Alan Skeoch

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  • EPISODE 555 NOT EVERYTHING WORKS OUT….TRACTORS ARE TEMPERMENTAL…DOGS ARE LOYAL

    EPISODE 555    NOT EVERYTHING WORKS OUT….TRACTORS ARE TEMPERMENTAL…DOGS ARE LOYAL


    alan skeoch
    Oct. 8, 2022

    Tractors are tempermental.  Especially if they were made in the 1940’s.  Dogs are just plain loyal.

    Sorry . These are not good photos.  I had to act fast to catch the tractors and dogs.  All heading for the
    farm non stop.  One tractor out of service but both dogs are just fine.








    Look way down the road…last part of the caravan…



    Both dogs, Faila and Norman following Andrew and Molly.

  • EPISODE 502 THANKSGIVING WEEK END OCT. 7, 2022 == ROAD TRIP

    EPISODE 502    THANKSGIVING WEEK END OCT. 7, 2022 == ROAD TRIP


    alan skeoch
    oct. 7, 2022


    A ROAD TRIP – THANKSGIVING WEEK END 2022  (still time for you to do it)

    WE did it all in one day.  Our road trip to Prince Edward County just to see the coloured trees
    and buy pumpkins, ornamental gourds, and a meal at a roadside restaurant and then
    beat our way home with the sun making westward driving hair raising though beautiful.
    Apologies to my cousin Christopher and wife Cathie.  We did not drop in.  Should have done
    so for we knew we would be welcome even unannounced.  

    Marjorie and I are sending this special Thnanksgiving Episode 502 just a day before the
    thnakfiving day week end.  Readers will have time to hit the road.  Or readers can enjoy
    a vicarious road trip using our pictures.  

    My good friend Russ will never understand why we boys so man ornamental gourds.
    “Those things are not edible! Waste of time and money!”,might be his thought.  Maybe
    these pics will change his mind.  Things do not have to be edible to be enjoyable, Russ.
    No need to call, Russ. I know I have exaggerated your point of view.  

    Take a look at the lead picture.  It will suggest a route for you to follow.  Prince Edward
    County is now loaded with wineries  Some offering free samples in the expectation
    you will buy a dozen bottles.  Nothing wrong with that expectation either.  Sadly the
    Barley Days brewery was closed when we stopped.  That kind of sample I would really
    have enjoyed so we popped into he Waring House restaurant for fish and chips and
    a pint of Barley Days dark.


    We cut down to Wicklow Beach from Highway #2 just before we got to Brighteon.
    Nobody there but us and eternity.   Parked the truck right beside the water for Woody
    to inspect in case a dead and rotten fish floated up.

  • EPISODE 650 BEES GET ANGRY….ANDREW MAKES QUICK ESCAPE….7 stings result


    NOTE:  I MADE NUMBERING ERROR IN PAST TWO OR THREE EPISODES 
    CALLED THEM 602 AND 603…..SHOULD HAVE BEEN  648 ABD 649


    EPSODE  650       BEES GET ANGRY….ANDREW MAKES QUICK ESCAPE….7 stings result


    alan skeoch
    Oct. 3, 2022

    “Dad, I have to move the bees to a winter home on south side of the barn.
    This could be difficult. Stay clear..”
    “Why move them?”
    “Last year something got the bees in the bee yard. If they are 
    close by, I can keep an eye of them.  Skunks like bees as do mice”



    “So much honey in here that I cannot lift it.  I will have to separate
    the hive.    Could be trouble.”

    “Andrew, what made you run?  That cost is supposed to be bee proof.”
    “Seven bees managed to find a hole.  Followed the seams until they got
    through to my bare legs.”




    “Did the bees get you, Andrew?”
    “They did.”
    “How many?”
    “Seven.  They managed to get through the pants in spite of the protective overalls.  Seemed to follow the seams
    of the costume..  Smart little creatures.”
    “Stings  must hurt?”
    “Not too bad.  Just lower legs.  Much worse if they get my face or neck. “
    “What if they all got you.  Say a thousand bees.”
    “We would have to call 911 if there was time.”
    “Why didn’t they attack me.  I was taking pictures.”
    “The bees seemed to know you were not going to disturb them.”
    “They look mad right now.”
    “They are.  You better run.  That’s what I am going to do as I can feel
    those few bees that got through my bee proof uniform.”””Run!”

    Andrew ran across the bridge .  I ran…walked slowly…down the side of the pond.
    No bees followed me.  Only one lone bee checked me out and I pushed it away.
    The bees knew.  Heroic of me, I must admit.  Do bees know more than we realize
    In that tiny little brain.?  


    Andrew got loads of honey this year.  More than his extended family can eat.  And he left lots for the bees to eat
    over the winter.

  • Coyote note from Patricia…yip yip yip is chilling

    Note came as soon as Patricia read my episode…see below
    Hi Alan
    To add to your story and Kent’s, we hear and see lots of coyotes during the winter when the Credit River is frozen over. We see them trotting along – it can be disconcerting when they are running toward you! (They have never stopped near us; they just run on by!)
    When we are dog-sitting (daughter Martha’s black Lab), we keep her on a leash during walks. We have never seen one when we have the dog with us.
    Once, a pack tried to lure a neighbour’s German Shepherd (a large male named Shadow) to the island in the Credit. Shadow is never on a leash. Most of the coyote pack hung back, hidden among the island reeds, while one lone coyote played and flirted to attract Shadow to follow her/ him (probably her!). Tim, the dog’s owner, saw what was happening and called Shadow back to shore. The big animal immediately turned and trotted home.
    We hear the wild loud “yip yip yips” signaling a kill usually in the wee hours of morning when it’s still dark. And very cold. The sound is chilling!! Nature’s way though. Now that Brightwater has taken over a huge patch of what had become coyote territory, we expect to see more coyotes trotting along the frozen Credit River this winter.
    Patricia

  • Fwd: EPISODE 602 SO YOU WANT A PET COYOTE…NOT A GOOD IDEA



    Begin forwarded message:


    From: ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com>
    Subject: EPISODE 602 bark! BARK! Bark! There is s big coyote down there….look!
    Date: September 30, 2022 at 5:36:28 PM EDT
    To: John Wardle <jwardle@rogers.com>, Marjorie Skeoch <marjorieskeoch@gmail.com>, Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com>


    EPISODE 602    bark! BARK! Bark!  There is s big coyote down there….look!


    alan skeoh
    Sept 30, 2-022




    “Her camouflage is also perfect…her smell is not!“
    “Alan, the dog is going crazy…must be coyotes.”

    At first we could see nothing.  Then a large coyotes stepped from behind a bush into
    the open spot.  It stopped, took its time to check us out and continued to tease
    Woody who is very brave when behind a chain line fence.

    COYOTES AS PETS…YES, IT IS POSSIBLE BUT NOT DESIRABLE

    There are people who have pet coyotes but I think taming a coyote

    is  bad idea for several reasons.  Breeders sell them for around $400
    each.  Cheap $50 coyotes should be avoided…problems there with
    health of the animals likely.

    KEEPING  a coyote may be illegal in the first place.  So read no further.

    If you are determined to get a coyote consider these problems.  First is space.
    A tame coyote needs about 1.5 acres minimum space.  Not many people have
    city lots that size.  Then it must be fenced about 10 feet high with an extra two feet
    buried…12 inches down, then folded back another 12 inches so the coyote cannot
    dig itself out.  Fencing a larger space, say 10 acres, won’t work because the coyote
    may feel it is in the wild…i.e. not tame.  Fencing the real rate of a male coyote is out of
    the questions as in the quote below.

    “It is not possible to have a pet coyote if you do not own a large plot of land. And we mean large! You can’t keep a coyote in an apartment or a suburban housing plant.
    It’s not fair to the coyote to live in such small quarters and can end up causing behavioral problems.
    According to the Virginia DWR, coyotes have a home range of about 6 miles in diameter. Male coyotes can range even further, especially if they are looking for a female or trying to start their pack.”


    Your tame coyote may like you as long as you show it you are the alpha parent…the
    indisputable boss.  Possible to do.  But be careful bringing friends around.  The coyote
    might see them as competition for affection and for food.  Bite them.  Same a applies in
    spades for pets.  GRRRR!

    What will you feed it?  Squirrels?, rabbits?, cats? rats?   Just about anything it seems but be sure and feed it often
    otherwise your coyote will start looking at other livings things like your pet cat.

    And do not think you can take a tame coyote for a walk on a leash.  If other leashed dogs are passing by the
    coyote could go berserk trying to get them and lots of biting will happen to all in the coyote’s way including
    you I imagine.




    Who is inside the fence?  The coyote? Or us?  The answer is obvious.


    There is no coyote in this picture above.  Could be though.  The picture below is our backyard, unfenced part, and there is a
    coyote present…almost invisible.  Coyotes have decided that urban life is OK and now seeing a coyote on your street is
    common.  When i was a kid, decades ago, coyotes were almost fictional creatures skulking around the American west where
    they originated.  Not so today.




    HERE is a coyote story from Kent snd Jan Farrow

    KENT FARROW…COYOTE STORY FROM WASAGA BEACH



    Hi Allan…..love your backyard and farm and creatures that are lured to them.  We do not have coyotes at the cottage but we do have our passive fox(if there is such a thing at!  We are back to Wasaga after a 4 month stay at the cottage .  In Wasaga we have many coyotes that roam about feeding on rabbits and stray cats.  THREE winters ago we lost a yearling deer , who despite being protected by 5 other adults, was surrounded and consumed on the golf course fairway behind us.  All that was left were the two hind legs.  They take no prisoners when hungry especially when the snow is deep.  We are home for a few more days to let impending hurricane Ian pass and then back to ‘Hodge Podge Lodge ‘ to close up.  Stay safe!<image0.jpeg>

    This would have been 3 winters ago when there was close to 18-20” of snow on the ground.  There was a small herd of dear wintering on the golf course….3 adults and two young ones.  We also had 2 coyotes trailing them .  I have them on my trail cam.  We heard the celebratory yipping noises and in the morning my son found the two hind legs.  We see them trotting across the farmer’s fields at times.  Any ways that is natures food chain I suppose.  After all, Wasaga is a Provincial Park.

    Kent Farrow

    Sent from my iPhone


    Kent Farrow