Sdwd

[rancher hicks]

Afternoon all.....we've FINALLY gotten some rain here, Kathy, nothing like you got though, but at least the pollen is being knocked down. We had pollen counts over 9000 this week and my eyes hurt.

Grabbed a quick couple of pix this morning as I let everyone loose.....here is a "yard full o' rocks"






I am finally winding down my hatching. I have about 100 Col rock chicks on the ground already, 1/2 doz more due Sunday. Behind that I have about 3 dzn BLRW (Jennifer said she wanted something other than "boring ol' black and white" chickens) and then about 1 1/2 dzn Icelandics for my FIL. Hopefully, after that, I'm done. I seem to have "chicken nuggets" running everywhere. I am hoping to move my "Rex-lettes" up to a grow up pen this weekend after the rain is gone. They still aren't fully feathered, but they are growing like crazy

Baseball season has cranked up and Colby will be playing in our first official tournament starting tomorrow. I hope everyone is well and that everyone has a great and restful weekend.

Well I'm glad Colby is doing good. I might get some pics of those chicks if I get a new camera. I tried to get some of the BR's but they're all yuk.

Cyn it looks nice.

Kathy I'm bringing "Vladimir" to your place. I have learned to take a stick with me when I go to the coop and not turn my back on him. While he is protective he doesn't keep those girls on their side of the fence. It's either Vladimir or PUNT cuz that's what I do to him when he comes at me.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Scott, I am glad Colby is doing so well.

Cyn, that quilt looks great!

LH, congrats on the new baby.

 

[kathyinmo]

What do you think of this F2 boy? I will tell you, I am guessing his weight at around 9 -10 pounds. I could be wrong, but that is my guess.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Wow! What a Hunk!!

He is absolutely handsome. F2's would be the second generation right? How old is he?

 

[kathyinmo]

They hatched in September, Laura. This boy is even bigger than that one. He is MASSIVE ! !

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Oh my, he is massive! How exciting this must be for you.

 

[Funky Feathers]

Now now, let's keep this family-friendly.

 

[Cetawin]

Now now, let's keep this family-friendly.

It was....

Had to share this old but good funny....Scott, this one is for you as a follow up to deer roping Introducing the Spring Pond Beavers you can verify on snopes.com

This is a copy of an actual letter sent to Ryan DeVries, from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, State of Michigan. Wait
till you read this guy's response - but read the entire letter before you get to the response.

Mr. Ryan DeVries
2088 Dagget
Pierson, MI 49339
SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20;

Site Location: Montcalm County

Dear Mr. DeVries:

It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality
that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced
parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner
and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:

Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet
stream of Spring Pond.

A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A
review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued.

Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in
violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource
and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994,
being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws
annotated.

The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially
failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at
downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently
hazardous and cannot be permitted.

The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities
at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by
removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel.
All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2002.

Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so
that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure
to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the
site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement
action.

We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter.
Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
David L. Price
District Representative
Land and Water Management Division
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RESPONSE:

Dear Mr. Price,

Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20;
Montcalm County

Reference your certified letter dated 12/17/2001 has been referred to me
to respond to. First of all, Mr. Ryan De Vries is not the legal
landowner and/or contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan.

I am the legal owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State
unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris"
dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond.

While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I
think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of
natural building materials "debris." I would like to challenge your
department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any
place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could
ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam
ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their
dam work ethic.

As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must
first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam
activity. My first dam question to you is
:
(1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers? or,
(2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said
dam request?

If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through
the Freedom of Information Act I request completed copies of all those
other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. Perhaps we
will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes
and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act,
Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.3010,1 to
324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated. I have several
concerns. My first concern is, aren't the beavers entitled to legal
representation?

The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay
for said representation - so the State will have to provide them with a
lawyer.

The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed
during a recent rain event causing flooding is proof that this is a
natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In
other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than
harass them and call their dam names. If you want the stream "restored"
to a dam free-flow condition - please contact the beavers - but if you
are going to arrest them they obviously did not pay any attention to
your dam letter (being unable to read English).

In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build
their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green
and water flows downstream. They have more dam right than I do to live
and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the
natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams).

So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be
referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until
1/31/2002 The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and
there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them
then.

In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention a real
environmental quality (health) problem in the area. It is the bears.
Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you
should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone.

If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The
bears are not careful where they dump!)

Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to
contact you on your answering machine, I am sending this response to
your office via another government organization - the USPS. Maybe,
someday, it will get there.

Sincerely,
Stephen L. Tvedten
The University of Texas at: Austin
Office Community Relations/Accounting unit
P.O. Box 7367
Austin, TX 78713

 

[speckledhen]

Oh, question for LH. I am wondering if this one border should just be the only border. It makes the quilt a non-traditional, but good sized approx 40" square, which should serve baby Benjamin, who is now just about 4 lb, for quite some time. Gosh, if it was in any shape at all when he outgrew it, she could add a sleeve and make it a wallhanging for his room! Most ready made crib quilt battings are about 40 x 60 (not sure I have enough, but will have to look; otherwise, will have to buy one). Here it is as I was piecing the border strips and placing them up on the design wall ( they are not trimmed and sewn, just sitting there):

 

[Cetawin]

I like it...I agree it is not traditional but who cares really. Baby will like it either way. Again woman...I trust your eye, make it as you like it and see fit.