Willow Ridge Farms

It was so close we thought we could touch it...Spring that is. After a week in the 40's-60's I thought that winter had made a quick exit. Mother Nature once again played a cruel joke....6 inches of snow yesterday.

Chore time at the farm was a real adventure today...with the  sun shining it has melted some snow leaving it slick with a layer of mud underneath. It proved to be a bit much for the Jeep today as we spun and spun trying to catch some traction anywhere we could find it.

Not bad enough that we were stuck I had to contend with an audience too. Surrounding the Jeep were 4 big horses looking ready to offer some sort of advice on how to remedy the situation. I could just imagine what they were thinking...stupid car...she should have known...a horse would never been in that situation. I found myself becoming more and more frustrated as mud and snow were flying everywhere...jumping out, I yell at them telling all of them I was going to find a rope and they could pull me out...much to my surprise all 4 turned around and walked away probably on their way to find someone else to make fun of!

Today 60 little day old layers became a part of our farm, we try and continue to add each year to replace older or lost hens...trying to keep our total at 100 layers.

Also new to our farm this year has been the addition of JuJu Bee, a very small orange tabby. She has been a nice fit with the others but forgot about new kitties and new chicks!

When I entered the house with the peeping box the other cats glanced my way but not much of a reaction...I then heard the sound of what sounded like elephants descending upon me. The small orange tabby had heard the peeps and was on the hunt. She stayed VERY close as I set up the chicks in their new home, watching as I carefully placed each one inside.  As she watched, she circled and "talked" to me or them I'm not sure which. Once the wire was placed over the top and the heat lamp set she jumped on top to peer in at the chicks who didn't seem the least concerned.

Oh JuJu Bee tried her hardest to convince the other household felines how good a McNugget lunch would taste...chattering in her little cat lingo...but the others continued to snooze and ignore her...until our old black and white boy came over...jumped to the top with her and placed his front paw on her head as if to say "we are housecats and we are above this". With that JuJu Bee jumped down and went to lie with the rest, but  everytime I glance over there, she has one eye open....I am sure she is wondering if they would taste better with BBQ sauce or ketchup? 

Spring is trying hard to make an entrance here in Southern Iowa as we will hit 50 again today. It has to be close with new baby calves only days old across the road. Baby chicks to arrive on Monday...which has always amazed me...tiny little balls of fluff sent through the mail.

Dairy goats are getting rounder and rounder with the llamas and sheep in the same condition. A couple of weeks before little ones hit the ground...kind of the calm before the storm.

Yesterday I found myself standing and staring at the garden, bare but if I squint real hard I  can once again see it full and thriving. Spring had better "sprung" soon it is almost to much for me to bare!