Just stuff...

Say hi to Gracey! Well, it's looking like our central air system needs to be replaced....it's quite uncomfortable in the house, and I'm spending a lot of time in the basement, where it is a little bit cooler at least. But I spent some time outside last night just snapping some pics......I just don't have the room to share them all here, but those of you who know me well are friends of mine on Facebook, and see ALL of my photos on there....probably more than you care to see! I took pics of all of the minis, and I also took a pic of one of my basjoo bananas (I shared it here)....which are coming along nicely now that they're acclimated in their new spot in the ground. They got planted quite late this year because the weather just wasn't fit for them. Next winter the two basjoos will winter outside, however this winter my basement will be home to them, and my ensete maurelii banana, where hopefully they'll continue to grow a little bit for a head start for next year. They could get 8-10 feet tall eventually! The ensete will always have to come in for the winter. Will need to bring my cannas in too. My persian shield looks AWESOME, and I'm sad that I'll have to let some of it die before winter. I'm going to bring some of it in the house to save for next year, and a friend of mine would like some of it, but it has multiplied so big, so fast, I just am not going to have room to keep it all in a pot this winter. My son and his grandfather made me a beautiful planter bench, I think that's where the persian shield will go next year, maybe that on one side, and my caladium on the other side. I have a tropical heart! I might try elephant ears next year!

I'm sad to see that tomorrow is August already...one more month of summer break for me, but I will like getting back to work and getting a paycheck again too! I've missed seeing the kids and coworkers on a daily basis. It has been such a hot July, so I hope we're given a break for August...which is usually pretty hot around here. I think my critters are pretty tired of the heat, and I know I am too!

Knocking on wood is a necessity....

So....it's been a pretty uneventful week with my broken toe...but it is feeling well enough to walk on now, as long as it's well supported. Kissy, however, has begun limping again. She's had such a great 6 weeks or so....and now a few days of limping and soreness. So she's back to bute twice a day, and me wondering what the future will hold. This roller coaster is so tough. I believe I'll spend my free time the next few days researching those steroid shots, and if I need to try one earlier than winter, I will, just to see if it works for her. That way, if by chance I do need to say goodbye to her, I can do so before winter hits. I don't like to think that way...but I've BEEN thinking that way for the last 5 months or so, preparing myself, just in case.

I have also thought about Blue, our other "big" horse, who's very bonded with Kissy...and what she would do with Kissy gone. I know. She'd freak, for awhile. But, I have a friend's horse coming over in August...hoping he will get along with Blue (it's not Blue I'm worried about, it's his personality, really). If things eventually work out, and we need to let Kissy go, it will work out the best all around. She'll have a safe place to keep her horse, and Blue will have a buddy. She doesn't consider the minis her buddies. She turns her nose at them. Eventually I would like to buy another horse, not to replace Kissy, but a horse I've wanted for a few years now, but I'm not ready for that right now. And, I need to see Kissy off to her next good place first, whenever that happens. I included a pic of her bad knee, where you can see the lump on it, and one of her x-ray photos, where you can see the lump on the x-ray, and the degeneration of the joint inside.

Thinking about Kissy...

Well, considering I believe I broke my toe yesterday, and it has turned every shade of purple imagineable, I've had little to do today but sit around....and I've been thinking about my girl. We had a very bad spring. At that point, I didn't think she would make it till summer. I prayed that she could hold out till summer so I wouldn't have to put her down before I was off work for the summer, I couldn't fathom having to deal with that and working too. Not my partner of 25 years. Well, she improved, not by anything I gave her, I tried a number of things, both supplements and prescriptions, but eventually I think it was the weather that helped her improve. And for the most part, she's had a pretty good summer. I'm not sure if I'm completely at peace with this decision yet, circumstances unknown to us yet may lead me to change my mind down the road, however at this time I'm thinking my plan is to try steriod injections in her knee to help her through the winter...and see if that helps. That is one thing we have not yet tried, and I know little about them. The vet has told me if they help her, they probably won't help her for more than 2-4 months...so it may take a couple of shots to get her through the winter if it does help...but I am willing to try. It is hard for me to say goodbye, but I know in my heart I will do what's best for her if she is suffering endlessly.

One thing Kissy and I have going for us are the endless thoughts and prayers from many people in my life. I am blessed with some truly wonderful friends, they are here for both of us, through good times and bad, and will continue to be. And when that time comes where I have to say goodbye, any one of them will be by my side if I ask them to. Most of them are not horse people, but Kissy has touched their hearts, and they care for her nearly as much as I do. Perhaps now is a good time for me to say how truly honored I am to have these people in my life, to know I always have them to lean on, they always care and understand, on my good days and my bad. What's the saying? They know me, and they love me anyway! =) You folks know who you are. I even have one who lives across the country, but is just as close to me as if we lived across the street. So, YOU know who you are too, you'd better not feel left out! I'm truly blessed. And it's during up and down times like this....that one truly realizes. Losing a horse is hard. But I've had this girl over half of my life. I don't remember much of my life before she was in it.... 25 years...that's a long time. And when she's gone, it will take a long time to heal from that I'm sure. I've been preparing myself...or trying to...just in case. But, I'm hoping, if things continue to go as they are, that she'll be here with me next year...that she'll see another birthday....as we'll give these steroid shots a try. Just thought I'd update. I know some people have been asking about her. Well, I have a lot of people ask about her....I don't mind, it tells me you care. And I appreciate it very much.

Visitors!

We've had our share of visitors this summer, and our latest was Dawn and her family from Green Bay. Dawn was my sidekick when we were younger, middle school through highschool, and beyond that. We were inseparable, and both shared our love of horses and all animals, we both just had a lot in common. But, as childhood turns to adulthood, life gets in the way, and eventually her life had her moving away, and we don't get to see each other very often...but when we do, it's as if we were never apart!


Kissy has had some tough times this year, and Dawn wanted to come see her before she's no longer with us....whenever that will be, and she and her family showed up yesterday. I have pretty much known Dawn since Kissy entered my life 25 years ago! She now has three beautiful kids, who like Kissy too.... I'll share a couple photos...above, Kissy and Dawn's oldest, Brittany, and below, Dawn, and Kissy.

Hot!

Below, Kissy, during a hosing off, and Blue, feeling good right after!

Oh boy did we have a heat wave this week! Highs in the upper 90's with heat index up to 115 one day. It's cooler today, and the animals managed ok. I was out spraying with the hose, I even sprayed the chickens, who were panting, and would give them a little puddle in one of their favorite dusting spots in their outdoor pen, so they'd have some nice cold water to walk through. I opened up the stalls inside the barn so the big horses could actually come into the stalls from their lean to, and kept the walk door open, so there was a breeze in there. My older girl, Kissy, was the one I really kept an eye on, with her being older....and I noticed on the hottest day, she was quite uncomfortable and in pain, limping on her bad leg...I imagine the heat wasn't helping her arthritis. Anyway, I'll share some photos of some of our hooved creatures cooling off this past week!

Below, Magic getting a full-out bath...and enjoying an "I'll-show-her" moment AFTER the bath!

By the way...here's a picture of that deck we put up. We had company visit us the second weekend in July, and we vowed to have it done by then...and it was! All three of us put our blood, sweat and tears into it to get it done. It's not a huge deck, but it works for what we need it for...large enough for the table and chairs......and nice to take our big telescope out at night to do some snooping in the sky...

Summer!

It's already the middle of July....the time is flying, and I don't like it. I don't like winter, and it will be here again before we know it. Kissy is still holding her own, we spent the spring and first part of summer trying some things, medications and supplements, for her, but didn't seem to help. But she's not doing too badly right now, so I'm just taking things one day, one week at a time.

Last week my son and I took two of our critters into a local nursing home to visit the residents. Magic, a miniature horse, and Kochia, a miniature donkey. Despite the heat, they both did quite well, and the residents enjoyed their visit. I'd love to do it again sometime. My plan when I got Magic was to do something like this with him...he's the one we take Trick-or-Treating every year. Kochia is WONDERFUL! In fact, in April, on Palm Sunday, she was invited to a local church to lead the congregation to the church in their annual "Donkey Walk." She was wonderful, and the kids loved the opportunity to take turns leading her down the city street themselves. We've already been invited back for next year. If it wasn't tradition to take Magic trick or treating, I had thought it would be so fun, one year, to take Kochia, who can be "Donkey," with I or someone else in a Shrek costume. That would be great.... but, Magic has to go out again this year, as we have some modifications to his most awesome "headless horseman" costume from last year to do.
Working for the school district, I am off for the summer, first day of school is September 1st. We finished our deck recently, and I've been working this spring and summer on, well, gardening I guess you could say....I've got a bit of a planting bug, and have been adding to ALL of the stuff I planted last year. Only this year, I went with a bit more of a tropical flair, with two different kinds of banana trees, some persian shield, caladium, dracena, and cannas. I also planted another raspberry bush...still would love more, and some strawberries this year. And tomatoes for my son. Neither my husband or I like tomatoes...so they're all his! Spireas around the deck...some lilies, ice plants, clematis....but this year's list is much smaller than last year's!

Anyway, I will add photos to this post of our visit to the nursing home, as well as Kochia's Donkey walk once I get a chance. I really need to do a better job at updating this blog....should there be anything to update! Of course it's also haying season....our son has even been helping out!

I'll also throw in a pic of some turkeys who visited our back yard recently. We also had 24 Canadian Geese parade through our back yard, of various ages, that same week. It was amazing to see them all!

Spring, 2011

My favorite time of year! I am now enjoying the sound of the frogs over the pond, and now watching everything pop out of the ground that I worked so hard planting last year. I'm truly enjoying it! I've picked up some more, including a couple of special trees shipped to me from California, that I'm looking forward to getting in the ground soon, the weather just still gets a little temperamental at times...and I don't want to lose these two! I haven't talked much about them, I'm afraid I'll jinx my experiment...but they are pretty special to me! This week I intend to plant some canna bulbs along the house......trying something else new, and if all goes well, I'll dig up the rhizomes in the fall to save for next year. I'm trying caladiums this year too. Just planted some phlox within one of our rock walls...see how that takes off....

A woman I work with is the wife of a minister at a local church, and I was asked if I would bring in one of our donkeys for their annual "Donkey Walk" on Palm Sunday. Just leading the congregation through the city streets up to the church for their service. It was a great experience, and Kochia was wonderful! Some of the kids got to take turns leading her, and we've been asked to join them again next year. Kochia even sported a palm frond on the top of her head....it was quite cute.

Most of the animals are doing very well. The chickens provide us with eggs every day, and are happy in their environment, the minis are all doing well, as is Blue.... Kissy, my 26 year old Arabian mare, whom I got when she was a year old, is not having an easy time of things lately, but I'm trying to help her out. Her arthritis, at times, gets the best of her, and I'm afraid this may have been the last winter she'll see. Breaks my heart, after having her for two and a half decades, but I owe it to her not to make her suffer...and if there comes a time where that's all she does, I'll help her find her way. She has a very badly arthritic knee, among other legs of course, but the knee is the worst of it...and we have been working with our vet trying different things to help her out. We'll see what happens, but at this point, I am just taking things one day at a time. One day....and spending a lot of time with her.

We've had a TON of great wildlife sightings here this spring....lots of deer, some turtles, turkeys, and of course the woodchucks have already made us aware of their presence. I'll add a pic of a doe and her fawn, or the fawn at least, who came to visit us on a few occasions. I took many pics, completely undetected, from the house! We've also had a doe that continued to visit our back yard for awhile, RIGHT in the backyard, I could tell it was the same one as she had quite a large sore that was healing on her right leg...she was close enough I could see it clearly.

So spring brings the vaccinations for four horses and three donkeys, and next weekend will be our spring clean-up weekend, haul out the composted manure pile......etc etc. I'm happy to be back mowing the lawn again! I am looking forward to a summer full of beautiful plants, relaxing times with great friends and family, and if all goes well, finishing the deck we started!

So, that's all for now...I'll try to update a little more often, but you know how things go...and it won't be long at all and we'll be cutting and baling hay, planting pumpkins, etc etc. I did, very recently, update our website, http://www.glacierridge.com/

Summer 2010

Has been a very long time since I've updated my farm blog....life just got in the way, and now that school is out for the summer, I have been busy (and rather happily) working on landscaping projects around the house. A friend of mine from work has a beautiful home FULL of hostas and other things, her hostas are thick and full, and we've had a nice time dividing them, and I've brought a nice collection back here to plant, mostly in front of the house. I've also planted quite a large number of lilies of different types, ajuga, japanese painted ferns, regular ferns, creeping myrtle and some chinese lanterns, in a spot where they can spread at will. Things have taken quite a transformation around here! I got some new raspberry plants to add to my young existing ones, and we have several pumpkins, sunflowers, indian corn and swan gourds in the patch by the pasture fence. I bought a scarletta fetterbush shrub this spring, I just love it. I wanted a few more, but was only able to get my hands on one. I just love this little shrub!

We installed a larger clothesline this summer, have been working on our deck, I recently moved the firepit and would like to put some sort of patio around it, and am getting ready to get rid of my son's sandbox. He no longer uses it, and it's just become an eyesore, and something to have to mow around, and the weeds and tree seedlings are rather enjoying growing within the sand, so it's time to go.

All of the animals are doing well, the chickens are giving us eggs every day and are bright eyed and healthy, the horses and donkeys are doing well. Kissy, my old Arabian mare, again had eye issues this summer as she does every year at this time. I've finally gotten the flare up to stop.

Already a month away from school starting yet again....where has the summer gone?

Winter is coming!

As is always the case, my website and other things just aren't updated much when the weather is nice. But here we are...Thanksgiving is over, and December begins next week. Here is my first farm blog post in quite a long time! Thankfully it was quite an uneventful summer around here, we had no big issues to contend with, it was a relatively cool summer, we had quite a wet October, and now we just had our first ground-coating snowfall a couple nights ago. Of course, it was all melted off by morning. But, the tank heaters were dusted off and running for the first time in October! That is sad! Included here is a photo of the new hay feeder (thank you to Premier 1 Supplies for the idea and plans, it is sort of along the lines of a "slow feeder," using 3x3" squares towards the bottom so we'll see how much they pig out....we may have to go with smaller holes yet, it's a trial and error sort of thing. We want them to be able to "graze" all winter long, but not stuff their faces constantly. There is Magic, in front of the hay feeder. It is 8 feet long, and the same on both sides, and so far, both mini horses and the three mini donkeys have had no trouble eating from it. Magic is the one who sometimes will be a bugger...but he and Merlin will eat on one side, the three donkeys on the other!

The critters are all getting their winter woolies, the chicken coop is being winterized, and we just finished a new hay feeder for the minis, which was just introduced to them today, as a matter of fact. I will include a photo with this post. Magic and Merlin's tails are up for winter now, I have always put Magic's tail up for winter, it grows so nice when I do, but this is the first with my grullo, Merlin. He has a very long tail, but it's very thin. I don't know if protecting it will give us some thickness or not, but we shall find out! Kissy's weight is really good coming into winter, so hoping to keep it that way. I need to do some blanket shopping for Blue, as one side of hers looks like it took a tangle with some sort of mountain lion or something (which was Jag, the red dun gelding we sold in March).

We had an extra special visitor here in October, a beautiful Friesian mare, Katryne. She was here for some riding and pampering, which I really enjoyed her presence. Friesians have always been my dream horse, but their price is way out of reach for me, so it was fun to be able to just enjoy someone else's for awhile! But...she was missed at home, so of course eventually went back where she belonged, with her owner, and the other Friesians on the farm where she belongs.

I still feel an emptiness in my heart after finding a home for my two pygmy goats late last winter. I miss my goats. Someday, I'll have goats again. Either I will have dehorned goats, or a separate place to keep them. Our goats were occasionally using their horns (playfully) with the minis, and I was afraid someone was going to get hurt. So I decided I needed to do something....before an injury occurred. And I had nowhere to separate the minis from the goats...unless I put the goats in the barn, which was no life for them. Someday perhaps I can have a different setup, but until then, I will be goat-less.

So, I'm sure I'll have more updates now that the weather is gearing up for a Wisconsin winter. But for now, that is all!

It's been awhile!

Here we are, June already! I am not a winter person, so I never thought we'd get here! Today is actually our wedding anniversary as well, and getting to be a busy time on our little farm. The tractors and equipment is all running up to par now, and 1st crop hay has been mowed down in one of the hay fields, should be ready to bale by the end of the week. Which is good, as we're down to slim pickin's for our minis, who aren't on grass pasture. We haven't been able to do our usual spring manure scrape up yet this spring, it's been pretty wet. But soon! The garden has been tilled and ready to plant, our chickens are full grown and will be providing us with fresh eggs soon, and I'm planning my landscaping projects I have around the house and chicken coop. Had a fire in our fire pit for the first time last weekend! My favorite weather is here!

The frogs aren't singing quite as loudly anymore, which is sad for me, but the weather makes up for it. Any time now we'll see the snapping turtles out in the back yard, preparing a spot to lay their eggs. I'll be sure to take pictures again when I spot them. On most sunny days, we can see the painted turtles laying on logs in the pond, sunning themselves in the nice weather. The other night at dusk, a deer came right into our back yard, sniffing around. That's a bit unusual!

The critters are still working on shedding their winter coats, and I'm helping them along with the shedding blade, but the donkeys, as usual, are holding onto their coats longer than the horses do. They don't typically look shed out until closer to July or August, and by that time it's time to put it right back on again! Our baby donkey, Katie, still has her long baby coat, but nature gave her that coat for a reason, and I'm not going to clip it.

Our big horses are eating pasture full time now, no more hay for them. We have so much pasture we're actually going to rent part of it out for someone to plant soybeans this year. We have more pasture than we know what to do with...and I don't mind helping someone else out.

That's all the news I have here for now, we will be busy planting the garden, and harvesting our hay for the time being. And other little projects we have......the list will never end! But that's ok!

Unhappy longears...

I forgot to mention.... I have been separating Kochia (mini donkey) and her baby a little bit here and there to get them used to what was to come.... yesterday I finally did it for good. It's now weaning time here. That is the one thing I very much disliked about raising foals...of any kind.... having to separate them from their mom's. But....I held out as long as I could. Katie is about 6 months old now, it's definitely time to take her off mom. Mom is showing no signs of doing it herself...not like our horses did! The horses, around 4 months, always started pushing the foals away a little bit when they tried to nurse....Kochia actually encourages it still!

So.... I've been hearing a few brays here and there, mom is having a harder time than baby is, but I expected that. Baby or not, Kochia is very buddy sour anyway...and these brief separations just to grain Katie separately, only on the other side of the fence, were driving mom crazy! But I thought now was the perfect time. It hasn't been unbearably cold, and it shouldn't get too hot yet. Also gives me something else to focus on in the barn...than the void that the barn cats that passed away have left.

We are also having some pretty nice weather, I think it got to 63 yesterday, and the mud is drying up a little bit. The pond is not as flooded as it was, and the frogs are waking up, I heard them singing last night. Most mornings the ducks and geese are having "stereo wars" out there, seeing who can be loudest, it's quite enjoyable to hear...as long as you're not trying to sleep in! Spring is definitely here. Now hoping we'll stay nice, rather than get dumped on by snow yet again...

Jag

Just an update....as I've been sitting here listening to the frogs sing by the pond (no...it doesn't take much to please me!).... Jag has been sold. It was my intention to find him a great home, but I was in no rush to do so. It is my responsibility to see that he goes to a good place, and boy has he ever! He is staying right here in Verona! He was sold on his birthday, March 20th. He's in very good hands, and I am so excited for him to start his new life. Of course it's sad to see him go, but he is starting training now....and will finally have that job, and use that wonderful mind he's got. I'm happy for him. We will miss him.....

Sadness....

We are being treated to some beautiful weather these past few days. Today it was 70, I nearly had to recheck the calendar, to see that it is indeed still March. Several things were going on over the past weekend, however I still managed to clean the chicken coop out, and moved our 10 chicks out to the coop, set up the heat lamp, and they are quite happy to have all that space! They have even had a couple of chances to enjoy the outdoor pen....and had so much fun scratching in the mud. They are quite happy to be out of that brooder, and feeling like "big chickens" now. I'm able to now sit with them and interact with them even more, and just enjoying watching them having so much fun!

But we have also had some bad luck here....sometime during the night Saturday night/Sunday morning, our young barn cat, Kit Kat, was hit and killed on the road. She was born here last spring, from a litter of 6. I found homes for all the kittens, but kept this one, I knew when she was born she was the one I would keep. She was so very sweet, and will be missed. I had the difficult task of rescuing her body from the road and burying her on Sunday. Then, something I still can't understand, happened. We lost her mom, Snickers. Snickers had been acting normally. Saturday morning, we sat together on the log swing outside, which we always liked to do, she came trotting up to me talking, and jumped up into my lap. I pet her for awhile....but had to get up and get ready for a family function we had...so said goodbye. We were gone for several hours.....but Saturday night, she came into the garage and hung out for awhile, which she also likes to do...(I keep a litter box in the garage for her)....but I usually put her out before I go to bed, because I didn't want her kitten to be alone down in the barn...call me a sap! I said goodnight to Snickers that night, and went to bed. Sunday morning....we were out and about doing things around here, and she was clearly visible, came out and watched us a couple of times, which is normal for her, she was around....nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She was her normal self. This was the morning though that my husband saw Kit Kat laying in the road in front of the house....so I was feeling sad...and maybe a little distracted...hoping I didn't miss something I should have seen.

Monday morning I went out to do chores, and Snickers was laying on the hay...where she likes to sleep, I said hi to her, and she answered...but didn't get up. She usually does come to me, but not always, so I didn't think much of it. I wondered if she was reacting at all to our other cat being gone........but would keep a closer eye on her. I had gone to work, and when I came home, the first thing I did was check on Snickers....who was sleeping in the barn. I noticed she hadn't eaten any of her food, but again....wondered if she was feeling her own little sense of loss? When I went to check on her later....Snickers was gone. Looked like she died peacefully in her sleep. But it was a huge blow. Both of our pampered barn cats....two days in a row. I dug the hole through tears...... but I could not bury her myself. I had to ask my husband to bury my Snickers for me. I couldn't do this one.... it will probably take some time....the tears come everytime I go down to the barn....

I have to add....in my last post, I mentioned the pond, and how I was eagerly waiting for the arrival of the frogs. Last night, after Snickers was buried, and it was dark, I had the window open in my bedroom, which faces the pond where Snickers spent a lot of summer days prowling as cats do, and I heard a couple of frogs. Clearing their throats, letting me know that what I have been waiting for will soon be here. I opened the window a little wider and just listened. I got a tear in my eye....thinking perhaps those kitties sent me those frogs that night. Just when I needed them.

So, Rest In Peace, my sweet Snickers and Kit Kat. No one could have any idea how much I'm going to miss you both....

EAGERLY waiting for spring!!

While I am not so patiently waiting for spring to arrive, I thought I would post some photos of the pond in our backyard. The ducks and geese are back hanging out, the geese are making quite a racket in the mornings, announcing their return. But what I'm really waiting for are the singing of the frogs. Usually around the end of March is when we start hearing them, and they get quite loud! My favorite thing to do on nice, warmer nights just as the sun is going down is sit outside in the backyard and listen to the frogs....it's my favorite sound! Then around the end of May, 1st of June, we can expect to see the snapping turtles come out, looking for a place to lay their eggs. In some ways, I feel pretty lucky to have this right outside my door!

Anyway, I don't have very many pictures of the pond itself, so I took some today, while it's still half frozen over. It's over its banks, some trees are under water, and we hope to clean it up some this spring, we have some trees down, (from being underwater too long) and a couple more that are probably close to going down. The first two photos were taken while I was standing in my living room. The second two, I went outside for.

The first below also shows our firepit, and a young oak tree we hope to dig out and move to another location this spring. I can hardly wait to mow the lawn...I love doing that....

Been awhile!

Winter is always a slow time here, but with the arrival of spring, should bring more updates to this blog! Everyone is fuzzy and not really fit for pictures, and now there is mud everywhere you look! Tank heaters have been running in full force and there's been frozen turds to pick up everywhere you look. Winter in Wisconsin....but what can we do! Katie, our mini donkey baby, is getting big, and still as sweet and loving as can be. She looks more like a wooly mammoth than a donkey, with all the hair she has! I decided to hold off on weaning her until spring. She's a good girl, stands to have her feet messed with, and doesn't have any touchy spots anywhere. She's quite a talker, but has a very low, raspy bray, very much unlike any bray I have ever heard. Her mother, on the other hand, has the loudest bray I've ever heard, ear piercing to be exact, and I'd be thrilled if Katie doesn't end up inheriting that from her mom! I usually try to get them fed before Kochia, her mom, really gets going, because she's just TOO loud.

We decided not to winter with chickens, and gave our chickens away to a woman who sells eggs and free ranges her layers way out in the country. The girls look very happy. We wanted more peaceful chickens anyway, as leghorns are not known for being calm, friendly, peaceful chickens generally, and ours were no exception. They were, in one word, crazy! Even though they were hand raised, and handled daily from the day they hatched! So, we have our next generation of layers, when on February 9th, we received our 10 chicks by mail order from McMurray Hatchery. 5 Rhode Island Reds and 5 Black Australorps. They are currently in a brooder in our garage, but I am not-so-patiently waiting for the weather to warm up so we can introduce them to the coop. They are growing fast! And growing into beautiful birds. And, with a 90% sexing accuracy rate, I knew there could be a chance we may end up with a rooster or two....but after 4 weeks, I see no signs of roosters in there, so I think we got all pullets, just like we ordered!

So there's the update....unfortunately, with winter still upon us, there is not much else to say...except that it's not a good sign that it's March and I have already had flooding in my barn, and the pond in our back yard has already flooded its banks. We may be in for a "flood of a spring" I'm afraid. We'll just have to wait and see! Till next time....