Animals

Tuesday For You....Friday For Me!

I can remember as a child my Nana talking of the "Dog Days" of summer.

Although I was never quite sure which days were of the canine persuasion...

I guessed they were the hot and muggy ones that usually accompanied August.

If you asked me now...

I'd say "woof....their here!"

We've had a string of hot and muggy weather.

It's the type of weather that necessitates that work be done either early morning or late evening.

The rest of the day is just not suited for any physical activity.

Ask any of the animals... they'd agree!

It's this time of summer when the horses cease to run...

choosing to just saunter wherever they need to go.

The sheep spend the afternoons snoozing in the shade

and the pigs can be found lounging at the pool.

(Picture sunglasses, lemonade with a straw, wide-brimmed sunhat...stretched out on a lounge chair!)

Amanda spent last evening with us,

so I took the opportunity to utilize her help to do chores that require a buddy....

like: hoof trimming.

The sheep are so well socialized and are very easy to work with.

Amanda bribed them with tummy scratches while I went to work trimming their hooves.

I keep after them every few weeks, so this job is always relatively easy.

We both noticed that Hope is starting to look much more mature now.

Her face is starting to elongate a little more like her mother's.

Oh, how sad to see these two grow up...

I would forever keep them tiny lambs if I could!

They still run to their mama when they feel threatened...
there's nothing like nursing to make them feel secure!
That look on Gracie's face says "Really?"

We tried to trim Ginger's and MaryAnn's hooves,

but it was a little too close to feeding time for them.

Completely distracted with the possibility that food might be soon delivered,

they had a hard time lying still for more than a couple of seconds.

Pigs are incredible creatures and form very tight bonds with their humans.

Although both pigs are very close to me...

Ginger is especially close to Amanda,

and MaryAnn to me.

So, on Monday evenings when Amanda visits the farm,

Ginger is quite happy!
(And so are we.)

By now you are probably wondering what this title means.
I am taking a short summer break from blogging... the rest of this week.
I will be back on Monday with more "Tails from the Farm"...
and will fill you in on this week's adventure!
Have a great rest of your week!
Happy Friday!

- A Visitor
We had a welcomed visitor at the farm last evening...Amanda came for a visit.(You might remember that Amanda got married and moved to Philadelphia this past summer.)Ginger and MaryAnn were quite happy to see her and came out to greet her. Before long...

- Happy Fall Y'all!
The sheep yard is a very happy place these days.Cooler temperatures make for more pleasant days when you are blessed (or cursed) with a permanent wool coat! You would not believe how much wool these gals have accumulated this summer.I can hardly...

- Moving Day
It was a big weekend for Gracie and the twins, as well as Ginger and MaryAnn. Gracie and the girls spent their first day in their new enclosure...as neighbors to the pigs. With dogs safely and temporarily stowed behind the garden fence...I worried that...

- Spring Fever...continued
Although Spring is in the air...winter is still on the ground. Our farm is situated on the north side of a gradual slope,so we retain our snow for the longest time.As I drive through the countryside...I watch the fields emerge from beneath the snow.But...

- It's Great To Feel Welcome!
It's late afternoon.The chores are finished.Before heading back to the house to make dinner,I take a moment to visit the pigs. "Hey MaryAnn!" "Hey, Ginger!" I call. The best of hostesses, they both come running... grunting their "welcome!"......

Animals