"The sky is falling" said chicken little

When I go into the chicken coop to collect the eggs it is a tradition that I thank the girls for their graceous contribution, count the eggs and then the girls. Then when I give them their dinner I count the girls and say goodnight. One, two, three,.....nine and wait a second - one, two, three,....eight,nine - where is TEN???? Oh My God ! I ran out of the coop and started calling. I know she must just be slow to come to dinner.. What do you mean - they are never slow in coming........

After calling for what seemed like forever - I started walking the pastures looking for feathers and God forbid a part of her body. With every step, in every pasture I walked with tears welling up in my eyes. I played over and over what could have happened to her and my heart sank lower. I understand to most she is just a chicken but not to me. I even combed my forest and not a single feather. All I could think of is one of the large predatory birds must have snatched her. When I arrived back at the coop I explained to the girls that I could not find her. I sat silent for a time craddling a few of the girls till they went to roost. I closed up the chicken coop and said a silent prayer. I know it is the circle of life but I still get upset.

Monday morning when I went out to open the chicken coop here came running from the tall grass my sweet little hen. She ran into my leg because she was so happy and excited she was to see me. I picked her up and could not stop hugging her. When I opened the doors and placed her inside all the girls ran up to greet her. This morning was a GREAT and I mean GREAT day...

Look at how the babies have grown !

It is very hard to ever get a picture of the kids because the moment they see me they run full force towards me for hugs, kisses and sometimes a homemade treat. I had to take this from my kitchen window with the zoom on. The kids are almost the same size as their mommies now and what FLEECE... Sheen, Length, Soft Handle - I am so exicted that I just can not keep my handles off them. They love hearing me fawn all over them and smile when I run my fingers up and down the bodies. It is like a drug to me but also this is my passion - healthy, happy and well loved animals. It is great to be me - I have such a blessed life.

Mishka is guarding the hay bales - Such a Gal

Everyone at the Funny Farm finds new skills and challenges but Mishka has picked the role of "Queen" to be her major title. The moment she saw the one of the llama girls had stopped mowing the lawn and was moving in on the tarped goodies she ran with lightening speed and placed herself on the tarp. With a grin from ear to ear she would not move. Even when the nibbling lips reached right under her to grab a few strands of leafy goodness. Although Mishka is the smallest four legged on the farm she wheels a great amount of power because everyone knows she is My Baby and nobody cross Two Legged Mommy. Mishka does abuse her power as so often happens when it all goes to your head - but she also uses her power for good.... saving the goodies under the tarp.

This is how we mow the lawn

There is nothing better then enjoying my breakfast on the back deck while someone else is doing the work!

This morning the Llama girls are hard at work mowing the lawn for me. I have never thought it was a good idea to have those noisey machines destorying the peace and quite I so love on my farm. It also blows my mind that folks wish to spend their limited time cutting what nature so proudly give us - growning grass. I love seeing the wind blow in the tall native grass. To some it is a thing to control, poison and over feed but I wish to enjoy what is given. Each day someone here at the farm is let out to nibble away. Now I admit, I am not happy when their attentions turn to my Pine trees or Lilac bushes (which have only had a chance to bloom 3 years out of our 12)but even then I so enjoy the process. I am also concerned why folks still are planting Kentucky Blue Grass on their McManson lots when we have been in a drought for six years now? Has everyone ingested too much of the fertilizers they lay down every year or inhaled too many gas fumes from the machines they use to run over their land. For me I live in the tall grass with the munching mowers I call my "Furry Family Members" and enjoy the peace and quite. On a side note - my lawmowers give great kisses and put themselves up when they are done - does yours?

Clem - Get off the Sheep

You would think this cat has been working as hard as I but you would be WRONG ! Ever since Mishka has been living with the other goats - Clem has decided to adopt the Icelandic Sheep Hides in the house as his own. I have several prized hides I brought back from Iceland when we first started the farm and I admit it, I love to sit with my face in them or just pet them while reading. Strange to some but that is just me..... Well, Clem now thinks he can put his cat butt on them and it will be O.K. with me - WRONG !!! He waits till I leave the house to do chores and on the hides he goes, the nerve of some folks......

I know he would never admit it but I think he misses Mishka. I guess any furry body will do for Clem.

Babies are all over the place

I know it is a little bit hard to see but with these wonderful does are four sweet little babies. The mothers kept walking and eating right outside my front door and the babies where laying in the tall grass. I could not seem to get a picture that would turn out of the babies and I did not wish to get to close for the little ones where sleeping and we all need a good nap.

On the front deck was three little ground chipmucks chasing each other but they move so fast my camera just could not keep up. Their running, rolling and chattering sounded like a herd of elephants where on the deck but just these three kids having fun.

When I go outside all my problems just melt away - I remember to live today and stop living in the "WHAT IF" and live in the "NOW".....

Springtime in Colorado

As the saying goes "Don't like the weather in Colorado just wait ten mintues"
Yesturday was 78 degrees and today I already have three inches of snow and it is barely 34 degrees. I LOVE it - we so need the moisture......

There is a down side - that cute little energy creature (Mishka)is stuck in the house and running me ragged. Unlike my two legged kids when they were little - I would bundle them up and out the door they went to play. Even now there favorite time is SNOW, SNOW and more SNOW..... I put Mishka out with the goats this morning when I fed everyone and before I could get in the house there she was standing in the driveway - wet, shrivering and screaming. Yes, in the house she came, blow dried her off and after a warm bottle, naptime. Wished I had a snow suit for her. Just another fun day at the Funny Farm. Stay warm and check in later.