Just a Matter of Time

I'm sure you've all been waiting for me to get some kind of animal to care for.  Yes, I need something to nurture.  So here are my ducks.  I can't name them all yet, because I don't know what sex they are, but the white pair is male and female Muscovys, and they are Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett.  Then I have a Khaki Campbell, a Black Swiss, and an Ancona.  I think I got the breeds right.  They are so funny and entertaining.  I want them for eating my slugs.  Have you seen the price of slug bait?  Holy Cow, it's ridiculous.

I was watching a movie with a friend the other night and we heard people just outside my window.  It was the neighbors, herding the ducks back home.  I guess they had decided to pay a visit.  They know where their enclosure is, so I was easily able to herd them back in and close them in for the night.   During the day, I let them out, and they pretty much stay in my garden.  They are also intrigued with the chickens on the other side of the fence.

Summer didn't arrive until July 4th, and since then it has been hot and humid.  My flowers are finally growing.  At the feed store the other day, they were giving away vege starts, so I got 4 more tomatoe plants, orange and yellow.  I like to make different colored sauces, so this will be fun.

My yard is looking beautiful.  It helps to have a lawn service, but I still have lots of weeding to do, and my garden in the back.

For those of you who missed this on facebook, here is my new swimming hole.  Ya gotta do what ya gotta do to cool down.  That is a 35 gallon watering trough.

I have been giving great thought to establishing an alpaca rescue operation.  I have heard that alpacas are selling at the Auction barn for $2 to make dog food.  I would be very selective about which alpacas I would take on.  In most cases, they go to auction because people do not know how to handle them.  I will determine if they can be trained, and then work with them.  When they are ready, I will re-home them.  However, the person or persons who takes them will have to go through a training class with me.

This is still in the groundbreaking stage, but I'm getting very enthusiastic about it.

Fourth of July, 2012

Summer finally arrived on the Fourth of July.  Above is the bouquet I had for the table outside for our 4th feast of roasted hot dogs, potatoe salad and smores.  Doesn't get much more American than that.

The red and white striped rose in the middle is named "Fourth of July"

One of the 1000 plus chickens got loose and showed up in my garden that morning.  Isn't she cute?  I never had chickens before.  They are so funny.  I now appreciate the title of the movie CHICKEN RUN.

The afternoon before, I had received a phone call from Melissa, shown above.  She was panicing over a cria delivery, so I walked her through it.  My friend Sheree, who was visiting from Tacoma, and I went over on the fourth to visit the new baby and her predecessors.  Here is Madrone, weighing in at 22 pounds.

She is a beauty.   Her fiber is stunning, and she has the longest legs!!!

This is Pippi Longstockings cria, Thunderbolt.  Unfortunately, he does not have her wonderfully friendly nature.  She still comes up to give me kisses when I visit.

Then we visited the baby goats who happily attacked us.  Rosie untied Sheree's shoes.

This one tried to take my blouse off!!!

I took Sheree and her son, Kyle to the local Mexican restaurant, Mexico Tipico.  This is Kyle's real expression when he saw his fajitas delivered.

My Expresso Burrito, which I can usually only eat half of.

And here is Sheree enjoying her Tortilla soup.

I've had alot of visitors this summer.  Next weekend it is my two neices, then a couple of girlfriends whom I worked with mmmmmmmmm, many years ago.  Let's just leave it at thatl.

To Visit the Alpacas

Yesterday was my Birthday, and I decided a trip to visit my former alpacas was in order.

This is Poppy, a four month old Jersey heifer.  She thinks she is an alpaca, and fits in just fine with the rest of the girls.

Terry found just the right spot to scratch, which she thought was mighty fine.  As she gets older, she is going to be a bit to deal with, as friendly as she is.  But she knows her place and minds when you use the right commands.

Here I get a reluctant hug from my Chico.  He is the one I bottle fed from the age of 5 weeks when his mom died.  We've always had a bond, but he doesn't like to appear to be a Mama's boy when the other boys are around.

Here are a few of the new girls that were just purchased on Saturday.  They will make a very nice addition to the breeding program.

And here is Phabian, the only baby born at my place this year.  He is shaping up nicely and should be a herdsire.

I did really well with my visit, and came away feeling very good, with no remorse.  Oh, you are going to love this.  A friend is going to give me a nice white male with excellent fiber so I will continue to have a fiber source.  Melissa and gang have agreed to take care of him for me.

Now, a total change of subject:  I had to show you these two gallon jars of peppers.  Terry has been soaking them in vinegar for three years, and they are now ready to be used in the hot sauce he makes.

And, off to another topic, here is my Christmas tree for this year.  I decided since I would be traveling back and forth between here and Seattle, I needed an artificial tree.  I'm very happy with this little thing.  You need small ornaments for small trees.