Farmers' Market

They were selling much more than vegetables at the Fayetteville Farmers' Market this week.

Resurrection

This morning I threw out a couple of scoops of corn for the chickens as usual. The new mother hen came running over for her share, leaving her two chicks unprotected. Quick as a flash, "Killer" Pharoah snatched one and ran behind the barn. I chased the cat, forcing him to drop the squawking chick. It was on the other side of the fence, and by the time I crossed over it was nowhere to be seen. I searched for about 15 minutes, to no avail, no peeping, no yellow fuzz, nothing but curious cats. So, I went into the house to finish my morning chores. About an hour later I came out to check on the hen and (remaining) chick only to discover, lo and behold, both chicks hovering around their mother. Closest thing to a miracle I've ever seen.

New Chicks

A month ago one of my dozen hens decided to "go broody" and sit a clutch of eggs. After about a week I tried to move her and the nest to a more secure location in a shed. In a group effort we made a new nest, caught her, and moved the eggs to the new location. She would have none of it, flew through the roof of the shack, and made a new nest in the old location with no eggs. The other hens helped her with a new clutch and I let her sit them for three weeks. Finally she hatched out a couple of new chicks, so now I call her "Barbara Bush," matriarch of the new family.

Mutton Bustin'

The local Independence Day rodeo featured "mutton bustin'" where kids less than 45 pounds try to ride a sheep for the required 8 seconds. I don't know who has more fun -- the crowd, the kids, or the sheep.

Pasture

pasture gone to seed

food for birds and rats and bugs

better than a lawn