Rojo Piggo

We have a new piggy. His name is Sammy. :-) He came to us at 6 weeks, so he had to stay in the house. Normally, I am ok with bringing a sick or baby animal in the house. But Sammy wore out his welcome fast. Now he is up the hill in the barn house, and obviously had a party up there last night. Naughty, but adorable. ~crow

Sammy

new faces this week

Joy the mini donkey 

survival of the fittest?

While I have been missing here, I was lost in surviving. Some pleasurable events, and some not so much.

Good news, I survived the surviving.

I have a new tablet that I am going to try to blog with.  It is voice activated and I'm hoping I will have less spelling errors and more words that will make a little sense. I hope that I'm able to just talk instead of type because that way I can feel like I'm chatting with you.

My new tablet has all sorts of devices. I can now vlog (video blog) and take photos as well. Then blend it all here in my ADHD glory.

What does this mean for me, or us, is that I can be surrounded by goats and geese and still be able to share my insights. Which could have one of three outcomes.

Award winning writing.

Worst blog ever.

Broken new tablet.

crow sighting

Straight  as the crow flies, I will be back, live and in color. I just need to learn how to use this new fangled tablet.

good medicine

 

why hens make noise

Hungry?

chicken lady

I had a pretty great week. I needed one after the tragedy here at the farm.

I heard Spring peepers, I saw two robins land in the field, and some of the perenials are starting to pop their green heads. Spring, is always has that feeling of anticipating Christmas as a child for me. It is like our Mother is ready to give us her gifts again. She is very good like that. Perfect even.

So this weekend, cold crop seeds were bought, plans to erect my greenhouse asap, and tentative plans for the building of breeding pens were discussed.

It is never, ever boring here. Never.

My friend, (that I bought Izzy the Great Pyrenees from) brought over her bunny who was having problems with his digestion. He had wool block. I worked on him for a couple hours. and got him clean,. I gave him lots of hay, and electrolytes. He cleared right up in a couple days. When she dropped him off her 3 daughters came and ooh-ed and ah-ed over the baby rabbits, chicks, ducks, geese, dogs turkeys, and Earl.I forgot how young girls can fire off questions like rapid machine gun fire. I also forgot how loudly they can squeal. There is nothing better than to see pure delight like that. The littlest one got to hold little yellow fuzzy day old chicks. When she was done she just let go and the chick from a standing position, so I showed her how to lower her hands first before she let go. She did, and I praise her. She did this twenty more times, twenty more praises. I now can advertise "hand dropped raised chicks"

I sold some Black Copper Marans to a lady who answered my add. She came an promptly paid me full price for my chicks. She mentioned she had a flock of 2011 Lakenvelders that she would like to sell. I really wanted to, but money is tight right now and she wanted a fair price for fifteen birds. Let's say the same price as the grocery bill for a family of five. I told her I would spread the word for her. Meanwhile, I stewed on the fact of getting these rare chickens here, 2011 models, a full flock, gorgeous, with two beautiful roosters. I told her if I sold a rabbit or two, I might be able to buy half her flock. I really wanted them.

After a while, I got a message from a breeder in Arkansas. He wanted a particular rabbit. No, he wanted more. and could I send him a list of what was available. Let's just say he was thrilled at the list, and took off driving that Friday night. Not too long after I got off the phone with him. He was impressed by my English Angoras. The wool density, the body type, and the face and ear set. We agreed on a price, he left shortly after, driving all night and meeting me at 1 pm on Saturday.

I couldn't be happier. My babies were going to a climate controlled rabbitry. Heated, air conditioned, and there is even internet access. he came ready with carriers, drinking cups and we chatted and I said good-bye to my babies, one at a time. I was so happy they were to be with him and his partner. I saw the love at first site, as I handed over my black tort. It is always a joyful moment when people see their rabbit for the first time. No matter how old, male or female, there is the moment of "Oh. Oh, Wow!" It is like all the love I put into them gets sent back out three fold. I whispered a good-bye, love you, have a wonderful life to each, exchanged papers, and off they went.

I just took a big breath when I finished the last paragraph. The kind of breath that when you pull the air in, then out again, it feels like it is feeding your soul, as well as your body. I miss them, I am happy for them, It all feels right. It reminds me that I am on the right path, which helps me body mind and spirit. I love those breaths. I have taken many this week.

So of course I immediately called the lady with the Lakenvelders and said I would buy her whole flock. We set it up for Sunday morning. I asked if that was ok, if I she would be at church, and no, she would not be at church. I secretly liked her already. Everybody goes to church here, except me, oddball me, black sheep me.

I soon get a messaged from my friend again, the friend with the rabbit I have, and first Mom to Izzie, my dog. It seems she bought a baby lamb, but after bringing it home, realized that, she, being pregnant, should not be caring for a baby lamb. I guess they can have the same nasty things that are found in kitty litter, and a couple of other things dangerous to a pregnant woman. She asked if I wanted him. How in the world do I say no to that?

black sheep

How to Read Signs and Omens in Everyday Life Great book.

His name is Charlie, because as Sophia let him suck on her fingers, she started quoting this little video. The name stuck. So we do out best to do an English accent when we talk to Charlie.

I am told Charlie is a baby Sulfolk. He is a bottle baby, 10 days old. His mother died, then his twin sister died. Charlie is an orphan. He is so sweet. Follows us around and waked me up to be fed in the middle of the night. Yes, he is in the house. :-) He is a baby!

So, it was time to study, very quickly about lamb care.

Next up, was the trip to the lady with the chickens. She lives an hour or so from me, on wonderful mountain roads, along streams, then rivers, then up to her farm A big farm. I liked her instantly. She has blue-kote splattered on her plaid coat. I was wearing almost the same coat, complete with the blue coat spatters.

She had a wonderful set up. I mean the deluxe coop townhouse set up. We went coop to coop. I ooh-ed and ah-ed. I was just like those little girls who came to my farm, but not as loud. And we talked. She is a small lady, pretty, even in her farm clothes, about 9 years older than me.We were instant friends. Her husband holds a government position. She is ex CIA, and a Bail Bond-Woman. No kidding. We talked about how difficult teens are to raise, we talked chickens and she gave me a good drink recipe. We talked about our kids, and her grandkids, and we talked about our love for the lives we have chosen.

Oh and her chickens. She had a heated building for the brooders, then some freestanding coops, the lovely townhouse coop with all the bells and whistles. She talked to her hens, and so did I. Rusty went and pet her dogs while we traveled to yet another coop. I could have talked to her all day, but it was cold, and spitting snow.

We loaded up the 15 Lakenvelders, then 3 light Brahmas, 19 hatching eggs, one Silkie chick and five Lakenvelder chicks, did the math, and exchanged the paper. Then we made a deal for me to bring my BC Maran Rooster Woodpile, to service her BC Maran hens, and I would get some eggs from them, or something else. We will meet again.

the new flock on the block
the lakenvelders

I just got done giving Charlie his bottle. I will need help from my British friends for new phrases or words I can use when talking to Charlie at three in the morning.

I can't wait until daylight to go see my new flock and see if they have left me any Spring gifts.

Life is good. I can say I am recovered. Beyond that. I am stronger and wiser. I am a chicken lady, but not a lady who is chicken. I jumped back in, after licking my wounds, I am so glad I did. A reminder to never give up. If I do, I will miss all of the good stuff, just waiting for me.

Big breath. Want to take one with me and let all the life in? It is going to be OK. Promise.

~crow

I went to visit my bloggy friend Eden and felt like some sychronicty was happening so I came back and joined in to be a part of: Eden's:

look ma! no hands

 A snow storm came on thundering in on Sunday. We lost power here at the farm about 6.00pm. Trees and power lines were snapping all over West Virginia, and Virginia. I didn't know the extent, but I knew it was going to be a a rough clean-up. Power lines that travel through the mountains, through places there are no roads to access. I thought about the line workers, out there trying to fix the broken wires and blown transformers, while customers bitched and complained.

We decided we better go get some supplies. Yes, during the storm. Also, after the electricity went off. If it was up to me all this would be done before the storm, but Rusty has a sort of fearless style. This storm was no different than the hurricanes we faced in Florida. I like to feel prepared. Just some fuel, water and canned goods. Nothing crazy. Him, Oh, just some beer, perishables and doughnuts to last us through. If the inevitable happens, then we venture into the storm. Although this is exciting and filled with heart stopping action, driving on mountain roads that have not been plowed nor will see one, does make me white knuckle the door handle, and hold of my breath, as if that will help. Maybe it does. So off we went. Snow, wet heavy snow, falling down fast, while temperatures slowly dropped. Off we went to get my water, fuel and canned goods.

We ended up stopping a few times to see if people needed a tow. Most were ok. But at the Family Dollar store a woman was having a hard time getting her car out of the steep parking lot and onto the road. I got out and talked to her while Rusty and another guy tried to find a solid place to connect the chain to her car.

When the guys hollered to have her turn the wheel so the could connect the chain, she did so with her foot. The woman had no arms.

We chatted some more, until I wished her well, jumped back into the car, and we pulled her and her car up and onto the road. Stopping traffic. Success.

She was not afraid. This woman with no arms, got into her car and drove to the store, by herself in a bad storm, to pick up a few things.

I thought of my white knuckle grasp and of my fear. she had neither.

the river

out on a main road following a plow truck

I take photos between breath

we made it home, and drove up the hill to tuck in all the animals

home sweet home, in darkness

the next day, the sun is shining and the temperature warms up

it is so beautiful, even after the melt

sling was here... now a chicken holds his place

red, white and blue

home

nestled in

the uphill barn house

I let the ducks out to stretch their legs

they think about it for awhile

the geese love it

 

happiness

the turkeys seem unaffected

penguins

the four sebastopol geese

beautiful moon

big bear, the great pyrenees after a long night

juney, the puppy

Izzy, inside the barn house, resting. good girl

inside, snug as a bug we have an american chinchilla rabbit family

The power came back on this afternoon, Tuesday. I was collecting water from rain buckets and I saw a light turn on.

All is well. But it feels weird with all this noise and light. I guess you get used to what has been taken from you. It becomes normal. You adapt.

Just like the armless lady who drives in snow storms.

~crow