September in Photos

Because, dammit, I am not going to let the calendar roll over to October without a post:

This is what the soy looked like on August 19.  Last Friday, the new Case combine harvester came and cut the soy at warp speed.   I don't even know how many arpents of land we have planted, maybe 34 or 35, but our two fields were cut in under two hours.  The wind was blowing from the east, i.e. towards the house, and everything got covered in dust.  At least I had the fortitude of mind to close the windows in time.

You can always tell where the combines are by the clouds of dust swirling on the horizon.  This is the first year I've noticed that, and it's also the first year so many of the neighboring farms were planted with soy.  Maybe it's a coincidence - maybe it's just the soy, or maybe it's the new combine.

Now, it's hard to get an idea of scale from this photo, but this combine is nearly 15 feet wide.  It takes up the entire width of the road when it's going from farm to farm, and impressive just starts to describe it.  And the cost?  About $450,000 CAD.  Don't wonder why your Wonder bread just got more expensive.  (You shouldn't be eating that crap, anyhow).

Moving right along...

I don't know why I find the weathered cedar shingles on the chicken coop so mesmerizing, but I do.  I love them.  Crazy...I think I could finish a wall inside the house like this and live happily ever after.

Here's a sunrise for your viewing pleasure.  It's scary just how quickly the days are getting shorter.

 And, to balance things out, here's the sunset, almost exactly 12 hours later, give or take a minute or two.

And, because we have the technology, here's the same sunset, a mere 12 minutes later.

Cooper and I have started our daily walks again, and that evening we encountered a coyote.  The sun was setting in my eyes, and I didn't see him until we were within spitting distance.  We had a bit of a show down, and the coyote wasn't going to cede his ground.   He sat down and started barking and howling, and given his size, we weren't about to stick around to see what was next on the menu.  We turned around and headed back, making a mental note to take our walks a bit earlier the next day.

The coyotes in our area are considered as wolf/coyote hybrids, and they're not small.  I've seen them up close, and I'd put them over 80 pounds.  While I've watched Cooper chase them off our property, I wouldn't like to meet more than one during our evening walks.  Actually, one was enough.

Speaking of one being enough, this baby blanket fits that category.  Never again:

Although I consider this baby blanket as the epitome of awesome, it was a challenge.  Intarsia and I will never get along.  NEVAR.

Here's a close up of the little sheepies:

Cute as hell, eh?  Love the 3D effect of the sheep, but this project was not the most fun to knit, unfortunately. Who am I kidding?  I'll probably start another one next week.

Segueing into the "cute as hell" category, this little creature is under our skin in a big, bad way:

I brought home a new litter box, plunked it down on the counter, and within seconds, Capucine AKA Cappy AKA "The Pin-Up" thought she had a new abode.

Cappy is one of the cutest cats I've ever had.  She's affectionate, playful, uncomplicated and scary-smart.  A huge spirit in a furry body.  I've got her purring as a perpetual surround-sound while I'm sitting on the sofa, and from time to time, a little paw will tap me on the shoulder.  It's Cappy, and she wants to watch YouTube videos of Maru.  OK Cappy, let me get this post in the cyber-sphere first.

One day, I'm going to do a review of kitty litter boxes.  Lord knows I have the qualifications.   I'm still trying to find the perfect box to prevent our old hag Schatzie from peeing outside of the litter box, and this model nearly fits the bill.  When I put the litter scooper at the front of the box in just the right position, she's forced to actually get into the box, and turn around before peeing.

What?  No more pee on the floor?  It can't be!

Well.  That's another major Life Goal checked off the list.  When Schatzie finally ambles over the Rainbow Bridge, I don't know if I'll be crying from sadness or utter glee.  Schatzie, the ancient thorn in my side.

I still don't know HOW I managed, but I locked BobCat into an out-building for (ahem) FOUR days.

Yup.  Four days.  Four days spend canvassing the neighbourhood again, and four days convinced I'd never see him again.  I was certain, no, make that 100% positive, that I'd seen him AFTER I locked the shed up.
  
Mea culpa, Bobby.   Sorry 'bout that.

So, dear readers, that's September in a nutshell.  Cappy's waiting to use the lap top, so I better hit the publish button or pay the piper.