Our Last Sunny Morning?

We are supposed to have rain from tonight through Thursday morning this week, with possibly 3 inches.  Our ground can use it. 

I'm going to do some things in the yard today, and be ready to just do chores over the next few days.  I know the goats won't like it, as they do not like to get wet. 

Here are four of the new birds up on the roost this morning.  I'm not sure where the New Hampshire was, but the bantie was down below, on a lower roost. 

These are NOT Welsummer hens, as I thought... I need to look them up, they have that bright white earlobe. According to Nancy Thellman, they are all laying, which will be a bonus to our food pantry patrons!  Thanks, girls! 

The Olde English gamebird hen was on the lower roost... and one of the Mille Fleurs was pecking away at her.  I'm sure it will take a few days for the pecking order to adjust. 

She is the bird on the left of the "middle" perch. 

Notice how everyone scatters when Abby walks in??? 

Last night, I built "Fort Apache" at the little henhouse, the one we have closed up and are no longer using.  Because it's going to rain all week, and because it is getting cold, I wanted to make a space where the ducks can get out of the elements.  This afternoon, I am breaking another bale of straw and making a deep bed within these bales (there is also one on the far side) and they will have a warm place to get out of the elements.  We have done this in the past for the ducks and geese that we've had.  That's six bales used here, and I'll put that straw on the gardens in the spring. 

Here's your blogger this morning, Nancy was nice enough to take my picture when I dropped her cages off.  I asked her to, because I wanted you all to see the wonderful early Christmas gift I got from Keith on Saturday... my very first official Carhartt jacket!  It was so nice to put it on yesterday morning when it was 27 degrees out, and be snuggly in it.  It fits over a sweatshirt, and is very comfortable. 

Thank you so much, Honey! 

(I got to drive the pick'em up truck yesterday and today). 

And I was gifted with two beautiful bales of brome hay for the goats. 

Here's Delilah on the deck, trying to get her bearings.  She was raised her whole life from a little doeling on Juniper Hill, so I know it will take her a few days to get adjusted to her new surroundings and friends.  Believe me, she knows how to use her horns, and the dogs have already learned that.  She is very friendly to Keith and me, and that's a sign of the gentleness she received from her first family, I'm sure.  

I think she's going to work out fine. 

And yes, more goat berries to sweep! 

Now, out to spread the straw and put things away before the rain comes in. 

P.S.  I want to explain to anyone newly reading the blog... there is a "Search" window half way down the right hand side.  It looks like a tiny window, but you can type anything in it and hit "Search" and it will bring up stories on the blog that refer to that subject... such as "Goats" will bring up posts about goats.