Well I can categorically say "We have trapped horse flies." We got the whole thing set up Sunday afternoon and by evening had a pretty good catch - considering it was just a few hours before dark. Monday was better but I thought the flies weren't as active as some days. Today after a rain and hot and humid weather we got quite a few flies. YEAH!!!!! But they are still bothering the cows so we might have to move the whole contraption to a new site that might catch more. (did I use 'might' twice in one sentence - you might think I've become a political reporter) Anyway any dead horse fly is a GOOD horse fly!! Oops! Any dead female horse fly is a good horse fly !! (i got the picture from www.emilyware.co.uk/blogs/index.php/2009/03/17/biters?blog=5)

This time of year is one that drives the cows crazy during daylight hours. The horse flies are out and BITE. They live a strange life cycle for causing the cows such a problem. The female need a blood meal to have enough protein to lay eggs in wet areas. The eggs hatch and larval and pupal forms live in the soil feeding on debris and other dirt dwellers then fly out a year or two later and wreck havoc with large animals getting blood to start the cycle all over. The cows go nuts and since they seem to only fly around when it is hot and humid the cows will hide out in a dark corner of the barn all day to avoid them.

Last week I stumbled on a trap, 'Googling' horse flies, that is supposed to catch them and immediately ordered it. We are awaiting its arrival and whether to see if it stands up to all the testimonials. It would be different to actually see the cows during the day! Wow to think we could actually kill some of them!!!!

Facebook?

Well, back in April of 2009 I moved to Facebook because everyone said it was a much easier way to post. It probably is, but oddly enough, after switching over I really don't post very much. Maybe a comment now and then and I'll put some pictures up that I want other to see, but really I find myself reading the swarm of short posts from everyone else. And I do like looking at the pictures posted of my friends. It does keep me informed but somehow doesn't seem the same as the blog. Soooooooo maybe I should fire up the old blog or at least post a few complete paragraphs now and then.

Mixed Up Thanksgiving

Here it is - Thanksgiving Break! Glad for the few days off but didn't really have the normal thanksgiving dinner. Since we were planning on a Saturday turkey with Ingird and Jake we passed on going to Jon and Jamie's for their big dinner on the same day. Well, Jon and Jamie said come on down and we will have something on Thursday. I suggested scallops and we did indeed have scallops. Jamie made a autumn salad, linguinie with alfredo sauce, plus lots of other goodies and I fried some scallops. Great time but Kate was wore out by the time we left and wondered if her 'cold' was coming back like it had already a few times. Anyway, pneumonia it was after a chest x-ray on Friday and so the rest of the plans were replaced with lots of bedrest.

Wow it has been a long time since I posted anything new here. I guess facebook has a way of making one feel connected without actually posting very much. Anyway, green is the correct word since our pastures finally have greened up and Kate mowed the lawn for the first time this spring. We moved the electric fence so that the cows could also mow down part of the lawn next to their pasture.

Just a couple of more pictures of our exciting holidays! As you can see Ingrid is checking out the internet connection and Jake is sharpening in knife with his new knife sharpener. Kate is going throught the numbers with Aiden and 5 lions and 6 flamingos are quite exiting. Granpa Roger is making different popcorn people with Aiden and Gunnar.