Animals

Awaiting Sun

After weeks and weeks of rain,

I am told we are to have sustained sun starting tomorrow and lasting for at least a week!

I won't know how to act.

It has been dreary, damp, cold for days now.

This weather motivated me to get our woodpile ready for winter.

I moved a bunch of wood from our woodpile

to the front deck (for easy access to the fireplace.)

I peeled back the tarp over the woodpile,

expecting to see spiders and maybe even snakes.

I was ready....

lots of spiders, but....

luckily, no snakes!

My trusty friends were close by,

ever vigilant,

ready to come to my aid should a snake jump out at me.

"Hey, why so far away, guys?"

This cooler weather is appreciated by the horses,

who have a rather big case of "Happy Feet" here at turn-out time.

What I missed when I took the above picture was a crazy bucking,

where both back feet kicked out in opposite directions,

followed by his expelling of an enormous amount of gas.

I swear, Moonbeam has no shame!

The other four equines followed suit and took off

running and bucking (minus the flatulence) across the pasture.

Sammy, of course, couldn't resist the chase.

Once things settled down in the front pasture,

the dogs and I headed to the garden to do a bit of weeding.

I removed spent tomato plants and sunflowers,

and set out to weed the strawberry patch

(it's become a jungle!).

Weed patrol....

Sadie...

("What weeds?")

Maddie...

("Work to do? I'm not even coming inside the fence!")

Oakley....

("Boy, am I tired...just let me take a short nap...then I'll help, I promise.")

(stop yawning, you lazy boy!)

and turkeys...

always ready to "help"!

You'd think with all that help, I'd have the job done in no time.

Sadly, though, I will be at this job for days.

Goodness, look at all those weeds!

Well, the long awaited day has arrived.

It is officially dating season,

and Smoochie is now living in this pen,

with the breeding does next door.

We are hoping that his testosterone-induced irresistibility

is enough to bring the does into estrus.

So far, they are completely unimpressed.

Of course the rain and drizzle doesn't help,

as they stay indoors to avoid the wet.

Breeding for spring babies are O'Malley, Salley, and Sissy.

Let's hope that they soon show a little interest.

When that happens, they will each be introduced to their

prospective "dates" followed by a period of courtship.

Maybe the upcoming good weather will help.

It will help me, for sure!

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