Cows sent flying towards Millsburg

The Road from Millsburg to Mount Hope is a short distance. Driving up the ridge and over Obrien's Hill there are soon sightings of livestock.

In the immediate area around Millburg camels, horses, cows, geese, deer and bear are inclined to use the roadways.

The same roadways that lead to Millsburg. On occasion at the same exact time the Mini would like to use the roads.

 Now the Mini is angry and not at all disappointed that the bambino is no more. The not yet street wise vermin decided to run out of the woods and across the double yellow line. The side of the Mini happened to be on the other side of the yellow lines.


It is possible that this young doe was distracted.

It appeared that those big brown eyes were more interested in twittering about twerking at the Halloween trick or treating the nearby sub-development.

Bambi was sexting and using the road at the same time.

Is that a smartphone laying in the road?

Now that the Mini has had a taste of some roadside gore for Halloween it is time to visit the body shop for a facial.

Texting while stampeding through the woods is indeed dangerous. Also dangerous is a herd of cows crossing the road.

In our local newspaper, The Record, it has been reported today that a young driver experience an even bloodier Halloween livestock encounter.



 

The driver mentioned in the below article was texting his pal (and I quote):

"LOL! Where's the beef? 

###steakfordinner.com

 Driver checking on call slams into dairy herd crossing road

BY MICHAEL RANDALL


Times Herald-Record MOUNT HOPE (Near Millsburg) — Farmer Mike Hosking might lose three of his milk cows after a distracted driver slammed into his herd as it crossed the road between the two parts of his farm Monday evening.

The accident happened about 5 p.m. Monday – when there still was plenty of light.

Witnesses at the Hosking farm claimed the driver was texting. Mount Hope police Chief Paul Rickard said the driver, Daisy Cowit, 21, of Wawayanda, denied that but said she was looking down to check an incoming call, but in any event “it wasn’t like a quick glance down.”

Or as Hosking put it, “If you don’t see 50 cows in the road, you’re doing something (you shouldn’t be doing).”

Cowit struck a total of six or seven cows, three of whom were seriously hurt. She also nearly hit one of Hosking’s farm hands, who desperately tried to signal her to stop. One witness told police the impact knocked one of the cows five feet into the air.

Hosking said he’ll be closely monitoring the seriously hurt cows in the days ahead.

“It’s going to take a week or two to see” how their health pro­gresses and how they respond to the medication they were given, Hosking said.

No criminal charges were filed against Cowit, but Rickard said the investigation remains open.

Hosking, who’s the third gen­eration of his family to farm that land, said traffic on the road, known alternately as Mountain Road and County Road 35, is much heavier now than it was years ago, and many of the driv­ers can be seen using their cell phones.

Some time ago, another driver lost control of his car and plowed into one of Hosking’s silos – and would have ended up inside if the silo hadn’t been filled.

Adding insult to injury, Hosk­ing said someone who came to pick up Cowit – whose car was totaled by the impact with multi­ple animals weighing an average of 1,500 pounds each – didn’t un­derstand why so much fuss was being made over a few injured cows.

Aside from the financial val­ue – they can be worth $3,000 or more – Hosking and his crew said the cows have names and become like part of the family.

“I think more of those cows than I do of some people,” Hosk­ing said.

Rickard is hoping the crash serves as one more high-profile reminder why it’s important not to use your cell phone in any way while driving.

Hosking concurred, noting it could have been worse. At an­other time of day, he said, “She could have hit kids who were waiting for a school bus.” mrandall@th-record.com

 

Getting ready for Winter in Millsburg

The overnight temps are dipping into freezing territory. This morning the pre-dawn reading was twenty eight degrees. The potted plants on the deck are about to be frosted.

Apparently Hennyhead has taken precautions. The deck is now too cold. He has taken up residence in the corner of the laundry room.

Most of the leaves have succumbed to gravity and are now on the lawn. This makes them easier to mow.

The black walnuts are another story. I have sent hundreds off the lawn with my old nine iron. There are still quite a few to dispatch now that most have jumped from their perches.







As I look out the window the morning glories continue to bloom. Perhaps they don't realize that there is frost on the rooftop and the lawn below. Their days are numbered. If not today, colder nights are coming this week.

The begonia plant is going to be toast.

There are just a few projects to consider before the winter chill, ice, snow and all other frosty bits settle onto Millsburg for the next few months.

Some may get done. The rest will need to wait for spring.

There is ice on the bird bath!

 



Millsburg Columbus Day Parade

Due to lack of appropriations caused by the shut down of the United States Federal Government, the first annual Millsburg Columbus Day Parade has been cancelled.

With the weekend free LKD and I drove to the end of Millsburg Road and motored onto US Route 6 heading east. After a few hours of driving the historic highway ended on a beach at the tip of Cape Cod, MA.

Again we encountered signs about the government shut down at the National Seashore. Our favorite sign was the schedule of fees to be paid to gain access to the dunes and beaches. For $5 each we would be granted access to the park. As we pulled up to the gate blocking the entrance we soon became less impacted by the shutdown of the United States Federal Government. The ranger must have been furloughed and there was no place to leave our ten dollars. I think we found a new way to save money on taxes.

The weather at the now closed National Seashore was perfect. After a nap on the beach we drove around the park to see other United States citizens celebrating the discovery of America. This was the best ten bucks that we never spent.

Back in town we checked out the east end and down town shops. We dined at the popular Lobster Pot and were seated without delay. Columbus Day Weekend is a fine time to visit Provincetown as there are just enough tourists to keep the shops open and the dinner crowds manageable. There are times of the year that over eighty thousand visitors pack the colonial streets for festivals.

After a couple of days wandering around Provincetown we left town on US Route 6 towards Millsburg.








On the way home we stopped for lunch in Plymouth, MA. The town was busy with lots of citizens and visitors from other countries checking out American beginnings.

The famous rock was jailed but not removed due to the shut down of the United States Federal Government.

After lunch we cruised along on the highways constructed by the United States Federal Government through Boston and arrived in Danvers, MA. Although the United States Federal Government is closed the EZ Pass machine was not furloughed.

While in Danvers, SK and DT hosted us for the evening in their posh apartment. We were relieved that their apartment was not impacted by the shutdown of the United States Federal Government.

Even with the government closed and the Federal Communications Commission staff furloughed, we were able to use the telephone and order Pizza. The only impact that we felt was a slight delay in getting the pizza from Sal's Pizza. Sal had decided to sell his pizza for $5 until the end of the Government shut down or by closing time on Saturday (whichever comes first). Apparently the phone lines became jammed as orders flooded the switchboard at Sal's Pizza. DT was on hand and described the chaotic scene where the ovens were churning out one hundred pies per hour.

 Hopefully Sal's Pizza business will not be impacted due to the shut down of the United States Department of Agriculture. If Sal is not able to get tomatoes and cheese that the Unites States Federal Government has failed to inspect it is possible that Sal will need to raise his prices and bring devastation and calamity to his cash paying customers.

Our elected Senators and Congresspersons are meeting today on Capital Hill to float a bill that would allow all citizens to borrow from their 401K funds in anticipation that the price of Sal's Pizza will be raised in the near term.

We witnessed the Boston Red Socks in the season ending series against Detroit on cable television.