Me, Trying to do Chores

Get off the mower, babies!!!!

You see that the Duck Pond Express is back on duty.  I'm carrying water from the hose spigot on the side of the house to the henyard. 

I'm filling the pool... stop laughing, everyone.  I won't be doing this but another few days, as this time next week we will be very cold again.  Then the ducks will have to be happy with cold water from the pump. 

To those of you who suggested pulling the pump to fix it... it's well and truly in pieces... the plumber checked, and so did Keith. DRAT.  

I got a new one today at a farm store in Bonner, and I was glad it was well under a hundred dollars. 

I'm going to help dig, so hopefully it won't be a long job for the plumber. 

I also have a leaking spigot on the side of the house, and in for a penny, in for a pound.  Keith can't handle repairs now that his shoulder is in such bad shape. 

If I start back towards the porch, it's a race to see who can get there before Maa Maa. 

The thing that is so cute is that babies love to chase each other, and spend time rocketing up onto the deck, running from the east stairs (here) to the south stairs of the deck, down the steps in a leap, around the yard, and back up this way.  Joie de vivre, for sure. 

Until it's nap time.  

I keep stopping to take pictures.  This is Chatterbox, the only Ameracauna I have, who is no longer laying now.  She is in the heaviest moult I have ever had a bird go into, and looks positively sick... but it's the moult.  No tail, no wing feathers, and her neck... my goodness!  I've been trying to get a picture of her for three days, but she moves SO fast. 

And Buffy the Polish Girl was standing like a statue under the tarp in the old henyard.  She doesn't go outside too often, but was out there walking around in the sun this afternoon. 

Our Big Guy was keeping his eye on the Hooligans this afternoon.  He is having an increasingly harder time getting around, and his mobility is lessening by the day now.  We don't know how long we'll have him with us, but we talked again today, and we won't let him suffer.  His hind end is about gone, and he tore an ACL in his left hind leg a year ago, so the side is very weak and now almost unable to hold him up.  He can get up the east porch steps, but can no longer get up the steps to the deck from the south.  

I've got him on a double dose of Tramadol now to keep him comfortable.  What a wonderful old boy he is. 

I know I'm late getting caught up on your blogs... I'll get around to them all, I promise!