Knocked down, stood up, knocked down, bloody and bawling

Hey friends, I haven't had any time to blog and miss you all ~ especially today. 

Life on a farm is always full of hard work and often emotional but I'm usually able to take a few sobs followed by deep breathes and continue on. 

Most mornings, no matter what's happened the day before,  I try to start with a fresh outlook. 

I pour my coffee and go let out my hens so that we can do chores and enjoy the gardens together.

One of my favorite views. 

In fact, I've been meaning to do a special post about the circle of life and the comings n goings on our farm.  

We've lost some extra special horses and goats. And been joined by cute new ones.

They will have to work hard to challenge past titles of extra special tho!

My most favorite pony will soon get his own post. RIP Neil Diamond.

Bert died shortly before the  new kids were born.

Meet Max n Ruby. Our New Kids on the Bale.

My mother lost her beloved old German Shepard and my brother got an adorable Boxer.

Ike was a Katrina rescue and so appreciative to have a family.

I've had an occasional hen plucked by a fox and bought or hatched new ones...

This (now dead) pullet hatched guinea keets after a fox took their mama from the nest.

But senseless carnage and massacre is hard to swallow.

TWICE.

You guessed it. A demon raccoon.

It's been a personal thing for this monster.

First the cat food on the porch.

I locked it up.

Then it DESTROYED my porch and dumped n dug all my flowers

leaving poop on my grill in case I didn't get the message.

Two nights ago it broke into my coop.

A nightmare of carnage so bad I could not even believe my eyes.

I was in shock.

Clearly this was just a sport to the creature.

Hens without heads or guts but their eggs still there.

I can handle a fox feeding cubs.

I.can.not.handle.a.coon.killing.for.fun.

I toughed it out (it was after a grueling day before on the farm)

Romeo was driven down by my BFF in MI

I mourned and cleaned the coop and doctored the dear sweet Romeo Rooster who had fought hard and lost but not quite died.

I celebrated the hens who'd been nesting elsewhere.

And my beautiful young pullets just bought last weekend and isolated. 

I acted tough n told clients n family that it's just an ugly part of nature.

I reinforced the coop (which was pretty darn secure already!) and set a trap with marshmallows.

I sweet talked poor Romeo and tucked him and the others in with a promise they need not worry.

I lied.

The *&%$#! beast broke in and killed them ALL, even the pullets somehow!!!!

Worse. 

Poor Romeo is not quite dead. But nearly. And no one but me is here to deal with it.

The marshmallows are gone and trap was sprung.

The Farmer thinks its a huge raccoon.

I can not cope. 

The Farmer is gone getting tractor parts.

Kids are at the beach with his mom.

I am alone with my blog to grieve and condemn. 

And whine that farm life in this economy of no help and no vacations is just too much for me somedays.

My poor poor birds.

I let them down.

I am devastated.

Ironically sweet Henny Penny is alive because she lives in a rabbit hutch and free ranges due to constant attacks from the other hens.

She is four years old.

She still lays eggs.

Been found near dead too many times.

Eaten yogurt, blueberries n scrambled eggs, been filled with triple antibiotic and recovered.

Yes, she and my floor both look gross. That's part of farm life too.

I might just have to become the crazy chicken lady and let her live in the house.

Permanently.

The thought of her head being ripped off after all she's been through will sign my note for the mental ward.

I've had one foot in the door there lately anyway.

My fight feels gone.

I wanna live in a condo and work at Walmart.

Really.

But since I can't I stole this from the always inspirational Coop Keeper.

(As I searched her early blog I fell in love with her all over again. The blue chair, the blue pool, the chicken whispering and garden tour lust... We must be kin. Too bad she got the looks and the talent!)

Thank the Lord I can still laugh while I cry.

I pray that soon I can sing a similar song and show a dead coon.

Jayme sings like she does everything ~ bravely! Go watch here.

Lock up your girls and get your guns.

This is war. 

Loved you ladies. Don't worry, I 'll get 'im!

blackmailing the male

It must be said;

My kids play very well together.

And not so well.

I can't decide which situation this was.

Sarah n Jack were quietly playing dress up in her room.

I'm never sure what to expect when they come down...

Some days he chooses to be a fireman

or a cowboy...

 Maybe a duck or even, lordy,

 french fries (a premade costume someone gave us)!

Some days he plays Mary to her Laura Ingalls.

Lately even baby Carrie.

He's a really good sport

(or desperate for more friends/neighbors?)

Today he was a flower fairy with her.

he danced

and skipped

and twirled.

Then his ride came and it was time to go to work. 

Going just 'round the corner to make hay.

Talk about not being caught with dirty undies...

Please dear Farmer, drive very carefully lest I have to explain this to the paramedics!

Or a prom date later when his big sister chooses to blackmail him.

ps- Even Chase enjoys dress up!

Hope your week is magical!

(and not hurricaned!)

Goat Camp

Meet "Chase!"

A 2 yo  LaMancha goat registered as "Joppa's Friendship Chase."

Yes that breed has no ears.

Yes, it takes some getting used to.

But now I think of her a lot like E.T.

And last week I could well imagine her saying "Chase phone home?"

Our generous friends VOLUNTEERED to take Chase to their farm to keep her milked while we were gone. They have velvety Jersey cows and don't quite "get" milking for fun. But they also have a gorgeous daughter who loves Chase. (That farm girl is also a ballerina/pony rider who loves high fashion and wears it everywhere. I know she'll be National Dairy Princess one year!)

So Chase went to camp while we went on vacation.

It was very hard to walk away from her sweet face and calls.

But I knew she was in expert, loving hands.

And had adorable new friends n neighbors.

I told you Bert n Wilma would be our test goats...

WE LOVE GOATS!

Especially milk goats!

Chase came from a super nice lady who was finding her a quieter life after Chase had recovered from parasites that left her spine damaged.

Chase is fine but walks with a little limp.

Only a real problem in the show ring. I understand that Chase did very well showing prior to this episode. 

Sad for the breeders, a BIG blessing for us!

We're very happy to have her back home.
 But it did take two to push n pull her away from camp...

Where she just might have converted a hardened cow girl to try goats...

And I know she left behind many new friends

Joining Amy and friends over at her homestead blog hop!

and also at the lovely Dandelion House

Also linking to Barn Charm

Alliteration

Bert eats broccoli for breakfast!

(oh well, at least my kids thought this was hilarious)

Keepin' it real

Just in case you didn't get enough of my whining at the end of the horse show...
This is what I came in to find after I'd put the ponies to bed and needed to start dinner!
Scuze the pics, I think I was shaking as I grabbed the camera in disbelief.

The 2 legged kids had been responsible (ya, dumb to even think, I know) for walking Wilma n Bert while I did barn chores.

Good thing they had their blow-up "Super Striker" mallets that they won at the fair!
Take THAT Bert and get outta my house!!!!!

* Apparently the goats are even worse than my chickens bout finding an open door!

** Nobody ever asks me why I drink... ;-0

Walking with friends

Morning walks are a lot more fun lately...
There's a commotion on the farm as everyone gets used to our newest farm family members!
Lotsa bugged out eyes n snorts, squawks, growls n giggles!

Meet our goats ~ " Bert" a pet/companion wether Boer meat goat...

And "Wilma" an Alpine doe who we'll breed for a spring kid and milking!

They are a generous gift from my dear friend Chris, whose son raised them for 4-H and is now off to college.  I've been wanting goats for a looong time but have been nervous as I tend to go overboard n obsess, read too much and then get overwhelmed. Chris, who is newer to horses, says all the time "they're GOATS relax, they're EASY compared to horses!"

She's right - they were raised really well and are a joy to have around. They even come when they're called, follow us around, romp n play with the 2 legged kids! I've milked a friend's goats long ago as part of a farm sitting experience so we'll have to see if I can remember anything next spring. I'm excited to try making yogurt, cheese n soap!

These are my "test" goats... If they and we survive, I bet I'll get more soon!

The kids already have dreams of this for poor Bert!

Please bear with me - I can't get to any of my draft/saved posts on Blogger due to some major bug in my Mac's iphoto program! I have a ton of cute pictures I've been wanting to post... I'll need to get down to the Apple store but that'll take a whole day - which I just can't spare right now. grrr Macs are NOT perfect!