It's fine, it's fine, everything is fine (is it?)

Can I have, please

Have you ever been out on a evening walk, enjoying the sunset, making your way back to the house and then all of a sudden a black duck walks by? Of course, immediately we were mesmerized. Our domestic, non-flying white ducks are common at ponds and lakes. But this black one was special. It was David that noticed it first. The people living there were sitting out in their yard, and David proceeded to holler over to them 'where they had bought the black duck'. It was so shiny and elegant. They replied that they had bought their recent new chickens and ducks at a feed store in Gainesville. Thanks, we bounced back. All while thinking 'we'll need to go and investigate this sometime'.

Then, it happened. The couple asked if we wanted the black duck. Uh, hum. Do we want their black duck? They proceed to tell us they bought it as a duckling, and have no place there for grown ducks. Again, uh, hum. Well, uh, I don't know. It's so sudden. Please, they ask us, we can't really keep it. Uh, okay. Okay, we'll take the black duck. Instantly, they had it caught and brought it over to us. Handing it to me, I begin to hand carry a duck back home. It cried and cried the whole way back home.

Why is it crying like that? Because it's other duck friend was left behind. It had a duck-mate who was a white duck (like all the others we have at our pond). Turns out, the white-duck-left-behind was quacking so incessantly that the couple got in their car and drove their ever-quacking white duck towards where we had walked - which was home. They spotted us as we were walking down the gravel drive and proceeded to drive up behind us, white duck in tow.

Here! They say, please take this duck too, as the black and white ducks are bonded, and we really can't keep either one. Huh? This is quack. What is going on here? To make things even odder, their daughter is a witness to this, and is crying as her parents are giving her ducks away. We stand there duck-founded.

I attempted to console the little girl by bartering two of my silkie chicks (once feathered) for her two ducks. She really liked that idea, and a deal was made. Let's Make A Deal is alive and well on Little Elm Creek Rd.

We visit a minute longer with the nice family, all while acquiring two new ducks on an evening walk, and they leave and go back home. We end up adding these two ducks in the mix to our existing 12 ducks and they are petrified. Bonnie and Clyde (they came with names) took about 1 week to be accepted into the crew at our pond. But they are in like flynn now, and everyone in our duck world is happy happy happy.

Unsure, and having never stepped webbed foot in water before, they eventually acclimate. Now, they are part of the whole shebang, swimming and becoming a part of the flock. Aunt Meanie (head duck) chased them away at first, but she came around and placed them under her wing. Bonnie and Clyde are much younger, but have adjusted to the pond life. They are figuring out where the food bins are and swimming like a pro. Welcome! Careful what you ask about next time your on a walk.



Once upon a time there was a girl who really loved chickens. It was Me. The End.

Ideal 236.
For real, it's the name of these chickens.

Even though it's hard to see in this pic, our Ideal 236's are doing great. We have 4 of them, and they are growing into beautiful chickens (think snow white with a few black dots, and a beautiful fan tail). They have been living in the Guest House and are starting to incorporate with the rest of the flock. They will be shaking their tail feathers in no time, and will most certainly win the Coveted Tail Feather contest.

Currently, under the spell of chicken math, I am unable to report the number of chickens I have. I'll count soon. I'm thinking the number is around 48 (past crazy), which includes the above 4 chicks and an additional 8 silkie chicks. (** Granted, I have sold 7 of the silkie chicks who will rehome once they are feathered, so my actual number will come down to 41). And I have to consider that I started out with 6 Turkens, losing 2 and having 2 of them turn out to be roosters. I need to restock on Chicken Luck. My numbers are changing faster than you can google Chicken Luck.

And add in this mix that we are watching our sweet, sweet Ginger girl make her slow climb to heaven.

Ginger (l) and Butterscotch (r)
They were so young back then.

She, along with Butterscotch (RIP) were our first chickens. Our first chicken crush. Our first flock leader and still the matriarch of the flock. She was a kind and good leader, with nothing but love for everyone. After recently losing Goldie to old age, we now watch Ginger follow in the footsteps of geriatric chickening. It's hard to watch them turn a corner, then another, and then the final corner before their beautiful souls leave their worn and tired bodies. We continue to love her, feed and water her to the best of our abilities, and tell her what a magnificent girl she is. Sounds silly, yet it's very cathartic. Thank you, Ginger for being so very faithful to those around you. You're my girl. As you step to the side, we see Poppy stepping up. A cinnamon queen with all the qualities you would respect. Poppy will be there at the front of the flock, eyes fixated on me, asking to be picked up and loved. Asking for a friend to have more mealworms. She will carry on your legacy. It's hard to lose the flock leader, as they set the tone for your girls. Poppy will carry on for you.

Poppy
Always by my side.
Always at the front of the flock.

Sheepishly Me  

Lamb Dad has been happily living his Good Shepherd life. Our seven lambs are all about 4-5 weeks old. Bo-Skeeter (Belle's boy) is by far the biggest and most social (besides Cricket and Bandit, of course). He's happy to come greet you and say Hi. Love him! His sister Cricket is his best buddy, although no one is as tight as Cricket and Bandit. Willow and Oliver are the quiet siblings, flying under the radar. Willow lives up to her name, so thin, tall and dainty. Shane and Brooklyn are healthy, fun-loving lambs who enjoy group play time. Bandit is beginning to incorporate himself in with the whole crew. We couldn't ask for healthier and happier lambs.

Bell and Lulu with their twins.
Granted, Belle does not feed Cricket,
but they all still gather together. 

Cricket and Bandit are still being bottle fed and doing very well. They hang out with the flock in the pasture sometimes, and are learning to graze. It's important that they know what it's like in the real world. I mean, real pasture. The bottle won't be there forever. Yet, it's the lovin' from their Lamb Dad after their bottle that they live for.

Cricket is a stealer.
If a mama is not paying close attention,
Cricket has a quick drinkie drink.

Needless to say, both bottle babies are well loved and well fed. We enjoy watching the lambs grow, play, learn and frolic. They each have a very distinctive personality and it's hard to believe we will sell some of them. They are so innocent. I mean, it's what farmers and ranchers do, right, sell their farm animals, have more, and sell them, and so on and so on? It's all so hard on my heart.


Heart Stings are pulling

Speaking of baby's, October will be a busy, exciting and life changing month. Lauren is expecting, and will be having a baby boy in only 3 1/2 months (give or take a week). It was only yesterday I gave birth to her.

Lauren and BFF, Kyle

And now look....

Same girl,
different glasses.

How does this happen? Where does all this time go? Is it out in space somewhere, is it in a black hole swirling around? The time is just gone. Luckily, the memories are all inside my head and I can relive them anytime. And yes, I do often.
My little Lolo is going to have a little one of her very own. We are excited beyond words. The wonderment and anticipation is vibrating on a high level about now. We'll be right here waiting for you.
Our little Tula Tot is waiting for you, too. She has no idea what's about to happen. She's too busy swimming.

And smelling lamb bottoms, and playing with her toys, and living her best life - that's about to get even better with a brother.



Supersize me Jesus.

I'm going to change modes for a minute. The continuation of the COVID pandemic has me thinking. It has us all thinking. Recently, while listening to a Joel Olsten podcast I was reminded how God meets us at our level of expectations. It was an ah-ha moment for me. I've dreamt big in my life, while other times I tend to lay low. I've realized my dreams and I've spent time merely dreaming. Having been on both sides of the dream coin, I liked the friendly reminder to consider raising my expectations. If God meets me at my expectations, yes please, I'd like to supersize them. Every now and again, a reminder like this spurs my curiosity and inner child. What am I dreaming of? What can I do to inspire others to actualize their dreams? It's during these pandemic days that I continue to believe all things are possible. This new way of living is different, and different does not mean it's bad. It's just different. Different is good, too. So, I've had to start thinking very differently. At first, I didn't really think differently because I was sure the world was going to bounce back, and we'd resettle in as we "once were". No. I certainly do not think that anymore.

So as I've adjusted to life in this pandemic (as we all are attempting to do), I've noticed this has impacted my goals and dreams in life. We can't do all the things we once could, as it's just not safe. I, like you, want to stay safe and keep others safe at the same time. We all want to still dream and realize our dreams. AND we want this for everyone, all while re-learning ways to make sure that happens. This is not just about a pandemic. It's so much more, like reading and understanding the importance of Black Lives Matters. Thank you, Black Lives Matter for all you do and waking everyone up, including myself.





I realize that even though I don't always know the right words or proper way to express my support for Black Lives Matter, I do know that trying is what I want and need to do. Asking questions, reading, learning and speaking up. Self awareness to this is Step 1. Step 2 is to move out into the world in it. As awkward and uncomfortable as it may be to understand how I can play a positive and productive part in this shift, that's how we will get there. Starting - and being a voice. I'm so grateful we are at a place in this life where equality is the focus. A corner has been turned, with many more corners to turn. I'm excited for what's around the corner, as people will be given the peace all people deserve. The peace to live life safely and justly.



Be patient and faithful where you are,

Cyndi