Stories from the Farm

This title seemed to fit a couple things that have happened over the last couple of days!

When we left for school yesterday morning, this is what I saw when I looked up the road…

not good.  Those branches belong to the tree that is supposed to be standing IN the ram pasture.  I backed back into the driveway to evaluate the situation.

We knew the tree was having issues…

but not this much.  The poor thing split right in half.

Since it was laying over the fence, I had to move some sheep around.

I didn’t want these big guys running down the road and really causing a problem!  My husband has started cutting the tree up for firewood, but it’s sad to see it go.

When I was out front taking pictures of the tree, I took a picture of my favorite chicken…

she reminds me of ‘Henny Penny’ my chicken I had growing up that would let me carry her around.  Unfortunately, when I went back outside a couple hours later, the door to the chicken pen was open – not good – and chickens were everywhere!!!  Several were hiding in our front hedge. 

I was able to round most of them up, but I was still missing a few and one of them was my little brown hen.  I tried coaxing them out with food and I was a little concerned when she didn’t come – she was the friendliest and loves her food.  When my husband got home, he helped me catch a couple more, but still no sign of her.  By dusk, I only had two missing – her and one of the roosters.  We went out with a flashlight right before bed and the rooster was on top of the pen, but no sign of her.  I left one of the doors to the pen open hoping she would be there this morning.  Still no sign of her and now I’m afraid something got her, why does it have to be the one I like???

While I was moving the rams, I noticed that Junior is starting to look like an old man.

Rams are so hard on their bodies!  He has been demoted to the bottom of the pecking order and seems content to stay there.  I also noticed that his right side horn was looking a little wierd.  It reminded me that it had been bleeding after him and Wrangler had a disagreement.  He also looked a little off.  Sure enough, this morning that horn is no longer attached to his head. 

We caught him up tonight because there were suspicious bugs in the horn on the ground – not good!!!  He wasn’t very happy with us, but we had to thoroughly clean the area and apply some fly spray.  I think we caught it just in the nick of time – bugs in the head is a nasty situation 🙂  Flies love to lay eggs in gooey, warm areas.  I’ll let your imagination fill in the rest.

Now the old boys can share their war stories and reminisce about the good ol’ days.  I think I will set-up a new pasture for Junior and Julian, so they don’t have to put up with the youngsters – they deserve it.