Drought

We are having one of the hottest and driest summers that I can remember for awhile.  We were unable to get enough second cut hay from our neighbour because it was just too short to small bale and the round bales were small as well.  After almost drowning int the spring this was unexpected.  I have been able to save two of my pastures but had to sacrifice two others.  Oh well such is farming.  My little chicks are growing well in this heat and my boys finally  were shorn.  Their fleeces were felted but I have lots from the girls.  Enjoy the pics.

View From The Farm

Time marches on and my white rock chicks arrived yesterday.  I settled all the little yellow puffballs into their new home and watched them start to eat and explore.  I think baby chicks are the cutest and I am always amazed at how quickly they grow and change. I feel somewhat sorry for this type of chick because they grow at such an enormous rate and their chests are so large and heavy for them.  It isn't natural really.  I will put most of them out on pasture when they are feathered out and they will have time to just be a chicken before it's off to the freezer. Another thing that surprises me is the barn cats never touch or eat the baby ducklings or chicks.  They will sit and watch them hopping about but if a sparrow or something else hops on by it is gone in a flash.  I guess they just know that they belong.  Enjoy the pics.

The Real Reason I Came Home From Holiday

A week home and I still have that "vacation" mood going on and I hope I don't lose it until after the end of summer.  I knew that I REALLY needed a holiday, not having had a proper one for about 10 years, but now that I am home I realise how much good a vacation does one and it won't be that long before I have another,  Of course in three weeks, the grandkids really change.  Ave is speaking in complete sentences now and Austin can sit up in a chair and is much more alert and notices everything going on around him now.  So I couldn't stay away any longer now could I?  I would miss too much.