The Usual Suspects

Every now and then a mystery presents itself.  Our solution always involves the same process.  The game camera!!  Lately, cat food has been disappearing from one of our two feeding stations in the barn at an alarming rate.  Either we are feeding the neighborhood, or there are other critters taking liberties in the barn.  We try to discourage other critters by keeping our barn door closed.  But still... some may be resourceful.

The game camera revealed the usual suspects - our barn kitties. 

Pete...

Moll...

The Bea's, One and Two (one photo because they are impossible to tell apart)...

Bobby, who has food in the garage 24/7, but still likes to grab a quick meal at the barn...

And then, there was this guy.  He's the same fluffy-tailed kitty that has been around for a couple of years... Cheerio!  He's big and healthy looking - obviously not going hungry!

There is also a much lighter orange (peach) colored kitty that has been around the farm for years as well.  He's quite elusive.   He's been seen entering and exiting our big indoor arena through a hole dug close to its foundation.

I'm happy to say that no other species is responsible for the disappearance of cat food - only cats!

It's been a notable week here on the farm.  Though the daffodils are now wilting, the crab apple trees are blossoming  - as well as all of the apple trees in our orchard.

The forsythia and flowering quince that earlier framed the old log cabin so beautifully, have been replaced by lots of lilacs growing on the opposite side of the structure.

This week we witnessed the return of the earliest of the swallows as well as our first male hummingbird.

And yesterday, while mowing, Jack discovered that one of our old beehives has been taken over by a swarm.  Perhaps we will end up with some honey in the next year or two!  Because he is deathly allergic to honeybee stings, Hubbs will no longer be mowing the small pen that encloses the beehives!

It looks like the upcoming weekend is going to be a nice one.  We are having one of our littles for an overnight stay and plan to have a campfire "farm breakfast" in the woods on Sunday.  We'll be back on Monday for another chat.  Until then - we hope you are enjoying this beautiful season!