I love waking up to an outside world with moisture in the air. Tiny water droplets surround me and create a warm blanket to walk through as I engage in my morning ritual. All I can think is, my lettuce is going to love this! The ground has a small layer of moisture preparing itself for the hopes of rain. I breath this sense of calmness before I release the Kracken, I mean fowl. The ducks are already making it quite known that they are ready to come out and face the day. The male mallard runs straight for the pond diving underneath and dabbling for whatever he may find.
The chickens all line up at the watering trough pushing for who gets to be in line first somewhat reminiscent of my 2nd graders. I exit lashing the gate so Ginger can not push her way through and eat all the chicken feed. As I approach "the ladies" Ginger and Butters are side by side standing on their hind legs waiting "patiently" for breakfast. As I feed the ladies Milo, the marmalade cat, jumps up the fence and starts to saunter toward the goat shack. Then he and Marigold deadlock eyes each curious about who the other who shares their color of fur. I can see their heads racing trying to figure out the familial connection. As I exit the goat paddock I think of all I need to get done out here before work, but then I take in a deep breath of heavy warm air and am thankful for the work. Peace.
This has been the week of the long afternoon sun. After cool mornings breaking ice from the animals ponds the sunlight creeps in in the late afternoon. Long, sweeping rays of warmth that we all bask in. Chicken, goat, or human we all enjoy the gift of the sun. I lay down and take a break with my goaty girls for they have given me a gift. A reason to sit down and take a break. I breath in the farmy smell of their fur and imagine this is what goathearders have done for hundreds of years. I trade off and spend time with each of my ladies. Butters goes first. She doesn't really want to let us know how much she enjoys affection and a good rumen rub, but she's getting better. Each day I scratch her a little more. After Buttercup I move onto Ginger and the chickens settle in next to Butters to soak in the rays. Ging is my girl. I can just cuddle up with her and relax. She sits there in the sunshine chewing on big wads of cud. As I give her a nice rumen rub she begins to nod off her head starts to slowly keel over. Now is time to win over the new girls. I join Marigold and Dahlia. Dahlia currently likes short sessions of rumen rubs and scratches, but most of all she just likes to smell and taste you. Getting right up to my nose Dahlia gives me a good whiff. I guess I smell okay because she then proceeds to try and nibble on my finger,
Milo basking in the sun
nose, or ear. After I insist that she not eat me Dahlia moves on and Marigold moves in. Marigold will sit on my lap and if I was obliging she would let me pet her all day long. The warm rays of the sun hit us as I untangle her long golden locks. I look at her and look forward to the time when I can milk her. She too, like Dahlia, likes to get in your face and give you a good sniff. Sometimes she too likes to give a little nibble. I look out at my herd and my flock. Everyone is taking a nap and enjoying the warmth of the rays. As I move to the other side of the house the dogs and cats are all outside too. Milo is soaking up those warm beams which match the color of his fur. Jasper lays out on the porch step letting his black fur work for him. As I lay in the hammock with Milo and Lukiss jumping on me I realize, be it fowl or ruminate or humanoid we can all appreciate these days and lazy afternoons.
I love waking up to an outside world with moisture in the air. Tiny water droplets surround me and create a warm blanket to walk through as I engage in my morning ritual. All I can think is, my lettuce is going to love this! The ground has a small layer of moisture preparing itself for the hopes of rain. I breath this sense of calmness before I release the Kracken, I mean fowl. The ducks are already making it quite known that they are ready to come out and face the day. The male mallard runs straight for the pond diving underneath and dabbling for whatever he may find.
