Scenes from a Farm

A couple weeks ago we brought the sheep home.  I don't know what it is, but it just always makes me feel better to know they are on our land.  Right out past the back yard.

All summer they were down the road grazing on another man's property.  It helps to keep our pasture from getting too sparse, and it's nice that we're able to do that.

The sheep crack me up whenever we go out to see them.

They stand perfectly still as if we're gonna run at them any minute.

They are much more used to Brent, though, because he's the man always giving them new pasture.  It really is true that sheep are followers.

I did get close enough to Lily and her baby today though,

and the ewe the kids aptly named "Licorice" because of her black lips.

When she was a baby, her lips were totally black, and the kids and I joked that she was our "Goth" sheep!

The trees around us have all lost their leaves, and the barn stands large against the blue sky.

Our hens are settling in with the 8 new birds we got about a month ago,

And I realize fall is quickly coming to a close, and we're getting ready to tuck the animals in for the winter.

The ewe's boyfriend "Rambo" will be coming to visit soon, and we'll have to get out the heated water dish for the chickens.

I'm feeling a little sad about the close of this time of year, but anxious for all the new babies in the spring.

Have you tucked in your animals yet?

Linking up to Verde Farm's linky party tonight.

I'm a sucker for the babies

The weather is turning cooler, it feels more like fall (FINALLY!) and it's time for babies again.

We're "growing" them in our garage right now. Under the heat lamp.

Brent brought them home from the feed mill yesterday.

Dipped all their little beaks in the water to "teach" them to drink since this doesn't come naturally for them. (Crazy, huh?)

The kids fell over themselves to see them after school.

I even went out to the garage last night to pick one up.

They are so fluffy and willing to let you hold them.

They cuddle right up.

I feel the same way when we get the 4-h pigs in the spring.

I'm a sucker.

10 Things...

Living in the country has changed my perspective on many things. I got to thinking today, that 6 1/2 years ago when we lived in town, if someone told me about country living, and how it was REALLY gonna be, I wouldn't have believed them.

Granted, I grew up in the country. It's not like I'm a city kid. BUT, growing up in the country as a kid, and living in the country as an adult, are two totally different things.

Here are 10 things, in no particular order, that astound me about country living.

1. There is currently pig poop in my yard. Yep, Glamorous isn't it. These buggers are the source of it.

2. I'm more worried about the weather/optimal planting time during garden season now more than ever in my life. 3. The site of my husband in working/chore clothes still makes me look twice (and stirs my blood...) (Now, maybe we should incorporate a cowboy hat...)Don't know why it is, and don't judge me!

4. I know the rotation of the farmer's crops all around our house (one year all farmers do beans, the next corn)...This year it's beans!

5. I have a mobile chicken coop in my yard that gets moved once a day.

(no idea where the summer pic of this is...)

This STILL invites arguments between Brent and I as to where in the yard it's gonna end up. It also brings my cousins constant opportunities for uncontrollable laughter. THIS also creates unwanted poop in my yard.

6. Every time Rudy


disappears for more than a day on one of his hunting/scouting sprees, it stresses me out as though he were another one of my children.
7. I know what the inside of the feed mill looks like, (this would NOT have been cool in high school) and know that the whole month of June they have a self-serve ice cream machine inside for national dairy month. (THIS thrills my children to no end.)

8. Many nights between the end of May and the end of July we walk 4-H pigs. Who would've guessed...walking a pig.
9. My husband persuaded me to put up a pole barn BEFORE a patio. (How in the world did that happen?)

AND LASTLY...

10. I love my life in the middle of nowhere, on a dusty dirt road, surrounded by fields, a vegetable garden, and animal pens more and more every year.

I guess this country thing is growing on me!

Are you lookin' at me!?

I never thought I'd be a chicken girl.


Never.


But I have to admit, they are one rowdy, interesting bunch.


Really.


Never thought I would have this in my yard, either.




Really.



It's currently residing on top of my garden, hence all the MUD! That chicken poop is like liquid gold for my sweet corn.



Really.


Never thought I would ask my kids how many eggs they collected every day. EVERY DAY.


It's like a contest. Every day. We have 15 hens. Not all the hens lay an egg everyday. (We might have some lazy ones in the bunch....but we don't know which ones they are.)



On good days we get 12. On bad days, maybe 6. Someone is SLACKIN' on those days!


Never thought I'd smile every time I say "Hey girls" and get a chorus of cackles.



They definitely know who feeds them! They like all the goodies like bread and lettuce, and strawberry tops from the garden. And they can strip a watermelon rind clean in about 30 seconds!



Never thought I'd get a kick out of an Araucana chicken who lays the lightest color of seafoam green eggs.


(She's the prettily colored one up front.)

(Can you tell which one is the "green" egg?)

Never thought I could watch an animal for what seems like hours as they just go about their business. (They really ARE interesting to watch).

We give our hens wonderful accommodations. Each little box has it's own little privacy cover on one side, and is enclosed in the back with a hinged cover the kids lift up to get the eggs. Doesn't my "old" Hawaiian material make you feel like you're in the islands? Think the hens feel the same?

They get all the grass they want in the summer, and grain in the winter, along with anything they can find in the garden.

My best reference about raising them has come from this book. It taught me alot when we were new to all of this.

Now it's just old hat!

Today I'm liking up to Verde Farm's Farm Friend Friday. Run on over here to check them out, or click on the link below.

Just be careful what you say to a hen...you might get a look like this...

I'd run if I were you!