Morning Logistics

Thanks to Hubbs' generous spirit, our equines have been able to spend a little very early morning time grazing in the front pasture.  

Jack has been getting up every morning around four so that he can let the equines out to graze.   Not only are the horses and donkeys thankful - but, so am I.  Later, around 6 AM, we both head out together to do the rest of morning chores and bring in the horses.  The cats greet us enthusiastically - ready for their breakfast.

The horses eagerly return to the barn, knowing that their breakfast chow awaits them, as well.

By this time, however, the pig and the sheep have also come to the barn through the front gate (ahead the horses).  They, too, are asking for their breakfast chow.  The amazing thing about this is... Ginger charges right into Moonbeam's stall and stands at his feet grunting her demands.

Sweet old Moonbeam, so kind an gentle, does nothing but stand there, patiently waiting... with a grunting pig at his feet.

It takes a bit of logistics... this breakfast dance.  I slip out into the dry lot with bowls of food for Ginger and our sheep, Faith (who has followed Ginger into the dry lot, but not into the barn).  I call to both girls.  Ginger finds her way out of Moonie's stall and Faith comes running as well.

Forrest does what he can to assist the process.

On this particular morning, while all of this is happening at the barn, Red continues grazing apparently uninterested in breakfast chow.

After placing the bowls in the pasture for the pig and sheep, I call to Red and clap my hands for him to come to the barn for breakfast.  Luckily, Forrest gives him a little encouragement and I quickly close the gate to the front pasture.

  Everyone is now on the proper side of the pasture fence, eating their appropriate meal.

It's the same dance, almost every morning.  And somehow things always work out just fine.

I have something exciting to show you!  Our oldest manure pile - it has become a very productive pumpkin patch - thanks to the pumpkins that we added to that compost pile last autumn.  The vines have covered the entire pile.

The vines are loaded with blossoms.

Yesterday, I searched through the vines to see if there were a pumpkins.  I was so excited to see a whole lot of different gourds and pumpkins.

Tiny jack-be-little pumpkins, warty pumpkins,

gourds,

and lots of still-to-be-discovered pumpkins.

There's also a small tomato plant with several fruit on.

The chickens are all quite happy these days... as they are the recipients of any produce that grows too large  for eating - like cucumbers that get a little bitter when they get too big.

Everyone enjoys summertime abundance!