Animals
- Hello Weekend!
A brief bit of sun early yesterday afternoon gave me a chance to visit with Ginger and MaryAnn. I stop to feed them and change their water three times daily,but spending a little time just communing with them is always a treat! No matter what she...
- Good Night
Every night, 365 days a year, we have the same routine.As the sun starts to set in the west, we head out to the barn to tuck in our beloved critters. Along the way we stop at the Roos coop where Statler and Waldorfhave already retired for the night....
- Welcome September!
For all intents and purposes, the summer is now over.Another Labor Day weekend has come and gone.The days are shorter; the nights are cooler.The swallows are flocking. The ragweed/goldenrod is blooming. The garden is offering forth the last of summer's...
- Happy As A Pig In Mud!
Summer gave us a preview yesterday as temperatures soared to 85.Part of why I love Pennsylvania so much is the change of seasons.But, usually the change is a little more gradual.Not so, it seems, this year.Spring arrived ahead of schedule,and it looks...
- Last Call
So much of farm life is ritual. There are certain chores that are done every day and every evening....without exception. No matter what the weather, the chores must be done. After all, there are little lives that depend upon us to meet their needs. And...
Animals
Morning to Evening....Everything In Between Is Hot!
Farm work begins before the sun rises above the horizon.
Right now, it's the coolest time of the day.
Cool and foggy.
We're in the midst of a heat wave...
but one in which the nights are cool....so a layer of fog settles over the morning landscape.
With the heat, Ginger and MaryAnn have been sleeping outside
next to their friends, the sheep, on a bed of hay leftover from the sheep's feeder.
As soon as they hear the gator, though, their are up and running for their house,
anticipating breakfast.
The horses and donkeys are still spending their nights out to pasture.
It's quite a luxury for them to spend so many hours grazing.
The pasture has been slow to grow at this time of year,
so the grazing is minimal.
Everyone is maintaining their trim figures...
so we'll continue this routine for the time being.
For some odd reason, Tom and Chuck have not been returning home
each evening, but rather attempting to roost on the fence surrounding
the Nigerian Dwarf goats.
As a result, we have to ask them to hop down from the fence
so that we can lead them back to their house for the night.
Although these birds are rather large, I worry that some predator might
get them during the night if they are not locked up safe and sound.
And so, it's almost dark.
Everyone is tucked in for the night...
except the horses and donkeys...
the fun is just beginning for them.
I'd love to have an infra-red movie camera following them around at night to see what
they do with all of their time.
Eat...eat...eat...poop...repeat.
Well, the weekend that we traditionally think of as the end of summer has arrived.
Labor Day Weekend.
Where did the summer go? Does anyone know?
I hope your weekend is full of fun and not full of labor!!
We'll compare notes next week, ok?
Happy Labor Day!
- Hello Weekend!
A brief bit of sun early yesterday afternoon gave me a chance to visit with Ginger and MaryAnn. I stop to feed them and change their water three times daily,but spending a little time just communing with them is always a treat! No matter what she...
- Good Night
Every night, 365 days a year, we have the same routine.As the sun starts to set in the west, we head out to the barn to tuck in our beloved critters. Along the way we stop at the Roos coop where Statler and Waldorfhave already retired for the night....
- Welcome September!
For all intents and purposes, the summer is now over.Another Labor Day weekend has come and gone.The days are shorter; the nights are cooler.The swallows are flocking. The ragweed/goldenrod is blooming. The garden is offering forth the last of summer's...
- Happy As A Pig In Mud!
Summer gave us a preview yesterday as temperatures soared to 85.Part of why I love Pennsylvania so much is the change of seasons.But, usually the change is a little more gradual.Not so, it seems, this year.Spring arrived ahead of schedule,and it looks...
- Last Call
So much of farm life is ritual. There are certain chores that are done every day and every evening....without exception. No matter what the weather, the chores must be done. After all, there are little lives that depend upon us to meet their needs. And...