Morning Gifts
The sun has returned and the out doors has again been calling me! This particular morning, like most, I embarked on my morning chores, letting the chickens out and feeding and watering to begin the day. Lucy, the llama, and about 13 teenagers reside in one pasture. Until they have lambs the first time they remain a bit skiddish around humans...even John and me. We don't breed our girls until they're at least a year old...it's a matter of physical development to me. They know the routine though. They are always watchful but they step right into the daily morning routine.
Then I move on to the BIG girls, and they are BIG! They all have lambs by their side and they are pushy! I cannot out smart them and they do not listen to reason. Believe me, I try! Guess they have alot on their mind raising the youngsters. They know breakfast noshing is in the very near future. Although they recognize my arrival is the first sign of breakfast they clearly think being on top of me will guarantee more, better....I don't know? They each have their own personalities. I have a time naming all the sheep...I cannot just give them a name, it has been very important to me to watch for their personalities, so, these gals really do live up to their names! Don't tell my mother though who just happens to have a ewe with her name! I won't go into too much detail here. Naming deserves a whole post!
The main reason I am blogging today is a sighting here on the farm...we have a 2 acre pond that we've been told is one of the healthier ponds around.
We don't manicure the perimeter of the pond and from what we're told that is one of the reasons it is so healthy. Many ponds are experiencing algae growth out of control brought in by the increasing Canadian geese population. We have been told fowl will avoid areas when their safety is challenged by over growth; they can't see an approaching predator. It seemed a little contradictory to me that wildlife preferred manicured areas. Maybe those geese have been populating too many golf courses and roadsides? Maybe those geese have gotten a bit too citified and have forgotten the ways of nature?
So yes, I am very glad we have a healthy pond but I am often disappointed that we don't have more birds. Well, this morning, much to my surprise... a female Mallard left the side brush to paddle to safety...away from me and off to the middle of the pond and I caught this....
Then I move on to the BIG girls, and they are BIG! They all have lambs by their side and they are pushy! I cannot out smart them and they do not listen to reason. Believe me, I try! Guess they have alot on their mind raising the youngsters. They know breakfast noshing is in the very near future. Although they recognize my arrival is the first sign of breakfast they clearly think being on top of me will guarantee more, better....I don't know? They each have their own personalities. I have a time naming all the sheep...I cannot just give them a name, it has been very important to me to watch for their personalities, so, these gals really do live up to their names! Don't tell my mother though who just happens to have a ewe with her name! I won't go into too much detail here. Naming deserves a whole post!
The main reason I am blogging today is a sighting here on the farm...we have a 2 acre pond that we've been told is one of the healthier ponds around.
We don't manicure the perimeter of the pond and from what we're told that is one of the reasons it is so healthy. Many ponds are experiencing algae growth out of control brought in by the increasing Canadian geese population. We have been told fowl will avoid areas when their safety is challenged by over growth; they can't see an approaching predator. It seemed a little contradictory to me that wildlife preferred manicured areas. Maybe those geese have been populating too many golf courses and roadsides? Maybe those geese have gotten a bit too citified and have forgotten the ways of nature?
So yes, I am very glad we have a healthy pond but I am often disappointed that we don't have more birds. Well, this morning, much to my surprise... a female Mallard left the side brush to paddle to safety...away from me and off to the middle of the pond and I caught this....
Nature, ahhh! The gifts she has to give....
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September 2024
- Sep 10, 2024 Back to basics with sheep healthcare Sep 10, 2024
- Sep 10, 2024 Mac and Cheese Bites Sep 10, 2024
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August 2024
- Aug 12, 2024 Tales of a female farmer Aug 12, 2024
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July 2024
- Jul 12, 2024 Caring for sheep hides Jul 12, 2024
- Jul 11, 2024 Cucumber Lemonade Jul 11, 2024
- Jul 1, 2024 Cucumber Gazpacho Jul 1, 2024
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May 2024
- May 23, 2024 Almonds, Sweet and Spicy May 23, 2024
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January 2024
- Jan 17, 2024 Sheep fencing gone wrong… Jan 17, 2024
- Jan 17, 2024 In the beginning :Tales from the shepherd Jan 17, 2024
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April 2023
- Apr 3, 2023 The journey to vegetarian, or not? Apr 3, 2023
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March 2023
- Mar 20, 2023 Making sense of scents, or not... Mar 20, 2023
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February 2023
- Feb 26, 2023 Lamb Sliders Feb 26, 2023
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March 2022
- Mar 15, 2022 HOW TO BE THE BEST SHEPHERD: Lessons from a sheep Mar 15, 2022
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January 2022
- Jan 17, 2022 Lamb Bone Broth /Stock Jan 17, 2022
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April 2021
- Apr 26, 2021 Farming through Covid Apr 26, 2021
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June 2020
- Jun 19, 2020 Turning 60 Jun 19, 2020
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January 2020
- Jan 12, 2020 wool dryer ball transparency Jan 12, 2020
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September 2019
- Sep 10, 2019 It's hard not to project Sep 10, 2019
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June 2019
- Jun 21, 2019 Weaning, a whole new meaning Jun 21, 2019
- Jun 17, 2019 Strawberry Balsamic Basil Pops Jun 17, 2019
- Jun 10, 2019 Collard Salad Jun 10, 2019
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February 2019
- Feb 28, 2019 Shearing Day was not a washout! Feb 28, 2019
- Feb 5, 2019 The life of a sheep! Feb 5, 2019
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January 2019
- Jan 25, 2019 Lamb Liver Paté Jan 25, 2019
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August 2018
- Aug 23, 2018 Pokeweed, Friend or Foe? Aug 23, 2018
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July 2018
- Jul 20, 2018 Cucumbers Galore Jul 20, 2018
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September 2016
- Sep 5, 2016 Mother Nature's Lessons Sep 5, 2016
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August 2016
- Aug 23, 2016 Walking the Walk Aug 23, 2016
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July 2015
- Jul 2, 2015 To Wean or not to Wean Jul 2, 2015
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February 2015
- Feb 1, 2015 Sustainability & Our Precious Soil Feb 1, 2015
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July 2014
- Jul 24, 2014 Squash Lasagna Jul 24, 2014
- Jul 24, 2014 Squash Squares Jul 24, 2014
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June 2014
- Jun 2, 2014 Sustainability...What's it all about! Jun 2, 2014
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May 2014
- May 29, 2014 What I know now.... May 29, 2014
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April 2014
- Apr 4, 2014 Is the boss the farmer or the sheep? Apr 4, 2014
- Apr 3, 2014 Felted Chicks Apr 3, 2014
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January 2014
- Jan 28, 2014 Lamb Ribs Jan 28, 2014
- Jan 26, 2014 DIY Wool Dryer Balls Jan 26, 2014
- Jan 15, 2014 Let the New Year Begin Jan 15, 2014
- Jan 13, 2014 DIY Heat Jan 13, 2014
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October 2013
- Oct 30, 2013 WHOLEsome Food: EGGS Oct 30, 2013
- Oct 7, 2013 Cinnamon Pickles Oct 7, 2013
- Oct 7, 2013 Dog Biscuits Oct 7, 2013
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September 2013
- Sep 18, 2013 Peaches, Peaches everywhere Sep 18, 2013
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August 2013
- Aug 14, 2013 The Spider and the Butterfly Aug 14, 2013
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July 2013
- Jul 30, 2013 They don't wear galoshes Jul 30, 2013
- Jul 21, 2013 Blackberry Lime Jam Jul 21, 2013
- Jul 11, 2013 Lamb Sliders Jul 11, 2013
- Jul 9, 2013 Our Little Orchard Jul 9, 2013
- Jul 2, 2013 The Hay Bale Fiasco Jul 2, 2013
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May 2013
- May 17, 2013 My Secret Place May 17, 2013
- May 2, 2013 April. Did I miss it? May 2, 2013
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March 2013
- Mar 28, 2013 Prada to Carhart Mar 28, 2013
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February 2013
- Feb 21, 2013 Puttin Up the Fence Feb 21, 2013
- Feb 7, 2013 Lovely Cup of Chai Feb 7, 2013
- Feb 5, 2013 Looking for Llama's Feb 5, 2013
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January 2013
- Jan 29, 2013 Winter Garden Jan 29, 2013
- Jan 24, 2013 The rams are back in their pasture Jan 24, 2013
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September 2012
- Sep 7, 2012 Pickles! Sep 7, 2012
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June 2012
- Jun 13, 2012 Morning Gifts Jun 13, 2012
- Jun 5, 2012 Finding the Words Jun 5, 2012
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April 2012
- Apr 13, 2012 The girls and a few token boys! Apr 13, 2012
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March 2012
- Mar 30, 2012 Flavor! Mar 30, 2012
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October 2011
- Oct 9, 2011 Hay. A little three letter word that packs a PUNCH! Oct 9, 2011
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July 2011
- Jul 22, 2011 The Glorious Tomato Jul 22, 2011
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February 2011
- Feb 10, 2011 Shearing Day 2011 Feb 10, 2011
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November 2010
- Nov 30, 2010 This farm gives me Goose Bumps Nov 30, 2010
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July 2010
- Jul 23, 2010 Another aHaa Moment in Farming Jul 23, 2010
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February 2010
- Feb 24, 2010 Farmers Wearing Lace? Feb 24, 2010
- Feb 16, 2010 Girls with no Coats Feb 16, 2010
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January 2010
- Jan 4, 2010 Midnite on the farm Jan 4, 2010
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April 2009
- Apr 22, 2009 Hard Day on the Farm Apr 22, 2009
- Apr 15, 2009 Lamb Meatballs Apr 15, 2009
- Apr 14, 2009 Spring Apr 14, 2009
- Apr 14, 2009 Roasted Coffee Marinated Leg of Lamb Apr 14, 2009
- Apr 13, 2009 In the Beginning Apr 13, 2009