Tuesday AM - up about 7 am - make cofffeeeee...

Half an hour of Mahjongg while I wait for my brain to kick in

I may be alive...

Take a handful of alfalfa pellets to the goats - to trick them into letting me get their leads on. We mosey our way up to the mule pen where they are locked in, much to Sweet Pea's dismay. I have stuff to do today and don't want them underfoot. They are like having pesky dogs - Cinnamon especially has to be in my back pocket all the time.

Back down to the goat pen where I have to make some repairs to the fence - AGAIN. I get to stand around for a few minutes while I fill up the water trough for the goats, and the smaller bowl next to it we leave out for the wild bunnies.

Meanwhile James is dragging some of the corral panels we've been using for a goat pen back to the white shed, taking off the fence we use to block our little clever gals from slipping under the panels, and reinstalling it on the gate to the large mule corral to keep them from slipping out of THAT. Monty's goats taught my girls some bad habits - but then they also taught them to eat tumbleweeds. It's a fair enough trade ;)

James gets his job done and opens the gate so the goats have both the small and large mule pen. The weeds are really starting to grow in both corrals. Hopefully the goats will do their job and we won't have to mow the pens.

James comes down and helps with the repairs to the goat pen. I dig a couple of big nasty spiky weeds out of the goat pen. Finally, things are ready and I open the gate between the goat pen and the chicken pen, so the chickens can have the run of the goat pen for a day. They pick up tidbits the goats miss and catch insects, too. For them this is almost pure freedom, after the brooder.

Speaking of which - my next job is to go clean out the brooder now that it is no longer in use. I also bought the chickens a much bigger waterer. The small one they used as babies I scrub out, fill, and take down to the white shed for the kittens and Hani. Once there, of course, I have to pet cats for twenty minutes.

Next I set out to hang the hummingbird feeder. Somehow in the process I also hang out the goddess prayer flags I bought for Beltane but didn't get out until - well, now.

Meanwhile, James has filled up the kiddie pool we bought this week. Then the pond-in-process. We lined it with cement this week, but it rained on it and we aren't sure if it is going to hold water yet.

By afternoon I'm relaxing with a book, the boombox tuned to heavy metal and oldies, a beer, and my feet soaking in cool water (the kiddie pool) while my back soaks up the sun. Life is good.

Eventually, I get hot and slide completely into the pool.

James drags me out of the pool - I promised to make him dinner and he's hungry.

I make him mashed potatoes, creamed corn, and Boca Burger Veggie Grillers. We eat sitting at the picnic table in the warehouse. It is out of the wind and sun - but the view is awesome. By now the sun is hot - and I'm burnt to a crisp. Eh, who cares.

About time for my rounds. I feed the goldfish in the tank by the front door - we're growing them up big enough to survive when I toss 'em out in the cattle tank to eat algae.

I pack up a bucket with food and treats for everyone and walk first to the big white shed. I am greeted with great joy - after all, I'm carrying the Purina Kitten Chow bag. Clarice makes me laugh slapping her brothers out of the food bowl. Hani wants to be petted more than she wants to eat. Soon she'll be off for her nightly hunt. She is just starting to take the kittens with her and teach them the ropes.

Down to the chickens now. I slip inside and into their pen, calling them "Dinner, dinner, dinner - chick, chick, chick". They gather around pretty quick. Mom usually has goodies for them to try. Bits of carrots and other kitchen scraps tonight for them.

I close their door after them, leaving the goat pen empty and ready for the usual residents. Walking back up to the mule pen, the goats meet me at the corner and baaah baaah me all the way to the gate. They heard me calling "Dinner" and couldn't get to me! Doggone it woman, where is our dinner? Yes, I have treats and pellets for them, too. They about knock me down getting out of the gate and race me back to their pen. This is one time Cinnamon (also known as "Miss Ruled by my tummy") leads the way. She is in the pen circling impatiently while the "old ladies" (that would be me and Sweet Pea) are still strolling down. I hand over the goodies and pour pellets into their feeder.

Taking my time walking back up, I'm enjoying the cool breeze. In an hour or so I'll get a spectacular show as the sun goes down. Then maybe a nice nap...

Life is good.