Well sort of. Since I'm planning on buying chickens farely soon, I thought it best to start filling my house with appropriate chicken decor. On to a different story, guess who we found in the pond today?
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Our pond had frozen over again after it had completely thawed in mid-March. Since then, it has thawed and frozen back and forth. However, last night the koi in the pond suddenly decided they had enough and started swimming about. A few had made an appearance during the initial thaw, but last night the pond was swarming with big ones and little ones. Perhaps they sense the return of spring? Let's hope so.
When we came to view our house for the first time, it was in the dead of winter. Snow covered everything. Needless to say, I'm eager for it to melt and reveal what lies beneath. However, there was one place on the property that no amount of snow could cover. The previous owners had created a huge pile of debris in the small pasture. Mainly, twigs and branches that I figured had fallen off the many trees around the property. Since we plan on using the small pasture, I knew I'd have to eventually start eliminating the debris and clearing the area for some new arrivals. This morning as I was outside snapping photos of the horses in the pasture, I wandered into the small pasture, glanced over to the pile of debris and something caught my eye. It looked like someone had been making a home out of the twigs. I'd feared as much but thought mostly smaller critters like racoons or opossums, but this opening made me fear that something bigger and more sinister had made themselves at home nearly in our backyard. However, closer inspection revealed something else. Unless some critter had made a visit to the local lumber shop and learned how to use saw and hammer to set up house in our small pasture, it looks as if the previous owners had purposely created this pile of debris as cover for a shelter beneath. But whatever for? They had horses and from the proof in my barn, also raised chickens. So unless this is some kind of primitive chicken coop, I haven't a clue as to what they used it for.
This is what I dream of. Hopefully, some day, we'll have sweet little baby horses running around the farm.
We're heading out to a used tack sale this morning in hopes of finding good deals. Since we have been horse owners for only two years, seven of which those months we had them home, we are seriously lacking in tack equipment.
Drove my oldest to the university where she attends today so that she could write an exam. Since it's a two hour drive one way, I had to wait around while she wrote it. I spent most of that time in Chapters perusing the animal section. I'm hoping to bring chickens home soon but first thought it might be helpful to actually educate myself on the critters so picked up these books today. I had already found lots of information on the interenet thanks to the many folks who are so willing to share their experience and knowledge. One of those sites I found holds a fun photo sharing post every Friday. Here's the link to see all the photos. http://www.verdefarm.com/2011/03/farm-friend-friday-8-our-shetland-sheep.html
A lovely start to the day when greeted by dear Emma in the window. Not so lovely...the pond is no longer thawed.
The snow has put a damper on my yardwork, not to mention my spirits, but I try and not let the white stuff get me down. Sure I'm aching, painfully, for spring, colour, warmth and everything else that comes with the turn of the season, but I try not to look out the window and try to avoid driving anywhere. There's nothing more depressing then still having to navigate bad roads. So I'm focusing on the lovely instead. Winter sunsets.
The pond finally completely thawed yesterday needless of the fact is was a rather chilly day. The forecast had called for warm temperatures but the sun was a no-show. Still it was warm enough to melt the rest of the ice in the pond. We have yet to find out where the filter and pump are but think the filter is under ground and another cord was found lying next to the pond but when we followed it it disappeared under ground as well, but we wren't sure where it went to after that. We'll probably have to dig it up because everytime we plugged it in to the outlet, it caused it to short circuit. But we did get the lights in the greenhouse working and the fountain in the pond as well. Can't wait for the flowers to grow in and I think we're going to add some lighting to the pond and some water lilies as well. I had wanted to do more yardwork but it was too cold and wet so headed for the barn to start on the rabbit's hutch. She is temporarily housed in a dog crate at the moment so really needs something bigger. We found an old wooden cart that was used as shelter for the stray cats but we dragged it to the barn for the rabbit so that she had a place to hide if she felt she needed it. When the hutch is complete, I'll post photos.
Last Thursday, we had the farrier over and he did all the horses feet and today we adminstered deworming to all three as well dusted them for lice. We fear Duke has been suffering badly from them. He had scratched himself so bad on his chest he created a bald spot. We checked for lice but it looked more like extremely dry skin, but for safety took the precaution and dusted him and the rest of the horses. Hopefully, that will do the trick and the horses should be set for a couple more months. |