Brown Robyn and Frosty Dan are past the newborn stage, the baby stage and now into the terrible two week old stage. I already have to sneak to get milk from Sammi and Diva as they are nursing them both. Now when I am milking Sammi they try to drink the milk out of my bucket! When I block them from reaching the bucket they start chewing on my clothes while I milk. They think they will annoy me enough so I will quit and they can have all the milk. Diva is really good about pushing them away if they try to nurse her while I am milking. They get to nurse her all day. All I am asking is one good milking from Diva and the regular two from Sammi. Today I was trying to rake and clean out one of the stalls. They would get right in front of my rake and just stand there. They get that from their dad Nitro. He tries to knock the rake or pitch fork out of my hands. The boys have learned how to climb! Diva and Sammi were standing eating some Alfalfa and the boys tried to climb up on both them. I squatted down to pet and talk to Diva and they tried to climb on my back. I truly have my hands full with these two little bucks! Sister is being such a good mom to her little duckling. The duckling will climb up and sit on her back, but if anyone gets close Sister will cluck and the duckling will run under her wing to hide. I tried all day to get a picture but all I got was Sister cause the duckling was hid from me. It was so hot and humid today after the nice rain yesterday. I cleaned the goat pen and half of one goat stall and will try to do more tomorrow. I had to mail packages this morning so didn't get started early enough in the pen. I need to rake the chicken pen and dog lot plus cut the grass and do some yardwork. William talked to a nice young couple today that live in Nashville, TN. We are hoping they will come work with us. That will give me much needed help with the animals and I will be able to take a day or two break from the homestead. Its hard to find someone I trust to take care of the animals so I can get away. We will see what happens after they visit and see the animals. One of my cabbages was ready to pick today. I am going to cook it with polish sausage, turnips and potatoes in the crockpot for dinner tomorrow. I am also trying my hand at making lotions to go with my soaps. They aren't quite ready yet but soon.. very soon I hope. Hope the start of your week was a great one and don't forget to count your blessings!

Catching Up

Thank you for all your comments, emails, concerns and prayers over Bud's disappearance. I have walked to the swamp everyday a different way and checked all the trees and hiding places but still haven't found him. I thought with all the heat we are having he would be sunbathing somewhere and I would see him. Not yet, but I haven't given up. He will survive being loose until cool weather so I hope we have found him by then. Other updates: Killer is being a fantastic mom to her little chick. She is also watching over 4 preteen chicks that were with Sister Sister. The chicks got on Sister Sisters nerves when they got out of the baby stage and she would chase them away from her. I put her back in the big lot and let Killer keep an eye on them. She doesn't mother them like the little chick but she makes sure they eat and behave themselves. Sister is VERY protective of her duckling. She knows its different but not sure why so will not let anyone take a peek at the little one. She sits on it if anyone comes around and will only bring it out to walk around, eat and drink when no one is anywhere near. I will try to get a photo of her teaching it to scratch but it will be hard. I had a nice chat with Mary from fireflies and frogs last night. I had just came in from feeding chickens when she called. Its always fun talking with her as we never run out of anything to talk about! Hopefully I will be seeing her and her kids next weekend. They want to come visit all the animals. Frosty Dan and Brown Robyn are growing so fast! They are eating alfalfa and drinking water already.Frosty Dan is getting more and more like his daddy. He thinks he is hot stuff and wants to butt heads and play all the time. Brown Robyn has the sweetest attitude, just like his mom. He likes to be petted and talked to. He is content just to relax and sunbathing with the big goats. William made it to Wisconsin and is on his way to Nashville from where he hopes to be heading home. Don't think I will get any gifts like I did from his trip to California and his boat race to Mexico. But here are the pictures of the sterling silver sets he surprised me with when he came home last weekend.

Please Don't Laugh at My Baby

My name is Sister and I was upset when my sister "Sister Sister" hatched some baby chicks and mom moved her to her own little house with a nice fenced in yard. I wanted to hatch baby chicks too! Mom finally let me have some eggs to sit on so I could be a mommy like Sister Sister. While I sat on my eggs I dreamed of how cute my chicks would be and how I would teach them to scratch and hunt for worms and insects. I would teach them everything they would need to know to become a good grown up chicken. I have to rethink my teaching. I am now the proud mom of this little cutie
Yes, I know its a duckling! Please don't laugh at my little baby! Mom is going to let us stay on the nest a couple more days incase some of my other eggs hatch. (If they do they will be big chicks, bantam chicks, and ducks)She will then move us to our own little house with a nice fenced in yard. I know I will be the only mom here with a mixed family but I am still proud of my duckling and any other babies I might have!