Finally!

For the last six weeks I have been sleeping on a couch that has theater seats.  It definitely was not made to stretch out and sleep on!  But it was all worth it.  If you read one of my earlier blog posts, the one titled "In Our Children's Eyes", you read about my passion for mares and their foals and my efforts to ensure that I am there when the foals are born.  This year was an exceptionally long year.

The average of the average number of days a mare will carry her foal is 340 days.  Corkiella went 373!  One could argue the fact that a person should be able to tell when a mare gets close, and normally you can.   There are "signs" that point to foaling being imminent - udder size and waxing, muscles relaxing at the tail head, etc.  But.... there are also times when mares offer no indication that foaling is near.  I was NOT going to take a chance of missing this blessed event.  It meant too much to me and had been so long since we have had a foal.  Truthfully, if I had waited for distinct signs I would have missed it.  She really didn't show many.

She had seemed close several times and I even missed a fews days at work - taking half-day vacation days.  Thankfully I have a very understanding boss and plant manager.  Most big farms have a night watchman.  I enlisted my father-in-law to become my day watchman.  He was loyal about checking on her three and four times a day.  When he'd get in for lunch I would call to get his update on what she was doing.  It was usually enough to keep me at work for the rest of the afternoon.   And of course I had my cameras going so that I could watch from the house during the late night hours...... sleeping with one eye and both ears open.

Saturday night was John's trap shooting night at the gun club and I was enjoying the night at home with my dogs and horses, making sure that Corki's stall stayed clean just in case.  Yep, everytime she poohed I was on it and it seemed like she was poohing more than normal.  Maybe a sign?  Maybe just wishful thinking on my part.  I had watched him bounce and kick his mom for months and I was anxious for it to be over for her but also for me.  I simply could not wait to get my hands on this baby. 

I was in the barn, hanging on the front of Corki's stall when she started walking in circles and then her water broke.  Another thing to be thankful..... cell phones...... yeah, I know, but they can come in handy.  I called John ..... "Ummmmm, Corki's water just broke...."   He said he would come right home.  I thought I could do this by myself but it is always nice to have moral support.  Once the water breaks (providing that all is positioned normal) it doesn't take long.  She went down and I started seeing feet, then a muzzle.  Yep, it was positioned correctly......"Thank you, God!"  Corki got up once and then went right back down.  This time there was enough legs out that I could grab hold.  When she pushed, I pulled being sure to always pull down toward the hocks.  We hit a snag so I moved one leg around a little.  That was all it took and here he came!

John missed the actual birth but not by much and he was elated to see that he had gotten his chestnut stud colt just like he had ordered..... chrome (white markings) and all.

It didn't take the little fellow long to try out his VERY long legs nor to find the good stuff Mom provides! 

His first outing outside was yesterday.  He was only a little over twelve hours old and we had his halter on him and a lead rope around his butt to help guide him.  Mom is pretty protective of him..... she is such a good mom and is very proud of her little buddy.  He is a little thinner than other foals that we have had here at our farm, but I am confident that Corki will provide good nutrition for him.  And you can bet that I will provide the best I know how to for her.  He has a hearty appetite and she is so patient with him...... letting him nurse all he wants...... and that is a lot!  I can already see that he has filled out a little just in one day.  Our vet will be here today to check him out and give him his tetanus shot. 

 

I read somewhere last week that misery loves company but God loves a grateful heart.  I am so very grateful for all the blessings that He has bestowed on us.  He knows what we want, but He also knows what we need.  It was somewhat worrisome that Corki went so long before she foaled, but I had put her in His hands and I do trust in Him with all my heart.  God is so very good!  Now let the dreaming begin.   This guy could be the 2013 Kentucky Derby winner, or Indiana Derby winner, or both!  Yep, I dream big but with God at the wheel anything and everything is possible.

Eagle Watch 2010

The above is a young bird.... no white head yet.

Yesterday, February 20th, the Salamonie Interpretive Nature Center sponsored their 3rd Annual Eagle Watch.  Information distributed there indicates that on June 20, 1782, the Continental Congress voted for the Nation's symbol.  The Golden Eagle lost due to it also being native to Europe.  The Turkey, which was Ben Franklin's choice, is a truely native American bird but lost out to the Bald Eagle.  At that time there was estimated to be over 500,000 Bald Eagles that called North America home. 

Because of the introduction and use of DDT, by 1963 there were less than 500 pairs.  In 1972, DDT was outlawed and since that time the Bald Eagle has been making a brave comeback.  While they have been removed from the Endangered Species List, they are still protected by the Migratory Bird Act (1918) as well as the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (1940).  If you should be fortunate enough to encounter one of these majestic birds please remember to give them the respect and space that they deserve. 

Just a few Bald Eagle facts:
1.  They are 4 to 5 years old before getting the white head and tail.  This is also when they reach mating age.
2.  Eagles mate for life.
3.  Pound for pound, the Eagle's wing is as strong as an airplane wing.
4.  The Bald Eagle has a 10-plus square mile hunting range.
5.  Vision is six to eight times better than humans.  They have both binocular and monocular vision and can see color, but they cannot see at night. 
6.  They may build two nests...... just in case.
7.  Both parents incubate the eggs but it is mostly done by the female.  The male does brings food to the female.
8.  New nests can be 4 feet deep and 5 feet in diamter.  The largest ever recorded was 10 feet in diameter and 20 feet deep, weighing 4,000 pounds.

Our day out watching for Eagles started in mid-afternoon.  While a little on the gray side, the weather was near perfect for February.  We originally had concerns that incoming weather might prevent us from being able to participate...... but that was not to be the case.  John and I met up with my very good friend from work and his wife.

 After a brief tutorial on Eagles we joined one of three caravans.  They had a much larger group than in the previous two years and were kind of overwhelmed with the number of cars they were going to be dealing with.

We couldn't have been more than a couple of miles from our starting point when we spotted an Eagle flying.  Sorry that I didn't get a picture of it but it was a good indication that we were indeed going to see Eagles.  We saw some awesome winter scenery also.

 And we did see more Eagles!  It was truly spectacular and quite an experience.  We were able to view a nest and there were two birds occupying it - one actually in the nest and the other on a limb.

At the roosting spot John counted twelve birds in the tree line.  It was breathtaking - to actually see them flying in for the night!  We had no idea that there were that many Eagles in our area.  Do you see them?  Sorry that we couldn't get closer, but as I said before, these bird deserve their space.

Here are a couple pictures that I took last summer.  Boy, the "green" looks very inviting.  ☺

And the Grand Finale......  a couple of links to webcams where you can watch the nests.

http://www.iws.org/bald_eagles/pelicanharborcam.htm

http://www.iws.org/bald_eagles/twoharborscam.html

And

Lot of links to cams for different species of birds can be found here:

http://www.beakspeak.com/birdcams

How Great Thou Art

Look at what God can do with simple very cold water!  He is quite the Artist.....

Normally I would be at work this time of day, but last Monday (2/8/10) I scheduled a vacation day.  When I looked out the windows I couldn't get outside with my camera quick enough.  What a beautful sight!

The above picture was taken several years ago, but it is the same theme...... frozen fog...... although that day it wasn't anywhere near as cold as it has been here lately.  If it was these guys would have been inside.  ☺

What an awesome artist He is!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

I'm not a huge baker or cook but I do like to try new things from time to time.  The website of an author I have read and that I really enjoy following includes recipes and I thought that was a pretty neat idea.  You can check her out at http://www.deborahvogts.com/   While I am sure I won't post a lot of recipes, if and when I come across one that is pretty tasty I will share it with you all here.  You can trust that I will have tried it myself and confirmed that is worthy of the energy to type it before it appears here.

And.... since the NFL playoffs are going on, this recipe might come in handy for some.  I warn you though..... I found it to be pretty spicey hot...... but a "want more" hot and then maybe it was just my taste buds.  I took it to work and it was a big hit.

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, boiled, drained and shredded with 2 forks
1 (12 ounce) bottle of Frank's Hot Sauce
16 ounces cream cheese
1 (16 ounce) bottle Ranch dressing
1/2 cup minced celery
8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack or Sharp Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
In a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan, combine the shredded chicken meat with entire bottle of Frank's Hot Sauce, spreading to form an even layer.
In a large sauce pan, over medium heat, combine the cream cheese with entire bottle of Ranch dressing, stirring until smooth and hot.  Pour evenly over the chicken mixture.  Sprinkle celery over top.  Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, then sprinkle cheese over top and bake uncovered for another 15 or 20 minutes until just hot and bubbly.  Let stand 10 minutes before serving with celery sticks or any sturdy dipping chip.

Enjoy!