:oD

A Busy Time

These are some of the new residents around our homestead. We have been very busy, trying to get everything ready for us to move. We have gotten so much accomplished, yet there is still so much to be done.

Our garden is doing better this year than last year. We added three new beds and have been growing more of the practical things than we did last year...and none of the rather frivolous items (melons). We have had to deal with a serious potato bug infestation...and the deer keep eating my roses...but since those have been dealt with, everything seems to be going well.

We have about 25 chickens--they won't hold still to be counted, so until I get them banded, I won't know for sure how many. We saw a listing on Craig's List for the breed of chickens I had decided (after several months of research) that I wanted. It was my intention to get about 15, so I built a coop suitable for that many. The day we went to pick up the chickens, the man selling them told us, "I'm going to make you a deal you can't refuse. You can take as many as will fit in your cage for the same price as the 15 you were going to take." We ended up with 30 or so! Then we got home and I realized I would have to build an addition to the coop. A friend had wanted to get 6 chickens and when she heard our story, asked if she could buy them from us. I was glad to have a few less! We are getting about 2 eggs a day now, but will eventually get close to 20, depending on how many end up being roosters.

The two goats are both wethers (not little boys anymore) and are strictly around for practical purposes. Goats are great at clearing brushy weeds and small trees off the land. They will eat most weeds, but are not especially fond of grass. When winter comes, they will go into our freezer. I hear Chili Cabrito is pretty amazing.

We thought we were ready for electricity, but when the company came out to check, they gave us a few more tasks to accomplish. The biggest part is clearing a path through the trees I wanted to keep as a windbreak/privacy barrier. Lizard and Turtle have been doing an amazing job of getting the small trees and brush cleared out of there this week, using just an ax, a hatchet, and a pair of branch loppers. I am very proud of the work they have been doing.

Gator's First Haircut

A Sweet Young Lady

He's Walking

Okay, so in all reality, he started walking on Christmas Eve...Papa even took some video. :o) But there are times when they just seem to be getting comfortable in a new skill. And that was today. I love my camera phone--it's always with me. And Picasa has some neat formats.