Latest arrival

When I came home from work today there were two new calves in the pasture. This little girl is one of the new arrivals. The other one's mother would not let me get a picture of him. Of all the babies born this year, this is only the second female.

As of now we have had:

• 4 calves - 2 male, 2 female
• 1 kid goat - male
• 2 lambs - both males

There are still at least one goat and sheep, and a few cows that have not had their babies yet, so maybe we will get a few more females.

What do they think about?

Have you ever wondered what hens think about while they are sitting on their nests in the morning?
I know that is probably one of the strangest questions in the history of questions... but seriously, they must have some thoughts going through their little brains, don't they?
Okay, now that I've proved I am one of the weirdest people you have ever met, I'm off to work.

The Perfect Ending

I can't even begin to tell you how happy I was today to be able to take my shoes off and walk around barefoot .... outside!
After making breakfast for the boys and checking on Seldom Seen's newest arrivals, the twin lambs that were born late night, I started cleaning out the front ditch. It is so amazing how much "stuff" gets caught in that ditch during the winter months. I got it pretty cleaned out... like I said it is amazing what I found.... leaves, sticks, gravel that the snow plow pushed overboard, and even two of the dog's toys that we have been looking for since the first snowfall. After rescuing the big bird squeaky toy and "the woolly thing", returning them to their rightful owners I went to see what the boys were up to. I was starting to wonder if the three of them were up to no good, since the whole time I was cleaning the ditch I had not heard one thing from them. They were too quiet to be doing something that they were supposed to be doing... or was I just paranoid?
As I walked around the corner of the house I was amazed to see that the two little ones were contently playing in the sandbox and their father was finishing up the project that he had started a few months ago... fixing the rusted out wheel wells on the pickup truck. I stood there for a few minutes just watching this peaceful picture take shape... yes I was in shock... they weren't into mischief after all. And they didn't even know I was there until Dawson barked his "hello" and came trotting over to me. It seems as though we had all been so involved in our own little chores that we forgot the others were even there.... it is so nice when spring gets here and we can break the confines of the house... the winter keeps us so cooped up that we sometimes forget to appreciate the fact that we have each other, and the fresh air and space of the outdoors is such refreshing change. After SO's project was done we sat on the bench in front of the milk house and talked... okay, I talked, he listened. I was telling him stories of the old man that used to own this farm and also stories about me family and childhood... I grew up across the road from this farm so it has always been home.... and this bench has always been there for as long as I can remember... I've always thought of it as our "thinking chair".

Coffee anyone?

Do any of you have a favorite coffee mug? This is one of mine. Yes, I said "one of" I have several "favorite" coffee mugs. This one came from Home & Garden Party Ltd.

As I am sitting here drinking my coffee I am going over the long list of things that I should try to get done today, since I don't have to go to work and I didn't do anything around the house yesterday. I have a mound of towels in the bathroom that is waiting for someone to put it in the washing machine. I started laundry at 4:30 a.m. this morning, right after S.O. left for work, but didn't get too far. I think S.O.'s work pants are still in the washer, so I better go put them in the dryer, and get the towels into the washer. Another thing on my list to do today is cleaning the house, for some reason my house is so dusty, and I'm not sure why. When I first moved in I remember thinking that this house was not nearly as dusty as the house I grew up in. But maybe because back then I lived alone and had time to do a "really good" cleaning in each room at least once a week. It seems like now those weekly cleanings get pushed back to monthly.... I know that is scary, but true.

I have to think of something to make for dinner tonight. As of now, I have no idea what it will be. Any suggestions? I am so ready for spring and summer to get here so I can eat FRESH food out of the garden. I am so tired of frozen and/or canned foods. Speaking of food, I should go grocery shopping too, I think we are out of lunch meat for S.O. I could always make him egg salad or tuna salad sandwiches for tomorrow, and get groceries before I come home tomorrow after work, now that sounds like a plan that I like. Yes, I am a home body, I like to be here at home unless I have a really good reason for leaving.

Meet Abby and Dawson

I do believe these are two the most spoiled pets in McKean County, PA. Abby (the one sitting up)is my Mother's Aussie and Dawson (the one laying down) is mine. My parents live right across the road from me so Mom and Abby are here quite often. When I took this picture the dogs were waiting for me to milk the goat so they could have some of the milk.
We got Abby when she was six weeks old, but we have only had Dawson for a few years, I rescued him from the Cattaraugus County SPCA. I have no way of knowing but I swear these two are related. I think that is one thing that first drew me to Dawson when I met him. They seem to be the same breed, just different colors and a lot of their mannerisms are the same, even before the two ever met. What is really interesting is that we bought Abby from a family from the same town that Dawson was picked up as a stray. Hhhmmmm!! See why I really wonder about these two. They also seem to be about the same age.

Once again I've found my way back

I've been gone a long time, but I have not forgotten you. Actually I've been over at "Seldom Seen" http://seldomseenacres.tblog.com posting, so if you want to know what has been happening in my life for the past year go over there and have a look. But, make sure you come back over here because I think this is where I'll be from now on. I like the format of Blogger better then tBlog... sorry tBlog.