We
bought a house on 59.3 acres... of wetlands!
That's right, a Mosquito Ranch!
Yup, Phragmites Farm!
This web page is intended as a chronicle of our (mis)adventure
in preserving the wildlife habitat while creating our home.
We've spotted a number of "critters" on the land, chipmunks,
red squirrels, small rabbits, green herons, cardinals, quail
(The SwampWife says they're quail, I think they are doves...).
We have some questionable sightings too, was it a badger or
a skunk? It was late, it was dark, and I wasn't about to walk
up to it and ask it!
Was it a hedgehog, or a baby raccoon? The picture didn't come
out and it wouldn't let me get a close enough look before
it ran into the underbrush. Additional sightings and searches
through picture databases lead us to believe that it is a
marmot. During our first few months here we hadn't actually
SEEN any deer actually ON the property, there are trails with
tiny hoofprints all over, and we spotted one deer crossing
the street from the neighbor's yard on Friday, October 13th...
Further on into the winter we spotted several deer, always
in even numbered groups. The "buddy system" or just coincidence,
you decide.
March
31st, 2004
Another
ring necked pheasant encounter has occurred, but I was on
foot and didn't have my camera on hand...
This
has been a hard winter for Clifford the Big Red Truck. The
batteries died a hard death due to hard starting. So I replaced
the batteries and had the Ford dealership check out the charging
system, which was fine. I asked them to check the glow plugs,
but they didn't think it was necessary. So, when the new batteries
died (!) I had Clifford towed to the dealership and and insisted
that they check the glow plugs. Four of the glow plugs were
burnt out.
On
February 3rd, Clifford came home... and slipped off the driveway.
But I managed to keep going, over the moat and most of the
way up the driveway, sideways. While trying to get straightened
out, I ended up with both driver's
side tires off the driveway. This was not a good thing.
Mired
in muck, I climbed out the passenger door and hiked the rest
of the way up the driveway.
It
took more than a month of digging, jacking, shimming, and
rocking to get Clifford out again. Mind you, it wasn't a daily
effort, I was only able to work at this on weekends.
But,
isn't Clifford a 4x4 you ask?
Yes,
but, the u-joints on the front drive shaft chose THIS MOMENT
to go on a permanent vacation. By the time I got Clifford
out on the 20th the front drive shafts were toast.
The
dealership that I had been getting my work done at wanted
three grand to get Clifford roadworthy and offroadworthy,
a mere grand to get him to the point of passing inspection.
Things weren't looking good for Clifford, retirement was close
at hand.
In
looking for a replacement vehicle (Diesel, 4x4, high clearance)
I was referred to a local mechanic who was only two blocks
away (in other words, a short three mile drive.)
He
gave Clifford the once over and quoted $1053 to get him back
to good health! So, Clifford has gotten a second lease on
life here at the swamp.
Clifford
is back in service, happily running on biodiesel. I'm now
looking at a heated fuel tank so Clifford can run on straight
veggie oil.
Click
here to read more of the swamp story.
