Who Needs The Orkin Man!

 Our pest management team is working overtime these days.  

After so many months, everyone is happy to be out patrolling the land.

Home grown eggs are the best... and the best eggs come during the season that the chickens can be out free-ranging - eating bugs and grass and all anything else that tickles their fancy.

Chickens are wonderful exterminators, but not quite as effective as guinea fowl.

Chickens have a tendency towards gossip - and gossiping mouths do no work.

Guineas, on the other hand are meticulous about their job... often combing through the grass in precise formation... no time for gossiping.  That's reserved for the end of the day when they finally settle into their roost in the maple tree by the barn.  For a solid 15 minutes they scream at each other the news of the day, squawking uproariously, before settling down to sleep.

Although the runner ducks are also efficient insect hunters, they take their breaks seriously. 

No one is overworked on this crew!

Break time comes to an abrupt halt, however, when a large farm vehicle passes noisily on the nearby road... sending the flock scurrying away from this perceived danger.

While the birds are hard at work,  the four-leggeds nap in the warm afternoon sun.

Daphne sleeps while Chloe looks on.

Afternoon naps are delicious!

Just ask Sammie.  Napping is his super-power!

Shedding season has begun.  

With longer days and warmer weather around the corner, the goats are beginning to lose their cashmere undercoat.  Winter's leftover Christmas trees are the perfect tool to help remove excess fur!

Like you, I am sure, I have a very heavy heart after hearing of the senseless deaths in Boulder, Colorado.  We have family living in Boulder at this time, so this tragedy was very frightening.  I try to keep this blog as neutral as possible, however, on this issue I must take a stand.  How many more of these tragedies will there be before something is done about this issue!  Civilians should not be able to own military-grade weapons.  I believe that gun rights and gun control can walk hand in hand.  

Lastly, and back to a lighter note...I wanted to share a website with you. A young friend of ours, a watercolor artist, has designed the cutest greeting cards for dog lovers.  I ordered a set yesterday and thought I would share this link to her website in case you, too, find these irresistible!