I put on my dancin’ shoes this morning… well, actually my sneakers…   

There is no rain.   

The sun is out.   

The ground has sufficiently soaked up the water.   

There is no mud!    

I’m back down to 5’3″ instead of the artificial 5’6″ from the build up of mud on the bottom of my boots.  The chickens’ eggs are cleaner, the dogs carry less dirt into the house.  Life is good. I got to play outside today.    

Bucket full of Fresh, Soy-Free Eggs

I moved the newer flock from the back field, up front to join the others today.  After the predator attacks these past several weeks, pitifully few remained. They seem to be getting along well with the older girls so far… a couple of spats, but nothing big time.  I hope they can figure out to use the field pens for the night.  Usually, it takes a few days for hens to bond to a new house.  But we didn’t have the luxury to do it right as I only have one day off to get them situated.    

I even “wasted” a few minutes sitting in the field conversing with them. In case you didn’t know, chickens talk a lot.   

The Chicken Path

Joyful Rooster with His Girls

Who's Your Daddy?

Almost left the lone rooster in the back to deal with his fate and the lurking killer.  But he looked so forlorn without his harem.  So, I went back to get him. Poor little guy was shaking and quivering, so unlike the obnoxious attack rooster he used to be.  Happy as a clam at high tide now that he’s with his girls (and quite a few new ones too!).   

Only 3 goats left to sell and I’ll be out of the goat raising business…. I was spreading myself too thin.  Better to find them a home elsewhere.   

Did some more mowing with my teeny-weeny lawn tractor (CAAA-CHOOOO! Whew, hope the bees like all this pollen.) and pulled most of the wild grass and weeds from the front roadside border.  My groundcover is beginning to spread and will hopefully keep the weeds at bay by next year. Already thinking of planting daffodils there as well this Fall.   

Played with the next idea for rabbit pens with the oft re-purposed 4×8 pen I have in the front field. And I bought a circular saw for increased building activities for the critters.   

Nothing spectacular today, no major long-term goals determined or reached, but it was a good day… productive, calming, soothing.   

"Well, I happen to think the bugs are better on THIS end of the field!"