Brush Fire on the Border.

This afternoon, just after lunch at around 1300 hours, I smelled smoke coming from the ranch.  As I laid in bed, I thought to myself.  Either neighbor's burning yard debris or someone else is. 

The smoke started getting heavy as I looked out the window from my bed.  Then I heard the telltale sign of crackling.  That sounds like a big fire.  I jumped out of bed, looked out the window and saw large orange flames from behind one of my perimeter dog's house.  Grabbing my cellphone, I called 911 and relayed to them the situation and address.  As I made my way to the back porch.  Just as I got to the door, I heard a muffled explosion coming from the direction of the fire.  Looking out past the corner of the porch, I could clearly see that the flames were huge. 

I relayed all that is happening to the 911 dispatcher, just before hanging up.  Finally after some struggle, I put on my ranch boots.  But before I could even leave the back porch to grab the hose to help keep the fire from spreading.  It started raining hard and long enough just to put the fire out.  

As I looked up into the sky, there wasn't a single rain cloud in sight.  Some white clouds, but not one dark rain cloud. 


God is Good!  


ESTA


Keep Smiling :)   

Post Storm Clean up: Weekend Later.

After my Saturday class at GCC, I had lunch at Michelle's Cafe in Mangilao.  Food is good as always there.  Service is a lot better since my first visit weeks ago.  Really pleased with the food and service.  Will be back there to try their Orange Chicken, next weekend.  

After lunch, I picked up 2 bottles of Fire Clean from Ken in Hagatna.  Gonna give my weapons a thorough cleaning tomorrow.  Thinking of putting the new accessories on my Saiga 410, as well.  I'll definitely will be able to pick up those 7.62x39 rounds from Anthony next week.  

On the way home, I stopped by WSTCO to get some Alfalfa Hay for Gera, our karabao.  Northern plants don't have enough protein to  sustain a growing karabao, like Gera.  So I have to supplement his food intake.  The area he cleared, I'll be planting some Malato grass seeds.  That's a grass that has a lot of nutrition for grass fed livestock.  For now, alfalfa hay will do.  After I got home, I took a nice sizeable flake of hay to Gera.  He was happy to get his treat again.  My niece Rachelle, who raises cattle and her own karabao at her family ranch, told me that Gera should get 8 to 10 lbs a flake of hay per day.  That's about the size of my palm.  

This afternoon, I spent most of my time cleaning up the south side area.  Post storm debris all over the place, mostly fallen trees.  Getting all the fallen limbs to the boundaries to compost there.  After I was done moving branches.  The rest of the afternoon was working with my Layer Flock.  Did a headcount of the hens.  12 hens all accounted for.  Checked on the roosters, one was missing.  Thought I was miss counting.  So I recounted...several times.  Only 11 free range roosters were seen in the area of the chicken pens.  

While fixing one the pens, I noticed a bulk of red feathers behind a tree.  Walked over, thinking the rooster got tangled up in the vines.  But no...he was dead.  He was one of the big Rhode Island Red roosters that I acquired, over a year old.  I turned him over and saw that he was badly beaten. I'm pretty sure it was the free range boonie roosters, that came from my Uncle Goro's ranch when they closed up over a year ago, that are responsible.  They're always beating up on the RIR roosters, except for Big Red.  Gonna have to shoot that boonie rooster and his co-horts tomorrow to leave my RIR flock alone.  

I got back into the house well past sun down.  Watching the sunset and observing the Rhodies to see if they returned to their respective roosts.  Most of them did.  The roosters went into their pen, except one.   Found him in one of the layer pens.  Most of the hens went into their pens, except one.  Found her in the rooster pen.  Apparently both the rooster and hen had switched pens.  Yeah, I know.  Never thought I'd have a rooster player, and a slutty hen in my flock.  Their going to be one of the first to cull out later on. 

Have lots more to clean up in the next week or two.  



ESTA

KEEP SMILING 

Ranch Assessment: Minor Damages from Typhoon Francisco.

 

Gera, at the South Side Area, after we acquired him. 

After the All Clear was announced earlier this afternoon, I took the time to check out my ranch.  I wanted to see what kind of damage was out there, if I lose any animals, did I have a minor or major rebuild on my hands.  I heard a large crack just before lunch.  So I knew either a limb broke from tree, or a tree fell.  

First thing I did was let all the goats and sheep out.  There was a lot of leaves and branches on the ground.  So letting them go will start the clean up process.  The weather was windy and rainy.  I don't know how the radio announcers were saying it was clear.  It would be clear for a couple of minutes, then gusts of wind and hard rain will follow.  

The goats/sheep were glad to get out of the pen and back into the paddock.  Even with the slight rain, they didn't come back in.  Making my way to the South side, I was greeted by my daughter Larraine's Rhodes, Rhode Island Red roosters.  I went straight to the fly pens where the hens were kept and opened the doors.  They were happy to get out and get some fresh grass and bugs.  I let the Alpha Rooster, Big Red, out of his pen.  He took quick to reclaiming his spot as the Alpha Rooster beating every rooster in the pecking order.  He fokai'd the Guinea roosters and the free range boonie roosters as well.  That's one tough bird.  

I never thought I'd see the guineas losing to a big Rhode Island Red.  That got the other RIR roosters motivated and confident, all 11 of them, to team up to beat the guineas.  They picked up the guinea technique and beat them at their own game.  Even the RIR hens re-established their pecking order between the two pens.  

There was minimal damage in the South side area.  Lots of leaves and broken branches littered the ground.  A couple of trees that I was planning to cut down had fallen over.   A discovery was made in the roosters pen.  Skeletal remains of a bird was found after the grass was all eaten, feathers and mud washed away from the rain. It wasn't one of the Rhodes.  I must've been a boonie chicken that died and was covered up by the vines.  The bones were too small for a RIR.  Also, all my roosters are accounted for.  

Walking the North side, a limb had fallen and missed one of our perimeter dogs, also a majority of the banana trees fell.  There is only one fruiting banana left standing.  But I'm cutting that down tomorrow because it's bunch is ready for harvest.  The trail to the karabao was closed off by a huge fallen tree.  Again, another tree that I had already planned to cut down.  I had to walk around the fallen tree. only to discover there are more fallen trees on the other side.  It took some scrambling to get back on trail. 

Finally made my way to Gera, our karabao.  He's is one big and healthy toro.  The area he's at is all cleared and starting to get muddy.  Gera is a better boonie cleaner than the goat herd.  One of the first things I'll do in the morning is to move him tomorrow to another side of the paddock.  This weekend, I'll take some time to make his oxen yoke.  Have no choice but to do On-the-job training with him, to pull.  Lots of timber to pull after I trim off the branches tomorrow.  

It's going to be really busy this Saturday and the next couple of weekends to clean up most of the mess from Francisco.  


ESTA...

KEEP SMILING

Typhoon Francisco...what a tease!

It's been 11 years since the last typhoon made a direct hit on the island, Super Typhoon Pongsona made landfall on December 8, 2002.  Actually, it was 10 years and 10 months...but I'm pretty it's easier for those mathematically challenged to round it up.  

26W formed off the island two days ago.  I expected much from a virgin typhoon.  I was hoping it would HIT.  But it scampered down the East Side as a disturbance, got stuck somewhere South of the island building up strength.  Where it was promoted to Typhoon.  With all the hoopla around this, you would have thought that it would hit us.  But with not much fanfare, Francisco, tried to quietly bypass the island on our West side.  

Most Veteran Typhoon Watchers, like myself, were expecting a bigger bang.  All it did was blow down weak trees on my ranch and around the island.  My chainsaw could have done that.  At least take down some big ficus or drop that shack on the North side paddock.  Do something big!  Even PDN on their Facebook page stated a tree was blocking part of a road.  When you clicked on it, it was nothing but a banana stalk on the right lane.  WoW!  Amazing!  Call out the National Guard to remove the banana tree.  Big news for a slow typhoon day.  

Where's all the maiming and flooding that your Che'lus did in the Philippines, just weeks ago?!?  Or in Japan, just days ago?  Hafa Francisco???  What's up...Boy?!  You're suppose to bring fear into the hearts of the islanders, build memories of damages that should have happened but sadly did not.  No one here will remember you in the days, months, and years to follow.  YOU did not amount to the great Supers that came before you like Pongsona, Paka, Omar, Yugo, Pamela, Karen.  

Alas Francisco...You're not just a tease.  You're a DUD.  Hopefully the next typhoon will do this island proud. 

Ranch Day

Woke up to the smell of coffee drifting into my room.  That aroma just makes it feel, all's okay.  Today, was my ranch day.  It should be everyday, but with my schedule at work, the college, the academy, and client training rooms.  I'm wall to wall busy.  So I had no choice but to start working the ranch on the weekends, after class on Saturdays, and all day Sunday, until my schedule clears up. 

Sun was up...when I jumped out of bed this morning, chowed down some breakfast,  then made my way to the back of the house into my makeshift barn shack.  A gray 20' x 20' canopy that I use as a barn.  Need me one of them metallic 60' x 40' x 20' warehouse type barns.  I'll get that when we move to the back property. 

I got the lawnmower, a green mulcher,  serviced and ready to go.  Started cutting the trails by the house, then noticed I was balding the ground.  My wheels were to low.  Aiii, somebody used my mower and adjusted the wheels.  A quick readjustment to get them high, soon got me on my way.  Then I noticed the mower wouldn't start.  So I primed her up again, and she started up just fine after the 2nd pull on the rope. 

I mowed the trail from the back of the house towards the North Side, got past the wall.  I'll have to cut down some saplings to fit and cut through on the next lawn day.  After I was done mowing the North Side.  I went South.  My intention was to keep mowing the grass until I ran out of gas.  Unfortunately, some big rocks had other things planned for me and my green mulcher. After my rocks delays, I was finished just a bit after lunch.  Took a small break just to catch my breath.  Big difference between my mower and my bushcutter - my back isn't hurting. 

After a quick lunch, I was back out in the barn shack.  I grabbed my chainsaw, a 16" Poulan Pro, added some fuel and bar/chain oil.  When I started her up, the chain wasn't rotating on the bar.  I hit the kick back device...nothing happened.  I turned off the chainsaw and tried to move the chain.  It was frozen to the bar.  I figured it was just tight.  So I loosened the chain tightening device, started her up again, and still nothing.  I opened up the sprocket cover and was surprised to see all the gunk inside the cover and all around sprocket.  A closer look to the chain...it was rusted frozen. 

Somebody had used my chainsaw and didn't clean it up.  There was mud and sawdust all gummed up.  I took a stick broom and cleaned up the inside the cover and all around the sprocket.  I took the chain off the bar and applied, some Water Displacement # 40 to all the links.  Then I manually loosened up each link to get the oil inside to clean up any rust.  Reassembled everything, primed it 6x's, started up on the choke 5x's, then at half choke...she fired up nicely, gunned the engine.  Still nothing!  Had forgotten to reset the kickback device.  After gunning the enginet, the chain moved.  Again I gunned the engine and the chain started purring on the bar.  NICE!!! 

At the South Side with chainsaw in my hands, it was firewood making time, of all the trees that were felled a couple of weeks ago.  I cut the limbs and trucks down to 2' lengths.  Some of those trunks were a good 6' to 8" thick in diameter.  Have to start planning a barbecue soon to use the wood.  After I was done cutting up some firewood.  I felled one of the trees that I planned to cut down months ago.  It opened up the tree canopy nicely.  Now the sun's rays will be able to get to the ground and provide some solar energy to my grass.  Looking forward to cutting down the bigger trees in the up coming months.

After I had finished using the lawn mower, I let the goat herd out on their own.  No leads, no ties.  They just roamed around the immediate area eating their favorite grasses.  My herd sire, Fluffy, didn't give me any problems.  He was easy to handle when he's loose, compared to when he is tied out on his lead.  When I whistled, they all came running back into the pen, except the lamb rams.  Those two think they're so special.  So I left them out of the pen for a little while longer. 

When the hens were fed, I worked on the big empty fly pen next to their coop.  The tin roof went on easy.  Then came the thick branch for the hens to roost on.  I'll need to get some nest boxes attached to the inside wall before I move any hens in there.   I'm dividing up the hens in the next couple of days.  It's too crowded in the fly pen that they are currently in.  Moving 6 of them to the new coop will be good for the flock.  Just until I get the canopy for the bigger coop for them to lay their eggs in. 

My last check today was looking in on Gera, our karabao.  He was just relaxing when I approached him earlier this evening.  Next weekend, I'll be working on his side of the ranch, the North Side. 


ESTA

KEEP SMILING 


 

Hurry Up Typhoon! Hit this island already!

Today, it rained harder and we had a breaking number of amount of rain fallen since 7 am.  I like rain.  I love playing in it.  Getting drenched to the bone, is chilling, but fun.  In fact, it's still raining as I prepare this post. 

It was hilarious reading all the posts on facebook and looking at all the rained out flooded pictures throughout the day.  We had hard rain, then came the floods, then an earthquake, and more rain.  Yet, everyone acts like it's the end of the world.  I just read a post on facebook from a poster asking if the snakes will be coming out.  Really?!   

Most common greeting of concern was "Be Safe, or Drive Safe".  I'd like to be the devil's advocate for a moment and just say, "No, don't drive safe.  Drive Crazy!  (rolling eyes)".  Yes, I'm being sarcastic.  But really, Should the person behind the wheel of a vehicle not know how to drive safe...They shouldn't be driving at all.   

People act like it hasn't rained on this island before.  

If you can't drive in the rain or through a flooded out road...Get off the road or Go Home! 

Also, if you see a big white 2013 Ram Crewcab 4x4 in your rear view mirror with water splashing on both sides of the truck.  I highly recommended you get out of my way.  

We need a typhoon to cleanse the island.  


ESTA

KEEP SMILING :) 

2013 Egg Laying Flock: Rhode Island Reds.

Got Eggs?

 
It's been a week since we first brought home the new chicken flock of Rhode Island Reds.  Since then we've collected more than 3 dozen eggs.  Yes, they are quite very good. better than store bought eggs.  Right now, the hens are producing for family consumption.  I'll need to breed up the hen flock to get a good number of egg layers to have a sustainable egg selling venture.  

1st Egg for the ranch.

The first egg was collected on Monday, September 9, 2013.  I wasn't expecting any eggs since we just moved the flock the other day.  The stress from moving would have probably played a role in delayed egg laying production.  Finding an egg on the ground just before 0600 was a real treat. 

During afternoon checks, I found a couple more eggs, bringing up the total number of eggs to 7 on our very first day of egg laying production.  I was happy that the flock was off to a good start. 

Throughout the week, we collected different numbers of eggs.  Day 1 was 7 eggs collected.  Since there were 12 hens, I predicted the next day, Day 2, would be 5 eggs.  I felt good to be correct when I collected 5 eggs the next day.  Day 3 was 7 eggs again.  As well as Day 4, was 5 eggs collected.  However things changed on Day 5, we collected 8 eggs.  Then on Day 6, another 6 eggs were collected.  There seemed to be an extra eggs on those days.  Even today, Day 7, we collected 9 total, 2 more than usual.  There maybe a hen that is laying daily, instead of every other day.

7 eggs collected on the 1st day. 

Yes, we've started consuming our ranch fresh eggs.  I'm glad to be eating fresh eggs compared to store bought eggs.  Taste is so much better.  I know what my chickens are eating.  The hens have been given NO Medications since they've moved here. 

My goal is get my eggs, Organic Certified.  There is so much paperwork and standards that I have to follow before I even apply for the inspection.  So I'm going to just claim Farm Fresh, or in our island's case, Ranch Fresh, for the time being.

By going Ranch Fresh, this gives me time to build up to Organic Certification.  Especially, when I move ranch operations to the back property sometime next year.  I'll be able to claim the properties in the back as Organic, since it's raw land.  Lots of room back there to pasture raise the birds to lay, pastured finished eggs, or pastured finish birds.  

For now the hens are housed in a former fly pen, now turned coop.  This is temporary until I the birds get used to me as their new steward.  Also, they have to get accustomed to the new ranch.  I don't want them running all over the place and getting into the neighbor's yards.  They might not come back again.  Then I'll have to walk over to the neighbors and knock 'em out for taking my birds.  Seriously though, it's for the safety of the birds until I can get a bigger coop established for them, and the property fenced off to keep outsiders outside and my birds inside the ranch.

Temporary hen coop. 

I need to cut some grass to throw down in their temporary coop to keep them off the mud.   Rainy season here is going to get the birds sick if I don't do some preventive care.  Putting grass in the pens during the rainy season will help keep the birds from the mud.  It'll also turn into compost with the bird droppings mixing in with the grass cover.  

The other plan is to put the fly pens on skids.  So that I'll be able to move them to grass areas.  The only problem is that the pens are top heavy, and not as stable as they look.  I may have to make an actual chicken tractor for the birds.  Moving them daily to fresh grass will not be a problem. 

Today, I added the hanging feeder inside the pens and adjusted the height accordingly.  This keeps them from stepping and spoiling their grain feed.  The water trough was also moved to the outside of the pen to keep it clean.  I got tired of constantly changing out the muddy water.  It will also be easier for us to clean and add water. 

Hen getting ready to lay an egg. 

One of the hens getting ready to drop her egg.  This one collected today will make 9 for the day.  Not bad for an increase.  I'll need to make better nest boxes.  A little bigger than what is shown in the picture.  A slanted floor so the eggs rolls out to be collected and kept clean after each one is laid. 











ESTA

KEEP SMILING! 

New Chicken Flock Arrives and Monitor Lizard Escapes.

Our karabao, Gera, eating a flake of alfalfa hay.

Today was an Awesome day at the ranch.  It was sunny and breezy.  Some clouds in the sky but nothing to be concerned about.  The weather was really wonderful today.  

My niece/goddaughter, Arissa, and nephew Michael, and myself did our morning checks.  We adjusted the animals out on leads in the North-side, and brought them water and hay.  Back at the house, Rissa cooked up some hot soup for lunch for us to eat.  
  

Gera knocking over a banana stalk to get to its leaves. 

After lunch, we went to the South-side and worked on the fly pens for the incoming chickens later in the afternoon.  We cannibalized two old fly and scratch pens and used its side panels as doors for the circular fly pens.  We also patched up some holes in one fly pen.  Rissa learned to use a new tool, the Tin Snips.  I showed her how to pull one side up and pull down the opposite side as she started cutting the 1/4" wire cloth to make patches for the holes in the fly pens.  In all, we, Rissa and I, repaired 3 large pens and one small one.  It should be enough for the flock of Rhode Island Reds.

While we were working, Michael was busy playing with toads and turning over water pans.  We sent him back to the house to get us bottled water.  For a short distance, he was gone for quite a long time.  It was hot and we were thirsty.  When he finally returned.  I asked him where he went.  His reply, "I went to go eat".  

After putting on the new doors and patching up the holes.  The three of us jumped into the my truck, the Mud Hopper, and drove to the Santos Ranch to pick-up our new flock of Rhode Island Reds.  While there Mr. Santos was able to catch some birds while he was getting feed, to lure the chickens into a trap.  I started helping out gathering the chicken and putting them in the cage.  Rissa was assigned as door guard to keep the captured chickens in the cage.  Michael was being Michael, asking questions, after questions, and running around.  We were able to catch 20 birds and caged them in the kennel and the extra bird cage that I brought along.  I didn't realize how heavy 20 birds were in one portable kennel.  Until, we started carrying the cage back to the truck.  I need to go back tomorrow to pickup 9 more birds, probably after work.  

Munching on banana leaves. 

Back at the ranch, we started transporting all the chickens back into their pens.  I put all the hens in one large fly pen with a nest box.   While all the roosters were put into one large pen. The breeding roosters were put into two smaller pens.  Michael actually took the free range chicken's feed and put it into the hen's pen.  He was astonished that none of the hens flew out of the pen.  That they stayed in there eating the feed that he brought them.  We both went back to the barn shack to get more feed for the rest of the flock.  It was fun watching him give the additional feed to the hens.  Then he comes over to see the roosters getting fed too. 

After I pick up the stragglers tomorrow.  I'll observe the birds and readjust them into other pens to keep the pecking and feather pulling down to a minimum.  There they'll stay for the next 2 to 3 weeks before we let them free graze around the ranch.  This is to allow them to get accustomed to us as their new stewards.  

After all the chickens were fed and given water, we jumped back into the Mud Hopper and drove to meet Joe about some monitor lizards.  He put the 17" long lizard into my bird cage.  We thought that cage would be able to hold him.  But the lizard squeezed itself between the bars and ran as fast as it could in the bed of my truck yelling, "FFFRRRRREEEEEDDDDOOOOMMMM!!!!".  Then he jumped between the cab to the ground and through the breeze way of a generator room behind the building.  It was a hilarious sight.  The seller was upset because the lizard got away.  I was laughing about the whole scene.  

Since the lizard was put into my cage and the door locked, that constituted a delivery of an exotic livestock.  So I paid Joe to be fair.  I wasn't going to take the incident for granted.  The guy was surprised that I was still paying him for the escaped lizard.  I even sweetened the deal.  I committed to buying a younger and smaller monitor lizard from him.  That surprised him even more.  I'm still laughing about the whole incident, the look on Joe's face when the lizard escaped, the look on his face again when I paid him, and again when I committed to getting the other lizard. 

The highlights of today was observing Rissa teach Michael how to work in the ranch.  Especially how to drive the double wheeled wheelbarrow.   He's learning.  


ESTA

KEEP SMILING :)

Labor Day ranch work.

Day started early for me as usual.  Gave the goat herd some alfalfa hay this morning.  They really like that stuff, just like our karabao, Gera.  Got a 15 lb flake of hay for him, walked up to the North Side, gave him his hay, then commenced to untangling his lead from the tangantangan trees and banana trees.  One of my uncles commented that the karabao is to close to the banana trees and he's eating it.  I replied, better him eating all the banana trees then the saki's (thieves) that harvest its fruits.  

We've never tasted the fruits from those trees.  For as long as we've had this ranch, I don't remember ever tasting the fruits from those banana trees.  We'll watch it flower, then fruit, then watch the numerous hands develop into full size bananas.  But when it's time to harvest.  The bunch is gone.  Taken by the sakis. 

Gera, our karabao, is doing a great job eating each banana stalk, one by one, day by day.  He's done a great job clearing that area.  We're slowly working him towards the backside of the Igloo/Egg House.  I'm gonna turn that house into a barn.  Just have to fence up the boundary by the road.  After I get permission from the mayor since the house is abandoned.  Wonder if I can get it at auction.  All in God's hands. 

I moved the toron chibas (bucks) to the North Side just a ways from the karabao.  They'll clean up that area behind the wall.  I'm gonna make that a garden since my banana orchard is right there.  These are a different set of trees from the ones, I've set Gera to eat up.  We eat the fruits from these trees.  I have to start inspecting them more often now.  There are 3 bunches of bananas that have developed.  Sometime this week, I'll cut the hearts off from the bunches to help the fruits grow bigger. 

All the livestock are doing better the last couple of days.  The fly strike from the last couple of weeks really did a number to our herds.  The sheep rams fared better, but they were the first to get hit.  The flies were different than from before.  These species were more aggressive and their maggots were like screw worms.  Had to apply medication topically to help the stocks fight off the flies.  But today's morning checks assured me that the animals are doing a lot better than before.  Can't dwell on the losses.  Have to keep thinking positive and thank God for our blessings and challenges.  

We're still upgrading and investing for the future of the ranch.  A major investment this week, I agreed to buy out the chicken flock of another ranch North of here.  So this week, we'll be getting a flock of Rhode Island Red chickens.  They're a multi-purpose bird, both egg laying and meat production.  We've been planning for years to get into egg production for the family's consumption.  We'll definitely sell off surplus eggs.  We plan to do a limited free range flock.  We can't afford to leave the birds out at night by themselves.  They'll have to protected in a coop at night with trained guard dogs outside.  Then let out during the day to eat organics within the ranch area.  The hens will be used for egg production.  The roosters will be slaughtered for meat.  I'll keep 2 sets of breeding pair and ordering from Hawaii every other year to upgrade the flock. 

Larraine's Flock is growing,  There are a number of hens with chicks to the flock.  The birds were from 3 different flocks before.  Now they've combined into one large flock of 15 birds.  I'm going to have to cull them down to keep from competing with Rhode Island Reds coming in this week. 



HAPPY LABOR DAY!


KEEP SMILING

Getting Solar Energy to the Ground

FELLING TREES

Been in the ranch for most of the day.  Checked up on all the animals.  Those on spot grazing, I had to untangle their leads and move them to new areas.  Gave the karabao his daily treat of alfalfa hay.  Gera really likes that stuff.  But he also prefers the fresh grass around the ranch. 

After all the chores were done.  I was able fell some trees today.  The goal today was to get the sun's solar rays to reach the ground.  This will help the grass to grow to help feed the animals.  I'm not doing clear cutting, just opening up the canopy for the sun to get in. 

The Pickue Tree (Pickle Tree) aka Bilimbi or Kamias, fell victim to my chainsaw.  I have so many kamias trees.  That cutting them all down, to get rid of their bushy canopy, helped the sun's rays get to the ground.  Still have more trees to cut in the next couple of days.  Also the felled trees provided fresh leaves to my goats.

Also being cut down were numerous Noni saplings.  I didn't realize I have so many.  There are certain strong noni saplings that I found in strategic areas that were left to grow.  And by cutting down the smaller saplings around those chosen to grow ended any further competition.  I'll have nice strong Noni trees in a couple of months.  Some of them are already fruiting.  

The felled trees were left in place to dry out.  In a couple of days, I'll go back and trim the limbs off.  Most of them will be cut down to firewood.  They'll get stack in cords and covered in tarps.  Until, I need to use them for a barbecue.  

In areas of the ranch that were opened up to sunlight a couple of weeks ago.  Forbs are growing and covering up the once canopy covered ground.  Later, I'll be replacing the forbs with true grass in a couple of weeks.  The forbs, for now, will help keep erosion down, and will be something for the livestock to eat.  Something is always better than nothing.


CLEARING 

The toros and Gera are doing well on the South Side Area.  They're busy eating away the jungle.  We are now approximately 400 feet from where my previous goat herd browsed and stopped, 3 years ago. I'm finding feeding trays that I used back then, along with 5 gallon water buckets that were placed along the trail for the goats back then.  An old goat lead was found ensnared inside a root, of the Pandanus tree.  I even remember my former goat that lead was clipped to. 

The baka white herd, are in the main ranch area doing maintenance spot mowing.  Keeping the grass low and then moving on to another area of the main ranch to mow down.  They're following the mowing rotation plan.

The free grazer black herd is roaming around somewhere on the ranch.  This herd consists of of my black doe and her two bucklings, their older sister, and the two capone rams.  I'll be glad when my fence energizer and electric fencing comes in.  I won't have to be chasing them down everyday. 



Keep Smiling

Donni Denanche

Last Saturday, I was able to acquire two bottles of homemade Donni Denache from my friend Jesse.  He actually grows the peppers and gets the ingredients on island to make his version of donni denanche.  For Jesse, this is an all night endeavor to produce his recipe and bottle it.  

There are many versions of Donni Denanche aka Dagan Blaster (butt blaster).  My dad used to make his own version of donni denanche.  It did not pay to be in the house back then.  You're eyes and sinus cavity would be burning from the cooking of the peppers coming from in the kitchen. It is more of a condiment to add to your food.  There are different varieties of donni denanche as different as the families on this island.  Families who make this dish keep it's recipe a secret from others.  But the biggest difference from each one is the levels of heat.  Some are mild, others are moderate, then there those who go to far extreme.  Hence, the name dagan blasters.  

I prefer the moderate to slightly hotter versions.  I used to eat the extremely hot versions of donni denanche.  But there came a day when I got tired of sitting on the ceramic bowl quietly praying that I will never do it again.  Then jumping in the shower to cool off with cold water. 

The first bottle that I got from Jesse is moderate to slightly hot.  You could actually taste the vegetables.  Then the heat slowly comes, building up, then BAM!  You get the full rush and intensity of the heat from the peppers.  The heat doesn't linger like other versions of donni denanche that I've tried before.  Jesse's version seems to dissipate after that quick peak, but the tingling nerves in my lips reminds of the heat that had just passed. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this version of Donni Denanche from Jesse.  It's full of flavors, the heat is just right.  I definitely will be getting more bottles of denanche in the future.  



 KEEP SMILING

3 Months Away

Spent the afternoon working my ranch.  I accomplished the ranch chores after we got home from morning service and a quick lunch.  Checked on all the animals, and then went for a walkabout into the Southern Area.  

I got as far as where my previous goat herd had cleared, 3 years ago.  Yeah, went past the boulders and down to the corner dip.  Saw some wild pig signs and deer signs as well.  Water buckets are still there, all tipped over.  My old hunting spot is overgrown again.  I haven't been there in awhile.  You can barely see my old trail.  But it's still there.  Even my ranch dog Duchess was running around her old stomping grounds.  We even stood on the spot where I shot that wild pig in the head as it charged at Duchess.  Who was running towards me. 

I remember naming each paddock after it was established.  There were several young coconut saplings that I've planted to show the boundaries of each paddock.  Could not find a single one during my walkabout. Wild pigs probably decimated those young coconut trees soon after we stopped grazing in the area.  We'll have to plant new ones as we move further South to reestablish the paddocks.  

The clearing operations are on schedule.  The goat herd is on the east side of area, moving South.  Gera, our karabao is on the west side moving south.  Both have stopped today, and on hold.  I had to rotate the doe herd back to the house to maintain the grass.  The buck herd moved into the ranch proper to do the same, on maintenance.  Gera was moved to the NE border to clear the area there. 

Once an area is cleared.  I come in and fell trees and shrubs that I don't need.  Soon, I'll be felling the bigger taller trees that I plan to use for fence  posts.  Getting the sun to hit the ground through the canopy is the priority.  I need solar energy to grow grass and legumes for the livestock.  I don't want to cut down all the trees, just enough for the sun to get through and the grass to take hold.  

Larraine's Chicken Flock is doing well.  Before we started clearing the ranch, they were scattered all over the jungle into small micro-flocks.  Since we've cleared, many of them have returned to the main ranch area and formed into one huge flock of 20+ birds.  Who could blame them.  Free food, 7 times a week, troughs full of drinking water, guard dogs all around.  As long as it's free and secured, who wouldn't want to come back.  3 hens with their brood of chicks scouting for bugs in the newly cleared areas.  Several roosters all strutting their stuff trying to be the top cock in the ranch.  Yet, the Guinea Roosters put them in check.  What a sight!  

It'll be approximately 3 months by the time we get to the Corner Dip. 

Enjoying Guahan's 69th Liberation Day at the Ranch.

Guam Liberation 1944.

 
Today is Guahan's 69th Liberation Day.  American Forces retook the island from Imperial Japanese Forces during World War II.  We celebrate that event every year.  Most of us have not forgetten the stories that our elders went through during the war.  The torture, slavery, food rationing, and killings of our people.  The assimilation of our people into the Japanese culture through their education programs.  

Our history was one of the main reasons why I voluntarily joined the US Army years ago.  To give back, what was given to my people, then when I volunteered, it was 42 years ago (69 years ago today)...FREEDOM.  

BIBA LIBERASION!  BIBA GUAHAN!


----

Instead of heading down to Hagatna, our capital, to watch the parade, I decided to work the ranch after Sunday morning service.  I could have put off the chores but I did not.  After a quick lunch of bbq flavored stew...yeah...it was nasty...so I drowned it in ketchup to mask the bbq flavor.  I went into the ranch.  I checked on all the livestock; untangled the goats, checked on my RIR/WLH cross Rooster, checked on the kids and rams, and serviced my chainsaw and got it ready to cut down some trees.  


I brought Gera, our karabao, a 10 lb flake of alfalfa hay.  Went around again and filled up all the water containers.  Then I went and started felling some trees.  My goal was to get the sun rays to penetrate the canopy of the trees.  I'm following Polyface Farms methods and trying them out again on the ranch after a couple of years break.  I'm combining the Polyface method with Permaculture method and not traditional farming where you clear the whole acreage. 

I started cutting trees that were growing at angles to the ground.  Then lots of dead trees that were still standing.  A whole lot of them came down this afternoon.  With the trunks and branches I made some sanctuary hideaways for the chickens to lay their eggs under.  I'm able to walk straight away to the herd from anywhere on the ranch without have to take detours and climb over any obstacles.  I was able to fell most of the trees I wanted today.  I'm not done yet.

I've identified trees that I'll use to harvest timber for fence posts and rails.  Next week, I'll cut those trees down, stack the timber to dry out, then cut them down to post size.  I'll try to take pictures to show my progress.  Years ago, we didn't have to put up a fence line.  Today due to many two-legged predators, "Predatorcus", ranchers and farmers have to protect their investments.  A fence is the first line of defense and determent.  

Gera's draft training is coming a long.  He already knows, in Chamorro, the following words: Come, Keep Still, Go Back, and Pull.  He's good and complies with my commands.  I'm teaching him Down, in Chamorro.  But I'm mixing up the commands to other languages.  That'll throw off anyone observing to closely.  

I'm debating whether to make him a yoke or harness for pulling loads.  Need to do more research on that area.  



Keep Smiling 

No Wonder, there were no eggs!

 

For a couple of years, I've kept this pair of Guinea Fowl in the fly pen to breed.  Year after year, nothing.  One day, last week the Guinea Rooster managed to get out of the pen.  He didn't go far, he adopted a hen and her chicks, stayed close to protect them from the other chicken flock in the ranch, and roosted nearby.  

The other day, I let the female guinea out.  The rooster wasn't staying close to the pen like he should be.  So my train of thought was let the guinea hen out to fokai the chicken hen.  That was the plan...let her out to go after the other hen.  



After lunch, while I was tending to Gera, my karabao.  I noticed the two guineas fighting in the distance under some trees.  This was not a typical pecking order type fight.  But an all out fight like two game birds would do in the cockpit. 

Why in the world would the Guinea Rooster want to fight his breeding partner?  

I was watching them fight for a couple of minutes.  Should things get ugly, then I would go over and break up the fight.  

As I was observing, I noticed both birds seemed to move alike.  They even shrilled the same.  The hen fought back like a rooster.  Normally, the hen would turn and run, whenever confronted by an Alpha Rooster.  

Then it dawned on me, the hen was actually a rooster, only with a shorter helmet.  All these years, trying to breed the two...only realizing that both are Guinea Roosters.  I've never heard them do that squeaky call that only the hens make.  

No Wonder, there's no eggs!  


Definitely going to order Guinea Keets to replenish my Guinea Flock.  


Keep Smiling! 

BCS 725 Tractor

I acquired a two wheeled tractor, a BCS 725, made in Italy, last weekend.  It's still in good condition, needs some service and elbow grease to get it back to ranch presentation.  Nothing that a piece of sand paper and paint can't take care of.

It's a pretty awesome machine for the small backyard rancher or homestead.  It'll do good on the ranch here. The engine is from Kohler and is rated at 8 HP.  It came with several attachements:

• Cutter Bar (sickle bar)
• Plough (plow)
• Chipper/Shredder
• Dozer Blade
• Adjustable Ridger
• Rotary Hoe (tiller)
• Small Utility Dump Trailer

This new equipment will greatly aide in the expansion and maintenance of my ranch.  Check out the video below from BCS America.  





No, I will not need a snow thrower here on the island.  But, I will get me the following implements in a year or two:

• Hay Baler
• Wood Splitter
• Large Utility Trailer
• Sulky
• Power Sweeper

 Maybe after 3 years, an upgrade to the 800 series.  But first off, let's see what the 725 will do on Matua Ranch. 



Keep Smiling. 

It should be routine by now...Not.

Someone once said, that farming/ranching was easy.  He wasn't talking to me, but to some young ladies at at an agriculture seminar at the cooperative extension service.  I quietly said to myself, whatever!  When I shook his hands earlier, they were soft.  It's amazing what boys will say to get a young lady's attention.  Still laughing at that incident. 


Today, I did my chores.  You would think that after doing this for years, and with a two year break.  That I'd come up with a system to do things easier around the ranch.  Not true.  Each day is different, every animals has a different personality, and the weather doesn't seem to cooperate when you want it to.  So as much as I wanted today to be routine.  It just didn't happen.  Even with the best laid out plans on paper, or in this case, a computer, just doesn't happen when you walk into the ranch to do, The Plan.  I had planned on putting up my new goat pen today. 

As soon as I walked into the ranch this morning.  The lambs needs caring.  The goat herd saw I was paying attention to the rams.  So they started baying to get my attention.  Gera, our karabao, just looked at all the commotion going on.  It was quiet until I showed up.  

Yeah, I know...I know. 

It took awhile to get everyone situated, moved to greener areas, get them water, and make sure they were all okay. Lamb Rams are shedding their coat, attracting flies, and just whiny all the time.  I was told they're quiet.  Whoever said that, doesn't own sheep.  They do eat a lot of grass and greens.  So that outweighs they're constant whining for the moment.  All the goats are okay.  Morena was browsing along the road this morning, had to tell our ranch dog, Duchess to move her back into the ranch proper.  Gera, our karabao seems to always have his tie out lead in a spaghetti mess around a log or tree.  I betcha he is doing it on purpose.  Didn't take long to untangle the mess.  He don't know that I'm good with puzzles.  I used to untangle miles of commo wire when I was in the army.  Don't any of you tell him that.  He might make it harder or do something else to try to annoy me. 

After all that was done.  I went back to the house, cleaned up a bit and headed out to the feed store.  It was already 1130 hours.  Time flies fast when you're doing ranch chores. 

Found out via internet research, after lunch, that they do sell animal feed for sheep on Guahan.  Retailers should know their products.  For months, I've been trying to buy sheep feed to supplement the forage here on island.  Only to find out after months of, "No, we don't sell that".  That they do actually sell livestock feed for sheep.  Come Monday, I'll head out to another feed store after work to get that livestock feed for my lamb rams. 

There was another plan on paper to do this afternoon after siesta.  I was supposed to cut the grass on the trail ways.  Got back into the ranch, and started cleaning: moving tin, pulling up an old water hose, moving water troughs, putting feed into feeders for the loose chickens, untangling karabao again, picking up feeders and putting them in one place, moving junk to one area, and pruning some brush.

By the time I got back to the house.  It was already past 1800 hours.

What a day!


Keep Smiling! 

Prepping the Ranch: Karabao

MR Gera

Less than a month ago, on June 16th, I acquired our first Karabao, Gera.  He's a 3 year old male, still a young bull.  Not yet ready for breeding just yet.  Another year or two, he'll be ready.  

In the mean time, Gera will be clearing property and trained as an Ox.  As a draft animal, he'll be helping us to clear the property, pulling felled logs back to where they'll get cut into firewood.  

I have a lead on another karabao that is for sale, a female.  The current owner made the offer to sell the karacow to me, the same day, I picked up Gera.  Matua Ranch will be able to build up our Karabao herd sooner than I expected. 

Prepping the Ranch: Goat Herd and Sheep Flock

 

MR Fluffy

For the last couple of weeks, I've been heavily investing in the ranch.  I have two more big investments in the next couple of weeks, finalizing in August.  Getting things ready, prioritizing which livestock, items, or supplies, I should get first is not easy at all.  Budgeting my investments is the hardest.  I have ensure that both my households are prioritized first, then the ranch.  Yes, I have a house here on Guahan, and in the Philippines.  

Since last December, I've started investing in livestock, primarily goats.  I wanted to get back to the size of my previous goat herd before I sold off to concentrate on Safety School. 

After acquiring our herd sire, Fluffy, in December 2012, we have grown to 2 additional bucks, 4 does, and 2 buckling kids.  One doe was pregnant when we bought her.  So the two bucklings were a welcome addition to the herd.

In March, we added a pair of sheep rams to our ranch. Our purpose was to see if sheep will do good in limestone forest...which are prevalent in Northern Guahan. The past four months, we observed and learned that the sheep are not finicky grazers.  They'll eat about anything that's in front of them.  However, we noticed that both rams attracted a lot of fly strikes. It was a chore to keep them free of maggots.  Almost had to wash them down daily.  One ram unfortunately got sick from it requiring a doze of Ivermectin to get him back to health.  He is now better and improving daily.  

Working with goats and sheep, I prefer goats overall.  

Saturday at the Ranch.

It's a been a long time where I've spent the whole day in the ranch.  I started out in the morning, checking on all the livestock.  This is what I call morning checks.  Taking the time to look over each animal as I walk around the ranch.  Checking their water containers to see if it has still has some water.  If not, then I took the time to refill each one.  

Most of our water containers are 2 gallon buckets.  These are for the goats and sheep.  The carabao has a 30 gallon water trough.  But he enjoys playing with it and spilling out his water.  So I stopped bringing him water two days ago, until this afternoon.  Had to teach that 1000+ pounds, muscle packed, grass eating Bubalus bubalis a lesson.  This afternoon, I brought a shallow water trough that holds 15 gallons to where I had him pastured.  He drank up what he could, but he didn't turn over the water trough.  Hopefully, the lesson sticks.  

After my morning checks, I walked around the ranch looking at all sorts of things.  I was visualizing the new ranch makeover.  A corral with stable needs to go up to house the carabao during certain times of the year.  It could also be used by the goat herd and sheep flock  When it's time for them to use it.  That's the idea, to make my facilities not one species specific.  But to be able to be used by multiple species. 

The sheep are molting, or is it shedding.  They're both losing their wool hair.  One more so than the other.  It's weird on how nice they look with a nice fleece.  But when that thing is coming off in chunks.  They, at least the one with the worst molt, look really ugly.  

The buckling kids are growing up fast.  They're jumping and running around in their pen.  Pretty awesome for a week old kids.  The doe free ranges since they always drain her.  Then she gets double the feed to get milk to the the two kids. 

Pulled down some dead bamboo from the bamboo grove.  I'm going to have to trim them back a bit later on.  I trimmed some laguana (soursop) trees aka Guyabano for my Filipino familia .  Just cutting low branches to make them look better, also for security concerns.  Have to be able to see what I'm shooting at.  Later on, I took the chainsaw and cut down some saplings that I don't need.  

Working with Gera, our carabao since we acquired him a week ago, has been a challenge.  But not as much as the other animals we've brought into the ranch since December 2012.  Gera has been stressing since he arrived.  We've tried making him comfortable.  Giving him lots of water, which he always spilled.  Pasturing him at the greenest parts of the ranch.  He'll eat but not as much as I thought he would.  I'm pretty sure he was still adjusting to his new environment.  

He had spilled a 30 gallon water trough two days ago, that I had just filled up.  So I lectured him and placed him on corrective rehabilitation (punishment).  Yes, I talk to my animals and they respond in return.  In my experience as a rancher who has raised livestock for a number of years.  All animals want to please their master. Especially, when you're kind to your animals providing them care, feed, and shelter.   I would still visit him twice if not three times a day, during his "punishment", still untangling him, scratching him behind his ears, petting him, talking to him for the last two days.  I've been doing that everyday since he arrive to the ranch.  The only difference was, I didn't bring him water or did I lead him to water for two days.  As a ruminant, he is still able to draw water from the plants and grasses he eats.  He just doesn't get enough to quench his thirst.  But today, this afternoon,  I brought the 15 gallon water trough and a 15 gallon water container to fill it with.  As I whistled, he came directly to me and saw the water trough.  He pulled on his lead to try to get to it, but he was tangled up on a tangantangan sapling.  I filled the trough up, moved the wheel barrow and water container away, just out of reach from him.  Then I went and untied him from the tree that I tied him too, and untangled his lead.  Gera went straight to the water trough and drank his fill.  He didn't spill the rest of the water.  

Gera amazed me today.  I was surprised that he came to me when I whistled.  He didn't do that the last 5 days when I started training him, "to come to me", whenever I whistled and pulled on his rope lead.  He would just stand there looking at me and ignoring me.   But today, he walked towards me when I whistled.  Now that's progress.  Finally! 

I know it's not due to the water.  He couldn't see the water when I whistled for him.  Only when he came around the bend of trees that he looked at me first then the water trough.  A really good sign that he's making progress with me and his training.  

I wanted to ride him today, but I'll give it a week or two before I do.  




Keep Smiling  

New Additions to the Ranch: Kids and Karabao.

Acquired "Gera", a 3 year old Bull Karabao from Joe T. in Tutuhon.  On our way to Matua Ranch, Yigo.  Trailer is all secured. 

Today is Father's day.  I want to wish each Father out there, "A Happy Father's Day". 

I was working this day, Father's Day.  Didn't have much of a choice.  I bought a Karabao and needed to get him from his present location to my ranch today.  Yesterday was the planned event for transportation.  But I couldn't get a livestock trailer to transport him until this morning.  So yesterday was a bust, but a lessoned learned. 

This morning I was able to get a hold of Primo Teddy to inquire if I may use his cow trailer.  I received the okay, but only able to use it in the morning.  The family has a big get-together going on in the afternoon.  That shot down my morning plans.  So I agreed.  Since I didn't know when I'll have another weekend off to retrieve the Karabao, and I didn't want to hold him much longer, if there should be another buyer that has better transport issues than I do to complete the sale.  

I was able to to get down to Tutuhon to get my karabao.  Joe T. the previous owner was giving me some tips on how to handle, "Gera".  I'll blog about those tips later.  But it was all sound advice.  I really appreciated that he took time to show me how to care for Gera.  

We got the karabao into the trailer, paid for him, then took off after the family said, their final goodbyes.  I made a quick stop across the governor's mansion to secure the gate with a ratchet strap.  I didn't think it would open during travel.  But I wanted to be positively safe before the long drive back to Yigo.  As if the island was that long, right. 

Well, we got him to Matua Ranch safe and sound.  He'll be okay.  Just wanting him to take some time to readjust and acclimate to his new surroundings.  We cut a 55 gallon plastic barrel to make him a drinking trough, and filled it with water.  

He'll be around the family compound for a month...to get used to me and the rest of the family.  Then I'll walk him back to the big ranch on the family property to start clearing back there.  


 

Our new buckling kids.  130614.01 (all black) and 130614.02 (white ears)

We also have new babies that arrived earlier this week, Friday noon to be exact.  Two buckling kids from our doe, Morena.  I didn't think she was pregnant because her mammary gland wasn't glazed over and didn't look like it's ready to pop.   

We're expanding our livestock and our ranch area.  One of my goals is to have a petting zoo for the children on our island.  That would be awesome.  Yeah...One step at a time.  

All by God's Grace and Mercy.  



Keep Smiling 

Cowardly Attack.

Learned today from Primo Ted that someone poisoned over $2000 worth of birds: egglayers, meat birds, and a pair of Guinea Fowl, at the other ranch, a couple of weeks ago.  All the birds at a certain section of the ranch all died within days of each other.  The other birds, Game Fowl, and new birds that were penned at a different section of the ranch, were not affected.  

We are suspecting that the water supply was poisoned to kill off that many birds in a short period of time. 

Of course, I am upset about this.  Tighe and some of the boys spent a lot of time putting up the facilities, investing in the birds to be flown here from Hawaii, and caring for the birds.  We were all hoping to partake in the harvest of Farm Fresh Eggs and Ranch Raised Fresh Meat. 

This was a personal attack.  God help the person that did this, because the boys and I will not.  One day, we will find out who you are.  When we do...only God knows what will happen. 

Only a Coward would kill animals to get back at one or all of us.  I'm not even sure what I/We did to deserve this.  I owned the Guinea Fowl. 

Adding to the Herd.

Picking up doe and buck tomorrow in the village of Santa Rita, along Cross Island Road.  Current rancher is selling his property, so he's getting rid of his goats.  I picked up one this past Sunday, an 8 month old doeling.  She's a Boer Cross.  I know the markings on her as soon as I saw the herd.  Current rancher didn't know what breed he has.  

He wanted me to take all three but I was not sure if I had the room.  I only wanted one.  But after I returned with the new doeling to my ranch.  I looked around and reconsidered.  I do have the room for not only two more, but another half dozen more animals for my ranch size.  

So I'll be picking up two more goats tomorrow afternoon.  The doe is pregnant.  I'll have to see the kid(s), when they drop, if it or they are worth keeping.  I'm not to fond of the buck but I was going to do the guy a favor and just take it off his hands.  My plan was to bbq the buck later.  BUT, my daughter talked me out of it.  She believes we should multiply our herd first before we start selling or slaughtering our animals.  Which is true.  

But I know this buck's history.  As a breeder, I won't use him.  I'll get him caponed and make him a mower for life.  I already have a breeding plan with the two bucks that I've chosen as my herd sires. 



Keep Smiling

Good Intentions are not good intentions.

I've never liked good intentions.  For the most part good intentions are meant for the person giving it to get a feel good, pat in the back, emotional high.  Being on the receiving end of so many good intentions.  Most of them sucked.  Majority have not helped me one bit.  More often than not, it set me back on what I wanted to do or how I liked things done.  

Here's an example, On "MY" ranch, and I say, it's my ranch because not many people either family or friends, help out with MY ranch.  ALL of them like to enjoy the harvest of my fruits and labor.  But when it comes time to help, they run away...too busy with other things.  

So please, keep your good intentions to yourself.  I'd rather that you pray for me and the success and sustainability of my ranch, than for you to "help" with good intentions. 

Also, I am not seeking unsolicited advice.  I've been to too many agriculture seminars that if the College of Agriculture wanted me to teach.  I probably will be able to teach a really good seminar.  I've learned up-to-date techniques based on science and experiences from other successful ranchers on Guahan to know what I'm doing is correct.  

Where are your mangoes, bananas, pineapples, goat production?  MY ranch may not look like much now.  But it's getting there.  There was a reason why I let it go fallow for 3 years.  My clients can attest to my past production, as will my future clients.  

So until I see you sweating next to me, with a fusinius in your hands.  Keep your good intentions and comments to yourself.


ESTA

KEEP SMILING.