Spring has sprung

11:16 PM 19 April 2010
Temperature: moderate & damp

We have decided to get rid of the rabbits; as such, our audience must accept a few final photos before they're all gone. We're making arrangements with someone to give them a good, productive home, but good hutches are very expensive (upwards of $180 per) and the ones we've made have not been easy enough to

clean to make this a successful part of our farm for now. We may revisit it in the future.

We have found a form of trillium growing in the wetland part of our property, the part which is part of the run-up to the creek. We will be leaving it undisturbed; it is, in fact, endangered in this state, and has protected status on all public land. It is also remarkably pretty stuff.

Slightly managed to catch what appears to be a young rat the day we butchered the dead lamb. He was very grouchy about the prospect of our


taking it away from him, even though we had no such intentions; but we did manage to get a few good pictures of him, and even of his catch. Good job, barn kitty! Not bad for a half-grown cat with a clubfoot.

The geese have continued to sit on the nests under the porch; no goslings yet, aside from the two being fostered under the heat lamp. One of the ganders, however, was spotted attempting to
mate with one of the ducks; that didn't work out, although they
both seemed willing enough. There were problems of anatomy in play, there.

Peter often comes around the rabbit cages; they don't seem to mind him too much, and will even exchange sniffs with him through the bars without much alarm. It's very cute, but hopefully they will not miss each other too much once the rabbits are gone.


We got several meals out of the lamb; roast at first, then in a sort of stew with lentils and cauliflower and mushrooms. Currently what's left of the bones and ribcage is being made into stock. Let nothing go to waste, and that way we can console ourselves that its death was, at least, not in vain.

As well, there is now another new lamb, bringing us up to 12 for that flock.

Animal totals for now: 21 lambs, 38 sheep, 8 geese, 2 goslings, 9 rabbits, 8 cats, 21 ducks, incalculable eggs in nests. When they hatch, counting may become impossible!