A Long Holiday Weekend

What a busy holiday weekend it was here on the farm.
We had a big Independence Day celebration on Saturday in the picnic pavilion.


For several days last week, I baked, cooked and prepped food.


We mowed and trimmed and decorated the pavilion 


in preparation for our four-generation friends and family celebration.


It was our first make-your-own pizza party of the season...


with smoked chickens, Greek tortellini salad, broccoli salad, black bean taco salad, three bean salad, deviled eggs, and fruit and veggie trays as well.
And assortment of desserts topped of the meal.
As did the 45 minute torrential shower!


I think Tyler's best part of the day was playing in the shower...


Mackenzie made lots of new friends...


 and showed off her shuffleboard skills...


We discovered through bubble play that she prefers her friends to be very clean!


She washed every exposed inch with bubbles.
If you have little ones... homemade bubbles are the best!
I use:
6 cups water
1 cup Dawn dishwashing liquid
¼ cup corn syrup
2 tbs. glycerine

This makes huge, long-lasting bubbles... and it helps to have a big bubble wand.


Before Sunday morning's sun rose on the farm, we were pretty sure we were going to have
another new member of the family...
and by Sunday night he had arrived (see here).

As for happenings around the farm...
All of the new ducks are settled in quite nicely.
The muscovy's have found that the duck hut roof makes a nice nightly roost.


The runner ducks still have not emerged from their stall, so we have moved their food and water out into the stall aisle to encourage them to venture outside.

Poor Sammie is lame.


He tore his cruciate ligament while playing with Annie.
We are going to try a non-surgical approach first.
(an injection of a sclerosing agent that helps to scar down the ligament)
If that doesn't work, surgery would keep him housebound for 6 weeks...
and that would not make for a very happy Sammie!

You might remember last summer I added a lower gate to the pig pen


 so that the pigs and sheep could access the front pasture.



Most mornings, while the horses are up in the upper pastures,
I open the front pasture for the donkeys, pigs and sheep.
Yesterday we found the donkeys here...


In the pig yard!


It seems they can just squeeze under the second board of the fence.
They were rewarded handsomely... with a little extra rich grass to graze upon.
Looks like I may have to re-think this arrangement!
Because.... if you have ever had a donkey you know that donkeys never forget!

Tyler will be returning to the farm today to finish out the week.
We'll have lots more adventures to share with you as the week progresses.

Comments

An American in Tokyo said…
Lots of fun and adventures on your farm!
Looking forward to hearing about Tyler's adventures in the next few posts!

The donkeys are so smart! Can you put a wire partway down so that they can't pass through but the other animals can?
GeorgiaHoneyBee said…
Congrats on the new addition! He is so sweet looking!
Love your red, white and blue decorations! Those donkeys are looking very slender now -- the diet is clearly working!
Lynne said…
Picnic Pavillion at the Haven sounds fun and dekicious . . .
Pizza in the outdoor oven must be an extra special treat!
Thanks for the Bubble Tip and Recipe!
Congratulations on that new little guy!
This N That said…
Your decorations are beautiful...Looks like the kids had a blast and weren't put off by the rain.The donkeys look very svelt. Poor Sammy.he looks so unhappy..I wonder if Mack is going to be giving bed baths when she grows up?? Do they even give bed baths anymore?
jaz@octoberfarm said…
i love your decoration! looks like a wonderful time was had by all. poor sammy. teddy has a bad paw that she will walk on but always holds it up when standing still. no more surgeries for my old girl.