The Last Code Red of 2021... Maybe

If you have been a farm friend for any length of time, then you might remember that a Code Red is called (by our across-the-street neighbors, Jim and Kathy) whenever one of the equines escapes.  This only happens through human error.  The equines are not expert escape artists.  What they are, however, is vigilant about always doing a perimeter check wherever they are, to see if any of the gates have been left unlocked.  So, no, they are not escape artists, just opportunists!

Yesterday morning, while the horses were in the upper pastures, and the donkeys were (supposed to be) grazing in the front pasture - we received a Code Red text... the donkeys had escaped.

Luckily, a donkey escape is much simpler to handle than a horse escape.  When given the opportunity, the horses go for the gusto and take off running a half mile away to our hay field.  When the donkeys escape, however, it is with a small amount of enthusiasm and a great amount of trepidation and anxiety.  They never venture far, for that would be too scary.  But, they did exit their dry lot and found some scratch lying on the ground that we had put out for the guinea fowl.

Naughty girls!  Because they didn't really want their freedom in the first place, they were very easy to encourage back into their dry lot. 

 The fact that it was time for their daily chow (nutritional supplement), they went willingly.

Since we were already out at the barn for the Code Red, we decided to walk up to the upper pastures and bring the horses in.

Of course, everyone was at the furthest point from the gate, so we had a bit of a hike.

Moonie wasn't interested in participating in the round up, and took off trotting towards the gate.  But, because Becky's horses were also out grazing, we insisted on leading him back to the barn instead of giving his freedom.  Under these circumstances, I cannot trust that he wouldn't just take off running to join the other horses.  It's an opportunity that I don't feel like giving him.

So, we all headed back to the barn together... one big happy family.... slipping and sliding on the soggy ground.  

We've had several days with snow/rain/ fog and the already moist ground is utterly water-logged. Then, to top it off, temperatures have been in the 50's this week.  It's the weirdest winter weather ever!

After the excitement of the morning, and with no other responsibilities, I took a couple hours to work on some watercolor painting from photographs...

Next on the list, pasta making.

I received a Christmas gift from my son - wooden pasta cutters and a drying rack.

All tools worked great, and we had homemade pasta for dinner.

Happy New Year to you, friends!!  

We'll be back in 2022 to share another year of life on the farm.  Thank you so much for visiting us each day.  Also to those who are so generous with comments, I thank you.  They are a very special gift that we cherish.  And if you don't comment - no worries, we still know you are there!

New Year Blessings to you all!