Out And About

After a string of soggy days with varying types of precipitation,

yesterday's sunshine was greatly enjoyed.

(It's raining again today.)

Everyone was out in the pastures, slogging across the spongy ground....

leaving deep footprints behind.

It is the soggiest February in our farm history-

and has gotten to the point that we must use the tractor to navigate

the muddy compost pile area.

(after having gotten the gator stuck in the mud!)

The chicken yard is a swamp, so Mr. Elwood takes his girls

and heads for dryer ground.

The donkeys and horses got a little (much needed) time out in the front pasture.

We keep them in the dry (not dry right now!) lot on rainy days- 

otherwise they run and tear up the grass.

The pasture is quite eaten down at this time of year,

so they are given a little hay as a supplement to what they can find to graze upon.

Getting out still gives them an opportunity to get a little extra exercise

and some mental diversion.

They spend about 7 hours out and about...

just being horses.

When they were finished, I ventured out in the pasture with a pull cart

to clean up the manure.

I was elated to find these growing in our little locust grove...

Can you believe it?  It's only the middle of February and the

daffodils are already up!

I truly feel that spring is going to come early this year.

While out in the pasture, MaryAnn was calling to me from her yard,

so I headed over and opened the gate...

allowing the pigs and sheep to join me.

It had been a week since they were able to be out and about...

so I knew they would enjoy the extra freedom.

Because the neighborhood hawk seems to be staying away from our land,

the birds have all been free to explore the pastures -

the runner ducks' favorite pastime!

It's funny.  Although the 12 runners have become one big flock,

they often split into their original groups of 5 

and 7 while they are out exploring.

Bi-partisan ducks...

it's that old "us vs. them" mentality... even in the animal kingdom.

"Listen guys... you're more alike than you are different," I admonish.

(mother and daughter... never far from each other.)

By evening, the rain began again.

I know we'll all survive,

because the earlier part of the day was the pause that refreshed.

The silver lining is the fact that with all of this precipitation,

we will likely have a beautiful spring and early summer.

And by the looks of it... it won't be long before the earth starts to show off her colors!

I hope, if you are in the midst of a dreary, rainy February,

that a little sun comes your way as well.