There's nothing I like more than sitting in the barnyard and observing my animal family. After a while I completely forget they're animals. They're each so different, so individual, so special. Jasmine has gotten my attention lately. She's a three-year old Black Copper Maran, sister to Belle and Rapunzel. With ebony feathers, brown eyes and vivid red combs, they are a handsome trio. For a … [Read more...]
Chickens
When my kids were young, if you told me that after they went away to college I'd get some chickens to fill up my empty nest, I'd have said you were crazy. Yeah, look who's crazy now. That's me - crazy, with chickens.
Napoleon’s Frostbite Story
February 7, 2015 by
Recently, the mood started changing around here. The animals and I have less of that "we're hunkering down" look. We've made it through the worst part of winter, and we're starting to think about spring. The blogs I read are chock full of people going through seed catalogues. Some are already starting their seeds indoors. We're not quite that far along around here. There's lots of snow in … [Read more...]
Then There Was Sunshine
January 14, 2015 by
Even though this is one of the gloomiest starts to the new year, we live in Colorado. There's gotta be a gorgeous day of sunshine eventually. Thank goodness one finally showed up! I don't know who was happier—the animals or me. We all spent the day in the barnyard, soaking up the sun. There were chores galore for me, but being able to spend time outside with the animals was simply glorious. … [Read more...]
New Year’s Wishes From The Barnyard
January 1, 2015 by
Happy New Year, everyone! I've got no intentions/goals/resolutions to share. Just a few pics from the barnyard. The animals were in rare form recently and as usual had a lot to say. Think of it as their little New Year's gift to you :-) So from our barnyard to you... And... (Shared at Simple Lives Thursday, HomeAcre Hop, Homestead … [Read more...]
A Little Christmas Surprise
December 24, 2014 by
I usually write in the early hours of the morning, right after I've hauled myself out of bed. I wrap myself in a thrift store quilt—my couch quilt—that could not possibly have more dog hair on it. Tiny cup of espresso (the first of several) by my side, Keela whacking my computer to gain more room on my lap. We don't have a fireplace, but by the miracle of technology I can stream a flickering, … [Read more...]
Chicken Matriarchs
December 11, 2014 by
Some of my feathered ladies are showing their age. Barnyard relationships and temperaments shift and change, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the transformation of my six oldest hens. They started out as mean girls, but have mellowed into matriarchs. They are no longer pacing the floor of the coop when I open the door in the mornings. They're still on the roost, seem a bit … [Read more...]
Chaos in the Cold
November 19, 2014 by
Sometimes life is a graceful narrative moving to the beat of a favorite song. Sometimes, however, life moves to a staccato rhythm straight from a middle school garage band. Right now, I've got a thirteen year-old drummer banging a wild beat in my head. Adult onset ADD? Too much coffee? Who knows. In my defense, it's been a crazy, crazy week... We drove down to Durango to help … [Read more...]
Roosters Fail, Hens Are Happy
November 11, 2014 by
More rooster escapades in the barnyard! Napoleon and Big Man are beyond hilarious at this point. The winner? Well, it's neither of those crazy boys. It's the ladies. The ladies are DEFINITELY the winners :-) Here's what happens. Napoleon starts looking sideways at one of the ladies. He starts doing his, "Look at me! Look at ME!" dance and shouting out a throaty call. The lady, … [Read more...]
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