Ebony had her babies today!

This is our first litter of Flemish giants! Ebony and Poppie are the proud parents of 9 babies! As far as we can tell, there are 5 black 3 white and 1 lt grey. Their colors will show up better in a couple days. The funny thing is that she didn't even use the nesting box! She nested right next to the box!

Our plan is to take pictures every day to track the change over the next twenty days!

The Head Piece...

When I was a little girl of about 12 my sister, Missy, began taking me to SCA events. One that I particularly remember was at St. Mary of the Woods collage. Missy made me a skirt and loaned me her favorite headpiece. It was hand made by one of her friends. I remember looking so elegant in it (a rarity for me)! I loved to show it off as different gentlemen stopped me to ask who had made it. At the time, I was sure it was how exquisite I looked in it that attracted them. Little did I know they were just interested in the craftsmanship.
Well, years have passed. I now have daughters that same age. My nephew's 12th birthday party was a Renaissance theme. Missy set to work creating wonderful costumes for all of the children who attended! I almost cried when I saw my Rose in the very same headpiece that I had worn so many years ago. It was a little worn, the pearls didn't seam as shiny to me as they once had. But Rose didn't notice. She held her head high and giggled and flirted in the same way that I once did. It truly turned her into a princess.
At the end of the day, Missy pulled Rose aside and told her that she was giving her the head piece. Rose now has it in a special place in her room and says it is her favorite thing. I know that she will always treasure it. I'm sure it sounds a little silly to be so sentimental about something so simple, but watching my daughter that day, truly caused me to re-live one of my favorite childhood memories. That in itself, was a priceless gift!
Thank you Missy.

Glacier

I have had some requests to post pictures of our White Flemish Buck. This is Glacier! He's pretty big for buck. I like this picture of Abbie lying with him because you really get a feel for his length. When he streatches out he can almost match her, head to toe! He is supper sweet to just like our Poppie! I have yet to meet a Flemish that I haven't absolutely LOVED!

A bad day to be a goat!

My mom kept hearing this sound... IT was a goat FREAKING out !!!!!! We have a house on the porch for outdoor cats to get away from predators if they need to. (Hence the tiny hole!) Well' Lola saw the hole and decided to stick her head in it!

So this is what we had to do...

I am happy to report that she has survived her ordeal and is resting with her beloved horse!

So how's MY day going?

So glad you asked! Welllll... For starters, it's the hottest day of the year. By hot I mean air-so-thick-you-can't-catch-your-breath-when-you-walk-out-the-door hot!

So what does one do when it's so hot out side and they own cold hardy rabbits? Why, one goes out into said sweltering heat and mucks out the barn, of coarse! She removes ALL of the rabbit cages from the barn and puts them under the shade next to the house. (that's 14 rabbits in all)

What does she find while she and her daughters are so diligently working? 4 dead/ dying chickens! Yes that's right, 4! Three were already dead (and they had to have passed in the past 4 hours because they were alive enough to exit the coop when the girls let them out at 7:30)! The 4th one sadly took it's dying breath in my hands. (heartbreaking!)

What was the problem? Well, apparently chickens don't handle heat to well. So, I came in to call the vet. While I was inside talking to the vet Rose came running it to tell me that Dreamer had drank some of the bleach we were using to clean the trays. NICE!

No worries though, The vet said it probably wasn't a high enough concentration to be dangerous. Do you know what it's like to be laughed at by a vet?

While sitting in here writing about my morning, Rose, Sarah, and Abbie all came in. Rose and Sarah, to tell me their jobs were done. Abbie? To show me the giant straw she'd been using to drink out of the duck pond.

(*Sigh*)

Same ol', same ol'...

Here are some new pictures of our animals...

Our Turkey "Dinner" is getting much bigger and has really blossomed into a nice young tom! He'll be great for his pupose at Thanksgiving! (Shh it's a secret... he thinks he's the king)

Rosie's "Dreamer" is SO CUTE! He can be a bit of a pickle when he wants to be but he LOVES carrots and will do just about anything to get one!

This is one of our newest additions. Her name is Ebony. She is, of course, a Flemish Giant. She weighs in at about 17 lbs (small for a flemish) We got her for Poppie.

Along with our Flemishes we are also raising Mini-lops! These are a couple of our babies. They should be ready to breed in a few months.

This is my Goat Lola. We love her. She has a very interesting personallity. She doesn't like people to get to close to her, but she's very dog-like. She even picks up her bowl and drops it in front of you if she wants fed. She's a very funny little thing.

Look what Rosie got!!!!

So, what do you do when your little girl turns 12 and she's wanted a horse all her life!?! You buy her a miniature horse ... AND THEN... you bring it home in your van!!!! I'll post better pictures soon but come on! I HAD A HORSE A GOAT AND 5 RABBITS IN MY VAN!!!! I HAD TO POST THIS ONE FAST! His nae is Dreamer and he is a 4 month old miniature horse... NOT A PONY!
PS... The Goat is MINE!!! I really have always wanted one! Her name is Lola! I LOVE HER!!!!!

Okay so this isn't all of the fair stuff that's been going on... But I had to ge tsomething up! Here's the line up...

Rose:

Photography poster - purple

Fine arts - drawing of a horse - blue

Arts and Crafts - wreath - bluetie dye pillow case - blue

Rabbit club - educational poster - blue

photograph purple award and honorable mention

showmanship - blue ribbon

Flemish Giant - Best of Breed & Over al single category - 1st pick

Poultry - buff orpington pullet - blue

barred Rock cockerel - blue

barred rock pullet - bluefawn

pekin duck - blue

Sarah:

Fine Arts - charcoal pastel of blue whales - blue ribbon, purple ribbon

Arts and Crafts - wreath - blue

tie dye pillowcase - blue

Rabbit club - educational poster - blue

ribboncharcoal drawing of rabbit with basket - blue

showman ship - red ribbon

Mini lop - 2nd place in variety

Poultry - barred Rock pullet - blue

buff orpington pullet - blue

fawn peking duck - blue

Jabyn:

Cats - cat care poster - blue Ribbon and SELECTED FOR STATE

poultry - buff oprington pullet - blu ribbon

arts and crafts - tiedie pillow case - blue

arts and crafts - wreath - blue

Poultry - buff orpington pullet - blue

Poultry - Barred Rock pullet - blue

Poultry - buff pekin duck - blue

Ammon:

rocketry - Model rocket - blue ribbon

Entomology - shadow box - blue ribbon, reserve grand champion

arts and crafts - tie die pillow case - blue ribbon

Poultry - Turkey - blue

Poultry - buff pekin duck - blue

poultry - barred rock pullet - blue

poultry - barred rock cockerell - blue

poultry - buff orpington pullet - blue

Malachi:

bug project - blue

pillow case - blue

model rocket - blue

Pekin duck - blue

All in all, It was a super fun week. I had no idea the work that goes into each of the projects. I'm so proud of all the kids!

Why I DONT normally do "projects" while John's not around...

I was trying to get a lot of much needed stuff done around the house today... you know, sorting storage and switching clothing... that kind of stuff.

Here is a list of all the things that happened while I was trying to do that...

• The dog got up ON TOP of the kitchen counter to get to the bag of cat food that I was trying to keep safe!
• Maggie let two of the inside rabbits out of their cages! (luckily they were both males!)
• Ammon (trying to help) thought he would clean the bathroom with BLEACH!!!!
• Hannah (trying to help) tried to wash some dishes and soaked the floor!!!!!
• Malachi brought an "old" wasps' nest in the house to show me... THAT STILL HAD WASPS IN IT!!!

At this point, the only child (or dog for that matter) that isn't grounded for the rest of their lives is Abbie... but the night's still young!

Our Bunnies @ 10 days old!