north florida - wild florida
06:00, 49F, clear. waning gibbous moon lighting the yard. yellow dogs at back door. pup out. roosters crowing.
07:40, 47F. light out. guard dog carrying on at the north fence. don't see anything but she's in a snit. good dog - must have chased "it" away. got less than 0.25" of rain last night but ground's wet. lamb bottles heating up.
10:30, blow-out tide at CK. very low. pelicans and herons fishing the channel. ducks in small flocks. 48F, NW wind, 10 knts.
still mending the bag of the big seine. since the catch ends up in the bag, all holes are mended, no matter how small, even a single broken strand of twine. fed cat who held the net down so it wouldn't blow away.. several mockingbirds around. cat sleeping.
16:00, tide still low. lots of herons and egrets fishing tide pools. ducks in the channel. same hawk on pine snag. got up to 54F. NW wind, 10 knts. pleasant in the sun.
17:00, 58F, cool north breeze. got 2 eggs. several deer browsing in donkey woodlot.
18:10, 52F, no one ate their hay today so no hay tonight. sweet feed and corn was all the sheep and donkeys got. there's short grass in the pasture, but a frost is predicted for tonight.
17:30, 45F, clear. jupiter up above with the pleides. orion to the east. stars pretty bright. got a fire going. pup sleeping on couch. cat sleeping on my book. good night.
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Updated: 2:41 AM GMT on February 01, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
06:40, 66F, clear. waning wolf moon just hanging over the oaks in the donkey woodlot. the wolf moon is the first full moon of the year. roosters up since 5. yellow dogs at back door. 6 deer in the cactus field being chased by the pups.. no contest there. but still, don't approve of that. lamb bottles heating up. beautiful morning.
10:30, medium tide rising at CK. 64F, west wind, 15 knts. whitecaps on the tide. birds looking for a calm spot.
mending the bag (10 X 10 X 10)of the 600 ft. seine. cat sleeping on net. windy and warm.
15:40, high wind-driven tide with whitecaps and small waves at #4 bridge. pelicans and cormorants resting on old dock facing into wind. a flock of skimmers flies by. partly sunny, west wind, 25 knts. with gusts to 30. 65F. mature bald eagle crosses road at first bend. red-shouldered hawk on fence post.
16:30. 74F at back door. smoky in the yard. got 2 eggs. stacked firewood under workshop lean-to. fierce SW wind scatters palm fans across yard.
19:20, 71F, partly cloudy. stars out.
22:00, 59F, raining! need this rain.
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Updated: 4:26 AM GMT on January 31, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
06:10, 63F, mostly cloudy. light fog. waning full moon going down through the oaks in the donkey woodlot. roosters crowing. pup on the chain. lamb bottles warming. yellow dogs in the bushes.
09:05, 68F, sunny/cloudy. heading for hogtown.
15:40, 75F at back door. (warm in hogtown, upper 70's.) south wind blowing smoke to the farm from the bonfire in the back pasture. fire in near pasture is ended.
19:00, 70F. mostly cloudy. got 3 eggs..
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Updated: 3:14 AM GMT on January 30, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
06:50, 57F, mostly cloudy. roosters crowing. took pups for a walk down lane. crows busy. sheep out in pasture. shrimp fried rice for breakfast - nice big shrimp! lamb bottles heating up.
10:30, low moon tide rising at CK. 63F, east wind, 5 knts. herons fishing, white and blue.. ducks.
half of the 600 ft. seine, up to bag, is mended. there's a large hole somewhere in the next 300 ft. sunny with a breeze.
15:20, 70F, west wind, 2 knts. high tide at #4 bridge. herons fishing. egrets resting in black mangroves. 2 buzzards on an electric pole watching the road. red-tailed hawk watching from dead pine in the marsh. ducks.
16:20, 75F at back door. pups out and playing. partly cloudy. frontline on all dogs.
17:40, 71F, got 1 egg. one of the hens is trying to build a nest. 8 eggs. not sure if this will work with the other hens.
20:00, 65F, mostly clear. beautiful sky. waning full moon low in the east. a mist.
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Updated: 2:06 AM GMT on January 29, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
06:00, 53F, extremely foggy. overcast, no moon or stars. roosters up. crows silent. let pup out but dank and chilly out so let her back in. muffin for breakfast.
09:00, swamp maples are bursting out in flame-red samaras, like torches in the swamps and low lands. foggy all the way and into CK.
moon low tide rising at CK. 57F, NE wind, 6 knts. shore birds busy on the mud flats. ducks in the lead. white pelicans on a distant bar. church was good. I was even on time. low tide at sandspit with sailboat on its side and dingy aground. ducks out in deeper water. fog lifting.
12:10, 61F, east wind, 5 knts. medium tide rising at #4 bridge. scaups love that area. pelicans still out on the half-covered bars. folks out fishing on the pier. fed lab cat.
14:30, 73F, east wind, 5 knts. planted a cabbage palm and a hawthorn out in the cactus field. pups came along and stayed on the fringe where the deer bed down. sunny. watered the cypress samplings and as many pines as I could find. it's dry out there.
17:30, 69F, a haze. got 1 egg. pleasant out. elm tree still an attraction for the birds and squirrels. a buzzard flew close to the farm yard, the birds scattered into a cabbage palm and the squirrels flattened themselves against a branch. when the buzzard flew away they all resumed their feeding activities.
19:00, 65F. big orange full moon rising out of the east. wow!
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Updated: 2:03 AM GMT on January 28, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
06:55, 47F, foggy. roosters crowing. put pup out. lamb bottles heating up. pancakes for breakfast!
09:50, 64F, clear. fog lifted. shared pancakes with dogs. found where 4 deer had bedded down. grass was mashed flat and dry. got 1 egg. chores done, heading for cow town for supplies.
13:00, low 70's, sunny but clouds moving in. stopped by hay guy got 12 bales on way back to farm. unloaded truck.
17:00, 64F. redbuds are blooming and the elm on east side of house is full of small oval samaras. every bird and squirrel on the farm is visiting it. a lot of cardinals, squirrels doing acrobatics on the flimsy limbs, chickadees, blue titmice.. high above, buzzards sail the west wind
18:10, full moon low in the east shrouded by thin clouds. dusk. jupiter a diamond overhead!
19:20, 60F, clouds moving in, full moon hidden but illuminating clouds. bon fire still glowing to the south.
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Updated: 2:37 AM GMT on January 27, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
07:05, 48F, foggy. roosters crowing. pup wants out. a late start..
09:35, 57F, fog fading but smoke persists. one of these days, when enough folks get killed on the highway, the burning of the forests might get restricted. wondering if anyone looks at the forecast when burning permits are issued. crows flying with sticks in their bills. yellow jasmine exploding. pink azalea a mass of blossoms - the fuchia ones are right behind it. my 2 fancy camellias finally blooming. the old time camellias have been and still are blooming since thanksgiving. chores done. lambs slurped down their bottles. got 1 egg.
10:30, low tide rising at CK. several flocks of scaups in the channel. sunny. 56F, east wind, 7 knts. lots of small shorebirds out on the mud flats.
mended and pack away the washed and dried otter trawl. began mending the 600 ft. seine. proofed data. great clam chowder and grilled cheese at pat's on 2nd street.
15:30, high tide at #4 bridge. stopped for shrimp at mr moe's and got his secret recipe for smoked mullet. ducks dabbling in the marsh. egrets.
17:50, 60F, partly cloudy, pallid sunset that morphed into an orange background for the oaks in the donkey woodlot. nice walk with the dogs. the usual chores. ivory full moon rising in the east. whew!
19:00, 55F, full moon rising above the pines. jupiter overhead. fog forming. bonfire eerie in cow field to the south. guard dog barking in lane.
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Updated: 3:29 AM GMT on January 26, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
07:05, 38F, clear. lovely bright orange sunrise coming up. dogs loving the chilly mornings. roosters up. crowing squabbling. hash and egg for breakfast. lamb bottles heating up.
10:30, 61F, west wind, 5 knts. sunny. low tide rising at CK. small flocks of ducks scattered through the creeks and flats. herons.
washed last seine. began perusing the other 600 ft. seine for rips. lab cat following along. beautiful day!
15:40, 64F, west wind, 6-12 knts. getting chilly again. medium tide at #4 bridge with ducks.
17:30, 55F, chilly breeze, partly cloudy. got 2 eggs. waxing almost-full-moon in eastern sky.
20:50, 51F, a haze. moon has a ring. orion barely visible. jupiter, stars, and pines..
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Updated: 2:53 AM GMT on January 25, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
06:50, 33F, clear. frost in the pasture. roosters crowing. crows flying. all pups running down the lane. well, the older pups were sauntering down the lane after the younger ones.. chilly. lambs hollaring for their bottle. (new lamb born yesterday morning - a ram lamb to mary..) bacon for breakfast.
10:00, 48F. house cold, 58F. black cows sunning themselves on 345. noticed a bunch of baby goats in with the goat herd on the farm with the llama. it's that time of the year.
10:30, 51F, NE wind, 5 knts. low tide falling at CK. bunch of scaups by the bridge. egrets poking around.
trawl was dry. found a lot of small to medium size holes, mostly from the sharp limestone in the suwannee river bottom, but the almost new crab trap that was trawled up probably helped. mended all. at 14:00 the temps rose to 62 and in the sun the mending was pleasant with lab cat holding the net down. mockingbird teasing cat on the other side of fence. got chilly when wind picked up.
15:30, 58F, NW wind 10 knts. low tide rising at #4 bridge. more ducks and some ibis on the mud flats. bald eagle flying across SR 24. it has a nest in the scrub. saw it yesterday, too.
17:00, 58F, chilly wind. got 5 eggs. donkeys scrapping in the woodlot. pup upset; she likes the donkeys and thinks something's wrong. guardian barking - barking always helps.. bonfire still burning the oaks. huge glowing pile of coals now. cows wandering around in that pasture.
gathering firewood while pups play on the edge of cactus field. lambs running around the barn yard. no one likes the new hay. have to visit the hay guy again.
19:50, 48F, clear. waxing gibbous moon over workshop. jupiter overhead. orion, pleides, stars ........... bright tonight despite the moon. barred owl hooing from NW woodlot. lucked out with some nicely cured oak. great warm fire going. back to the book and cat.
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Updated: 3:49 AM GMT on January 24, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
07:00, 45F, overcast. roosters crowing. pup woke me up - had to go out. good pup. smoke in the air is from a burn near CK according to country radio. and here I thought it was from the bonfire. lamb bottles ready. going out.
10:00, 48F, overcast. 1-antlered buck on 345. sunday passed 2 bags of garbage and a dessicated Christmas tree, with a stand, in the ditch near sweetwater curve. this morning, the garbage and tree were still there but the Christmas tree stand was gone. you might be a redneck if ....
10:30, 50F, NE wind, 12 knts. low blow-out tide still falling at CK. ducks gathering off the cormorants' favorite bar. ibis in the mud.
washed, dried, mended bait seine. washed trawl. will mend it tomorrow. white pelicans off to the south on oyster bars.
15:30, 58F, NE wind, 3 knts. low tide rising at #4 bridge. stilts flying off, ducks in channel. herons fishing here and there.
17:30, 52F, mostly cloudy, chilly wind. new hay is not a big hit. got 2 eggs. 3 deer mincing across donkey woodlot. visitors and phone calls put me late on doing the chores but that's alright. gathered wood for fireplace. brought tender plants inside. 30's tonight, or so they say..
19:20, 47F, big clear ring around waxing gibbous moon with jupiter. a haze. bonfire still burning. fireplace nice and warm with warm cat, too. back to the book..
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Updated: 3:26 AM GMT on January 23, 2013
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north florida - wild florida - inauguration day
07:00, 54F, overcast. roosters crowing, birds singing. guardian and pup frolicing on the edge of the cactus field. yellow dogs at back door. lamb bottles heating up. bacon for breakfast.
11:05, 71F, north breeze. sheep in yard. yellow dogs in corral by falling down horse barn. quick trip to cowtown with guardian as companion. hay looked a trifle better - some green to it. got a few bales.
17:00, 66F, overcast. bonfire starting up again. smokey. collected wood for a fire in fireplace. have to start moving wood that was cut last week to dry areas - barns, lean-tos.. sheep back in fold. dogs loose. got 4 eggs. lamb bottles heating up.
18:50, 59F, misty/smokey, overcast. waxing gibbous moon hazy above the farm. jupiter a dim light just underneath the moon - very close. cool.
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Updated: 1:53 PM GMT on January 22, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
06:30, 57F, overcast. roosters crowing. crows cawing. dogs out. lamb bottles heating up. fed sheep guardian. running late.
08:30, 60F. sheep out in pasture along with all lambs. twins in several acres of tall thick grass that no one eats. (purple love grass, mostly) remembering the rattlesnake, I decide against walking up to them. they ignore me. no bottle for them this a.m.
09:00, medium tide falling at CK. 58F, NE wind, 8 knts. mostly sunny. brown pelicans and cormorants on an oyster bar. scaups in the channel. scaups are the most prevalent of all the ducks back in the marshes. church was good even though I was late. the altar flowers were beautiful.
11:50, low tide at #4 bridge. 68F, NE wind, 8 knts. fed lab cat. herons in marsh. scaups in small groups. stilts poking around a mud bank. several groups of birders along causeway with their binoculars and cameras.
14:00, 71F, sunny. fed lambs. sheep in yard. dogs locked up. sheep were loving the rye grass. most concentrated on thick patches here and there around farm yard that were planted in three plantings several weeks apart so wasn't sure where seeds were sown. it was over a month before a good rain started the sprouting. did plant half a bag, 25 lbs., around edge of sheep pasture but although it sprouted, subsequent month of dry weather did it in, with the help of the sheep probably. however, rye planted on the mound in sheep woodlot and border of barn yard is hanging on. blue sky and white moon to the east. bonfire smoking with cows munching on oak leaves of the trees waiting their turn.
18:50, 61F, clouding up. waxing more than half moon up there with jupiter faintly following behind.
a mist. all chores done. got no eggs.
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Updated: 3:34 AM GMT on January 21, 2013
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north florida - wild florida - rocky hammock
07:20, 45F, cold NE wind. clear and sunny. roosters up. crows calling. doing a wash. lamb bottles heating. dogs out playing.
10:30, 53F, sunny. wash on line. house cold, 61F, but feels colder. dogs left fleas out by firewood. might be tricky to get it going.. chores done. lots of bird song. they know the days are getting longer.
14:20, 74F, sunny. wash dry. scrubbed kitchen floor. worked in yard. lovely day. NE breeze but clouds moving from SW. lots of buzzards riding thermals very high above. some kind of rosy finch at bird feeder.
15:00, 70F, partly cloudy. moon up there. bonfire still there. workers piling on the trees, flames shooting up, sparks flying off to the west. got 2 eggs. need more hay. maybe monday.
19:40, 61F, mist forming. orion in the SE. waxing half moon up high with jupiter trailing. guard dog skipping dinner. walked out into the pasture and enjoyed the evening sky. fire very intense and unguarded. very dry out there. we need rain.
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Updated: 1:19 AM GMT on January 20, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
06:50. 39F. overcast. 52 in the house. roosters up. pup out for a little bit. fed guardian and yellow dogs. a scuffle over a food bowl. dixie won. she's tough. 125 lbs. tough. damn dogs.. crows calling. lamb bottles heating up. bonfire very smokey. good coffee this morning.
08:40, 48F, overcast, cold north wind, 5 knts. chores done. lambs fed. got 2 eggs. pup and guardian played and wrestled all over farm yard and the west edge of cactus field. cold house.
10:30, passed a bunch of black cows lying down in a pasture, sunning themselves. low tide at CK - a blow-out tide from the NE wind, 10 knts. with gusts. crab traps exposed. wading birds out fishing. ducks in channel. 50's, sunny but chilly in the wind.
finished mending big seine. cold in boat yard even when sun came around. NE wind, 15-20 around noon. cat sleeping on the net in the sun. mockingbird drinking from rainwater that collected in one of the carts.
15:30, wind diminishes to NE, 10 knts. low 60's.
medium tide rising. ducks poking around shallows. no cows on way back. must be in the woods.
14:30, 62F, partly cloudy and sunny at farm. north breeze, chilly. bonfire still going. dogs out playing. lamb bottles heating up. house cold. building a fire in fireplace.
17:40, 58F, bland sunset with distant pink clouds. got 3 eggs. guard dog barking at deer in donkey woodlot. dumb dog. getting low on hay.. 19:10, 52F, a mist. waxing half moon above cabbage palms. stars and jupiter. bonfire glowing like a volcano.
5 pairs of glowing green eyes in sheep field vanished when I shined my light towards them - thinking deer. 1 pair of orange eyes in the lane - thinking cat. guard dog will be out soon.
22:40, 47F, cold north breeze. fireplace going, 62F in house. reading "snow leopard" again. guard dog barking, go out to check. all quiet in sheep barn. waxing half moon dropping though donkey woodlot. stars. mist.
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Updated: 4:02 AM GMT on January 19, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
06:20, 64F, some faint stars. clouds moving in. lamb bottles heating. pup outside. yellow dogs at back door getting on pup's case. roosters crowing.
07:40, 64F, drizzling. got lambs fed and pup inside before drizzle started. newly planted pines are getting a sprinkle! pileated woodpecker sounding off in donkey woodlot.
10:30. 63F, west wind, 15-20 knts., gusts to 30. fog. cabbage palms gyrating along the causeway. low tide rising at #4 bridge with ducks and whitecaps.
lab cat was thrilled to see me. he was hungry. wind ferocious by the nets. mended several rips but the chill got to me. monthly meeting with pizza = heartburn.
15:40, 60F, west wind 13-22, overcast. beautiful hooded mergansers fishing in sheltered cove. waves at the sand spit. immature ibis poking about in the spartina. grackles totally unable to fly against the wind.
14:15. low 60's, windy from NW, slowly clearing. bon fire still burning in this wind. they have a fire permit and keep piling the trees onto the fire. since the wind's switched direction, the smoke is going to the trailer-hood instead of the farm.
17:40, 56F, hahahaha - too windy to build a fire in the fireplace tonight.. donkey's got hay. sheep have to clean theirs up. got 3 eggs.
19:30, 52F, partly cloudy. waxing crescent moon above the farm house. jupiter and stars. dogs smelled something in the cactus field but I didn't bite ... eerie glow of bon fire in the cow field. very surreal.
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Updated: 2:38 AM GMT on January 18, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
06:30, 57F, partly cloudy. light fog some stars showing. roosters up since 5. pup out and in again. lamb bottles warming up. yellow dogs at back door.
10:00, 68F, sunny. chores done.
10:30, medium tide falling at CK. ducks and seagulls. 68F, south wind, 10 knts. sunny.
continue mending the bitter end of the 600 ft. seine. mended bait seine. enjoyed the weather. doves starting in with their cooing. lab cat sleeping on net.
15:40, high tide at #4 bridge. big flock of skimmers at #3 bridge. 70F, south wind, 8 knts. heading back to farm with 30 loblolly pine bareroot seedlings to plant in cactus field.
17:30, 68F, sunny. finished planting pines. watered them too. good luck. pup, guard dog, and bruiser relaxing in shade at the west edge of cactus field. smoke from bon fire choking at times. chores next.
21:00, 63F, waxing crescent moon lighting the night. bonfire still burning. fog rising and mixing with the smoke. gasp. need wind to change direction - which is predicted for tomorrow.
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Updated: 3:09 AM GMT on January 17, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
06:40, 55F, clear. a few stars showing. roosters crowing. dixie at back door. let pup out and back in again. lamb bottles heating up. pretty out.
10:30, 74F, clear and sunny. heading for cowtown for supplies. hay at feedstore was brown and dry so I passed.
15:20, 75F. got 2 eggs.
18:10, 67F, clear. finished chores. waxing crescent moon over the horse barn. jupiter brightest "star." spectacular orange florida sunset earlier.
19:30, 64F, a fog. and smoke from the bon fire in the neighbor's field to the south. moon a peach color. dogs all quiet.
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Updated: 1:22 AM GMT on January 16, 2013
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north florida - wild florida - suwannee sound
05:40, 59F, a mist. stars fuzzy. woke up the roosters. yellow dogs at back door. fed guardian. lamb bottles heating up..
o9:10, 67F, SE wind, 7knts. low tide on the suwannee river. bald eagle flying over marsh. osprey with a big catfish on channel marker at mcgriff. many oystercatchers on the oyster bars. seagulls, cormorants. white pelicans out by cat island. water temps - low 60's. a light chop. some sun. wore my watch cap and foul weather jacket most of the day. a lot of spray.
low catches today. every trawl brings in several stingrays including a big blunt-nose ray, Das. sabina, male, with 2 wicked spines that were caught in the trawl sleeve.. flocks of ducks all over the sound. further out, big flocks looked like smoke rising from the choppy water. young-of-the-year redfish and spot are recruiting into the estuary. the spot are around an inch long; the redfish twice that.
14:10, 70F, south wind, 10 knts. high tide rising in the river as we finished our last sampling trip for the month.
took a good nap when I got back to the farm. slept until chore time. neighbor to the south with the cows has been bulldozing large oaks in his pasture and is now burning them..
18:30, 67F. fog forming. waxing crescent moon above the sheep barn and the oaks.
19:20, 64F, misty. moon falling to the west. dogs barking.
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Updated: 3:16 AM GMT on January 15, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
06:30, 66F, mostly cloudy. roosters up. lambs agitating for their bottles. pup unhappy because she had to walk on the leash. running late, can't be helped. don't need to slog around in the bushes this morning. bruiser and dixie waiting in front.
09:00, 68F, SE wind, 3 knts. low tide falling at CK. ducks diving in the mud. late for church; guard dog gave me a hard time at the gate. church was good. low tide at sandspit. sailboat aground. sunny.
11:30, 68F, SE wind 3 knts. low tide rising at #4 bridge. ducks and cormorants. fed lab cat. back to the farm to do a wash.
14:20, 79F, partly cloudy. wash on the line. blue skies and sunny. had to get on the guard dog for digging holes in the rye grass by my herb garden. damn dog. got 1 egg. put sprinkler on front yard. pink azalea blooming. camillias still blooming. yellow jasmine in lane blooming.
16:50, 68F, pleasant. hay to all. fed parrot. flea outbreak in dog pen. 2 deer in donkey woodlot.
19:40, 63F, clear. waxing crescent moon over the sheep barn. deer in lane so made a u-turn with the pup back to workshop. guard dog sleeping by the truck. jupiter brighter than all the stars. ground fog.
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Updated: 2:40 AM GMT on January 14, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
07:30, 59F, foggy. sun's up. yellow dogs at back door. nice walk with all the pups. lamb bottle heating. roosters yelling.
11:00, 78F. clear and sunny. poppy's daughter had a little ram lamb this morning. cute little pie-bald young'un. poppy's daughter is the 6th generation from an original ewe, brown-face. she is 1/8th suffolk, and is spotted. that's how I kept track of the lineage. she has almost all of the cracker sheep characteristics, except is woolier.
worked in my pitiful garden, weeding, fertilizing. squirrels got in and dug up some of the plants and then an armadillo got in - dug under the chicken wire - and rooted through it so I only have some mixed lettuce, some collards, onions, and garlic chives left. replanted some greens in pots in hopes of being able to keep them pest free. bummed out that the armadillo dug up all the carrots. the donkeys are even more bummed than I am. the tangerine tree produced about a dozen fruits this year which was thrilling since all the other citrus had nothing at all. just had one and it was excellent.
16:40, 75F, partly cloudy, partly sunny. slight breeze from west. lamb bottles warming. got 1 egg. dogs and I finished off the ribs.
19:20, 69F, foggy. a few stars showing. good night.
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Updated: 2:55 AM GMT on January 13, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
07:05, 63F, red sunrise for a few minutes.. mostly cloudy. roosters yellin'. yellow dogs at back door. crows carrying on. guardian ran off before dinner last night so now she's eating breakfast. she's a strange dog - wants to sit in your lap sometimes, other times totally ignores you. pup slowly coming out of heat and getting more freedom. supposed to get some pines to put in the cactus field today. hoping ...
but not to be. no pines for the cactus field today.
10:50, low tide rising in CK. 66F, SE wind, 7 knts. partly cloudy. white pelicans in distance.
still mending the end of the big seine. good practice. little lemon-bellied, warbler-type birds flitting around in the oaks. cat visiting.
15:15, 74F, SW wind, 3 knts. high tide at #4 bridge. scattered ducks. heading back to the farm with some fresh smoked pork ribs..
16:00, 75F, partly cloudy. dogs eagerly followed me from truck to house. the whole truck smelled like ribs..
18:10, 68F. mostly cloudy. got 5 eggs. lambs fed. hay to all. all dogs except for dixie who was under the house got some rib bones.
20:00, 66F, mostly cloudy. a few stars. glowing eyes in an oak over by the goat shed. owl? coon? guardian investigating.
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Updated: 2:10 AM GMT on January 12, 2013
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north florida - wild florida - long cabbage key
05:30, 69F (!), overcast and foggy. just a few stars showing. roosters still sleeping. yellow dogs and guardian prowling around the house. lamb bottles warming.. quiet out.
08:00, 67F, east wind, 10 knts. low tide rising at CK. ducks up and swimming. waiting for more water.
10:05, 66F, water up in the west. heading for sampling area between little trout creek and long cabbage key with a side trip to derrick which is eroding away. especially this past year. catches low in bait seine. mostly stingrays and mullet in big seine. lots of white pelicans. seagulls visited when we were measuring yellow-tails and throwing them back. cumulus clouds. inshore water temps back up to 18C, 65F. a chop. partly cloudy, partly sunny. lots of ducks on the sound and around the clam leases.
15:40, high tide falling at #4 bridge. 74F, SW wind, 3 knts. back to the farm.
16:30, 77F. got 2 eggs. lamb bottles warming.
19:50, 70F. mostly cloudy. some stars showing. peace and quiet. yeah.
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Updated: 3:44 AM GMT on January 11, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
06:40. 66F, overcast and foggy. no moon, no sun.. yellow dogs at back door. lamb bottles heating up. roosters crowing.
no gas in truck. no feed in barrel. need to go to cowtown.
08:40, had to stop at crossroads to get enough gas to get to cowtown. overcast. turkey buzzard picking through a neighbor's burn pile.
10:50, 72F, got what I needed, went home and unloaded it all. red-shouldered hawk squabbling with crows over something obscure.
11:30, high tide rising at CK. ducks in the lead. 69F, east wind, 7 knts. got to the last 10 feet of the big seine and found 3 big tears. what did they do? run over the end with the boat? another day's work. osprey nest vacant. lab cat caught a mouse.
about time ...
15:40, high tide falling at #4 bridge. ducks and cormorants. calm. 75F.
16:10, 75F, overcast mostly. warm and muggy. pup and guardian take off into the cactus field. rats.
18:30, 73F, mostly cloudy. fog rolling in. some stars showing. and jupiter.
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Updated: 2:15 AM GMT on January 10, 2013
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north florida - wild florida - scale key
05:50, 55F, partly cloudy. waning crescent moon peering in and out of the clouds in the SE. stars. bruiser and dixie at back door. guardian shows up. pup happy. lamb bottles heating. woke roosters up. got email from daughter - safe arrival in rangoon...
08:00, low tide rising at CK. 57F, NE wind, 7 knts. ducks in the tide. overcast. worked on the water from corrigan's reef to atsena otie with several sets centered around scale key which has an eagle's nest and a wrecked sail boat. low catches at almost every site. the stingrays are beginning to congregate in the back bogs. the muddiest site yielded almost 30 stingrays; 2/3rds were male. mullet, silver perch, and trout made up one catch. the comb jellies are back. white pelicans and ducks - scaups, buffleheads, and 1 horned grebe. sun came out at noon. water temps, 14.5C, 59F. a light chop. ended up with leaky waders and soaked socks. otherwise, a beautiful brisk day..
15:20, high tide falling at #4 bridge. 72F, east wind, 7 knts. fed lab cat. headed home.
16:30, 74F at back door. slight breeze from south. got 1 egg. lambs hungry.
18;00, 68f, mostly clear. stars out. jupiter bright in the east. nice to see the stars gleaming. fog and clouds this winter have been impeding the star gazing.
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Updated: 3:25 AM GMT on January 09, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
06:50, 49F, overcast. waning crescent moon made a brief appearance in the branches of the big pecan tree. bruiser at back door. pup out for a walk. roosters hollaring. lamb bottle heating up. doing a wash. hash and egg for breakfast.
10:40, cows lying down again along 345. medium low tide falling at CK. 51F, NE wind, 12 knts. ducks in the channel. white pelicans off in the distance. ibis in the marsh. worked on the 600 ft. seine. got the news that the other seine "has a few holes.. we didn't snag on anything." uh-huh.. overcast and chilly.
15:40, low tide rising at #4 bridge. ibis in the mud. herons and ducks here and there. 60F, NE wind, 12 knts. light chop at channel by sand spit. scaups but no loons..
17:10, 60F at the farm. overcast, getting dark fast. took in dry wash. suprised. built a fire. fed lambs. chores. ham and rice for supper.
19:00, 59F, no stars, etcetera. fog coming in. all quiet.
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Updated: 2:56 AM GMT on January 08, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
05:50, 56F, mostly cloudy. mist-type rain spitting down. cloud-shrouded waning crescent moon high in the sky to the south. roosters up early. yellow dogs at back door. fed lambs. still need to get hay to everyone but it's black out there and my head lamp is dim, so waiting for dawn. walked pup, said good morning to sheep guardian.
my daughter is flying to rangoon today via several different airlines. pray for her and the son-in-law's safe trip.. God between us and danger..
08:40, overcast, gray. cows lying down in the 345 pastures. high tide falling at CK. 58F, NE wind, 10 knts. ducks in the tide. herons fishing in the spartina. church was good. read the lessons. high tide and flat water at sandspit. more ducks.
12:10, fed lab cat. gas and oil for chainsaw. low tide at #4 bridge. with ducks. heading back to cut firewood.
13:00 60F, light north breeze, mostly cloudy, fog building in. friends came to cut firewood and we stacked it under cover. road through brushy field with truck to collect pecan wood from broken branches from hurricane debby. also got pear wood, cedar, and oak. 1 truckload stacked in front porch egress. about 2 more to be collected and stored. firewood! light rain began around 14:30.
17:30, fed lambs, got 2 eggs, stacked more firewood.. we finished an apple pie. still rainy/misty.
19:00, 57F. thick fog. could have gotten lost in the farm yard if I hadn't known most of the trees. no stars. guard dog barking.
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Updated: 3:21 AM GMT on January 07, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
07:20, 45F, partly cloudy. red sunrise with salmon clouds. lamb bottles heating. locked up yellow dogs. a friend is supposed to come over and cut firewood. roosters up. young dogs ran off into the cactus field. in kitchen now. feeling tired. cold out. house cold but kitchen warm!
13:20, 70F at back door in the sun. more cloudy than sunny. a do-nothing day. waited for wood cutter all day but no show. he did get in touch about this though. let yellow dogs out of pen. got 2 eggs. all lambs out of creep and traveling with the flock. hoping for the best.
17:30, 61F, overcast. chilly north breeze. gathered firewood before chores. 4 deer in donkey woodlot at sunset. lambs agitating for bottles.
19:40, 58F, overcast. fire fading away from lack of wood. no stars. yellow dogs and guardian barking.
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Updated: 1:14 AM GMT on January 06, 2013
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north florida - wild florida - suwannee river
05:40, 48F, clear. waning gibbous moon high in the sky. stars. dog fight in the kitchen over a food bowl. straightened that out. roosters silent. cold out. made lunch. lamb bottles heating up. oatmeal for breakfast.
09:00, red sunrise. cows all standing this morning.
medium tide falling at the suwannee river. 47F, NE wind, 10 knts. friggin' cold. water temp, 16C, 60F. trawled and deployed the bait seine from mcgriff channel to above, and into, east pass and along the river. trawl catches were very low. a large speckled trout came aboard in one trawl, with a stingray.. but, boat-sets along the exposed banks of the river pulled in a number of young-of-the-year, (YOY) redfish, channel cats, pinfish, mojarras, killifish, and sunfish, Lepomis sp., sun came out at noon and it warmed up to 50F. wind clocked to south, 5 knts. alligators did not come out. many small flocks of ducks. buffleheads flew in pairs. 1 coot. brown and white pelicans at mcgriff. more ducks. 2 immature eagles on a big dead fish, probably a gar.
16:20, 58F, overcast. came back to farm to see excavation with a back hoe going on in cow field to the south. now what? dogs happy to get out and run around. lambs want bottles. bottles heating up. yellow dogs come out from under the house.
17:30, 54, overcast. lambs finished bottles in record time. got no eggs. no hay for the regular sheep who have to clean this morning's up first. mother-ewes get hay, though. and donkeys.
18:30, 53F, overcast. pleasant fire in fire place. take the damp out of the old house. no stars at all..
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Updated: 2:00 AM GMT on January 05, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
07:15, 61F, very foggy. no moon. roosters crowing. crows flying around. yellow dogs under the house. all calm in the sheep barn except for the lambs who want their bottle.. where's the rain?
08:40m 61F, damp, dim, and very foggy. rain's still out in the gulf according to radar. put sheep's hay in the barn.. a mizzle.
10:15, medium tide falling at CK. 59F, NW wind, 8 knts. very foggy and dank. ducks in the channel. brown pelicans. an ibis. office work. cold and miserable in the boat yard. lab cat sleeping on net. a drizzle with the fog. chilly.
15:10, medium tide rising. 55F, NE wind, 10 knts. drizzley fog. ducks and cormorants at #4 bridge.
cows in the woods.
17:30, 57F, chill breeze, drizzle/mist. fed lambs, hay to all. put a load of logs in front. finishing up the pot roast..
20:20, 53F, more drizzle and fog. glad for the rain. it was getting dry again.
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Updated: 2:49 AM GMT on January 04, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
06:40, 60F, waning gibbous moon above the sheep barn. mild fog. drama in the barn. gray can't find her lamb. finally found her in the hay barn. she'd fallen down a hole next to a post and wormed her way into the adjoining stall.. had me worried for a few minutes. old brownie on her side. got her up. not sure what that was about. poor skinny old thing. yellow dogs came out to see what was going on. roosters hollarin'. no more vacation. back to work today..
10:30, low tide at CK. 62F, SW wind, 10 knts. ducks swimming, herons fishing. picked up mending 600 ft. seine. almost to the end. fog moving in, out islands disappear.
15:00, 61F, SW wind, 3 knts. fog. high tide at #4 bridge. small flock of cormorants standing on flooding oyster bar. ducks in back creeks. heading to cow town for feed. a lot of cows lying down. supposed to rain. a shower in cow town.
16:30, 71F, partly cloudy at farm. unloaded feed, began chores. got 4 eggs. misty.
19:10, 68F, dense fog. no stars. fog moving in swirls of droplets and mist.
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Updated: 2:40 AM GMT on January 03, 2013
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north florida - wild florida
07:00, 51F, overcast. no moon in view although when I woke up at 5 because the dogs were howling I saw moonlight on the cabbage palms. crows all over the place. immature eagle flew over the farm. pup ran off into the brush between the workshop and the cactus field guardian found her. roosters hollarin'. dixie at back door.
10:15, 60F, mostly/partly cloudy, some sun. dropped garbage can at front gate. took a ride to X-roads country store. lots of cows lying down. cows crowding around hay rolls. farmers planting grass seed that comes up bright green - oats? rye? ? hoping it's oats for square bales.. a few robins on the shoulders.
14:10, 74F in the sun. got 1 egg. really don't like housework.. fed parrot.
17:20, 64F, partly cloudy. hay to all - the expensive green stuff. fed lambs.
19:10, 62F, a fog. stars out but hazy. jupiter shining bright. was hoping to really see the milky way this winter but there's been a lot of cloud cover. could change, though ...
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Updated: 2:13 AM GMT on January 02, 2013
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