It Is As It Is

• We're expecting a hurricane, or something up here tomorrow.  Today I spent some time putting things away that were likely to blow away. 

 Good times.

The good thing is, that since I'll most likely have to stay inside, I'll have nothing to do but clean my office/sewing room.  And believe me, THAT is a very good thing.

• I also put the rabbits out for a bit of fresh air, since they're not likely to be able to run outside for quite a few days, depending on how soggy it gets.  They have nice cages, but I always feel that a bit of a run is good for everyone.

Daphne agrees.  She can't see very well, but she loves how outside smells.

I really think they love being outside, and it's great for me, because it gets them used to being handled.  And snuggled.  In that order, pretty much, but more snuggling than handling. 

• This morning the turkeys went to turkey heaven.  We didn't process them--they were WAY too big for any pot, cone, or even plucker we have.  I found a person through Craig's List up here who lives not too far away and would come, pick them up and process them in exchange for two of the Narragansetts.  That seemed more than fair to me--I love bartering.  I discovered a fellow homesteader this way, too.  It seems that he and his wife produce everything they eat.

Something to strive for, definitely  We've made a date to meet up so I can look at his gardens.  I've got to see how big they are, to see how they're feeding his family.  What I loved so much was how enthusiastic he was about homesteading.  He was inspirational.  I always figure I'm the only nut who thinks it's fantastic and everyone should do it, but he's the same way.  It was truly nice to meet a kindred spirit.

Most disappointing thing about the turkeys overall?  After 26 weeks of walking them to their stupid coop every night, and feeding them buckets of feed, and putting up with their stupid shenanigans and truckloads of poop, the two Narragansetts weighed 7 and 8 pounds, and Great White turned out not to be great, and weighed a whopping 17.  Return on investment?  Not really.  I'm thinking that we may not venture down this road again, or do it very differently if we do.

Blah.

• I did get a chance to speak to the vet about Min and Lilly, and she told me that she didn't see a need to separate them out from Dulci, as CAE is hard to transmit unless through milk or by blood.  So basically, if there's an injury, I need to stay on top of it, but I'm in contact with them all the time, so that shouldn't be a big deal.  She suggested that Min could still be bred if I catch the kids, and never allow them to nurse, but that Lilly should be a pet, as different blood tests showed some other issues.  She'll be retested in a month, but it's most likely that she'll just be a buddy from now on.  So she's "Companion Goat", and that's all right.

Min I won't breed this year, as I don't want Dulci's babies to suckle from the wrong mama at any time.  I'll breed her when Dulci's babies are no longer nursing, and yes, I'll catch the kids.

We had a good time with the girls today.  Min did her usual sneaking through the gate thing, and so I let them all out.  Most likely, they won't be out too much in the next few days, either.  My son and I raced them up and down the driveway.  What a blast!  They are fast as lightning, and there was no way either he or I could beat them.  We ran so much we had Dulci panting.    They are a barrel of fun, those girls.

I'm not happy with the way the tests turned out, I won't lie, but I know that in my heart, I can never part with my girls.  Fingers crossed that they don't show signs, but if they do, I know I won't ever write them off easily.  They are my girls, after all.  And I love them so.

And they smile:

 

And eat leaves:

 

And climb things they shouldn't:

And I've taught them to trick or treat.  So the kids should easily triple their haul this year:

 

Unless, of course, Halloween is washed out. 

And that would be bad, since I love me some horrible-for-me Milky Ways and peanut butter cups.  So bad for me, but so, so good.

Ah, my girls.  I love my girls. 

Be well, friends.  I hope you are all out of the path of this weird storm, and if not, batten down the hatches and good luck!