That's Entertainment!

 There's no doubt about it.  Animals are a major source of entertainment around the farm. 


There's nothing like sitting and watching the natural antics of any given species.  


Right now, the birds are especially entertaining.  After months of being sequestered in their yards (for their own safety... safely tucked away from foxes) - they are once again out and about, enjoying boundless freedom and a bounty of insects.

Each morning, the runner ducks' front gate is opened and they happily scamper out into the world.  Except for a couple of rest sessions, they spend their day canvasing the farm - from the edge of the woods and across all of the pastures - bills to the ground in search of tasty bugs.  I am hoping they happen to wander down to the orchard where a veritable (cicada) feast awaits them!

Naturally, the chickens are happy to be out and about once again.

Yesterday was a very big day for the chicks.  We decided to allow them access to their yards.  Hubbs secured the perimeter with small chicken wire to keep them from escaping and also to keep out any predators. 

 It took a little time for them to gather their courage, but eventually most of the piled out into the yard... if only for a moment.  With time, however, they will get more and more adventurous!

Tuesday evening while we were doing the "tuck-in" chores, I heard the unusual, yet familiar, call of a blue heron.  (There is one that frequents our pond.  Getting a photo of him is difficult, as he is quite shy.). I looked up in the direction of his call, and saw him flying up to the treetops across the street from our front pasture.  There, he landed in the top of the tree and stayed.  

I quickly ran home to get my good camera, and luckily, he stayed right where he was until I returned.  The lighting was not the best as it was after sundown, but here he is a little closer...


He stayed there in that tree top for about a half hour before heading off to roost for the night. 

I often wonder, when I groom the horses, how it is that they get so filthy so quickly.  My answer....


There is a new face around the farm.  


This kitty has been seen around the barn... usually being chased off by Griz.  I put a little food out for it down at the old log cabin and the food quickly disappeared.  I am hoping that with a little food he/she might become tame like all of the other strays who have come to call the barn their home.

I haven't talked much lately about what I have been up to, aside from gardening.  I am still drawing and painting as often as I can and share that adventure on Instagram.  I have also been doing a little sewing - making these pants (my new favorite pants) in a rich, brown cotton/linen blend.  I will probably make the top to wear in the autumn.  I love this pattern.... these are my new favorite pants!


And I started this little cardigan in a soft mint green Malabrigo yarn that has a little bit of a brown haze to it.  I'll show you what it looks like when I get a little further along.


Lastly, here are a few colorful garden photos...


Perennial bachelor's buttons in marroon.... started last year in the greenhouse.... back for an encore this year.


Moll, keeping watch over one of the perennial gardens... so much blooming to come...


Newest rosebush...


I love these petunias... they look as though they were splattered with paint!


Scabiosa, perennial salvia, and violas...


Pink yarrow and Johnny jump-ups....


Aren't Spring's colors wonderful!

Comments

Anonymous said…
The runner ducks are really funny!!!
Lynne said…
So fun to see/watch all the farm activity . . .
from the runner ducks, to chicklets, to cats older and new.
Everywhere . . . something to see.
And flower colors popping up all over, heron fly overs
with perch time in the trees . . . what a wonderful,post.
Love your new sewing and knit projects . . .
That sweater color is “beyond yummy!”
A daily visit with you brings me “some happy!”
Kelley said…
Love the suspenseful music for the chicklets’ entry into the big waist world!
Animals do keep us entertained! Your chicks are so cute and you have beautiful gardens.

That sweater is adorable. Can't wait to see your finished one. The color sounds lovely.

Always love starting my day visiting your farm!
Amanda Rose said…
I grew those petunias last year, and they are gorgeous! For me each successive batch of blooms had a different pattern; some were splattered, some were striped, a few were even solid. By fall they were all splattered again, a quick trip through google said that the pattern changes with weather and water levels. I'll be curious to see if yours change pattern over the course of the summer, too!
Diane said…
Everything is just so beautiful!
This N That said…
Animals are also a source of entertainment here altho we may lose our foxes..They have been turned into the game commission.Some of The Kits are looking pretty sickly..I wanted to bring one home and feed it yesterday..Sad..They will probably euthanize all of them..Too bad they can't just keep the adults and sterilize the femal...In a perfect world..
The Chiclets will be soon accustomed to their freedom and ready for more...
I hope the new kitty becomes a member of the BHA family..Tell Griz to share..After all, that was him not too long ago.
I don't have any garden color yet except for Johnny Jump Ups and Iris..Won't be long..Lot's of buds here and there..I don't do annuals except for my geraniums..
No watering today...Yay


This N That said…
PS..Great music with the chicklet release..xxoo
I'm just back from our local Wilco where I took a peek at the tubs with chicks ... almost left with a few bantam silkies .. Oh my goodness, soooo cute! Now looking at chicken coops on craigslist 😁
littlemancat said…
Loved everything - the chicklets moving carefully into the big world, the amazing flowers - the colors! And a new kitty, perhaps, for the farm. Pretty little girl, boy?
Thank you for the joy.
Mary
THE BEARDED ONE said…
YOU ARE SOOOOOO VERY AMAZING...I TRULY LOVE THESE...ANIMALS...FLOWERS...SUCH A GREAT VARIETY EVERY DAY...YOU ARE SUCH BRILLANT LADY...YOU KNOW JUST WHAT TO SAY AND JUST WHAT PICTURES TO MAKE YOUR POSTS SO EXTRA SPECIAL...THANK YOU SOOOOOOO VERY MCH DEAR LADY !!! KEEP SMILING !!!!


EDGAR C. BEARD