Waddle While You Work

Anything is pawssible

What can I really say that's not been said about the beervirus. It's horrible, terrible, and hopefully something we will never see in our lives again. But for now, it's here. I pray every day for a cure, treatment or vaccine so that the loss of lives, suffering and economic hardships may cease. In these dark days, we have many things to be thankful for. Family, friends, a roof over our heads, water and food. We will see this through.


Duck This

I often find myself counting the Duck Dozen at the pond. They can't fly, and have the pond to escape to in any emergency. That's their safe place. Somehow, they manage to instinctually protect themselves and thrive. Thrive and survive in their own little world, as they live in a constant state of quarantine. The guard dogs protect them well, and look after them, with their reward being a fresh duck egg to eat whenever they please.

Caught the ducks playing and dipping into the water with
tail feathers in the air, like they just don't care.

The ducks lay eggs anywhere and everywhere. Sometime on the waters edge, sometimes in their duck house and other times randomly around the pond where you'd least expect an egg to be. I typically pick them up daily, wash them, and place them for pickup in the refrigerator. Sometimes people are really excited about buying them, other times they turn their nose up to them. Either way is fine with me, as it's definitely a personal preference thing. Right now, I'm running a Special on duck eggs, as a 6 pack of them is free for the taking so that people can "try" them and see what they think.

I've begun to write all over the fridge with dry erase markers.
I've placed a change bowl in the fridge for people to make change.
This is how my 10 year old self sells eggs.

Sometimes I sell eggs like this on weekends.
It's self serve, too, with a money box.

Even though it's hard to see, Lauren has created a new Flyer for my egg-selling, that is hung at the local Feed Store on their door. I greatly appreciate their support.

So it turns out many people are selling their eggs right now. Why you ask? The small, local farms who once sold to local cafes have now closed. These small town cafes are closing, and there is an abundance of fresh farm eggs available. Mine are selling here and there, but I've really begun to give them away to co-workers, family and friends again. I was selling out for awhile, and now it's slowed as the supply has increased. This gives me the opportunity to give eggs away to people in Gunter who need them, as well. There's always someone who would like eggs. Especially my own guard dogs who are big fans of scrambled eggs - anytime. They deserve them.


Pinball Wizard

As we may feel like a ball in a pinball machine, our thoughts bounce from scared to happy to fear to relief and every other emotion imaginable. As we clean ourselves of fear, we can see the light that is still there shining brightly. This is reflected in our farm animals on a daily basis. They remind me that life is still moving on as usual. They have no idea what this state of the world might be, but instead, remind me of what happenstance means in life. How those unexpected and random events are still all around me. My narrow scope of life opens back up when I glance into the silkie chicken coop to find this:

They are literally 1 day old.

Underneath this sweet silkie named Chompchi
is 2 little chicks. 

These silkie chickens are masters at laying on eggs. Lots and lots of eggs. Day and night, only getting up once or twice a day to eat and potty. We'll see how many of these eggs hatch........

Usually, once one silkie mama goes broody, another one tags along. Chompchi and Dorothy are both laying on about 30 eggs total. Ridiculous, right? But the next week will tell us day by day how many will hatch.


Can't be happy if your scared

The goats are my constant reminder that happiness is found at all times. Yeah, I know goats are known as destructive, feisty and escape artists, but I'll tell you that Chia and her two kids, Petunia and Dotty are a perfect fit for us. Chia is gentle and kind, and has taught her kids to be that way as well. Chia in particular loves to be petted like a dog would. She stands patiently while you rub her neck, and stroke her back. She's a fan. I love how her kids watch us pet her, and they get curious that maybe they want that too. Their pink noses smell our hands, and cautiously allow us to touch them. It's a work in progress, but those 3 goats are loving and gentle. The best trio we could have ever asked for in regards to goats. Goats are not easy creatures. I'm a little partial to them and think they are the best!



We recently decided (because we love change) to move the miniature horses out to the back pasture to allow them to have their own space and barn. This then opened up this once shared space for just the goats inside the barn by the house. The goats enjoy their own place. And ironically, so do the horses out back. The horses spend a lot of time galloping around, playing and using the larger space to stretch their legs more.

Dora and Diego enjoy a large pasture to romp and play.

Pre Quarantine 

Once upon a time, the world allowed us to move about freely. Back in those days, we had made a trip to Tractor Supply. We frequent there often, and on this day, I was trying to decide if I needed a t-shirt, as they often have many options.

She is beauty, she is grace, she will peck you in the face

Okay, maybe not that one.

Free range

This is a good July 4th shirt.

Today, I'm feeling.....

Well, I'm not that consistent.

Sorry I can't, my chickens need me

This is more like it. No, I didn't buy any of them even though I rationalized them as a sleep shirt, working outdoors shirt, or even a wearing in the public shirt. Since I already have several chicken shirts, I passed. I do wear a chicken shirt referencing Chicken Math often, that a friend, Brooke was kind enough to get us. It's my favorite because being a mathmachicken is a real thing.


Where things aren't so baaaaaaaaa(d)

In the world of sheep, Belle, Lulu, Grace and Licorice along with our ram, Deuce are all doing wonderful. They are actually huge. I'd like to say it's because they are likely pregnant, but if truth be told, they graze a lot. They have a big appetite, and sheep will even overeat themselves to death. Right now, the ground is growing lots of their favorite forbs and they are taking it all in. I do think Deuce has done a wonderful job of getting (hopefully) all of them pregnant, but only time will tell. We anticipate lambs in the next 30 - 60 days, if we did our calculations correctly (which is never promising). It goes a little like this, "Did we get Deuce in Dec? Wait, Jan? Where's the receipt of when we bought him. I don't know, do you? Did he start breeding right away? No, yes, I don't know". Let's just say it's not an exact science going on around here. The fact that we're surprised that baby chicks are here is telling. That's why I like to call us a Hobby Farm. It's a hobby, and we are still fine tuning this farm hobby thing. This is Round 2 of lambing. Our grown lambs are now going to have lambs of their own.

Deuce, whose 'normal' size because he's always
chasing the ewes around.

Grace and Licorice

Belle

My predictions?

Belle - One lamb
Lulu - One lamb
Licorice - Not sure if any?
Graces - Twins

Lulu in the background, Belle in front

When I look at the ewes, each angle provides a different analysis. What can also distort their size is the amount of wool each one has. The Shearer is coming in mid-May to shear each of them. I'm not sure if she can shear them if they are about to lamb, but I'll wait and see what happens at that time. The sure-fire way to know if they are about to lamb is when their udders start to fill. The exception to this rule is Belle. Hers filled after she had Lulu.





Tell me more

Along this vein of baby farm animals, I'll provide an update on Rainy, Flower, Brownie and Freckles.

These four chicks who are growing quickly are now
living outside in a small fenced area.

I've created a small area whereby these 4 chicks can mingle and be outside. They still sleep in their crate at night with a heat lamb until they are all fully feathered and the weather warms just a bit more.  This foursome gets along wonderfully. In this foursome is our first silkie chick born here, and she's growing and getting bigger all the time. Once large enough and able to survive on her own, we'll release her with the others. Since these chicks have become very close, we will likely set them free to free range with our flock. Although the silkie may end up going into the silkie fenced area. We haven't decided for sure yet about her destiny, and where she will be. I'd love her to stay with her friends, who will be out with the regular flock free ranging. I just worry about these silkies being so small and vulnerable.


Solved it

Another wonderful update to add is the completion of the bridges at the pond. There is a waterway into the pond, and out of the pond. Since we need bridges to go across to the other side for the animals, mowers and such, they are vital to getting to the back side of the pond.

2nd bridge completed

David throwing out the aerators.

Purple Martin's help control the
mosquito population at the pond.

David has placed his aerators in the pond, and the solar panels are generating the energy needed for them. The 2 Purple Martin homes 15 feet high are housing multitudes of these birds who are flying insect eaters. We love that, as the mosquitos can really ramp up.


Psst

As I close, I'd like to give good news, besides the wonderful farm updates. Firstly, my back is healing after surgery 3 weeks ago. I'm making great strides healing and can now "pull" my shoulders back in position, and starting to be able to ignite my abs without cringing. Shoulders back and abs-in are important in posture, and the back pain had taken those (once taken for granted) away from me. As I slowly am able to do these "once-natural" things, I see the progress my body is making. The pain is lessening, I'm able to do more physically, and I feel my spirit rebounding from it all. I need more time, but am grateful for the progress thus far. So very grateful.

Secondly, but actually the highlight of this blog...... is the newest addition to our family. Not a farm animal, but a hooman! Lauren is expecting, and will be bringing a beautiful new child into this world around mid October 2020. We are more than excited about this, and look forward to sharing this journey with her. Congratulations, Lauren!!!


Please stay safe as we move through these unusual times. I continue to trust and have faith that all will be well in life.

Sending love to you all,

Cyndi