Odds and Ends

It has been a very busy time here this holiday. It has been non stop going for about a month now. I have just had enough time to feed animals and clean out pens then on to the next event or get together. This Christmas has truly been a blessing. Our son is home from college with a degree in biology and applying to graduate schools. We haven't seen him in about 6 months and have missed him so much. Also a blessing, the arrival of his lovely girlfriend. She feels like family.........no pressure. I told my son, "She likes Diana Gabaldon books and green olives, she's the girl for me!" No pressure. I knitted and felted a hat for her. This one has a bit of llama in it. I think it is my best ever and looks darling on her. I have had her cleaning pig pens and asked if the smell bothered her and she said "No, I don't really smell anything." She chased the llama around the pasture determined he would take an apple from her. And sure enough, he did. She even took a trip to the feed store and came back with everything I wanted. Now I wouldn't call those tests....but let's just say she passed with flying colors.
The animals had a few visitors this weekend. It seems that the pigs have become somewhat of an attraction and have found a following in the blog world. Well, really it's my sister in law that sent my blog to her mother and they wanted to come see the animals, especially the pigs. So everyone came over and went out to meet the animals that they had read about. The pigs were quite unremarkable. Barely looking up from their food long enough to interact with anyone. Then I had to worry, because they had food on their mind, that they might nip a finger of someone wanting to touch their funny little nose. A pig's nose seems to be irresistible to touch, I have noticed. Try it sometime.
The goats all gathered round and got their bite of apple and the llama came over to see what was going on. Moly and Ruckus put on a good head butt display while everyone laughed. Semi Sweet (Mrs. Robinson) stuck out her tongue and molested anything that would stand still. A good time was had by all.
We will be getting more chickens this spring so I am deciding which kind. I like Americanas but would like to get an old or rare breed. I need about 5 or 6 hens and maybe a rooster. We have two very cute hens that are technically the neighbors but have "free ranged" themselves over to my place. I call them The Ladies. They have supplied me with eggs but I have to find them which really means I come across my dog woofing them down and save what's left. We have a lot of predators so these new hens will be locked up and have proper nest boxes.

We made a trip to the new Cabela store. It was overwhelming but fun. I bought two sweaters and a cast iron skillet. They have something for everyone. My husband is an avid pheasant hunter so he found a good deal on an upland bird coat. I have heard that people plan their vacation around a visit to Cabela's. I think that is going way too far but it was fun to visit.
So that's the odds of the holidays and the end of 2007. I hope 2008 brings a few hens, a few Nigerian babies and my son closer to home.