Sunday morning and everything is quiet and still. Yesterday, despite a forecast for late afternoon rain we had wall to wall sunshine and a brisk breeze. The leaves on the saplings we planted are starting to unfurl and all the Spring flowers and shrubs are starting to show. Down at the barn the animals can smell the grass growing and everyone is anxious to get out onto the pasture. On the pond, a couple of Canadian Geese have claimed the nest on the Island. The whole pond is now part of the visiting geeses' territory and anything that even considers trespassing is very quickly fought off. The gander lowers his head snake like and attacks the invader hissing with wings outstretched, not much will argue at this show of agression and the nest is saved. Hopefully this year the pair will successfully raise a gosling or two. Gertie and Gustav continue to live in the field, flying circuits of the barn in the morning until the Shires are in sight and then following them out to the pasture. The Mallard ducks who had tried to raise a family under the shrubs around the ponds edge have moved on, the geese didn't make very amiable neighbors.....they were possibly safer with the racoons !!
We had a little farm visitor yesterday, it's always fun when little Cole arrives at the barn. Usually armed with an apple for the horses, with his little rubber boots, gardening gloves and baseball cap that little man has just made himself right at home in the barn. Arriving alone at the barn door ( having left "his people" at the gate in a cloud of dust in his haste ) Cole announced to anyone who wanted to listen that he had come to see the lambs. All heads appeared over the stall doors, Cole always means a treat but Cole was on a mission. Little legs falling over themselves he hurried to find a bucket, any bucket because he was going to feed the lambs. It took a little persuasion to convince him that little lambs get milk from mommy but he knew better, he knew Chance had a cola bottle with a little red teat on the end. It wasn't time to feed the lambs, everything in the barn knows the routine and the horses are always first. Charm always wants to be first, first to be fed, first to go out and first to come in and he isn't about to take second priority to dumn sheep.....but Cole had his mind set and he wasn't for waiting as he scurried down the barn to the sheep pen. Charm impatiently kicked his door, Cole ignored Charms tantrum, he ignored Quest, he ignored Lady and even Alissia and Danielle the doelings went un noticed. Bran was beside himself, a little human to round up, he raced back and forth in his excitement but Cole was only interested in the lambs, face pressed up against the gate, little fingers holding a bucket of peanuts his eyes were wide and Chance the little white lamb came to visit. We sat Cole on a stool and gave him the bottle to feed the lamb, when she was done he sat and cuddled her and to be honest, I dont know who was cuter, the snuggled or the snuggler !
After Cole had gone Greg and I talked a while and it occured to us that what we do makes us happy but it also give children like little Cole memories that hopefully will stay a lifetime with him and maybe one day he will reminisce over his time down on the farm. It was a good feeling. Life is good. Time to go and find some trouble to get into, take care, M
We had a little farm visitor yesterday, it's always fun when little Cole arrives at the barn. Usually armed with an apple for the horses, with his little rubber boots, gardening gloves and baseball cap that little man has just made himself right at home in the barn. Arriving alone at the barn door ( having left "his people" at the gate in a cloud of dust in his haste ) Cole announced to anyone who wanted to listen that he had come to see the lambs. All heads appeared over the stall doors, Cole always means a treat but Cole was on a mission. Little legs falling over themselves he hurried to find a bucket, any bucket because he was going to feed the lambs. It took a little persuasion to convince him that little lambs get milk from mommy but he knew better, he knew Chance had a cola bottle with a little red teat on the end. It wasn't time to feed the lambs, everything in the barn knows the routine and the horses are always first. Charm always wants to be first, first to be fed, first to go out and first to come in and he isn't about to take second priority to dumn sheep.....but Cole had his mind set and he wasn't for waiting as he scurried down the barn to the sheep pen. Charm impatiently kicked his door, Cole ignored Charms tantrum, he ignored Quest, he ignored Lady and even Alissia and Danielle the doelings went un noticed. Bran was beside himself, a little human to round up, he raced back and forth in his excitement but Cole was only interested in the lambs, face pressed up against the gate, little fingers holding a bucket of peanuts his eyes were wide and Chance the little white lamb came to visit. We sat Cole on a stool and gave him the bottle to feed the lamb, when she was done he sat and cuddled her and to be honest, I dont know who was cuter, the snuggled or the snuggler !
After Cole had gone Greg and I talked a while and it occured to us that what we do makes us happy but it also give children like little Cole memories that hopefully will stay a lifetime with him and maybe one day he will reminisce over his time down on the farm. It was a good feeling. Life is good. Time to go and find some trouble to get into, take care, M
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