Dead Chickens and Sunsets...Oh my

  Matt and I have almost reached two weeks living at the Ranch, and its finally starting to feel like home. Yes, there still are a few more boxes left to be unpacked, as well as a large stockpile of empty boxes on the back porch waiting to be burned (October 15th is the day), I was rearranging the boxes the other day and three green hand-sized frogs jumped out and under the porch. I knew that a wide array of  animals lived on the High Desert, but I guess I underestimated the abundance of all the animals! There are groups of Quail that roam the property, and sometimes our yard when we aren't home. They communicate with each other with this annoying high pitched call (sounds kind of like a little kid screaming), and run around like they are high on methamphetamine. Though, I notice they quiet down when I let Bonsai outside. There are also lots of different birds, deer, rabbits, mice, hawks and I heard coyotes the other night as I was going to sleep. What a change from the city.
 The view from our house is another change I just can't get over, its a different sunset every day! See for yourself.

 We were really unsure about what kind of Internet we could get out here, but we found a local, reasonably  priced broadband company owned by the community, and our neighbor has a dish on the top of his barn so our connection is a lot faster then we predicted it would be. The only negative thing that has happened so far on the farm is when we were talking with the Cable Installation guy, Dio somehow snuck out without anyone seeing him. A half hour later, Matt asks "Where's Dio?", then the panic ensued. We found him moments later, getting screamed at by our new neighbor (yes, the one with the dish) who was wielding a dead black chicken in his hand. Talk about breaking the ice.
 Dio thought it would be a great idea to kill their yard chicken, and apparently the other one is currently MIA. Matt and I offered to make the situation right again, but he insisted that wasn't necessary. Apparently he didn't like the chicken very much.
 As someone who plans on getting chickens very soon, and having plenty of neighbors that have their own as well, Matt and I took this very seriously. He could very well be mistaken for a coyote, or kill the chicken of someone who doesn't care if he's a dog or a coyote  and get shot. Happens all the time.
 Matt and I read that the old fashioned method of dealing with chicken-killing dogs is to tie the dead chicken around their neck and leave them in a kennel for a few days. We thought a few days a little long, so we did it over night.
 Wow, I bet PETA would be for shamed at this kind of behavior. At this point we feel that if it takes drastic measures to ensure the safety and life of our dog, so be it. As to whether it has worked, we will just have to wait and see. We also will need to be extra careful on making sure he doesn't escape. His new kennel is indestructible, which is a plus.

On another note, I am already beginning the planning stage for our front yard garden, and painting some of the rooms in our home. All those details will be for another post, another day, but until then here are some photos of our place. I keep looking at it like a blank canvas.