What is the deal with all of the skunks lurking around my place?   Life on the farm is wonderful, most of the time. But farms are not known to smell like a rose. They are known for an earthy, pungent fragrance. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, it is often quite comforting and pleasant. Lately, though, our place has an unusually strong odor. My children noticed it. My wife, who has a sensitive nose that I’m sure could help in national security on some level, also noticed…

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Nebraska has its own answer to Groundhog Day.   One summer day when I was home from college, and when my parents still lived on the farm where we live now, I peered out the kitchen window and made an announcement. “Beavers are coming up to the farm from the creek,” I said. It was quite a revelation. We live at least a half mile from West Bow Creek, and there was no reason for any well-minded beaver to search that far away from home for wood. The “beaver” I had…

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