Sunday December 18, 2011
The chickens know that daylight is at a premium right now and they cling to every last morsel of sunshine before they reluctantly come home to roost. What is most striking to me is the color of the light just before the sun sets - a true gift of nature!
Sunday November 06, 2011
One may think that I am lucky to live at Boulderwood, but I think I know someone just as lucky - my love dog, Burt!
Here he is drinking from the spring at our back door - could it get any better than that? When he's thirsty he asks to go outside for a drink - pretty darn cool!!
Sunday October 23, 2011
Of the things I have had to come to terms with regarding farming and animal husbandry that I hate the most are animal deaths and disappearances. This week produced a double whammy. I went out to open the chicken house and first stopped in the ice house shed to spread some chicken food and there lie a dead chicken. My heart sunk. It was one of my bantams with those cute feathered feet and cheerful demeanor's. I immediately got Jim to remove the body and couldn't watch! Then I opened the hen house and I noticed there was only one polish chicken. Jim investigated the crime scene and noticed a ton of white feathers. We deduced that the perpetrator killed 2 chickens but only could carry one. And we think we know who did it....a bob cat. Two days later, right by the spring, the bob cat sat ready to pounce but Jim and Burt were on the scene and chased off the killer. Bob cats are such gorgeous wild animals. It is difficult to be angry at such a beautiful animal that was doing what comes naturally. So, we will continue to let our chickens live a happy life free-ranging, eating bugs and grass and accept nature's will. Nevertheless, it doesn't mitigate the sadness I experience when it happens.
Here are the chickens this morning drinking from the spring. Could I ever deny them such a luxury by keeping them caged?
Sunday October 02, 2011
I always wondered if any of the eggs that the turtles lay in the sandy part of driveways and roads, in June, ever hatch. And this week, I got my answer....
Jim picked her up and deposited her in the swamp - saved her a long, dangerous journey!
Sunday September 25, 2011
One can understand how these chickens lay the best eggs around!!
Sunday August 28, 2011
Walked down in the cellar, and there was this snake in the window well. Looks like he caught lunch.
