Chicken wrangling...

 The tiny little broiler chicks have grown. And Grown. And GROWN some more in the last 5 weeks. 

 We started out with them in a brooder in the garage. Then I moved them to our backyard. It was kind of fun having them there, listening to their peeps, and watching them bumble about. The downside is that they eat incessantly to grow as quickly as they do. And they poop without cease. They've also outgrown the hutch we put them in at night to keep them safe from predators, too many birds in too small a space.  

Last night my husband, daughter, son in love, and I gathered to wrangle fifty uncooperative birds to a new space in the pasture.  They needed to be somewhere that offered shade and ample space, and it needed to be a place I wouldn't feel so cranky about all that poo. Chris rigged up an electric net to keep the resident goats and visiting cows away from the birds and their food. Then he moved two hutches to the area they were going to be so they wouldn't be so cramped at night. Next, he affixed a huge tarp up in one corner of the site so there would be shade during the early parts of the day. There are some trees and shrubs that offer afternoon shade. We put 10 birds at a time into the big wheelbarrow and laid a sheet of cardboard on top to prevent them from hopping out. They dislike being picked up and handled, so this part of the process took many hands. Rachel had the Owlet on her back in a pack but was in the thick of it, catching broilers and moving them to their fresh new home.  We trundled the chubby things out of the backyard, through the gate, and around the goat cozy to their new digs. 

We use a special net to catch them. It is made of soft rubber that is gentle to them, even if they stick their head or legs through the holes. They act as if the net is terrifying- unless they happen to find it unused, then they snuggle in it for a nap. 

When I let them out this morning, they explored their new space with evident excitement. There is tall grass, flowers, seeds, and bugs. Everything a chicken could ever want. They spread out, eating, drinking, and checking out the new surroundings. And pooping, of course. 

The goats found all of this to be quite interesting. They scampered up and down the ramp of Billy Goat Gruff Bridge to observe their new neighbors. 

Chicken wrangling went well. And the goats are amused watching their antics. It's all good. 

Windows to the world...

One of the many charms of this old house is the many windows allowing views in every direction. I took this picture of baby goat Glory through a window. She was dancing on the platform we call Billy Goat Gruff Bridge. Moxie seems to be admiring her moves. 

 Many (ok, most!) of the windows are old. They can be cantankerous to open and shut. Winter storms blow through them, billowing the curtains with puffs of icy air. The screens are questionable, causing me to despair in hot weather and allowing all manner of spiders and biting bugs inside where they do not belong. One window had a frame that was so rotted we could not open or shut it all, and it caused me a lot of worries. I've been trying to get someone to replace it for a couple of years. People give me a quote and never show up to do the work. Maddening. 

In March, I called Anderson Windows, and they came out to give us an estimate. They were prompt and professional.  I wanted to have three of the most problematic windows replaced. The windows cost a lot more than we had hoped, but we arranged to have them replaced.  They told us it would be months before they could come out, probably late summer or early fall.  My fantasy of having nicely screened windows for the summer went down the drain. 

To my delight, they called yesterday and said they had a cancellation and could install my windows today. I did a little happy dance on the spot. They arrived early this morning and jumped right into cutting the old windows out. It took a few hours, but soon the team cleaned up and headed off to the next job. 

The new windows are weather tight, with lovely, functional screens. They tilt in for easy cleaning and look fantastic. All the better to catch views like this: 

Bravo trying to get a broiler chick to play. He waited and waited, to no avail. And I saw it all through my marvelous new windows. 

Visitors..!

 A long-awaited visit from two of Chris's beloved sisters is happening now. The third sister couldn't make it, and we miss her, but we are having fun with the two we have! 

They fell prey to one of the thousands of current flight cancellations, so their trip was cut short. We are trying to make the most of the time we have. I baked bread to help welcome them. 

Chris, the "baby" of the family, towers over Meg and Brenda. They bring much sweetness, chatter, and laughter when they come. 

We celebrated Father's Day with a family breakfast. Evans received a new gardening hat for his first Father's Day. It boasts a big brim to keep the sun off his face and neck.  The Owlet will have to get a bit bigger before she can borrow it. 

We have 50 broiler chicks growing, growing in the yard. I'll move them to the pasture next week, so they have more room to waddle about. This batch has been the most healthy and active we've had. They range all over, grabbing bugs and gobbling greens. Although they eat obscene amounts of food and produce unimaginable amounts of manure, I enjoy watching their antics.  The dogs do, too. I titled this photo "Guardian of the Flock. And a poodle." 

My sister wondered about the size difference between the new Nigerian Dwarf goats and my older Saanen ladies. It can be hard to imagine if you have not met them in person. This photo illustrates it nicely, I think.  On the left is Plenty, a full-grown doe. Beside her is Glory, an almost 3-month-old kid. Bliss, the Saanen towers over them both. She's also obese, but we won't discuss that just now. 

I was reminded tonight why the smaller goats are a better idea for me. I took a scoop of grain out to feed Plenty while milking her. The Saanens wanted some and got very pushy about it. Literally. Bliss rammed me to nab the grain, and I narrowly caught my balance just before falling face-first into the wall. I might trip over a small goat, but don't risk as much of an injury as one of the big girls could ladle out in a greedy moment. I need to develop a plan to prevent such problems in the future. At the time, a sledge hammer sounded good, but a cooler head prevailed, and I will develop a less violent plan. 

The baby goat, Glory, is shy about being petted or picked up. I nabbed her today and invited her to the backyard for a snuggle. The weather was perfect, cool breeze, warm sun. She protested initially but then settled in for an extended session of affection.  

There is a lot of love flowing around these days as we enjoy the farmlette, family time, and a delightful sister visit. Blessings abound. 

Planting season...

 When I opened my business 8 (or was it 9?) years ago, my sweet friend made me a beautiful sign to hang at the end of the driveway. The spot is open, and wind and storms were not kind to the sign. We repaired it a few times, but it finally gave up the ghost. I had an idea to find an old clawfoot bathtub and use it as a planter to take its place. I thought to plant flowers in the spring/summer, fill it with pumpkins and corn stalks in the fall, and greens in winter. 

Old tubs are not that hard to find, and I'd seen a few, but most were either too big or overpriced. Then this spring, I mentioned to a customer that I was looking for one, and a bit later, she and her husband delivered a tub to me in exchange for some grooming. I love when that happens! The tub has been sitting in the front yard for weeks, looking out of place. This week I gave it a coat of paint to freshen it up.

Today Chris kindly helped me remove the signpost. We wrestled the tub into place, affixed its legs, and propped it on some pavers to prevent it from sinking into the soil. The tub is cast iron and heavy as heck, but together we got the job done. 

We took a trip to the plant place. I get a little crazy when I go to a nursery. I overbought but had lots of fun doing it. Sister Deb did a lot of research this year about creating lovely planters. She told me the key is to have a "thriller," a "filler," and a "spiller." That means something tall and eye-catching, something to take up space, and other plants to drape over the sides. I was so happy she shared that recipe and kept it in mind as I shopped. 

I filled the tub with planting medium while I baked in the noon sun, swatting black flies and mosquitos as I worked. Despite the bugs and heat, it was a lot of fun. In a few weeks, the new planter should look quite spectacular. We rarely take a new customer because we are booked out for the entire year, so we don't really need a sign, but now I can tell people, "look for the claw foot bathtub." It's hard to miss. 

While working, I could hear the new goats (still locked up until they feel "at home") calling. I took a break and went out to check on them. The adults were extremely friendly and came to me wanting attention. The baby freezes in terror at the sight of me. I scooped her up and sat down, tucking her legs under her, so she was snuggled on my lap. After a few minutes, she relaxed, looked around, nuzzled my face, and seemed to enjoy the attention. 

I look a little crazy, shavings on my shirt, hair a mess from the heat and humidity, but the happiness shines through. And Glory? Her eyes are blue in some places and brown in others. They remind me of the glass marbles we played with as children. I'll snuggle with her every day until she decides I am not as scary as I look.

Once I was done planting the big tub, I dug a galvanized tub out of the garage and turned it into a planter to go near the pathway to the grooming studio. I used to have a little garden bed with pretty plants there, but people let their dogs pee all over them. Now they can let dogs pee on the tub, and I won't feel as grumpy as if they were killing my plants. 

While I was at the plant store, I grabbed some potted herbs. I have a wonderful old enameled washtub that I thought might make a good herb garden. I am hoping it will grow well and be able to stay inside over the winter, providing fresh herbs for recipes. Meanwhile, I like the way it looks. 

After hours of hauling heavy things, digging in the dirt, watering everything, and hugging goats, I grabbed a tall, cold drink and sat in the shade for a while. The wind rustled through the leaves of the trees, the cows grazed, the chickens clucked, the new plants stretched their roots, and I was filled with deep contentment. Life is good. 

Big, small stuff...

 When the large animal veterinarian was here a few weeks ago, she said, "If you get more goats, don't get Saanens again. You should consider Nigerian Dwarfs." She explained that they are very hardy (my Saanen have had some tricky health problems), and she insinuated gently that their smaller size would be more manageable for me to handle as I age. She knew a woman with a friendly herd that might have a doe or two for sale. 

I shot off a query, and before you could say "baaa!" I had agreed to buy two does in milk. They would be ready to go to a new farm in mid-June. Today was the day. I borrowed two crates from Marion and Chris and I headed on a goat adventure. 

Though I have seen Nigerian Dwarf goats in the past, I never paid much attention to them. I couldn't quite imagine how they compared in size to my big, chubby, full-sized goats. It was a fun surprise to arrive at the farm and have pint-sized goats trot up to greet us. They were much smaller than I expected and incredibly sociable. Especially one named Myrtle the Menace. She ran up to Chris and flopped on her side like a Golden Retriever, begging for a belly rub. There were nearly 30 goats in a rainbow of colors, dancing about, snoozing in the sun, nibbling on grass. It was more fun than any amusement park. 

We had the goat cozy set up so they could have a little privacy and meet the other animals with gates and windows between them. 

Please allow me to introduce the newest "kids" at FairWinds. On the left is Grace. Posing in the bucket is Plenty. The tiny photo bomber in the back is Glory, the two-month-old daughter of Grace. To my delight, I found that Grace has blue eyes! Glory's eyes seem to be a blend of blue and brown; I'll get a better look tomorrow, she was a little stressed by the move, and I didn't want to push her. 

Spirit and Bliss are fascinated. 

The cows are most interested in the new arrivals. They stop by the window often, huffing and staring in. The goats don't seem to know what to make of them. 

The Owlet seemed to like them, too. 

I am silly excited about the new arrivals. I hope they will be happy here, and provide fun, laughs, and lots of sweet milk for us to enjoy. 

Fiber Frolic and more...

 Last weekend my daughter, son-in-love, and the Owlet and I went to the Fiber Frolic.  This annual festival is held in Windsor, ME., and Rachel and I have enjoyed it every time we've been. It was absent for a few years due to the pandemic, so we happily put it on the calendar when we found out it was on this year. 

The weather was beautiful, clear, cool, and sunny. The Owlet was content in her stroller and met her first bunny. I was given the honor of pushing her about for much of the day, which was a joy. Many people stopped to say hello to her, and she was generous with her gummy smiles, to their obvious delight. 

There was much to see. Sheep, goats, rabbits, a whole barn full of beautiful spinning wheels looking for new homes. There were crafts and a veritable rainbow of the most beautiful yarns. It was a feast for the eyes at every turn. 

We had a wonderful time. And ice cream. I am already looking forward to going next year. 

At home, The June gardens are looking fine. 

 

I have been baking. Bread and brownies mainly. We offer brownies or cookies to all of our grooming customers. I was recently asked to do some baking for the funeral of a local teenager. I made a double batch of brownies, so the timing differed from what I am used to. I checked on them multiple times, inserting a toothpick to test doneness. 

When I cut them to package them up for the event, I sliced out the center one with all the poke holes in it. It wasn't pretty, so I left it in the pan. When I cleaned the kitchen later, the pan was empty, the holey brownie gone. My husband must have nabbed it. I bet it tasted extra good because those holes show the love and care that went into the baking. Imperfect, but full of regard.  

The animals are enjoying the mild weather. And treats. The goats seem to have decided the cows are friends, not foes. 

But Spirit knows something is up. 

Stay tuned to learn more!