Assisted Living

The thing about having a farm full of critters is...

eventually the farm becomes a retirement home.

I wouldn't have it any other way... it was the plan all along.

Eventually all of our animal friends will grow old and 

end their lives here at the farm.

And while this has the potential for sounding quite depressing,

it's important that one have the right attitude from the start.

After all, animals have a much shorter lifespan than we humans,

and it's a good thing, when you think about it.

How awful would it be to have a farm full of animals who will 

outlive you... not knowing what their eventual fate will be!

This way, as each of my sweet friends passes,

I will have the knowledge that I cared for them in the best way possible,

for their lifetime here on the farm.

I will know that they were happy and healthy and well-loved.

And although I grieve the passing of a beloved animal,

I try to keep my focus on all of the others that still remain in my care.

I may not have been thinking straight when I brought these two

gals home to live on the farm as youngsters.

I am, most likely, going to have to live beyond 100 in order

to outlive these two.

I'm planning on it!

The turkey pen has become a sort of assisted living facility these days.

Old Tom Turkey is quite elderly...

although I believe he is trying to break the domestic turkey lifespan record.

He might have another year to get through to make that goal.

Our two turkeys spend their days communing with the chickens -

taking advantage of all the snacks that the chickens receive.

Then each evening, the turkeys find their way back to their house

and put themselves to bed.

Fred roosts on a roosting rail that is about a foot-and-a-half off the ground.

Tom, on the other hand, roosts on top of the nesting boxes that are in their house.

(this particular shed previously housed hens)

The top of the nesting boxes is over three feet from the floor;

and for the life of me, I have no idea how he jumps up there each evening.

Somehow he manages.

Getting down is the difficult part.

If left to his own devices, he jumps down and ends up skidding along

the ground on his chest, quite clumsily.

To prevent this, we lift him down from his roost each morning

and gently lower him to the ground.

Hence:  assisted living.

I truly believe he appreciates the help.

Perhaps this simple act will help to extend his life,

or at least the quality of his life.

Yesterday morning, I made another trip to Amish country for fabric.

I'm moving on from face masks to other items....

waxed canvas bags and aprons.

Now that people are cooking at home more, I have had a few 

requests for my 1940's style full-coverage apron.

Here is yesterday's fabric haul:

This will make four aprons... each with coordinating trim.

While I was in Amish country, Hubbs picked our grape vines.

We had four big buckets of fresh grapes...

which I steamed...

to make juice.

We don't drink a lot of juice because of the high sugar content,

but will use these to flavor the fizzy water that we make and drink.

It's been delightfully cool so far this week.

It feels like autumn... which makes me happy!

Happy September, friends.