A snowy, snowy day on the farm!

It is a snowy day here in Northern Virginia.  We don't get much snow so people get excited when we get an inch.  Everything shuts down.  Today, we have about three inches on the farm and it seems only the new batch of ducks is noticing.  They hatched this summer and this is their first snow experience.  They weren't real excited to step outside!

*** I know you'll ask about Gandolf, the Great Pyrenees.  We love this guy and he isn't always locked up.  However, he is an escape artist and a wandering Nelly so until we have fencing that he can't breech, he is locked up unless supervised.  Even then we have to be inside a fenced area of the farm- which is most anywhere- because he doesn't listen to commands.  In addition, he still thinks the chickens are play things.  Not a mean bone in his body but I don't think the birds like being tossed in the air like balls.  Love the guy, but he's an independent spirit.  Sometimes I feel bad for him but I would feel worse if we lost him or if he were run over by a car.  So know he is loved and that he has plenty of freedom.

A good Rooster!

I love this big white rooster.  His name is 'Roooooster!'
He is a great leader and takes very good care of his hens.

One day, I heard quite a bit of squawking from our porch and walked outside to see the Rooster in a facedown with a fox.  No telling what the result of that would have been but I did chase the fox away.

Chickens in general talk to each other often.  They have many different chirps.  If you listen to this short video, you can hear the rooster doing his 'there's good food here' cluck.  Love this guy.

http://youtu.be/u90d6vnFO_o

YouTube: Rooster taking care of his hens!

Sundays are for Gratitude: What do you love love love about Autumn?

Good Morning! It is brisk out there this morning...had to find my hat! Continuing the Sundays are for gratitude trend, what do you love love love about this time of year?

What do you love about Autumn?

I love this time of year when the days are still a bit on the warm side but the nights are cool and crisp.  I love to see the dark sky filled with stars at night.
Welcome Autumn.  Some reasons why I love you:

Warm sweaters
Warm comforters
Fall colors
Falling leaves
Cool days
Cold nights
Squash
Apples
Pumpkin Pie
Winter coats on the horses, and on Gandolf (our Great Pyrenees)
Apple spice scent
Hot drinks
Mittens
Football
The World Series (Go Kansas City Royals!)
Fires in the fireplace
Crockpots
The Sunday smell of a roast throughout the house
The Roosters crowing later in the morning!

What do you love about Autumn?
Have a Happy Sunday everyone!  Enjoy this beautiful day!

Sundays are for Gratitude

What a lovely Sunday morning and how lucky we are to be alive.

Go make today what you want it to be. 

Love your family, yourself, your dog, cat, horses, chickens, turkeys, woodchucks,  and your god.  

Appreciate this big beautiful world and all the creatures that wander through it. 

Sundays are for Gratitude.