Sunday, May 26, 2013

Pomp and Circumstance

 
The geese are obviously impressed at the flotilla of six former ducklings in their shiny new white suits.  They are being led around the pond by their little "Mother" mallard, who doesn't seem to notice that they are twice her size and a totally different color.  All she knows is that they are ducks, because if it quacks like a duck...  If you click on the picture above, you'll get a little clearer image.
 
The ducks graduated from the chicken house recently to the relief of the chickens, who now have a nicer, dryer, better smelling house.
 
The ducks have always been drawn to water, but never had so much to play in!  It is hard to get them to come in to dry land, but they'll get hungry soon.  I had to wait for the water in the pond to recede to more normal levels before taking them out there.
 
The chicks have also graduated out of their coop and into the Wide World of Chickens.  Pecking order is being established and the guineas are being bullies to be avoided at all costs.
 
The grass is high and will need to be hayed soon.  Vegetables are really developing quickly in this optimal weather.  It's been cool again for the past few days and I got a lot of physical work done.
 


Wednesday, May 08, 2013

It isn't raining rain, you know...

...It's raining violets, asparagus, kale, chard, spinach, iris, peonies...

Early yesterday morning, I walked into the area near the goose house and let the geese out.  By about 1 p.m., the pond had overflowed and the geese were swimming in and out of the house.  It remains flooded and there is a small river forming beyond in the pasture.

The chicken house had a little seepage, forming muddy areas.  The last batch of chicks are in a coop with a raised wooden floor, so they're high and dry.  The ducklings are in a dirt floor coop, so are in their glory, making a big wet mess.

It will continue raining today and possibly tomorrow.  The James River is overflowing its banks. 

Everything is so green that it nearly hurts your eyes.  Grass is high in the hayfields.

It's been blessedly cool since May began.  We've done a lot of farm jobs.  Unfortunately, our recently graveled driveway has some ruts due to rain runoff.  The plastic garden is improving day by day.