Prince Budweiser

Once upon a time in the land of Lexington in the country of North Carolina a scared little iguana was found in a tree. Not only was he scared but he was also injured. The birds had pecked a hole in the top of his head and part of his tail was broken. A sweet lady from Friends in Need Animal Rescue helped him down from the tree and took him to the animal hospital. Lady Jane fell in love with the little iguana and took him to her home when he was feeling better. Lady Jane decided to name the iguana Budweiser and call him Bud. Bud fell in love with Lady Jane and was so happy. Lady Jane would rub Bud's back and scratch his head and Bud thought that was the best feeling ever! Lady Jane built Bud a big house that sat in her living room so Bud would not be alone. Bud loved the sound of Lady Jane's voice and would close his eyes in comfort each time she talked to him. Several years went by and Lady Jane was going to have back surgery. She knew that she would be unable to care for Bud for a long time and worried what to do. She decided to look very very carefully for a new home for Bud. It made her very sad but she knew he needed a home where he would get lots of love and attention. After a long search Lady Jane found Bud a new home. She loaded up Bud's house and put Bud in his carrier for the journey to his new home. Lady Jane made sure Bud was all settled in before saying goodbye. She knew that she was leaving him in a home where he would be loved and cared for. She also knew she would be able to visit Bud anytime she wished. Bud was a little nervous at first but soon he became attached and loved his new home and family. His new mom let him out of his house to explore his new home and swim in the garden tub. She even took him on walks outside. Bud was very happy. A couple of years passed and mom told Bud the family would be moving to a far away land of Hidden Haven. Bud was scared. He was happy where he was and didn't want to leave. It didn't take Bud long to fall in love with his new home. He became a prince in the land of Hidden Haven and even had his very own outdoor summer home! He hadn't got to live outdoors in years. Life as a prince was wonderful. Bud loved watching all the animals and birds. He loved being able to swim in his own pool. Sleep on his own heat rock and heating pad. When the weather got cool mom would take Bud to his inside house. Bud didn't like that at all and would stand in the corner and pout at mom. He wanted to stay outdoors and didn't understand about the cold weather coming. One spring after mom had moved him to the outside house it turned cold again. Mom had to bring Bud back inside. Bud was very angry. When it warmed up again and he was able to go back to his outside house he started looking for a way out. He wanted to go on a adventure. He wanted to play in the swamp that was behind Hidden Haven. He wanted to sun on the rocks and climb the trees. Bud soon found a way out and took off on his adventure. Mom was so sad. She spent days searching everywhere for Bud. She and Dad spent hours at night searching trees with flashlights hoping to see Bud's eyes looking back at them. Bud was gone for 4 months! Mom thought he was gone forever and that she would never see him again. It started turning cold at night and Bud missed his indoor house, heat rock and heating pad. He missed having mom rub his back and sing good morning to him. He missed all the special treats mom gave him. He even missed wearing the silly hats. Prince Bud wanted to go back to the land of Hidden Haven. Slowly he made his way back the way he thought he had traveled. Soon he was in a place he didn't recognise. He thought he was lost forever. A man found him and called his mom. Bud had made a wrong turn on the way back home and ended up right outside the land of Hidden Haven. Mom came and carried Bud home. She was so happy! She told Bud that his new house was one that could be moved inside or outside. Bud would be able to stay in his house all the time. The house would move according to the weather. Bud would no longer be able to travel on anymore adventures. And Prince Bud was very OK with that. He was getting older and he never wanted to leave Hidden Haven again.

Vacation is Over

After running away from home in April Bud decided it was time to come home. We thought he had gone to the swamp and when it turned cold wouldn't make it. I was surprised when my neighbor called to tell me Bud was outside their turkey pen. I brought him home and he actually seems to be smiling. William thinks Bud checked his calendar and saw the days were getting shorter so it was time to head back home. Whatever the reason Bud is back home!

William is on his way to Baltimore but did get to stop by the house last night. I fixed stir fried steak and it was good! We took the goats for a walk down the driveway before he had to head out this morning. I got all the pens raked and cleaned some of the water buckets before it got too hot. Another in the 100's day. Sure can't wait for fall to arrive. Have a blessed weekend!

Nine Days Old

Can you believe they are 9 days old already? They still haven't figured out they can each have a side of mom. Poor Diva.

Sammi said it was so hot today she could just die. I actually thought she did till she heard the cookie bag and come running.
Killer has turned out to be a awesome mother hen. She is teaching her little chick all the things it will need to survive. I am very proud of her even if I still have marks from where she bit me while showing our weekend company her chick. She came at me full force but at least our guest know how she got her name!
I have spent the day looking for my AWOL iguana. We put Bud in his summer home but had forgotten we had loosened a board on the back side to get eggs out when we had a hen in there last week. He was sunning in his yard when I left to get goat feed and gone when I returned about 30 minutes later. We have searched the trees, under all the buildings, in the woods, on the neighbors no trespassing property, but no Bud. William thinks he made a run for the swamp and if he did we will never find him. I am hoping he will come back. I have left the board off and his heating pad on and his food and water ready. I have even went out with a flashlight to see if I see eyes shining in the trees. I am just sick he is missing but glad its hot right now so he won't get a chill. The handyman has been searching under the house and under everything he sees . He is afraid Bud will come out and surprise him. Bud knows Wayne is afraid of him so I wouldn't be surprised to hear Wayne scream if he finds him. I promise to take photos of my jewelry tonight. I have been outside all day so haven't had a chance. It has been so hot I have emptied all the water buckets several times today so I could give everyone fresh cold water. The goats drank 3 5 gallon buckets almost empty. Hopefully we will get rain and a cool spell soon instead of this record breaking heat.

Started back this morning sorting and finally have the yardsale stuff together and priced. Have enough boxes of collectibles, vintage and antique items in the soap shop to list on ebay for six months. The uhaul is cleaned out except for holiday items and some household items that will come back in the house after we finish remodeling. I am dirty, tired and grumpy. We took a trailer load of junk to the landfill and have another load to haul off tomorrow, then I will load the yardsale items to take to the neighbors for our sale Saturday. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel and it feels good! We have had another beautiful sunny warm day and tomorrow is suppose to be another warm one. We are suppose to have thunderstorms and rain tomorrow afternoon so I will have to hurry and load all the stuff in the trailer and cover it with a tarp.

Doesn't the uhaul look nice and clean now? You can actually walk to the back to get something without having to climb over boxes or furniture. Now if we could just get the warehouse and the semi cleaned out I would feel a huge weight off my shoulders. Other than that, life on the homestead is still being run by the animals. Diva is waiting to lay around and eat all day. She is truly being a diva right now and taking advantage of being pregnant. Sammi is in her stall right now as Nitro wants to aggravate her since Diva won't play with him. Bud is so mad at me for moving his house again he tries to scare me by hissing and coming at me with his mouth open like he would bite. I hiss back at him and he turns tail and goes to hide in his corner. The guineas are now penned in the "hospital". The pen I kept the 2 hens in till they healed. They don't like it but hopefully they will forget about the chicken pen in a week or so and I can move them to the other side of the yard and let them run free. Thats about it for a day on this homestead. Time for a hot shower and a rest!

Decluttering

Today was spent going through boxes and bags of things that were packed away in the back of our uhaul truck. We have used it for storage for way too long. William wants to use the truck for moving the rest of our things from Lexington and if we want to haul animals. Needless to say I have a big big mess on the ground around the uhaul and soap shop. The good thing is we are having a yardsale Saturday so hopefully lots of it will go then. I also found lots of things I had forgotten about that will be going in my ebay shop. Sorry you will miss the yardsale but check everyday in my ebay shop and you might find a treasure you can't live without. It will take me weeks to list all I have so if you don't see anything you like keep checking back. I am tired and dirty as I sorted through items till 7pm and I am not even halfway finished! It should be a crime to have so much stuff. We are downsizing and decluttering as much as we can. I don't have time to dust so many collections and I had rather spend time with the animals. We have had a wonderful day today. Another sunny one in the 70's. Tomorrow will be in the 80's and I will be able to finish the sorting (I hope). I have to get my light fixture tomorrow. No ifs ands or buts. It has to be purchased so it can be hung. I still haven't found one I like but no matter what I will bring one home to hang tomorrow morning. I have some lavender and rosemary to set out tomorrow too as well as put more dirt around my cabbage. Its getting taller. Sammi is giving us a little over 2 quarts of milk a day and is adjusting well to her new home. Diva is being a diva except she wants to eat ALL the time. I told her it doesn't count that she is having babies. She can still only eat for one but she doesn't listen. Nitro is mad right now because I put a bell on his collar. Sammi and Diva got one a few weeks ago but today while sorting I found a bigger bell and put it on him. He doesn't like the girls hearing him coming near them. Bud is mad because we had to move his house again to put the ceiling up. He would love to smack me with his tail I am sure. I don't think we have to move him again so he will be able to stay in the sunshine and sleep. I am going to take a shower and sit down with a cup of tea. I am too old too have so much junk to sort! LOL

New Babies

On Valentine's Day Sister decided to hatch one of her eggs. It was a cute little black chick with white chest properly named Valentino. Today Sister Sister not to be outdone hatched one of her eggs. Its a cute little strawberry blond chick named Sweety. They are residing in Bud's old home with a heat lamp keeping them nice and warm. They have eaten, drank and walked around their new home while the cats have sit and watched through the glass. Its like a TV for them. Its nice being able to watch the little chicks through the glass and not have to open up a door to check on them. Bud's old house is perfect!

Bud is still pouting at me for moving him to a new place without talking it over with him first. Each morning I usually talk to him and rub his back. When he is mad or pouting I can't touch him. He hisses at me and swings his tail to let me know he is still mad and to leave him alone. If I keep talking to him he turns around and stands in a corner till I go away.
This will last a few days or a few weeks. When I brought him inside at the end of summer I couldn't touch him for 3 weeks! A iguana with a attitude fits right in around here.

Bud's Townhouse

This is suppose to be Bud's (iguana) new home. If you look closely you will see Dimples and Grouchio playing inside. Bud's old house was 4' by 5' and was wood on 2 sides and glass on the other 2. Trouble was the glass was on the sides where he couldn't look outside and he only had one level to climb to. Now he is right at the glass looking out on the backyard. He can see the birds at the feeders and birdbath. He can watch the cats playing outside but most of all he can lay on his shelves and have the sun shining in on him. He loves the sun so until its warm enough for him to go back outside he has the next best thing with his town house. He has the bottom floor for his bathroom, second level to sun or birdwatch, 3 rd level for dining and drinking and the 4th level for his heated bed to sleep. I think as soon as we get the cats out and get his door on he will be very happy to move in. His old house sitting next to the new one is going to be moved to the soap shop and used for a baby chick nursery. With a heat lamp added to it the chicks will stay very warm and cozy and sure beats the cardboard boxes I usually keep baby chicks in the first few weeks. Seems like we are moving on up!