Rhoda's Graduation.

A small sneak video clip that my sister-in-law, Rizza, got for me to see Rhoda's Graduation Ceremony.  I am so proud of Rhoda, my wife.  Wow, this day finally came to past.  I am so thankful to my sister-in-law for sneaking this video shot.  Also, I'm glad that Mali' Sharon and Rhoda worked together to get more family members into the ceremony with only using two tickets.  Those two valedictorians really know how to turn things into their favor with God's help.  Enjoy the small clip. 

GUAM-Chamorro favorite KADON AYUYU/Coconut Crab Soup

I love Kadon Ayuyu.  Check out the video below -> 

Ranch Dogs Kill Snake.

My ranch dogs, Stormie and Duchess, just killed a 4 feet long Brown Tree Snake on the North Side of the ranch.  They were barking earlier while I was in the shower.  So I pretty much ignored it.  I figured they were just barking at another feral chicken that was trying to get into the ranch. 

After I had showered and put on some fresh clothes.  I went to the back porch to call Duchess to knock it off.  She was late on my calls.  Normally, she comes running.  When she finally got to the back porch, I lectured her for being late.  She just gave me that funny tilted head look and was looking back behind her.  I knew she wanted me to follow her. 

I figured if it's not a feral chicken, it must be a snake.  I grabbed my .22 rifle and the crank up flashlight and went to check what they were barking at.  By the time, I got to Stormie's post, both dogs had stopped barking.  I cranked up the flashlight a bit, and there below Stormie was a thick 4+ feet long snake.  Both dogs had killed it.  I guess I walked in and disturbed their dinner.  Yeah, some of my dogs eat snake.  I looked at the tail and it was pointed, which meant it was a male.  A rounded tail means it's female.  That's the 5th large snake from the North Side of the ranch.  I'm glad my dogs are doing a pretty good job at their posts and on patrols.   

Thankful for the cool rain, watering the ranch since this morning. My two favorite ladies are going through their pinning and recognition ceremonies today. Waiting to see the pics.

Thingamajig Brooder.

I finally finished the temporary permanent chick brooder that I started a couple of days ago.  I used an old wooden table as my foundation piece.  It wasn't much.  The wood was still okay with some rot on various parts.  I just needed to build something temporarily for a couple of weeks so the abandoned chicks will have a fighting chance to feather out.  The nails I used were the wrong size -  2 inches to small.  But they held.  There were lots of short hard cloth around and 1/2" by 1/2" fencing laying around.  So I used those as the floor, sides, and front of the brooder.  For the back, I used an old 2'x8' wooden boy scout camp sign.  It fit perfectly.  For the roof was the traditional island galvanized tin that I acquired during the last typhoon,  still in great condition. 

The chicks are in there right now enjoying the bigger space than their card board box.  I could fit another 40 chicks easy in that big brooder.  I do have 40 new chicks running around in the ranch with their hens.   I'll have to catch them slowly and put them in the brooder until they feather out.  I'm glad my free range flock is growing again.  I'll have lots of kadun pika in the next couple of months.

If you're wondering what temporary permanent means.  It's exactly that.  It's a temporary structure for permanent use, until it falls apart.  Or, if I build a better one in the future.  Which ever comes first.  It'll probably get damaged during the next typhoon. 

Keep Smiling

Frustrating afternoon trying to build a temporary brooder. Outside influences kept interfering with what I was trying to do. Before you know, I built something that was to big and heavy for my needs. Then it falls apart while I'm trying to move it. I really hate good intentions. Next time ppl should ask if I want their opinions or their help.

AG's for Florida, Virginia, and South Carolina will file suit against the Federal Governmnet. As soon as Obama signs the Health Care Reform Legislation into law. The legislation violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Texas, Nebraska, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Alabama are expected to file suit as well.

How many doctors will stay on, after today? Looks like India and the Philippines will be making lots of money from this medical reform. Americans flying there for medical treatment.

Woke up with terrible back pain. Took my painkiller meds and went back to sleep. Woke up to find out that I slept through Sunday Morning Service.

God is Good! Rhoda passed her pre-board and other exams for nursing this week, completed her last two cases at the ER, and Will be Graduating in Nursing on the 28th. Larraine received perfect on her Math and English exams this week too. Her Recognition ceremony is on the 26h. ME, I passed my mid-term with a 90%. All of our Successes belongs to God. Joshua 24:15 <><

When was I going to Australia? Hmmm, I know I wanted to visit, maybe business or pleasure, but relocation. Guahan is my home.

One of my cockfighting neighbors lost one of their birds. A really nice, tall, red breasted battle cock. It's in my ranch courting one of my hens. My free range bulik cocks have taken to the South Side. Probably got their butts kicked by this new battle cock. Trying to catch this new guy...I'll give it time for him to trust me.

Binadu Dinga Dos.

A few minutes ago, I was sitting underneath the canopy, that I call the barn or shack, in the ranch.  I was rubbing Duchess, who loves to get petted from me whenever I sit down on my chair.  All of a sudden, Duchess's ears perked up.  Then I heard a distinctive bark coming from the South Area of the ranch.  Then the dogs across the street starting barking wildly.  When Duchess tried to get up, I grabbed her collar and kept petting her to calm her down.  I wanted to see if I was right.  I started calling out to that toro (buck) at the South Side.  I had readjusted my chair into the shadows of the shack, while holding onto Duchess. 

After waiting and watching for a few minutes, I could make out the toro coming up my hunting trail.  My heart started pumping faster...  I could see that he was walking up slowly, sniffing the air, and twitching his ears.  He was approximately 200+ feet away.  I'm glad my goats did a good job clearing the underbrush of the jungle or I would not be able to watch this guy come up.  I continued watching as he kept moving forward towards the ranch.  I started to squint my eyes.  So he wouldn't spot the the white of my eyes.  All the while I was whispering really softly to Duchess to take it easy, easy girl, it's okay, while I was petting her coat and holding her collar with my other hand.  It's a good thing I had lowered the brim of my hat to help cover up the upper portion of my face. 

I watched as the toro came up to the watering hole I established.  He kept looking around, sniffing the air, twitching his ears to my direction.  I kept very quiet and still.  Only the tip of my fingers were now, scratching Duchess's coat.  I wished I had a camera or video to capture the moment.  He is a beautiful toro.  His rack was a dinga dos (four point), and pretty tall toro.  The water basin is a little over 100 feet away from the shack.  So it was really cool watching the toro drink his fill.

Then just like he arrived, he left...slowly following the trail back to the South Side. 

I noticed that my ranch dogs were not barking.  Hmmm, this toro has been coming in for awhile now.  My dogs have gotten used to him.  I'll be putting out more water basins to establish a watering hole for the binadu (deer), other than my goats.  I know the wild pig drove comes up to drink every now and then. 

The Dry Season is affecting their watering holes in the jungle.  I'll probably have to check the water containers at Uncle Jojo's ranch at the very end of the South Area, this week. 

I'm glad it's raining...my plants gets fresh water. Still a beautiful day. :)

Been squeezing lemons into juice today. Fingers are sore from getting soaked from the juice. Mom and made lots of bottles of fresh lemon juice. I'm thinking...Kelaguen Beef or Binadu. Hmmmm....

Ranch Log: Kids goes to study, clearing up more land area.

The guinea's got me up at around 0430.  I got up and glanced outside my window to see if there was anything to see.  The fresh cool morning air smelled really good.  I didn't see a thing and the dogs weren't barking.  It must be the wild pig drove somewhere in the ranch on a rooting raid.  I crawled back into my bunk and knocked out again.

At 0900, I went to do my ranch morning checks.  The rabbits were fine.  The 2 day old kits are moving around quite a bit in their nest.  There is 4 black skinned kits and 1 pink skinned.  Their hair is starting to come out.  Duchess was going around rounding up the free range chickens.  Ranger, Scout, and Goldie were busy barking, acknowledging my presence.  I went to check on the goat herd.  They're all fine.  I found the two kids browsing, so I gathered them by their leads and walked them back to the nursery pen.  After I secured them in the pen, I checked to make sure they had fresh water. 

I went inside to eat breakfast.  I had a cup of hot chocolate with scrambled eggs, which I made into an egg salad with Jufran (banana sauce) and mustard, and put in a slice of wheat bread.   That was breakfast. 

At 1030, Dr. Manny came in, while I was picking the ripe cherry tomatoes from my bushes.  Lito came out of the passenger side of the truck and was surprised to see me.  Lito is a good friend.  He is the manager for the UOG/Department of Agriculture Breeding Station.  I showed them around the ranch.  Lito and I enjoy  talking to each other about farming techniques.  At the goat herd, Dr. Manny noticed that one of my does was pregnant.  I didn't even know that.  Surprise...surprise.  I paid more focus on the lactating does with kids than this doe and the buck.  I'm glad she is pregnant, means more additions to the ranch later.  On the way back to the nursery pen, I got Hercules and Alinnah out and placed them in Lito's kennel.  They'll be staying at the breeding station for the duration of this processed local feed study.  I'll be stopping by there weekly to check up on them and to see their progress. 

During lunch, I was able to talk to my beautiful but very pissed off wife.  No, I didn't piss her off.  I know better.  The examination instructor who graded her on a practical exam pissed her off.  He gave Rhoda a low score on her practical exam even though she did the procedure correctly and answered his questions correctly.  I know Rhoda to well...She does things correctly.  She's also an aide to her class Instructors.  So I know she knows her nursing procedures inside and out.  I don't know if this "instructor" had it in for Rhoda.  But, I was able to calm her down...I think...and talked her into moving on and to focus on the other exams.  That went well I hope.  

This afternoon at 1400, since the weather was really nice, and strong cool breeze sweeping over the ranch.  I decided to go cut more trees.  I finished off the area where I was expanding to plant more banana trees.  The same area the wild pigs decimated the earlier banana saplings that I planted there a couple of months ago.  This time, I'm closing off the access between the hedgerow and the berm.  I'll pile up more felled trunks and limbs into the gap to close it off. 

During my break, I fed my free range chickens and guinea fowl.  Mom harvested the fresh eggs from two nests that she found on the ranch.  I guess it was over a dozen for ranch fresh eggs for the table.  A lot better than the store bought eggs.  I brought a bucket of water over to the goats and went and drank some water myself.  No, not from the same bucket, from the hose.  It was nice and hot outside.  Then I sat underneath the shade of my ranch shed cooling off in the breeze.  It was great to be watching the animals. 

At 1600, I continued cutting down more trees until close to sunset.  The herd will be eating well for the next couple of days.  I was able to get most of the trees in the center.  Tomorrow I only have a handful to cut towards the berm.  Once the felled trunks and limbs dry out in a week or two.  I'll trim them down and then stack them on the hedgerows. 

I fed the ranch pack before I got my tools ready for storage.  It was a great day, a lot accomplished and completed.

God Bless Y'all
Keep Smiling

DO not outlaw The Muscovy Duck! - The Petition Site

Link

The Federal Government is trying to ban the Muscovy Duck.  This is a wonderful duck that does more, than being raised for meat.  This duck goes after flies, mosquitoes and their larva, roaches, and other insects.  They lay really good and tasty eggs.  They are quiet and tame.  The Muscovy make great farm/ranching livestock.  

The Muscovy Duck originated in South America.  It was brought to Europe, then later America in the 1800's.  This bird is not an invasive species.  It is part of American Agricultural History and Traditions.

Help American farmer/ranchers in the states and territories by signing the petition.  Go to the link above. 

Thanks in Advance. 

Ranch Log: Western Sare - Local Processed Feed Study.

It's official...Matua Ranch is now partnered with University of Guam Cooperative Extension Service and Department of Agriculture on the Western SARE Grant on "Pocessed Local Feeds".  My two goat kids, Alinnah and Hercules will be staying at the UOG/Department of Agriculture Breeding Station for the study. 

Dr. Manny, co-op extension, and Lito, manager for the breeding station, stopped by the ranch this morning.  I showed them the ranch and the goat herd.  I discovered from Dr. Manny that one of my does is pregnant, approximately 3 months.  I didn't even know that.  That surprised me.  So in two months Matua Ranch will have more additions. 

Although, I'm surprised and excited that another doe is pregnant.  I'm upset at myself for not keeping up with that doe.  I thought she was big from what she was eating.  I put to much focus on the lactating does and their kids.  It's a good thing, Dr. Manny came by. 

The feed process for the two kids involves breadfruit, taro, molasses, and urea.  From what was described to me, they will process the ingredients into feed and study the effects of the local feed on the two kids.  They'll study their monthly weight gain and body mass. 

I'm pretty sure it'll work.  I've been feeding breadfruit to my goats when it's in season.  And, they gain lots of weight, especially the former kids back then.  I have never fed taro to my goats.  I didn't even know you could feed taro to goats.  I knew you could feed it to pigs.  Something new, I learned today. 

I'll be visiting the breeding station once a week to check up on the kids.  Also, my mom wants to go see it.  So I might plan a trip next week. 

Dr. Manny even brought over a patch of Malato, Hawaiian pasture grass.  It's a great forage grass for livestock,  Up there with Guinea Grass.  I'll plant that today. 

Matua Ranch is now part of a SARE Grant study to determine if processed local feed will be sustainable for local goat herds. I'm excited two of my goat kids will be part of the study. Get to learn some new techniques.

I know I passed my mid-term exam tonight...feels good.

Matua Ranch has new additions: New Kits (baby bunnies).

Ranch Log: New Kits (Baby Bunnies)

Just returned from checking the ranch after my siesta.  My rabbit doe kindled a couple of hours ago.  This morning she was in the next box, just sitting down in it.  When I went back to check her.  There are 3 maybe more kits(bunnies) in the nest.  Two can be seen underneath the coconut fibers I put in there yesterday.  I saw movement under her down fur, but didn't see the kit(s).  I'll have to wait a couple of days, about 3 days, to check the kits. 

I'm so happy.  Lancho Matua has new additions to the ranch.

Keep Smiling

ACE Hardware - Guam

Rating:
Category:	Other

I don't waste my time going to ACE Hardware anymore. Customer service is really bad. The staff don't know their products or if they have it in the warehouse. Many times, they don't have what you need.

It used to be a great local store in the 80's and early 90's. Now...you're just wasting your time going there.

I rate this company..."NO" stars.

Guam Home Center

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Other

Guam Home Center, formerly EONS, is a local hardware store located in the village of Dededo. It has everything a DIY'er would need, from tools to home supplies. They do serve a lot of contractors on island. So I'm pretty sure they have most things that the average homeowner maybe looking for. Since it is closer to my home, GHC is usually my first stop for home/ranch supplies.

The store is pretty clean and organized.

Prices are comparable to Home Depot and Benson's.

Customer Service is good. Floor Staff are helpful.

Ranch Log: Herd heading South.

Just read on the internet news...Turkey went through an earthquake, that leveled villages.  Makes me wonder...where next?

Anyway, today was a beautiful day.  Went to Post Net this morning to do some paperwork regarding my daughter, Larraine.  Then, I stopped by the university to check on Dr. Manny at CALS, but the whole campus was busy getting ready for Charter Day tomorrow.  I'll check back on him after things are settled down.  It's going to be busy there tomorrow. 

This afternoon, I relocated the goat herd on their pasture rotation.  Yep, we're heading south again.  I'm thinking of going further since we're low on grass.  It'll help clear up the South Side.  I did give Lighting, the herd sire, a 1 cc shot of dewormer, SQ on his right side above the ribs.  He had the scours this morning during my checks.   

Hercules, my buckling, is growing fast.  I gave him 8 oz of alfalfa pellets this afternoon.  He only munched a couple of pellets and went back to browsing.  He loves eating that sleeping grass on the rise.  I had to bring Iris over to finish up the pellets. 

Alinnah, the doeling, is still skittish.  She has started taking to the lead that I put on her, still tries to have it her way.  Her shiny black coat is turning chocolate brown.

I as working on the rabbit cages this afternoon. I got the nesting box ready for my rabbit who is ready to kindle any day now.  I pulled out some coconut husk fibers and put them in the nesting box.  She can arrange it to her needs.  I also put a half coconut husk into the bucks cage.  He seemed to like it a lot pulling on the fibers and eating it. 

Mom harvested about 2, 3-gallon, buckets of lemons, this afternoon.  I'll probably squeeze them later this week and bottle the juice.  I'll have lots of lemonade to drink this month, and to use for cooking and making finadeni.

Keep Smiling

Wow....First Haiti-thousands killed; then Chile-hundreds killed; now Turkey...so far 50 and counting...Which country is next?

Rainy Day Workday.

It's evening here.  Nice cool breeze going through the house.  It was a nice day even with the numerous rain showers.  This El Nino weather is weird. But rain is good for the ranch.

This morning, I had a hot mug of lemon Vita Plus Lite.  One of many herbal drinks I take during the course of the day.  There was a pot of Arizcaldo on the stove.  That was a good change for breakfast. I added some fresh lemon from my tree to give it that nice tangy kick.  It was really good.  Had two bowls of it. 

Duchess was waiting for me on the back porch.  I gave her the chicken bones from the arizcaldo.  After she was done, we went to the ranch and did our morning rounds. 

I took the does with kids out of the nursery pen and pastured them on the rise by the front of the house.  I want to get the area cleared of brush and put up a garden there.  After I was done moving the first group of goats to the rise.  I readjusted the other 3 goats on the border with the Cruz house.  Iris was moved to the rise with the first group.  Lighting doesn't look to well.  I checked his droppings.  He doesn't have scours, yet.  And he's not anemic...So I'll just keep an eye on him.  His hide is getting darker.  It looks like he's shedding his coat.  I may have to give him a dewormer shot tomorrow.  I'll see how he's doing first thing tomorrow at first light.  Princess is doing okay next to him.  I want her to finish cleaning the underbrush.  That way I can clean up that area of the border.  I'll rotate them out tomorrow. 

Noon today, I started finishing up my cleaning project at the front yard.  I raked up some trimmings and hauled it to the compost.  The other stuff I took the the fire pit.  I put my mom's bonsai mango towards the rocks to give it more sun.  I'm going to get that bonsai to bear fruits next year.  The mango tree at the front yard is flowering.  I'm glad.  I'll have more mangoes to eat this season.  The rest I'll sell. 

My plan is to terrace the front yard.  It's on a downward slope from the road.  So terracing should help control the erosion and flooding during the rainy season.  I am considering using the palm tree logs that we had cut two years ago.  Another day or two, I'll be done with the front yard. 

The right side of the house, the bedroom side, I plan to put my new garden there.  I'll use the planters along the wall for my lettuce.  I going to put some raised garden beds for the eggplants and other types of tomatoes.  I already have potential buyers for cucumbers.  I haven't even planted them yet.  I figured that if I plant closer to the house, the wild pigs will stay on the ranch side.  Also, I will put up a fence to separate the house/plant nursery area from the ranch.  I'm tired of planting crops, just to feed the wild pigs.  I'm taking some of the taro that the pigs rooted up and transplanting them to the berm on the Eastern side of the ranch.  The berm will become a feeding lot for the pigs later this year. 

My Cherry Tomatoes are doing great along the driveway.  Their nice and bushy, and the fruits are sweet and juicy.  I'll be planting some Cherry Tomatoes in hanging pots later in the next couple of weeks.  I'll place them on the poles, along the canopy frame. My plants are doing great, look healthy.  The only fertilizer that I am using is rabbit and goat manure.  My pineapple is growing well in the pot.  The other pineapple crown just started rooting.  I'll transplant that into a pot on Monday. 

The mango tree in the backyard is flowering really nice.  We'll have lots of mangoes from that tree.  It's similar to what we call the local mango.  You can eat it green or ripe.  I took an old chicken round pen and used it to compost the leaves by the mango tree.  Before we just piled it at the base of the trunk.  Now, it looks a lot better and organized.  I'm slowly reorganizing the backyard.  Once I cut down that typhoon damaged star apple tree.  I'll get that place cleaned up once and for all.  I do plan to get rid of that container that I'm using for storage.  That will go to the clan property at the end of the road as a pig or goat shelter.  When I move some of the livestock over there. 

Work is never done on a ranch.

Keep Smiling

Pics coming soon. 

We're having a wet El Nino. Weird, huh??!! I'm glad for the rain, though. Cool us down and water the plants/trees.

"I Love Living Life. I Am Happy".

Watch this great motivational video. 

Nolan Chart: I'm a Libertarian. Who would have Known?!

I took the Nolan Chart Quiz this afternoon.  There are a series of situations dealing with 10 different topics.  I had to pick the best situation or question in each topic that reflected my core values. 

For a long time, I thought/believed that I was a Conservative.  Taking the quiz today, I'm actually a Libertarian.  Who would have known?!  I'm surprised.  Oh, well.  Looks like I don't have to renew my membership with the Republican Party.  Whew!  I sort of feel good about that.  I don't thing both parties, locally and nationally, represent their base anymore.  It's all about special interests. 

Take the quiz here.  Find out where you are on the Nolan Chart.  Let me know how you did.