Farmer-at-Heart

A Tail of Two Chickens

2011-06-27T07:16:00.000-07:00

(Yes I know Dickens spelled it tale.)Zig and GretaI have never been a huge Dickens fan so I will tell of you my chickens.We have been having such unrest in the coop. Let me back up.Scrawny Greta- the Hester Prynne of the the flock. (No not Dickens- Hawthorne) No she is not an adulterer. She is just a general outcast. She had been fine just happy enough foraging alone since her buddy Polly

Happy Birthday Summer!

2011-06-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

Today is Summer Thyme's birthday! She is two today- it is the nicest day we have had here on the farm all year. Bring on the summer.Doesn't she look BEAUTIFUL?It is not hard to remember the day our Summer was born.It was Fathers' Day.My crazy parents were here.Luke, made his first communion.It is my sister's birthdayWe weren't at home...church.We came home to the most beautiful surprise ever.

And Where Have I Been? Everyday is an Adventure!

2011-06-20T11:55:00.000-07:00

I never thought one could be so busy and still not get it all done. Everyday is an adventure and if I don't write it all down right then and there by the time the next day comes with all its cool happenings it seems like a distant memory replaced by the next big day. All in all it is you that are missing out on all the news. Here are a few of the tidbits you missed. I couldn't possibly

Alpacapalooza 2011

2011-04-05T14:23:00.000-07:00

So I always have the best of intentions with regard to giving you the blow by blow of the show as it happens. I even bring my computer, camera and my witty thinking cap. Honestly by the end of a busy day driving, setting up, scooping up, and showing I am, and I don't say this often, done in.The drive down to Alpacapalooza was tough. I have gotten accustomed to driving with the trailer-

Ready, Set, Go! or I've Come Un-Hinged

2011-03-30T17:49:00.001-07:00

We leave for Alpacapalooza on the 6:45 am ferry Friday. (Yes, that does mean I need to load those darlings in the dark. They are not too hot on what they know of the trailer but we will work it out.) Let me clarify we means, Luke and I are taking the crew, Buddy, Summer, Ranger, Klackama, Holly and don't forget Pippi!I am confident that farmer Jeff will hold down the fort- he may need an

I Just Love My Donkey Girls!!

2011-03-18T05:30:00.000-07:00

Marika the strong silent typeHey where is the hay?Pink Lady having checked out the little boys run in- no hay in there!I don't have much to say about these photos. I just wish that I could do the donkey girls justice! Aren't they just the best? They have been spending their days with the little boys and Penny. (They do get separated at night, no funny stuff here) It is kinda a cross-species

Just Ducky or Please Stop Raining!

2011-03-17T19:41:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning and well look what I saw swimming in my pasture- yes- I did say swimming!Look closely. It's Ducks! Don't worry they were just passing through. The sun shone all afternoon and spring is on its way!!!!---I think?I just love Make Way For Ducklings!

All Ears!

2011-03-08T05:30:00.000-08:00

Are you looking at me?...good looking huh?Still keeping you posted on training. We are doing better each day. I decided to use my 'phone a friend' and find out how to get my team to keep their heads held high. Kathy, who has amazing animals, and a special relationship with each one suggested that I just hold the lead at their eye level. She said that the animal will just follow the hand and

Love is in the Air or Salty Chickens

2011-03-06T19:22:00.000-08:00

Black Pearl, Scrawny Greta and TwoWell love must be in the air.We are lucky enough to have at least one nesting pair of bald eagles not far from our property. This time of year it is exciting to watch them. Our pair, that I can only assume are very much in love (they mate for life you know?) scream and soar while diving head first toward the earth. I can't help but hold my breath. It is like

Bachelor Bunnies?

2011-03-05T17:28:00.000-08:00

There are two bunnies that live in our backyard. (hard to see in this picture) I know you are thinking two? You know what happens when you have two don't you? Well these bunnies have been here since late last summer and aside from them being absent for a week or two occasionally, there are always only two. We get worried when we don't see them for a week or so fearing the worse, we have a lot

Still Training! But it's not Raining!

2011-03-04T13:18:00.001-08:00

For some reason training season always seems to bring the rain and wind. As an added bonus today it was cold. The cria are really getting the hang of the whole walking on a lead thing. It is a slow, individually paced process. Some days they are more interested than others. This is my preliminary evaluation.Clackama- he is just like his father Phoebus- aka the Ninja, he is a close walker.

Blowin' in the Wind

2011-03-02T19:06:00.000-08:00

Carmen loves the wind in her hair!Wow can you say windy?Even though it cools things off our alpaca love to pronk when it is windy. Pronk you say? Yup it is this really cool run, hop, spring type thing they do. Imagine being able to spring off the tips of your toes and not have to bend your legs while you go way up in the air. The girls usually start the whole herd a pronking.I have tried to

Pretty Kitty Update

2011-02-28T15:38:00.000-08:00

Today I received an anonymous letter from someone who was upset about my cat, "Pretty Kitty"This brave person, who didn't sign their name, is obviously not a frequent reader of my blog, nor are they are familiar with my sense humor, nor the high level of love, attention and care I provide all of my animals adopted or otherwise. My self deprecating sense humor about how I feel about a specific

Smitten Kitten- My Secret Valentine

2011-02-14T18:22:00.001-08:00

Well nothing says I love you like three dead voles all lined up in front of your office door.Thank you Pretty Kitty!

Spring Training!

2011-02-11T21:39:00.000-08:00

Spring Training has begun in earnest.I am in the process of getting those cute little cria to tow the line and walk like the pretty little creatures they are. You know, my arm candy.Actually, halter training is a must for herd management. It makes everything run more smoothly and safely on the farm. We have a couple of older girls, or shall I say more mature, that are not halter trained. Any

My Reading Life

2011-01-24T07:30:00.000-08:00

Okay, so a well known writer, whose books I have never read, writes a book about books he has read and how they fit into his life to make him who he is. What a great book idea huh?Well that is what Pat Conroy wrote about in his book My Reading Life. I thought I would share this book with you because I know I can look back in mark time and periods in my life with what I was reading.From my

Donkey Day of Beauty!

2011-01-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

Brave Marika goes first.Even though I have been doing the up-keep on our donkey girls hooves (hee-hawwww) I thought they deserved a professional pedicure to make them feel special.We had a great farrier come over from Lopez island to trim and polish- okay no polish- I was willing but farmer Jeff thought it was over the top...maybe next time.This was my first farrier experience, Greg came right on

The Things People Say- Today

2011-01-13T18:04:00.000-08:00

Today I heard so darn many things,"Oh you meant that account?""Yeah, that Father Dave is getting married!""Your arms are one of the only body parts everyone sees naked""Squeeze it then you'll know.""I only grazed it.""Just put in on already""Can't we get a pond?""Did someone say meatballs?""Fishing?""You're a sassy one aren't you?""I called and called then I just came over.""So you are the new

Book Em Danno

2011-01-10T18:21:00.000-08:00

Well here we are a new year-or shall I say here we are, a week or so ago, a new year?Just because I haven't been updating doesn't mean that nothing is going on. As a matter of fact our last holiday visitor just left over the weekend. I guess that means the new year is really here.Things are a bit status quo with the animals right now- welcome to January. Before the end of February we will

You say Amish, I say Polish, Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

2010-12-28T20:03:00.000-08:00

Well I trust you all had a great Christmas (yes, I did use the C word, I am all about Christmas)I have, believe it or not, had 4 emails (about the blog, I have had numerous other emails just nothing about being a farmer!) since the end of the 24 days of alpacas- three were begging- not just asking- begging- pretty dramatic huh? me to continue my adventure in blogging.The other email was just

The First Shall be Last

2010-12-24T13:29:00.000-08:00

I know you are all going to get teary that today is the last day of the 24 days of Alpacas! Don't worry tomorrow we will celebrate the birth of Christ so you'll be too busy to read anyway.So do you want to know who is the last Alpaca?So do you have any guesses who the last alpaca is? Well I won't keep you in suspense it is (drum roll please) our very own Autumn Diva!!! aka Muncho, Martian,

A Penny for your Thoughts

2010-12-23T14:06:00.000-08:00

Do you know how when you throw a dinner party you sometimes invite an extra couple who will probably be able to get on with the others invited? At our home we call them The Buffer. The buffer at our house is usually one of our best friends- they also usually know they are the buffer.Here is our herd buffer none other than the biggest- size wise not attitude wise- boy on the farm. He is the

What you didn't see

2010-12-23T10:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I stole off with farmer Jeff's camera and tried to take a few shots. I posted some of Clackama but I thought I would share a few of the pics you didn't see.What is that I see on the horizon?Here she comes with that Camera again.Run Frank!!!How is the grass over there Ember?Are you looking at me?I said, are you looking at ME?NaughtyNiceGoing,Going,GONE!

Day 22!- Almost Christmas! Clackama!

2010-12-22T01:40:00.000-08:00

Clackama!!!How do you say his name? Can you spell that?In a word NO.Clackama? Klacama? Klackama I am going to need to figure this out before I register him.To solve the whole problem I just call him Phoebus' boy. He is the spitting image, no pun intended, of his sire Phoebus. He has even inherited the Phoebus top knot- thank goodness for my newest male Adonis! (if you say that fast enough it

She has Bette Davis Eyes!

2010-12-21T16:33:00.000-08:00

Move over Bette- there's a new girl in town ...Va Va Va Voom it's Manhattan!!!Doesn't the name just reek of glamor and class. Manhattan is the full package.I know you know but, she is another one of my absolute favorites- I mean it this time.Manhattan is Ember's daughter by that handsome male Chaucer. They really got it right with Maddie, fleece, good looks, mothering ability, friendly and my

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightfull

2010-12-20T18:06:00.000-08:00

But inside it's quite delightful- but there is a Tinkerbelle sized spot in the run-in because she is happier outside watching the wind blow.Anyone in my family will tell you that Tinkerbelle- aka Tinker-belle, Tinker, or Stinker if your feeling funny, is one of my 24 favorites!!!She is so funny that if there is one alpaca that defines what it is like to not be an alpaca, she is it!TINKERBELLE(

Hi Ho Silver!!!

2010-12-19T17:27:00.000-08:00

It's a bird, no it's a plane, no it's Minnie's boyRanger!!!!Oh my god I love this little man!!!(and well, what's not to love what a bundle of alpaca lovelinessdoesn't he just look ready for the show ring?)This is our boy Ranger. Okay it is really Minnie's little guy. Ahhh what to say?Minnie lost her baby last year so we were paying very close attention to how her pregnancy and labor progressed

Carmen and her many stories

2010-12-18T17:40:00.000-08:00

Luke and the Pug Train!After farmer Jeff did a guest blog the rest of the family decided they wanted in too. As happy as this makes me I still miss the opportunity to put my own two-cents in.Today's guest writer is none other than my very own Sunshine Bunny, Lucille, the fun son,Luke!!!!!I am now going into secretary mode:Smile Carmen!CARMENCarmen has many smiles-funny-happy-sad-and annoyed.

White Hot

2010-12-17T21:05:00.000-08:00