Poor Aretha. She's been sent to the Henitentiary for her broody ways. She squawks at me. She glares at me. She paces. She knocks over her water again and again and tries to fly out when I replace it. None of this fazes me, the warden. She had her chance to be a mama two years ago and proved not to be the mothering type. She went broody last year around this time, so she's familiar … [Read more...]
Lonesome Lucy
June 26, 2014 by
Poor Lucy. Since her gal pal Ethel got killed by the raccoon, she's been out of sorts. Yes, from time to time Scarlett will fly over the fence into the yard with her, but Scarlett is not the adventurous type. So now Lucy makes her own way in the world, usually alone. She scratches the mulch out of the flowerbeds daily. The messiness drives Very Excellent Husband Don nuts, so I try and … [Read more...]
Chicks, Welcome To The Barnyard!
June 17, 2014 by
Oh, I love having babies around. (Baby chickens, of course.) Mama Rapunzel and the chicks spent a week in the "nursery" in the shed. I worried about letting them out in the barnyard. They're still so tiny. Should I err on the side of safety? Or should I open the door and trust the real chicken mama to know what's right? Heck, like I know anything. I decided to let her be the … [Read more...]
My Spoiled Goats
June 11, 2014 by
So you know about how conventional wisdom says goats eat anything and everything? Yeah, not mine. After having goats for a few years, I've learned they are browsers (like to eat trees and shrubs) not grazers (don't really love the grass) and mine are picky. Brandy is especially particular, and won't eat any treat if it's hit the ground. She doesn't even have a five second rule. Recently … [Read more...]
One Big Happy Family
June 5, 2014 by
It has been a crazy few days. Crazy, I say! The barnyard has been in full tilt change since last Thursday when I received my three cute Olive Egger chicks via mail and then Ms. Rapunzel hatched one chick out of four eggs. (One died and the other two never hatched.) In the midst of all of this, I spent three days wonderful days with Excellent Son Sawyer in Durango. I cannot say enough … [Read more...]
Good Things Come In Small Packages
May 29, 2014 by
I'll be brief and to the point. BABIES! Meet the new members of the barnyard :-) They're olive eggers. No names yet, just arrived an hour ago. Keep your fingers crossed for the eggs Rapunzel is sitting on. They should hatch in the next few days, and then we'll have MORE BABIES! (Shared at Backyard Farming Connection, Maple Hill Hop, Tuesdays With A … [Read more...]
The Peacemaker
May 22, 2014 by
Ah, the goats. I am loving watching the Littles incorporate themselves into the rhythm of the barnyard. This experience is SO much more positive than when Jessie came to live here. It's exactly what I was hoping for! To make things even better, Jessie has taken it upon himself to keep the peace in the barnyard. This means one thing and one thing only - keeping Brandy in line. I have no … [Read more...]
New Beginnings
May 16, 2014 by
Wow. What a difference a week makes. Just last Friday I noted winter was over...and we had eight inches of snow a few days later. It's mostly all gone now, but I 'm REALLY glad I'm a slacker and hadn't planted anything in the garden yet. I miss Sophia very much. I've been scatter-brained and unable to concentrate all week. But life must go on, so I've thrown myself into all sorts of … [Read more...]
Find Us On