Where did I move??

 The weather has been so nutty since moving here. We have had more rain than normal, there has been cooler temps longer than normal, there has been a torrential ice storm, tornado warnings, etc. I’m telling you, it’s been crazy. I wouldn’t really know much difference except I have been told several times, this isn’t normal. Last week, Ronnie and I were outside feeding and watering the animals. I knew it was supposed to rain but I was not expecting what happened. I was watching the clouds get darker, the weather turned cold in the blink of an eye and Ronnie yells across the yard to move my car under the carport. I ran in to get my keys and move my car. Not long after I moved the car, it starts pouring. Not a little, I mean a down pour. Then it starts hailing. Lots of hail. The yard was full of hail. Cracker Jack, Jeb, and Noma wouldn’t go under their shelter. I see Earl running up into a tree. Ronnie goes outside to make sure Noma is okay. I was beside myself. They were getting hit with hail. They never did go under the shelter that night but they were all fine. I know animals know what they are doing even if we don’t understand it. And this week it’s raining and colder again. I mean, I grew up in Arkansas so I know how weather changes but Texas may have Arkansas beat. 

World Donkey Day

 World Donkey Day was on Sunday. I didn’t know this day existed, but it does. I actually have 6 of these guys. They are so loveable. They deal with me hugging their necks and petting their noses. They are good protectors also. I’ve had Cracker Jack, my mini for 2 years now. He is probably around 17 years old. He has always been a good pet to have around. I added the other 5 since moving here. They all came from the same kill pen. I do get asked a lot, what are you going to do with them. I used to go into a long explanation, but now I just say, I’m going to love them. When I got them, I had some plans in my head, 2 were going in with our horses, which we didn’t have yet. We now have 1 and 2 of them are with him. Then in a smaller yard I was going to put all the goats in there with 2 of them and then I was going to get some cows and put the last 2 with the cows. Well, the 4 donkeys that are together are with 3 goats and a bunch of chickens. They seem to be god there so for now, that is where they will stay. Eventually I may have other plans, but for now, they are happy and heathy. There doesn’t need to be a plan. I’m just letting it be. 

Clare’s Homecoming

 I meant to make this post days ago but there has been so much going on, I didn’t do it. Last Saturday we took Clare back to the only home she had known. She made it very clear she did not like it here. Poor girl. I felt so bad for her. When we got her home, she didn’t want to come out of the trailer.  She had a lead rope on, so the owner caught the lead rope and she relaxed some and got out of the trailer. She ran straight to her friends. I had not heard her moo much or really doing much of anything. When she got out there with her friends, they started playing and she was mooing. We made the right decision on Clare. She is one happy cow again. 

Bittersweet

 I never really did care for that word. I mean who likes to take the bitter with the sweet but we all do it. Today is a bittersweet day. As most of you know, we got a couple of cows a couple of weeks ago. Jasper and Clare. Jasper was a bottle baby and he was a broke cow. He is very sweet and loving. He wants attention, can be led with a halter, so on and so forth. Clare on the other hand, was not broke. Let me tell you a bit about Clare. The day these two were brought to the house, Clare had on a halter and lead rope. She broke out of that trailer and ran right into the field. For 3 days we attempted to get her into the pen with Jasper to gentle her. On day 3, she straight up jumped the fence. Well, Ronnie got to meet our neighbors finally since we needed to get her back. She was finally in a pen at the neighbor’s. The next day, Ronnie got kicked so many times and even head butted with one of her horns while getting her into the trailer. This poor cow does not want any part of being here. She was only with other cows. We have all kinds of animals out here: chickens, roosters, donkeys, a horse, dogs, cats, etc. Clare would start to get upset just by a chicken squawking. She is so scared. I feel so bad for her. She has been in the trailer for a week. Yes, she has adequate food, water, etc. The trailer is cleaned out daily and she is given new hay to either eat or lay down in. She mostly just used it to lay down in. Ronnie spends about 2 or 3 hours a day with her. I didn’t spend much time with her, but some. Poor girl just wasn’t getting used to being here even enough to get her out of the trailer without her trying to do harm to us and herself. The people we got her from called a couple of days ago and asked how things were going. Ronnie told him we were really trying to work with her and all. The guy asked if they could take her back. What?? That usually doesn’t happen. They are great people and love their animals. They really do. This wasn’t a rescue situation. We are taking Clare back home today. It is what’s best for her and for us, too. So, like I said, it’s a bittersweet day. 

Baby Chicks

 Several weeks ago, Ronnie brought home a bunch of baby chicks. There were 28 of them. He said he just bought all the store had. We made a spot for them in the shop where they have been the entire time. The last couple of weeks, these chicks have doubled, possibly even tripled in size. Ronnie and I agreed they needed to get out of the tub they were in and into something bigger. There is a chicken coop off the side of the barn. The chickens we already have are free range so we had not fixed it. We decided that would be a good spot for them, so we had a friend come to help us get the chicken coop ready. We were in for some work and we didn’t even know it. I had taken down the old chicken wire the day before so it was ready to put new up. Ronnie and Abe put up the new fencing. It looked like the chicks could still get through so they added more. We get the tub out of the shop and got it to the coop. We get them in there and they went nuts and still were able to get through the fencing. Go figure. Ronnie had some sheet metal, so Ronnie and Abe got the sheet metal inside the coop around the edges. Then lumber and some pallets outside the coop. I put straw down and food and water for them. I went inside for a minute and some of the sheet metal had fallen, one chick was stuck under it but was unharmed when I fixed it. I left them alone for the rest of the night. I went to check this morning and only counted 25. I thought they were just hiding under some of the others due to the colder weather last night. I got home this evening and I still only counted 25. Ronnie and I started looking and found the other 3 curled up, one right outside the fence and the other 2 behind the sheet metal still inside the fencing. I got them all out of their predicament and back in with their friends. They look so happy out of that tub and in a bigger area. They still need each other and stay all together. I’m so glad they are all okay. When they are bigger and can survive better, they will be free range like the others. For now they are safe and still together. 

Spoiled Chickens

 Apparently we have some spoiled chickens around here. They have a routine and if we are a little late to throw out their food, well, they are at the shop waiting and not patiently. They are ready even if we are not. They will follow us until they have had their breakfast. Once their food is scattered for them, they are fine and they will continue their day as they normally do. Spoiled. I never thought I would say I have spoiled chickens, but I do. They are really funny animals. I had no idea until we got some. 

Gardening Begins

 Ronnie likes to garden. This place we bought already had a garden spot, so he tilled it up and we planted a bunch of stuff. The dirt here is different from back home. So is the climate. It’s been a little harder to garden here. We have already had to replant a few things because they had died. I think we may had started getting in a groove and it turns cold again. I have not been over to check things out. Luckily it rained some, so maybe the garden will be okay. It really is hard work. Hopefully something will grow this year.