Flights of Fancy

Every once in awhile, when the weather has been exceptionally pleasant, the donkeys like to run and play in the pasture. Normally, they'll come in right when we're finishing up with everyone else, but not today. 

Today, they wanted to play chase with us. First, they followed me all the way up to the barn then Fancy nodded her head to Patches and they turned around and ran off! I got in the mule to chase them and they were over the moon happy. At one point, I stopped the mule and Fancy literally trotted around it with her head held high and a gleam in her eye. 

Rob wanted a turn, so he chased them around some. You could tell Patches really wanted to stop and eat (she's all about the food) but Fancy was calling the shots tonight. 

We're going to eat our own dinner and then put them to bed. They've dealt with new coos and kids, they deserve this special time. 

Chill Out

Our builder had given us the assignment to get our bathtub and our shower fixtures. Off we went to Home Depot and started looking at appliances. Did we find the bathtub and shower fixtures we wanted? No, but we saw what's going to be our fridge! 

Ok, Rob and I are horrible at starting focused at times, so we decided to head across the street to Lowes to look at their tub and shower stuff. They didn't have what we wanted in stock, but they also had the fridge! By this point, Rob and I are sold on it. 

We still haven't purchased it yet because I'm customizing it. It's a Samsung Bespoke fridge with a beverage dispenser and tons of room. It's nice and sharp angled versus the bubble style I see a lot of. Best part, I can design my own panels on it! Who wouldn't want Fergus to greet you during your midnight snack? Rest in peace my sweet boy, you're still in our hearts. 

A Little Love

We're going through crazy stuff in many directions right now, so sometimes I just need a little love. I took a break this afternoon and visited with my animals. Fiona and I had a good petting session before the donkeys wanted their love. Honestly, Patches will stand by my side no matter what. She fully trusts me and loves to literally be my sidekick. 

The goats gave me their love today, too. S'mores even gave me a kiss on the cheek! They're not as protective of their kids now and will allow me to nuzzle them more. 

We're still working on Ciarán and Coorie though. One day they'll begin to want attention and not just food, but today was not that day. Brogan and Flora though, will gladly take as much scratches as I want to give them. Here's hoping y'all all have a little bit of love today!

Chicks For Free

Once upon a time, not too long ago, you could buy baby chicks for barely anything. While we have ten wonderful chicks, we were thinking of buying two other heritage breeds to double our numbers this year. We had decided on buff Orpington and Jersey Giant. Yeah, good luck with that. 

See, Iowa is where the largest chicken hatcheries are in the country, and they recently fell into hard times. Now, there is literally a wait-list to get chicks and the earliest for us to receive them would be June. With our weather around that time of year, those poor little chicks would definitely die during transit from the heat. So, plan b. 

Now, I'm looking at anyone in Texas who have baby chicks for sell. We won't be able to get them sexed, but I've got a lead on lavender Orpington close to us. Here' hoping there are more females than males and we can get them before someone else does!

Levels of Mud

Did you know mud has different levels? It's quite similar to Dante's "Inferno". Picture this, in a Forrest Gump way. 

You've got swamp mud, clump mud, slick mud. There's sticky mud, mixed mud, pellet sized mud. You can slosh in mud, you can get stuck in mud, and you can slip in mud. Mud can be slung. Mud can be everywhere and anywhere. We've got your mud. 

Aside from us drying out mud, we've made great progress with all the new animals. Ciarán will let me pet her ear and offer a treat to Coorie. Coorie won't take the treat yet, but she does appreciate being asked. 

The kids are all getting bigger and stronger! Two of them are even brave enough now to let me pet them. They're spending less time cowering behind their mamas and more time playing with each other. By the time we get them weaned, it's my goal to make each one pet worthy. Meaning, they have no fear of humans and being handled. It's coming together!

Yuck and Eww

The whole farm is a disgusting mess right now. I can barely walk, there's mud everywhere and the coo stall is horrid. 

As y'all may remember, we have a small hole in the roof of the cow stall. All the ice has been melting into that hole it seems and this is also where the cows like to do their business. We need a truckload of barn lime and an industrial febreze to help us dry it out to muck it out. The smell is atrocious and the coos attitude is definitely affected by it. 

Supposedly, we're getting sun tomorrow. I sure hope so! Ciarán needs to learn who I am and I need to get as much kid time as I can before they find new homes. Bring on the sun!

It Figures Skating

I've never been an athletic person. I can trip just walking and the Olympics have never considered me for any sport. Today though, I created a figure skating gymnastics move worthy of gold. 

Picture this, I went outside among the icy tundra to peek towards the barn and listen for the animals. During this time, I also let me two pups out to burn some energy and get some potty action. Well, it was after all this when Kenzie had already gone inside and Reggie decided to stop to watch a truck go by. He was very concerned about the truck, but he was not concerned the door was open and Mango, one of two indoor cats, decided freedom was his. 

Ok, totally cute watching Mango and his fluffy butt skid to underneath the truck. Great that Kenzie scruffed him so he couldn't take off. However, this is where I took the stage. On my last step to the truck, my left leg shot sideways quickly into a split. I don't, and never have done, the splits. Various cracking sounds were heard in my left leg as my right leg tries to do a pirouette move with extra pizzazz. The dismount was my landing hard on my left buttock and yet somehow, my right hand sliced through Kenzie's hold thereby then grabbing Mango myself. By the time I came to a stop, I had Mango over my shoulder, Kenzie by the collar and the adrenaline was quickly wearing off. 

No broken bones, but my left bum to ankle is bruised and painful. Rob took pity on me (probably because he didn't want to take me to the hospital) and fed all the animals for the night. By the way, every living creature on our farm is doing fantastic, but even the coos are done with this ice!