Let me out!

I was hoping to catch Patti Cake do her bray/honk sound, but instead I caught her relaxing in the breezeway.

So instead of getting to hear Patti Cake, you get to hear Cookie letting me know she wanted out of her stall. So demanding!

And there was another surprise last night. When I walk into the chicken house to lock everyone up I always do a head count. Well, I did a head count and it didn't add up. So I counted again, and there was a reason the count didn't come out right. The missing Mottled Houdan hen had come back and was sitting with the others! It took me a moment to realize she had come back. She was fine. Although the hen apron she was wearing is gone. Have no idea what happened to it. But she is back and safe.

Until next time.........................

Donkeys and Cats and Chickens and Plants

The past several weeks I have been watching the Pampas Grass bushes in the front year. There didn't seem to be any signs of growth and I was certain they were dead and gone. Much to my surprise I spied green growth! Hoo Wee! When we bought this place six years ago the previous owners said that the Pampas Grass bloomed every year without having to do anything to it. Um, not one bloom at all! Oh well, guess the grass just doesn't want to do its thing these days.

I have been asked several times if the donkeys when they are turned out into the yard, if they do any damage to the trees and plants. Well, yes as a matter of fact they have. This little plum tree has had its branches broken in half or completely off.

This is Jeff Lewis. My oldest daughter came out yesterday to help with mucking stalls and when she saw Jeff Lewis she commented on how big is he. Yeah, they have a way of growing! :)

This morning as I as coming back towards the house I noticed Doug and Squirrel in the cat room window enjoying the fresh air. Obviously Doug takes up too much room so Squirrel has to do the best she can to get the breeze in her face.

Yesterday afternoon I put the donkeys into the backyard. Of course where there is an open window you will find a cat sitting in front of it. And in this case, a donkey on the other side. Doughnut is doing her best at sniffing Doug through the screen.

Not sure if she liked what she smelled or not!

Cookie had to come over and see what Doughnut was smelling. But, um, she was sniffing to high.

Since I have been turning the donkeys loose in the front yard, and we have hay in the barn, it was time to block off the donkeys from the hay. I dragged a 12 foot gate up am using it to keep the donkeys and hay separated. The last thing I want is for those hay bales jumping in with the donkeys!

Speaking of separating. The reason I keep Arnold and Miles separated is that they were both gelded later in life and they both think they are, well, you know, having all their equipment intact. So not wanting to take any chances of either of them getting hurt, I keep them separated.

For those of you who are curious as to how many animals live here. Here is a breakdown:

3 horses

8 donkeys

5 Fainting goats

3 dogs

16 cats

18 chickens

1 Fred ( ground squirrel)

2 Egyptian geese ( who come and go as they please)

Until next time...................

Kindness, Generosity, Mystery

These past few days have been quite busy. Some very dear friends sent over a surprise the other day. It was 100 bales of hay! They paid for it and had it delivered. The hay barn was darn near empty so they decided to help with the bare spots. It is very much greatly appreciated. When you have this many animals that eat hay, well, you can just imagine the cost to feed them all.

Last night when I locked up my chickens I noticed one of my Mottled Houdans was missing. I recounted everyone, and yup, she was missing. I went on a hunt and search, but couldn't find her. First thing this morning still in my pajamas I was out looking for her. Nope, not to be found. I have no idea what happened to her. No stray dogs on the property, so the only thing I can think of is she is a hawks meal.

Both Egyptian Geese have now decided that hanging around here is pretty good. There is all kinds of things to eat. Although the male is limping so hope he heals soon.

Arnold (grey) and Miles (white) have been playing over the fences for awhile now. I still don't trust them enough to turn them loose together. So in the meantime they can continue to play just the way they they are.

A few weeks ago I decided I was going to sell my horse. Financial reasons, I haven't ridden him in quite awhile, he has an attitude with Pewter one of our mares, etc.... Yup, my mind was made up. One less mouth to feed, no more worries about him being a butt towards Pewter, etc....

Okay, so I changed my mind the other day. As you may or may not recall I am against horse slaughter. If I sold him, I would not know 100% positive that he would never end up at a kill lot. Also, if I sold him, I would be contributing to the problem. So, as my dear friend Cindy calls him, the Pasture Prince will be staying.

Have I mentioned that there is a new stray cat hanging around? He/she is orange, hanging out inside the barn, and I catch glimpses here and there. Where or where did this one come from! Well, there is always food here so no worries about ever going hungry. In time when and if I can catch the new stray, off to the vet to get fixed. No baby makers here!

And speaking of food. I must go to the grocery store and buy food for us humans. So, wishing you all a most wonderful day. Smile and share it.

Until next time.............................

Winner announced

Congratulations Kathy at Cattle Call Farm Blog!!!

You are the winner of the name contest.

Please send me your address to cndezdog@msn.com so I can send your gift box out asap.

And thank you to everyone who suggested a name. With so many critters that show up quite often, the chances of another naming contest is likely to happen.

Until nex time..............................

2 More Days Before a Name is Picked!!!

On Thursday the name for our resident ground squirrel will be chosen. Send in your name suggestions and I will write them down and put them into the can. The name that is chosen will be sent a gift box!!

Even if you have already sent in a suggestion, send in more if you thought of any new ones.

This is kind of exciting!!!!

Until next time..................

Shaking my head!

Today is a shake my head and a 'why didn't I think of that day'. Before I get into what the main subject is, it is official, Jeff Lewis ( the one in the center of the pic) is a..........Rooster!! Darn it! :( So, I will wait to see who else is a rooster and then place an ad to move them to other homes. I know, I know, the chances of someone actually wanting a rooster to just be a rooster is slim. Most likely they will end up as dinner for someone. Although I will not want to know that, I will kindly ask the person(s) getting the roosters to lie to me and tell me that they are going to a good home. Some things I have a very difficult time dealing with and sending an animal to its death is one of them. Even though I know the truth. I would keep them if I could, but having two roosters now, it just isn't an option.

Some time ago I posted about what at first I thought were ducks to find out were a pair of Egyptian Geese. Yesterday, late morning, I glanced out the kitchen window to see the female up by the barn. But the male was no where to be seen.

So I snuck around the front of the house and took a few pics of her. Once she noticed me she walked off down the driveway and back across the road. Worried about the male I waited until she was out of sight then also walked to the road. Checked the ditches for the male and thankfully nothing. I am hoping he was hanging out where he couldn't be seen.

I get up pretty early in the morning, but at 4:30 this morning I woke to the sounds of chewing.......on the house! What the hell! The sound was right next to one of the bedroom windows. So, I lifted the blinds to see Cookie the donkey staring back at me! After doing morning chores, a walk to the back of the house revealed she, and I am certain her cohorts, have decided to start chewing the wood around the windows!

Obviously it has been going on for a bit and just didn't pay attention to it. As I was standing there thinking why would they start chewing on wood, they have plenty to eat, plenty to do to keep them occupied the light went on in my head! Duh, there is no salt block in the yard! And the donkeys have been in the yard now for four days. Oh man, I should have put one of the salt blocks in for them. I make sure there are three kinds of salt blocks available in both pastures year round for everyone. A regular plain salt, mineralized salt and a selenium block. Well, it is suppose to rain later today so the donkeys are going back into the pastures for awhile.

Have you ever noticed a smell and just can't find it? You look for it but just can't seem to pinpoint where it is originating from.

This morning I found the smell. And yes it was a shake your head moment.

See the darker coloring on the bottom of the screen door? Yup, that's where the smell is. I have noticed the discoloration for awhile now, but disregarded it due to the age of the door.

Be happy that there is no such thing as 'smell a blog'! I do believe either a stray tomcat is spraying or one of the raccoons is spraying marking their territory.

Well, as of a little bit ago I reclaimed 'my' territory. No, I didn't pee on it ( although that would have been a trick in itself!).

I washed it down with soap and water, poured vinegar on it, sprinkled baking soda on it, sprayed some Simple Solution on it, then a quick spray with Febreeze. have to say, MY door smells much better! Take that cat or coon!!

Little Inger is being broody again. And why o why does she insist on sitting where the poop is from the other chickens when they are on the roosts. Come on, there are so many more clean places to be broody.

No, she is not going to get to hatch eggs this time. Sorry Little Inger. Not until the other chicks you raised are bigger.

Just before I came in this morning, just watching the chickens, I heard rustling in the oak tree right next to me. Without looking I turned the camera on, raised and pointed in the direction of the sound.

This is what was in the tree. At first I thought it was one of the hawks hanging around, but it is just one of the three crows that live around here. Whew, thank goodness just crow and not a hawk!

Until next time.......................

Name Suggestions

The pic of the purple flowered tree is for John and Going Gently ( and of course for those of you who might be interested). I have no idea what the name of the tree is so if you know, please share and let me know what kind it is. Thanks.

I have mentioned before of a ground squirrel who lives in the wood pile. Apparently the ground squirrel is unaffected by having cats hanging around and staring at it. Well,it does help that he can duck inside the pile at a moments notice and be safe. As you can see in the above pic, three of our outside cats are, we'll call it 'hiding' in the greenery watching the ground squirrel.

And here is the ground squirrel staring at the cats. This little guy has become used to me standing out there and not bothering it which lets me get pretty close.

So, I was thinking since obviously we have a resident squirrel hanging out, that it is time to name it. I have no idea if it is a he or a she.

If you would all like to play along, how about posting name suggestions for our ground squirrel. I will write them down with the name who suggested it, place the suggestions into a can. Then in a few days draw a piece of paper out of the can and whatever name is drawn will be given to the squirrel. And........

Whichever name is picked, whoever suggested it will get a gift box! No, it won't be the squirrel inside the box!! Ha Ha

Okay, so let the name suggestions begin!

I forgot to mention. You can suggest as many names as you want. Each name will go onto a separate piece of paper. The more suggestions, the more chances you have at winning the gift box!!

Until next time.....................