A Mixed Up Friday Post

It seems like this week has flown.  We started out with bitter temps, but it is 60 out there now, or nearly so. 

Very balmy and nice. 

Too bad I am still carrying water. 

We have the pump, but have not heard from the plumber, and tomorrow, it is supposed to drizzle most of the day. 

These two D'Uccle roosters (and the porcelain hen behind them) are living in the rafters of the new henhouse. The Mille Fleur on the right used to go out daily, but has now become a rafter dweller.  The only thing I can think is that Ferdy, the big rooser, has beaten this one, Larry, up.  So now these two have to duke it out to get to the feed and water on top of the nest box daily.  

And, as you can see, the nest box was busy this morning when I got out there to do chores. There was also a hen in the lower right. 

This was also something I was glad to see this morning... Delilah and Kelly were playing at butting each other, NOT trying to hurt each other.  This was good news, because it means, to me, that Delilah is finally settling in well, and the babies have accepted her dominance.  The horse trough there is full of hay because the three little ones snooze in it in the sun during the day. 

Um... when they aren't out driving me crazy. 

I posted this on Facebook early this morning, it's the ducks headed downhill as soon as I let them out.  They LOVE to go heads-down to the bottom of the pasture and back up, in the morning. 

At this point, I am getting only ONE duck egg daily. 

I knew I was in trouble from the second I walked into the library this morning. 

I only came home with four, I don't know how I did it.  I'm going to read them, and donate them to the food pantry thrift store.  One may be given away on the blog. 

I posted this picture on Facebook last night, and my cousin posted back...

"He looks worn out". 

Ranger, my friends, is worn out. 

His hind legs are deteriorated now to the point where he has trouble getting up and down every time.  He whimpers with pain. 

We are afraid for him every day, and the goats irritate him to death. 

When they are out, he is in, but then, he is in almost all the time now. 

This morning, for the first time, he did not want to go down into the yard to do his business.  He can still get down both flights of steps, but can no longer get up the deck steps.  He has stopped sleeping outside the bedroom door at night, he can't get up and down quickly. 

We know his time is near, and today, I talked to the doctor's office about it. 

It will be soon, and how we'll miss this wonderful old boy, whom Keith found dumped and starving in the county. 

Keith and I have cried off and on for two days.