Things That Amaze

 I find that most days are filled with moments of utter amazement.  The thing is, those moments vacillate between "Oh Wow!"  moments and "Oh Sh*t" moments.

For example, I am stunned by the amount of cicadas that are everywhere... and if you have not experienced them yet to this extreme, you would definitely be speechless if you saw how many are just "hanging around" the farm! 

 Amazing.

There is long awaited, colorful beauty everywhere I look these days, and that, in itself, is so "Oh Wow!" to me!

Yesterday morning, I had the other kind of moment as these two gals opened their gate and headed out into the big wide world on their own little AWOL adventure as I was giving them their breakfast.  They might think that they want their freedom, but once they have it, trepidation kicks in and anxiety sends them right back into their yard... before I even have to go round them up!  However, as I watched them exiting the safety of their yard... I absolutely uttered "Oh Sh*t!"  Thankfully, I avoided having to call a "Code Red" in the neighborhood to help with a round-up.   (Last escape, our neighbors, Jim and Kathy, decided that if a text goes out "Code Red" it means all hands on deck for a horse/pony/donkey rodeo!)  I must say that as the donkeys exited their yard, our ponies became quite excited... hoping that they, too, might be included in this little escapade.  Luckily, their locked gate prevented their participation in the festivities.

You might be wondering... did we get any rain yesterday?   Here is your answer:

Just enough to give the ponies "beach hair"...

that tousled sea-spray look...

but not enough to adequately water this garden.

I had to hand-water all of the growing plants myself.  All around in local towns, there were downpours... but they all missed the farm.

I spent some time cleaning the front pasture and communing with pigs 

and sheep.  Everyone was enjoying the day's much cooler temperatures.

Faith was feeling especially friendly 

and came over to say hello....

in her wet, wooly pajamas.

I often find tiny nests like this one that have blown out of the trees.  I would love to know what kind of bird weaves these tiny nests out of horse hair... they are too big for a hummingbird, but too small for most others.  I read that it might possibly be the inner lining of a chipping sparrow's nest.  We often hear the song of chipping sparrows here on the farm... so, maybe.

Things are quiet in the goat yard, and all seem contented these days.

  I think Sally has adjusted fine.  Still, I am sure she misses her Momma.

As you can see, the chicks are chicks no longer!  They are full adolescents and as such are completely unruly.  We have to be extra careful when opening their front door that they don't rush out.  I would like them to get just a little bit bigger before we begin to allow them outdoors in their yard.  But, boy are they crazy kids!!

I have much more to share with you... thank goodness there's tomorrow!