Missing Willow Farm

Chickens usually take a break over the Winter from laying eggs.  They slow down as the days grow shorter.  Last year we had only one hen continue to lay through the cold months.  I actually had to purchase a half dozen eggs for baking last year.  This year, not so much.  That’s Cranberry’s giant green egg (go Cranberry!).  I’ve got goat cheese in the fridge and spinach in the greenhouse.  Think I’ll make omelets for breakfast.

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I was hanging out with the sheep this morning, trying to get them to pose for me in their winter wool coats.  Milos decided he needed to be part of  the fashion show, parked himself right between me and Beatrice.  He’s such a camera hog. Yes your coat is beautiful too, Milos.  Even if it’s a bit slobbery.

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Jenna had her stitches out last night and her vet gave her the go ahead for full activity.  We’ve been walking her out to our mailbox and back, about a mile round trip, and she’s been carrying her wubba hoping someone will throw it for her.  This morning someone did.  She also had an opportunity to help gather up the sheep for their morning feeding.  The other night she got out of her kennel at around 3AM, pooped on the dining room rug, ate the cat’s food, dumped over the trash in the kitchen then came to our door to let us know what all she did.  Girls’ feeling pretty good!  Speaking of…so am I.  A mere three months after my accident the only thing that’s still bothering me is kicking (either leg).  Good thing there are no mean roosters around!

December’s block is a Martha Washington star.  I’m proud to say I turned in every month’s block on time so got all 12 for just $5, so yay for meeting that goal.  Now my 2012 project is to turn these blocks into a quilt!  That will cost considerably more than $5.

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When the pond starts shimmering, we know something’s up.  Small ripples usually mean ducks.  Major activity on the surface means there’s major activity under the surface.  Today it’s otters(!)  They’re cute and all but guess what they eat?  Fish.  Dang it.  Unlike beavers who are categorized as nuisance animals, otters are protected.  We’re going to have to scare them off of our pond.  It will probably be tough, they’ve moved into that empty beaver den…

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The first month we had Jessica, she hid in a stand of trees on the far side of the pasture.  We had to bring her gallons of water every day and eventually were able to convince her to eat sweet feed from a bucket.  Now, if she’s not waiting by the gate in the morning for her breakfast, she comes running when she sees her bucket.  It’s a little unsettling having something that large run at you.  I’m used to being charged by bottlefed lambs, not cows!

Filling the hay ring with hay has kept our cow Jessica from getting inside again.  It hasn’t, however, stopped the goats.  Don’t they have guilty looks on their little faces?   The sheep are saying ‘move your fat ass, Hermione’.

Christmas this year for my parents and daughters included a Cafepress calendar made from Missing Willow Farm photos, one per month.  Come on…aren’t they awesome?  They arrived in plenty of time to assure they make it to their destinations by Christmas, and they did.  Unfortunately, Cafepress sent this year’s photos with last year’s calendar.  Epic fail!  I’ve received replacements and will get them in the mail asap.

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Hatched just six weeks ago, our Buckeye chickens are finally big enough to join our other chickens.  They had been hanging out in a chicken tractor in the big barn.  Our little barn is divided in half; storage on the left, Chicken Land on the right.  Our layers weren’t very happy about the invasion.  They make a huge fuss, taunting the interlopers, then in about a week everyone will be one big happy flock.  The biggest bully is our tiny bantam chicken, Nugget.  She can’t weigh a pound yet was in everyone’s face showing them who’s the boss.  The pecking order in our barn puts the tiny one with the big attitude on top.

Claire’s home, the gate’s locked, there are cinnamon rolls in the oven and red rooster (cranberry orange vodka slushies) in the freezer.  Merry Christmas from Bindi, Jenna, Milos, FiFi, Jessica, Hermione and the goats, Beatrice and the sheep, Nugget and the chickens, Brian and me!