Weekend Adventures On The Farm

 This weekend proved to be adventurous from beginning to end.  It all began Friday evening as I went outside for barn chores and nighttime tuck-in.  As I walked out of the garage, I was met by a black bear standing across the driveway from me.  He slowly looked at me as I looked at him.  Neither of us was in any hurry to move.  (He was about 50 feet away from me.)  We stood there looking at each other and I gently said hello and suggested that perhaps he just keep going.  After a few minutes, he slowly ambled down through our front yard, stopping every few yards to look back at me and ponder.

At this point, I ran into the house and grabbed my camera.   By the time I reached the driveway again, he was gone.  I knew which way he was headed (towards the pond), so I took off in the gator and drove down the length of our long driveway to the pond.  I searched the woods for Mr. Bear and found him, hiding behind some bramble.  Sadly, this is the best photo I could get... he wasn't about to leave the shelter of his "hiding" place.


Saturday morning we found this in the yard beneath the bird feeders the hang from our front deck.  Yes, this is bear scat.... way too big for any dog, and because we had no horse and pony escapes, I knew it wasn't from a wayward equine.

We set up the game camera beneath our front deck and will probably have a photo or video to share with you in the coming days.  It has been our experience that these bears, though shy in person, have a tendency to visit repeatedly.  It's only a matter of time until we get a good photo.

Of note, we were awakened Saturday night by the dogs barking at our bedroom window.  Hubbs got out of bed and checked out the window.  Sure enough... said bear was walking, outside, right next to our bedroom wall.  We have been taking down our bird feeders each evening, but there is still seed that falls to the ground.  It's an easy meal for a hungry bear!

We had a beautiful, sunny Spring weekend.

Much of our weekend was filled with "grand" adventure, as two of our Littles spent Saturday and Sunday with us.  There was an off-hand comment from one of the Littles that "we never watch TV at the farm".

To me, that's a really great thing.... there is so much to do outside, that we never need screen time!  We spent our days enjoying nature...


There's nothing better than having wide-open spaces in which to run with utter abandon.


We enjoyed our first picnic lunch of the season...

and picked violets in the goat pasture....

visiting with the animals...

 and exploring the creek - we found fish, and fresh-water clams, and crayfish...

learning about wildflowers - Dog-tooth violets, periwinkle,  and so many more...

We climbed fences...


and trees...

They helped with weeding (and were in charge of taking the weeds to the woods in their own little gator)...

The boys did a little tractor work...

and cleaned up manure...

 We gathered eggs...

and cuddled cats.

We hiked the Dragon Tree Trail and went on an after-dark safari in the hundred acre woods, where we saw at least a dozen deer.

Everyone participated in meal preparation and clean up.

Every minute was full of activity.  And by the end of the weekend, we delivered two exhausted children back to their parents; and two exhausted grand-parents headed home to slow down just a little.  

The coming week will be full of weeding and gardening.  A couple loads of mulch will be delivered on Wednesday, so I've got to get the flower beds weeded in preparation for that. 

I am hoping to have some up-close and personal bear photos or video to share with you in the coming days.  

Also... you are absolutely right about hens not producing as much as they get older.  And many of our hens are geriatric.  I often give my hens human-like emotional traits... which is why I said perhaps they were rebelling to the yard arrest situation.


Comments

It's always a wonderful, memory filled time when littles visit! Our 3 oldest just moved away and we miss them. We are starting our own grand adventure in moving to be near the 4 youngest ones. Hopefully it will be soon.
It is so good for us to be in the fresh air and sunshine. Your littles will have such fantastic memories and you are instilling a love for all nature in them.
Thanks for sharing your awesome adventures! I look forward to seeing your photos of the bear.
Tee said…
We don't watch TV when my grandson is over, either, unless I am exhausted, which does happen when following a 6 year old around! It looks like your grands just love it there. So wonderful that now we can get back to grandparenting!
jaz@octoberfarm said…
you shouldn't have fixed that area under the deck so nicely...it's attracting bears! a black bear walked right down the middle of the street in front of our house last week. apparently, they like to sightsee too. your grandkids are the luckiest kids around!
Diane said…
What a fun weekend with your Littles! Making some great memories. We recently had our first Black Bear. He tore down all my bird feeders, bent all the poles and got into my locked can of bird seed! I've had feeders out for the last four years without incident but now I have to bring them in every night. We set up a game camera also.

So glad I get the email with your blog!
daisy g said…
Eek! That bear was too close for comfort!

What a great way for the grandkids to spend the weekend. No t.v. Living real life. It's all good...
Anonymous said…
Wow a bear what a shock for you!
Mimi of Five said…
I envy your time with your grandkids. My son-in-law is in the Navy and I usually am able to get mine for three weeks in the summer. I just learned that they plan to go to NY (they live in Chesapeake, VA) to spend as much of the summer with their Daddy. I believe this is much needed since they only see him once a month or so now while he is on shore duty in NY. This saddens me but I realize they need to be a family too. Since we live in the Smokey Mountains we see lots of black bears, however, it never gets old to see them again. Enjoy your bear! (Just be careful)
This N That said…
Someday those kids will realize how fortunate they are..It would be nice if all kids could have this experience growing up.Fun for everyone..I'l bet you were pooped..Perfect way to spend the weekend..xxoo
EDGAR C. BEARD said…
WHEN OUR GRANDCHILDREN WERE LITTLE..THEY LOVED RIDING ONT THE 4 WHEELER W/US...AND PLAYING AT THE CHERT BANK....IN THE BARN..THEIR GRANNY WOULD SEND THEM ON TREASURE HUNTS...WE RODE THE HORSES AND AT BITH..I'D TAKE THEM IN THE TRUCK ON THE HILL AND SPOTLIGHT DEER FRO THEM TO LOOK AT...THEY OVED EVERY SECOND OT IT...NOT...WE W=DID NOT HAVE A FIRE ARM W/US...SMILING,,,JUSST FOR THE ENJOYMEENT OF THE GRAND KIDS...LOVE THESE SO VERY MUCH...THANK YOU !!!!
My jaw dropped when I read your opening story about running into the bear on your driveway. Yikes. And then knowing he was just 0utside your bedroom wall!!! What a fun weekend with your grands...and they're both so cute and learning so much on your farm. What a couple of good little workers too. When you're walking around all over, including the woods, do you worry about running into the bear? Maybe you figure he would run from the noise. Thanks for a wonderful blog and pictures.
Lynne said…
Your “littles” are probably already
for their next trip to the farm!
How wonderful they can spend time with you
and make more memories.
And what lovely spring days for them to enjoy.
A bit cool, but having the sunshine
makes it seem warm enough!
I think I would enjoy camera bear sightings
more than the face to face adventures!