Sunday, September 27, 2009

Dewy


Early Sunday morning. No sounds from the road, just the clucking of the hens and the quacking of the ducks. The air is cool and heavy with moisture -- dew covers everything.


Here at Busy Solitude Farm we are in the Galien River Watershed. Our water table is quite high; four years ago when we moved here we had to install a septic mound system because a septic field would have been too close to the water table. No matter, I planted it with a small, low-grass prairie and now it features prominently in the landscape! All of this water means we frequently have foggy mornings.


My NeBoShone pine. That's not a Latin name, don't look it up! I call it that because my friends at the NeBoShone Association up north gave it to me for Christmas one year. I had it in a huge pot for about four or five years before I finally landed here and put it in the ground. Over the past few years it's grown well, happy in its permanent home.


The vegetable garden slowly fades as the days grow short. I'll eat cabbage for a while yet, and the tomatoes still on the vine will ripen, but nothing new emerges this late. It's time to plant the garlic, put the beds to bed, and make plans for next season.


Lots of cosmos and zinnias still bloom in the cut flower bed. They linger until a frost and I'll enjoy their colors a while longer.


And I'll enjoy their colors a while longer, too! The dew holds scents close to the ground, fascinating those big dog noses. Oskar and Ulani can show me exactly where a bunny ran, or which direction the deer came from. But look out for those big hairy feet coming inside after a run through wet grass!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Barn Sounds



Egglebert and the ducks were alarmed! OK, so they had reason. I had just taken my black cat on a tour of the barn -- held him firmly under my arm, but he did look over the wall into the coop area and that was enough to set off the alarm. This clip is a bit lengthy (1:15 or so), but I wanted to include Egglebert and the duck. Caution: dogs and cats may go crazy hearing these sounds!

Monday, September 14, 2009

Oskar's Favorite Song!

Oskar commented that if I was going to post silly videos of chicks chirping, I ought to feature his solo on his favorite song. Here's our first cut -- when I get a larger memory card we can do the whole thing (I know all his fans will be eager for that!).

Peep Peep Peep

A new camera means the opportunity to play!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

What's Going On in There?!

The new babies are about a week old and Mama Hen takes them out to stroll around the coop regularly. But when dusk falls, it's back to the nest to cuddle up safe and warm.

Look how proud they are to show off in front of the big chickens! They act all grown up until something startles them, then whistle piteously until Mama calms them down with her clucking.

They're in charge of their own grooming already, happily dusting themselves alongside Mama, then preening their feathers before bed.

Just before they dive into their downy featherbed, they look back as if to say "G'night now!" Sweet dreams, peeps!