First Thunderstorm

The thunder was rolling this evening for the first time this season. We had some much needed rain and a little light hail. 

The chicks have been tearing up their newspaper bedding so we're trying some hay today.

The big araucana trying to eat the camera

Here is the little cochin compared to the rest

Leapin' peeps

The not-so-little chicks are still doing well. 

They jump for fingers and get treats of uncooked oatmeal from their favorite person.

The little cochin seems to have made a full recovery and is keeping up with the bigger chicks. I suspect that the cochin is not a standard but actually a bantam, unless it is a really late bloomer.

I miss riding

It will still be a while before I can get back in the saddle and I very much want to ride. 

But it will not be too long until the new little ranch hand makes an appearance. Then I can think about riding again, maybe even in time for the spring branding.

In the meantime there are a couple of new leather projects to finish. 

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Basil massacre

I'm rather fond of my basil plants, I started them at least a month ago and they were just getting big enough to start plucking leaves to eat.

Last night a little mouse came and chewed all the leaves off both of my basil plants and chewed up most of the thyme that I had going.

It seems like an odd thing for a little mouse to do. I hope that the basil comes back but I will have to start some more regardless.

All the silly ponies

This morning we woke up to much needed rain and a nice rainbow. 

Half and hour later it started sleeting and the sleet soon turned to snow.

By this afternoon it was quite a bit cooler and the horses were having a great time

Farfalla & Talia

Little Cupcake

Chicken Little

This little chicken is smaller than the rest and has been gimping around. The bigger chicks probably bulldozed this little one. 

I couldn't find anything obviously wrong with its leg, but it was curling it's toes into a fist so I tried a chick boot yesterday. It improved the toe curling overnight

Spoiled chicken is separated from the others to ensure plenty of feed and water. It does eat, drink and get around ok even though it doesn't use that left leg 100% yet. 

April Fools

Even the weather has a sense of humor, woke up to sunshine with a little rain at the same time. 

Yesterday I thought I would try some deviled eggs since the hens have been laying more than we can eat. Fresh eggs aren't recommended but it was all I had. I boiled them, dunked them in ice water, dunked  in boiling water and then ice water again. 

That didn't help much, they were still hard to peel

But I just mixed them up like egg salad and it tasted good.