Will spring EVER come??

This has most certainly been the winter from HELL.  It has taken its toll on the animals, I'm quite sure.  Blankets all winter, sometimes double blanketed...trying to keep hay in front of them 24/7.  I can't wait until we start warming up, and definitely can't wait until all the mud from the winter thaw is gone, and everything is green.  If all winters in WI were like this, I quite surely would not be here.  Me, I'd like to retire in Kentucky.... maybe Missouri.... cheaper living there.  And winters aren't like they are here.

Two weeks ago (today actually) our chicks and ducklings came from Ideal Hatchery in Texas.  They all arrived alive and well.  We did lose one after a few days, but she was smaller than the rest, and I assume weak.  It was one of the silver laced wyandottes.  The ducks are getting HUGE FAST, and two of them are crested, one with a much bigger crest than the other.  I did not want crested ducks, but knew there would be  a possibility.... and actually, the poofs are growing on me.

Also, two weeks ago this Sunday, I brought home a painted standard donkey named Webster.  He's a cutie.  Now, I let my donkeys go last fall...and didn't plan on having any more, but this guy lost his friend (his pasture mate died at 30 years of age) and he was alone.  Donkeys don't like being alone, in fact, they typically like the company of other donkeys, but since Webster has been with a horse for company, I'm not too concerned about not providing a donkey friend for him.  He hasn't been very fond of me, after all, his whole world was turned upside down, he lost his buddy, got ripped out of the home he's known his whole life, got his first trailer ride, and then showed up at a strange place.  And I was there for most of it....so I'm quite sure he held me accountable.  He is coming around.  He plays a little hard to get sometimes, but I do not do night chores without scratching him and wrapping my arms around his neck.  So, the fact that he's allowing me to do that says a lot.  He's a cute guy...and his bray is nowhere near the ear piercing brays of the minis I had.  He will turn out just fine.  I can see he's a sweet old soul...who just needs to learn to trust me a little more.

Well, more later.... it's funny this post is about new additions, when I'm considering downsizing.

Almost two years ago....

was when I last posted on here.  Yikes.  Not good.  I'm going to do my best to try to keep this thing up and running a little better this year.  But, a lot has happened in that time.  In June of that year (2012), just a couple of months after my last post, I had Kissy put to sleep.  That was quite rough on me, as you can imagine.  I still miss her.  I also had neck surgery later that year, had a herniated disk repaired and C5/C6 fused.  That had me out for awhile.  As I sit here typing this now, I am still off work from a relatively simple carpal tunnel surgery on December 20th.  I have one more week of OT/PT then I finally can return to work.  Last fall, prior to my surgery, I adopted out our donkeys.  It was a hard decision, but I knew it was in their best interest to go somewhere where they would receive more loving and attention.  I didn't get to just sit and hang out with them as often as I wanted, but the main reason was because my husband trims the minis and has a bad back, so those minis killed his back.  So I went from 4 minis (donkeys and horses) to 2.  I also adopted out our flock of hens.  I thought it would be nice, especially with surgery, to have one winter without wintering chickens, and I'm sure glad I did.  This winter has been absolutely wicked.  Just so horribly cold.  I'm glad I didn't have the chickens to worry about.  They were also getting older and not laying as well.  But, as I say that, I have a new flock coming in a couple of weeks.  Much bigger this time, although I may not keep them all.  I have a total of 30 birds in all coming.  A mix of black australorps, silver laced wyandottes, ameraucanas, buff orpingtons, mille fleur and porcelain d'uccles, and three cayuga ducks!  I've never, myself, had ducks before, and I'm looking forward to it.

I would like to try  couple of building projects on my own this year.  Well, I have a larger brooder to build, but I also would like to build some sort of smaller playhouse coop for the d'uccle bantams, a larger run for the large coop, and a "catio" for our cats.  We currently have 5, and that's already more than enough!

The biggest news I have is that I have a new fjord gelding.  He's in his late teens, been around the block and back in his driving career, and a big fluffy lover.  I'm hoping he can help Daffey learn the ropes of driving.  Daffey is becoming a beautiful three year old this year.  The new guy came from Utah, and I'm so happy to have him.  I just love both of my fjords.  I'm quite sure they have quickly become my chosen breed.

Anyway, this has been a dreadful winter....and I can't wait for it to be over, and to hear my frogs again.  I have plenty of planting projects for this year, as usual, and have some growing in my basement as I speak.  We'll get to those later.