Fire Alert - Friday, 14, November

Sixth Sense or Science?
Well, I came home on Friday night after work as usual for my "chill" night after a long week, of course , they're all long weeks to me. Anyway, some dinner, news, and just being with the dogs hanging out. Later I put them out to relieve their bladder, I call it "peeing the dogs".

Dogs peed, lights out, etc we all went to bed.

At 2:15a.m., My bigger dog Pate came and woke me up. I was first somewhat grumpy, thinking, "didn't you pee already? Now you've got more?, Well, maybe you have an upset stomach"
SO I bring him out to the deck area and instead of turning right for the steps, he went left to the far end of the deck, smelling the air ...........sniffing constantly.

It was silent outside so I thought he caught wind of some animal. We do have fisher cats, coyote's, bear, bob cats, and some stray wolfs (they actually got free by accident from the local university study program). He sniffed the air constantly, but was only slightly alarmed. Dogs, in general, (varies with species) have a 1000 times greater sense of smell than humans.

I brought him in. The next morning was Saturday and while I was watching the news, there it was, a story about a house that burned to the ground, at exactly the time Pate was sniffing the air. The house is about 3/4 of a mile away through woods, on another road that runs parallel to mine.

These animals of ours DO have a sixth sense. No doubt in my mind. However, perhaps it's not a sixth sense but a enhanced version of the 5 senses. I've read articles that explain, perhaps as I said, animals have an increased ability in all their senses, they are JUST BETTER than us. Either way, I feel lucky to have my fiends along with me in my travels through life.

The cats and dogs that find their owners miles away, the dogs that predict illnesses, cats predicting death, ....wow, there is so much more to our animal friends.

Well, I was proud of Pate and if there ever was a fire here, I am comforted he would wake me immediately.

Have a Good Week, and drop by to say hello, but remember to give extra hugs to our feathered and fury friends sharing the planet with us.

jurn

Mike's Corn Maze - More Than A Maze....

The last sunny day and a corny thing to do....., yeah, I stooped to use that phrase.

Some friends and I had a Fall outing to Mike's Corn Maze.

It's 8ac. of madness.

The game is a scavenger hunt within the maze, collecting data, and there by getting points. In the end we ended up lost for 3 and a half hours in the maze. Fun with some good friends is a lovely way to spend a sunny fall day. Enjoy pics.

p.s. and we won a pumpkin!

Dogs, Kids, and Grandkids,….Oh My…..

The 2 wood stoves that keep Jurneez End Farm warm.

Today’s entry will be various subjects. Last night I was visiting a couple of Blogs that I like to read, even if I don’t log on. The Old Fart is one I always enjoy for he finds such wealth in life in his daily existence. I like to believe we should all give 30-60 seconds of gratitude when we wake up in the morning or go to sleep at night. It is this gratitude that awakens us to a more spiritual side of life.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a totally blissful life, I attract the same daily thorns as others. Last week my toilet seat cracked and there is nothing like getting bitten by the seat at night. My accomplishment is I went to the local Home Depot, bought a replacement and then put three coats of polyurethane on it, then installed it by myself. Although my proud feather in my cap was blown as I discovered told by my dearest friend I put the washers on the wrong side. Re-installed.

Dogs: Well, my newest shelter rescue Mya, has been here 4 months now and really is a little leaping gazelle. Smallest dog I’ve owned in 20 years at 50 pounds. She’s inquisitive and nosey but as cunning as a jackal. She bounds past my legs and gets out on me all the time.

Training? Well, it’ll be a long time. She’s defiant and stubborn. Pate is still mostly the good ole boy he has been except for separation anxieties. Upon coming home from work one would think I’ve been gone for 3 days. Jeeeese, give it a break, will ya.

Kids:

Daughter- Laura has moved back to the country and lives rurally near here now as does her brother. She’s working with horses still and running a life that seems to be 90 miles an hour all the time. I look at that and think “Was I like that?” “Did I have 101 things to do every day?”.

I certainly couldn’t now, I come home from work and the sweats are the first thing to go on.

She explained this morning, graphically I might add, which I will leave out some of the details here, so save your skirmish stomach, how she had to medically assist her horse last night. It appeared the guy has been standing and looking uncomfortable with shifting feet etc……so she had to enter him up to her elbow and retract some private areas to apply some medication. Long story short, it doesn’t look good for the horse, might be cancer. I have greatly softened the adjectives used here.

How she does this is beyond me. She has medicated large wounds, inches deep, with the steadiest hand. She should have gone to Vet School. Perhaps, when she comes into her own with her kids grown, maybe she’ll investigate that avenue. I applaud her. I am proud of her knowledge and whom she is.

Son- Ryan has always lived near by and is a steady reliable source for me. He has his own family but none the less always carries a strong emotion for family ties. He is a strong devoted father and husband with children to teach. I am also proud of him and the man he has become. He has an unending source and ability to help others. What a wonderful attribute. He’s sometimes driven nuts by his teenage daughter, but then I remember doing that to my folks. Harmones. That early teen thing….pheew, am I glad I’m well past that (by decades) with my kids……

This sounds like my boasting but actually it’s my gratitude showing.

Grandkids- What can I say…..some drive, some don’t.

How remarkable to see them. They each individually learn, grow, and behave so differently. I see many elder family members, who have passed on, in them. Funny how cycles happen. Just nature.

Farm – With still living here, I do need assistance now and again with chores and this year I called upon Jimmy, Laura’s son to help dig and clear a ditch that is about 100 feet long. He toughed it out all day. Of course I paid him but I’d like to pay no one else than my own grandchild. We named the ditch “Jimmy’s Ditch” that way I can call him every year. He politely smiled, but inside I’m sure he grimaced.

As for winter prep, one can read any Fall post and it’s always the same, bring in the wood, stack nearby, clean the chimney, etc. etc. and it goes on and on.

So Fall for me is a work period for 5 weeks as is Spring, but ya know what, so isn’t summer. Actually, winter is the only time I can slow down and do some stain glass or work on the train table.

Be Safe,

jurn

Winter is a blessing for giving us the slower pace in life.

Excuse me, I see something shiny over there and need to go investigate and play.

jurneez Jamboree II Campout - Not Just Camping

August - Jurneez Jamboree II Campout with my same corny friends.

Good friends and some free time.

Annual campout in my back field for 3 days. We all work on our cars by day and exchange talents as a barter system for about 25 people. Repairs, installations, new batteries, sidesteps, radios, camping platforms, rear latches for hatch doors, brush guards, horns, etc and then wonderful color flamed campfires at night. Always a productive time. Thanks Guys.

July 4th Boom Box Parade

July 4^th Boom Box Parade - A small towns’ antics with doing a parade without a band. Accomplished by all folks having a boom box radio. Oldest continuous Boom Box Parade in the country for 23 years straight. No rules, anyone can march or drive, motor vehicle or tractor, Just have to wear red, white and blue. There’s water sprays on hot days. Candy for the little folk. Political banners with satire for the adults. Of course there is music, how you ask? The local radio show plays marching music through speakers on Mian St. and all the Boom Boxes folks brought tune in.

So, my corny friends and I came up with a - .................

“Planet Theme” - “Don’t Step on the Bugs”

We all decorated our Honda Elements are insects with hairy legs, long antenna, etc. and drove in the parade, just to make a statement. And this is how a small New England town has fun, although this town is MUCH, MUCH bigger than my town.