplepc.com/mc/compose?to=DelDBell@house.virginia.gov">DelDBell@house.virginia.gov</a>, John Cox, <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://webmail.peoplepc.com/mc/compose?to=DelJCox@house.virginia.gov">DelJCox@house.virginia.gov</a>, James Shuler, <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://webmail.peoplepc.com/mc/compose?to=DelJShuler@house.virginia.gov">DelJShuler@house.virginia.gov</a>, Mark Sickles, <a rel="nofollow" shape="rect" target="_blank" href="http://webmail.peoplepc.com/mc/compose?to=DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov">DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov</a>. </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">There is a separate bill, as you know, in the Senate. The Senate Ag Committee must also be contacted promptly.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Please do this immediately, and also please promote additional support among your friends and animal welfare colleagues.</p><span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">This alert was originally posted by Virginians for Animal Welfare and is reproduced here to help spread the word and defeat these bills.</span></span><table id="yiv191466598content_LETTER.BLOCK11" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr></tr><tr><td rowspan="1" colspan="1" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif" size="10pt" style="" align="left"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="1" colspan="1" width="100%"><br /></td></tr><tr style="color: rgb(153, 255, 255);"><td rowspan="1" colspan="1" width="100%"><table style="margin-bottom: 6px;" id="yiv191466598content_LETTER.BLOCK11" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td rowspan="1" colspan="1" face="Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif" size="10pt" style="" align="left"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13847570896226092615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-66795609965774831662011-01-10T14:18:00.000-05:002011-01-10T14:18:10.849-05:00Shelter ChallengeIt is Shelter Challenge time again and our resident rescue, the White Bird Appaloosa Horse Rescue, is hoping to move up a few places on the leader boards. With your help in spreading the word we should be able to gain the two places that would put us in the top ten in Virginia.Jorghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12197735871009343601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-1239325693875448102011-01-01T06:57:00.003-05:002011-01-01T07:28:18.561-05:00Welcome 2011<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_baJlWZBpnH8/TR8YNla9jgI/AAAAAAAAAWg/2x0Nes_VWyk/s1600/Run%2BAway%2521%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 132px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_baJlWZBpnH8/TR8YNla9jgI/AAAAAAAAAWg/2x0Nes_VWyk/s400/Run%2BAway%2521%255B1%255D.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557187086861045250" border="0" /></a>"Is it Spring yet!?"<br /><br /></div>The arctic temperatures have finally relented for a few days and we bask in the 50s and 60s for a while. Perhaps a portent that 2011 may be a better year! Amazing to think one decade of the 21st century has already gone by. We have learned a lot in the short time we have had our mini Jerseys, and while we no longer have "no experience" there is still much more to learn about them. The farm continues to be improved (yes we will finish painting the Red Barn) while at the same time we fight to stop the natural decay and bits falling off that is farm maintenance. Even in the cold and gloom of winter, we can look out over our small bit of the world and think how lucky we are. I have a commute of 400 yards, and am met at every step of the way with moos, neighs, bleats, cock-a-doodle-dos and miaows that signify their relief that breakfast will be served once again. Nothing like being wanted, even if it is the feed that is really important.<br /><br />All at the farm hope that you and yours will have a happy, healthy and prosperous 2011 and, as the old Gaelic blessing goes:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="bigcap">M</span>ay the road rise up to meet you.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> May the wind be always at your back.<br />May the sun shine warm upon your face;<br />the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,<br />may God hold you in the palm of His hand.<br /></div>Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13847570896226092615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-22498763783709623812010-12-06T09:11:00.001-05:002010-12-06T09:14:31.544-05:00Farm Sign<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_71jrG6OW1jc/TPzu8bK6WYI/AAAAAAAAAaY/HTSHRgxdKno/s1600/shield4flat.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_71jrG6OW1jc/TPzu8bK6WYI/AAAAAAAAAaY/HTSHRgxdKno/s320/shield4flat.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Once again Heidi Powers has come up with a wonderful design, this time for the farm. Taking our main activities - horse rescue, mini-Jerseys, chickens and hay production, and combining them with Tom's home coat of arms, she has produced a glorious composition to represent the farm. The latin inscription roughly translates as "however we are thrown, we stand".- very apt in todays uncertain climate! <br />
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We will be producing a sign for the driveway and also put he design on the red barn. Our grateful thanks to Heidi for her hard work.Jorghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12197735871009343601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-6563147270791260832010-11-18T10:28:00.001-05:002010-11-18T10:40:44.101-05:00Farewell Jack d. 17th November 2010<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_baJlWZBpnH8/TOUiSe-oEQI/AAAAAAAAAWM/sxbpeFtS9JA/s1600/Jack%2Bcanoe%2B4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540872617497989378" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_baJlWZBpnH8/TOUiSe-oEQI/AAAAAAAAAWM/sxbpeFtS9JA/s400/Jack%2Bcanoe%2B4.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 250px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a>When we picked Jack up at the Westmoreland Animal Shelter in 2003 he was out of time. However, the shelter staff was so keen to save this dog that they stayed open an extra couple of hours so that we could get across and pick him up. Jorg and I had been doing dog transport runs for some time, meeting other transporters at different rendezvous points on I-95 and I-81 and driving a leg or two on the rescued dogs' journey from kill shelters to the northern rescues that would take them. The plan for Jack was that we would hand him off to another transporter in northern Virginia, then he would be delivered to a rescuer friend of ours in Pennsyvlania and she would find him a home. The best laid plans.........<br /><br />Jack was a brindle Amstaff (polite name for a pitbull mix). We reached the shelter, then duly signed and took possession of him. The shelter told us he was <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">about</span> 2 years old and that he was a really sweet dog. Well the latter part was true, but it wasn't many years before we realized that he was nearer 6 or 7 years old when we picked him up.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_71jrG6OW1jc/TOU7AKkbtJI/AAAAAAAAAaI/xHHjUQnOcjw/s1600/Foals+414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_71jrG6OW1jc/TOU7AKkbtJI/AAAAAAAAAaI/xHHjUQnOcjw/s320/Foals+414.jpg" border="0" height="320" width="228" /></a></div><br />We had two hours to kill before we were to link up with his transporter, so we spent a little time by the Chesapeake Bay walking Jack along the sand. At first sight he was a mess. He was very thin. His toenails were worn to the quick, his elbows rubbed raw and the smell was indescribable (even though the shelter had bathed him twice). He had obviously come a long way and had a really bad time. When we reached Arlington, the time had come to pass him on, but the transporter arrived in a standard car with the back seat already taken up by some puppies. That put Jack in the front seat. I duly coaxed him in, only to receive a paw on the arm, and a look that reached right into my soul.<br /><br />Now, we had been doing transport for over a year and had seen the sad and confused faces of dozens of puppies, old dogs and scared dogs. We had resisted taking them all home. Indeed it was a serious breach of the transport rules to do so, as these dogs were destined for new and better homes, one way or another. Back to Jack, who now looked so perplexed at being parted with that I just couldn't do anything except say "Jack, let's go home." Fortunately, our rescue friend in Pennsylvania was only too happy with this arrangement.<br /><br />On the way home, we realized that a new dog meant a new bed, so we duly stopped to buy one. As we put it into the back of the SUV, Jack's eyes opened wide. He shot over to the back and spent the rest of the journey happily snuggling into his floofy bed! For the rest of his life, Jack's bed was his own, special place in the world.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_baJlWZBpnH8/TOUpvCdOxpI/AAAAAAAAAWU/8E3yIw1C1jI/s1600/Mayfield3%2B%25283%2529.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540880804639327890" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_baJlWZBpnH8/TOUpvCdOxpI/AAAAAAAAAWU/8E3yIw1C1jI/s320/Mayfield3%2B%25283%2529.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 276px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shandy, Jack and Sally</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Jack took a long time to bond fully with us and he often he seemed far away. We always felt that he had had a good home, probably with children to play with, and that some bad event had befallen him that led to his finishing up in the shelter. A nice boy he certainly was, accepting Sally as "boss" and treating Shandy (another shelter dog formerly on death row) to regular ear cleaning, a service he provided later on for Bridgette as well. The shelter had named him Jack, and as he seemed to be happy with the name, it stuck. When we jokingly called him "Fuzzy Butt", it never failed to exact a wiggle of his minuscule stump of a tail, even when he was failing at the end. He seemed to know this tease from days long past. His only problem was a strong prey drive (but only for critturs!) that caused him to view an open outside door as an invitation to "bolt". He'd then arrive back at the door a while later covered in swamp mud and soaking wet, wagging his stump of a tail to let us know how much he had enjoyed himself. He did come unglued on one such episode, when running alongside a nearby fence, me following his tracks in the fresh snow, the llama who guarded our neighbor's goats suddenly appeared over the fence and did what llamas do. Jack bolted once more, but this time straight to me, pleased to be back on the leash and going home!</div></div><br />It became obvious a few years later, as his muzzle started to gray out, that Jack was a lot older than we had initially thought. His hearing also started to go, although it was remarkable that the chink of the cookie jar lid, or a spoon on an ice cream bowl, could bring him running from the furthest reaches of the house. Up to this year though, his health had been pretty good. A benign tumor on his butt was easily removed, but he had some bone spurs on his backbone, which started to affect his back legs, and the formation of cataracts was progressively reducing his sight. The neurological effect of the bone spurs was treatable with prednisone, but as we had experienced with Sally, it was difficult to get a dosage that helped keep him walking without the poisonous aftereffect.<br /><br />Finally two days ago, his legs gave out completely. Along with a loss of appetite, it was obvious that there were a number of other things going wrong, too many for us to help him. That last night and day he did not move from the comfy bed that we had made up downstairs for him and we made the hard decision to let him go. Our thanks to our vet Dr Gates, who did a home visit so that we didn't have to take Jack out of his home environment.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_71jrG6OW1jc/TOU6FXZ7WbI/AAAAAAAAAaE/65jwyszjm1E/s1600/P1010008.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_71jrG6OW1jc/TOU6FXZ7WbI/AAAAAAAAAaE/65jwyszjm1E/s320/P1010008.JPG" border="0" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>Farewell Fuzzy Butt. Enjoy your reunion with Sally, Shandy and Bridgette. You really were a "good boy" and will be sorely missed. There is a big hole in the house that will never be filled.Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13847570896226092615noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-68079759640598361872010-11-12T14:14:00.001-05:002010-11-12T14:16:20.972-05:00Welcome Charlie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_71jrG6OW1jc/TN2QTYZa90I/AAAAAAAAAZ0/KHaBUPmGBkE/s1600/Charlie+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_71jrG6OW1jc/TN2QTYZa90I/AAAAAAAAAZ0/KHaBUPmGBkE/s200/Charlie+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_71jrG6OW1jc/TN2QIgGt3kI/AAAAAAAAAZw/52S4UV0AonQ/s1600/Charlie+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_71jrG6OW1jc/TN2QIgGt3kI/AAAAAAAAAZw/52S4UV0AonQ/s200/Charlie+1.jpg" width="186" /></a><br />
Rosebud did her usual excellent job of not showing all the visual signs of impending birth, and then quietly giving birth this morning just before I checked on her. Triskellion's Charlemagne (Charlie for short) is a sturdy young man and should top out around midi size. He is pretty adventurous already, hopping between the two stalls we have opened up for them, without seeming to care where his mother is! He hasn't quite got the teat location yet, homing in on the leg or the upper part of the udder.Jorghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12197735871009343601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584812064491845453.post-77535796738354203572010-10-30T15:56:00.000-04:002010-10-30T15:56:09.291-04:00Adsense Ads on the BlogJust to let our readers know that we allow Google to present ads on our blog as it is a possible revenue for the Rescue. Generally, it has been limited to products and services that we have no particular problem with, and we can deselect certain types of ads. Unfortunately, that is usually after the event and so you may have seen overtly political ads recently. We disassociate the Farm and ourselves from these ads and will be discontinuing Adsense as a result.<br />
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Tom and Jorg MayfieldJorghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12197735871009343601noreply@blogger.com0