Sugar Beets and Geese

THE FARMERS HAVE STARTED THE SUGAR BEET HARVEST. SUGAR BEETS ARE PILED IN MOUNTAIN LIKE PILES AT THE EDGE OF THE FIELDS TO BE PICKED UP AT A LATER DATE FOR DELIVERY TO THE PROCESSING PLANTS. LAST YEAR SOME OF THOSE BEETS REMAINED UNTIL JANUARY, ALL COVERED WITH LOOSE STRAW THEN SURROUNDED BY BALES OF THE SAME TO KEEP THE BEETS FROM FREEZING. THE BEETS ARE USED FOR BOTH ANIMAL/CATTLE FOOD AS WELL AS FOR MAKING SUGAR AND SYRUP.

SOME OF THE OTHER FIELDS AROUND US ARE ALREADY TURNING THAT BEAUTIFUL TENDER GREEN, SPROUTING SHOOTS OF RECENTLY PLANTED WINTER WHEAT.

THE GEESE WHO HAVE JUST STARTED THEIR JOURNEYS SOMEWHERE SOUTH STOP,FLOCKS OF HUNDREDS AT A TIME, TO FEED. QUITE A SIGHT! THEY STAY FOR A DAY OR TWO, THEN TAKE OFF IN A JUMBLE TO SHORTLY THEREAFTER ORGANIZE IN THAT FAMILIAR V SHAPE, WITH THEIR LEADER IN FRONT CHATTERING THE ENTIRE TIME. WHAT A NEAT SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR. I AM ALWAYS IN AWE.

THE TREES ARE STARTING TO LOSE THE GREEN COLOUR TOO. BIRCHES ARE TURNING YELLOW, SOME HEDGES ARE CHANGING TO BROWN AND GOLD THOUGH WE ARE YET NOT INTO THAT EXPLOSION OF WILD AND VIBRANT COLOUR, BUT IT WILL NOT BE LONG I PREDICT. THE GEESE KNOW!!!!!

THE DAYS ARE A BIT COOLER, THE NIGHTS EVEN MORE SO, BUT UP UNTIL VERY RECENTLY WE HAVE ENJOYED RATHER MEDITERRANEAN WEATHER. VERY PLEASANT FOR US.

LITTLE "BELLA" OUR ADORABLE LITTLE FEMALE KITTEN NOT YET A YEAR OLD IS GIVING US WORRIES. SHE NEVER SHOULD HAVE BUT INDEED DID CONTRACT CAT SNIFFLES, THE COMMON CAT COLD SHE WAS PROPERLY VACCINATED AGAINST. SHE HAS SINCE UNDERGONE INTERFERON TREATMENTS TWICE AND PROLONGED PERIODS WITH ANTIBIOTICS TO SEEMINGLY NO AVAIL. SHE STRUGGLES FOR BREATH AND IS RESTING A LOT, BUT IS OTHERWISE SO FULL OF LIFE. IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS SO DIFFICULT TO CURE. WE HOPE EVERYDAY TO SEE HER BEAT THIS BACTERIAL "MONSTER", HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL!!