Around The Farm: An Opportune Observation Of Orgyia

What, pray tell, is that?

Sometimes, you just have to be at the right place at the right time to witness the amazing. For me, it was a recent experience of seeing a mysterious insect on the goose coop as I was preparing to perform daily maintenance. I’m now familiar with many of the bugs and insects that live here on the farm, but this one was strange…and I like the strange because it means an opportunity to learn. And I am, if nothing else, a voracious learner.

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Around the Farm: Who’s Looking at Whom?

It happened in a bucket just like this one…

One morning, as I filled one of several five gallon buckets for the geese, I noticed a sunflower seed spinning around and around in the eddy created by the water. We feed black oil sunflower seeds as treats to the poultry, so seeing one in a bucket is not usually cause for alarm. Until you realize that it’s not a seed at all.

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It’s Black Cat Appreciation Day!

You may already know that black-colored animals are less likely to be adopted from shelters than animals of other colors, but there’s no logical justification for it.

Black cats (and dogs, both of which I’ve had the privilege to live with) are just as lovable as full of personality as those of other colors, but superstition and lower photogenicity (not their fault – cameras struggle to show nuance with black) mean that they’re avoided or overlooked…unfairly.

If you’re considering adding a cat to your family, consider a wonderful, glorious black cat – or two or three. All hail the beautiful and mysterious black cat!

Under Pressure: YES to Instant Pot Yogurt!

Easy homemade yogurt? Oh, yes!

It’s been a few years since I bought my first Instant Pot and I still use at least one of them (I have six because I have “spare” 3 and 6 quart models – don’t want to find myself without!) every day. I usually find myself just using the “Manual” cook function even though there are many other programs…like Yogurt. Well, I finally took the leap and used the Yogurt function, and I am absolutely thrilled with the results!

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