Around The Homestead

Still no puppies. Goats are so much easier to get a due date on. With dogs I don't know when to start counting the days because Tinker and Falcor  "locked up" 5 different times. I wrote down the first two but then for some reason didn't write down the other dates. I did go online and research and found lots of things I didn't know about dogs. You can take their temps (rectal) in the morning and evening the last few weeks of pregnancy. Dogs temps are normally between 100 to 102 but their temps will drop below 99F about 24 hours before starting labor. Tinkers temps have been right at 100 until this morning when it dropped to 99.8. Tonight it has dropped down to 98.1. Here is to hopefully having puppies by tomorrow. I know Tinker is ready and so am I. I am tired from all the checks during the night.

A cold snap is heading our way. Suppose to have freeze and frost warnings tomorrow night. Figures that now we have green tomatoes on some of the plants and lots of blooms on others cold weather would show up. But I expected it since I jumped the gun on planting this year. The weather has been hot so I couldn't help myself. Will make sure everything is covered good tomorrow night and hope for the best. I even have green beans, squash, and cucumbers up.

Am trying to cook meals using veggies I froze from the gardens last summer. Wanting to clean out the freezers so I can fill them with this years bounty. Still have a few cans of tomatoes, pickles, kraut, and collard greens from last year along with lots of jams and jellies. Hopefully the gardens will produce plenty to can again this year. Everything I can freeze or can is that much less I have to purchase at the grocery store. I am also cleaning up the pantry and making a list of things needing replaced or added. Hurricane season will be here soon and though they are calling for a quiet hurricane season that is when the big ones have hit NC. Doesn't hurt to be prepared.

Sunday is the celebration of life for my neighbor Vickie. She was Ms. Fran's daughter. I will be reading a poem and doing a eulogy. Her daughter Katherine (Pebbles) is working hard making sure Vickie has a beautiful celebration service and I know it will be very special.

Saturday we will be at Tractor Supply again. Haven Animal Rescue is planning a big event. They are doing adoptions and we will have a petting zoo. There will also be music and food so if you are in the area please stop by and say hello.

Buttons is HUGE! Thank goodness she only has 2 weeks left. Am hoping she has 2 or 3 doelings this time.  Then kidding season will be over until next year. Bella is due to have her puppies around the 20th. Will have to keep the thermometer handy and can only imagine how unhappy Bella will be with me.

Herb garden is fantastic! I have never had a herb garden look so good. I purchased a mortar and pestle set  over the weekend. It was a Easter present to myself. It is heavy but I love it! Made from lava rock and will be used to crush my herbs and spices. I have been looking for one for over a year and finally found one I really wanted. It will last me a lifetime.

 We hatched almost 200 chicks from the incubator! They are in containers in the livingroom right now. After the cold snap passes will move them to a brooding house outside that has heat lamps and windows we can adjust for the right temp and air flow. Baby chicks sure are messy!

This morning I was raking from under the rabbit cages when I heard a duck crying. Went to look and a young hawk had actually flown down into the pen trying to pick up a duckling. We see hawks all the time but we have so many huge oak trees giving a canopy over our pens it is hard for a hawk to fly in and out so have never had one try. I scared it off and William came out with a gun but it never came back. We are allowed to shoot if they are a danger to our animals but cannot keep feathers or have it mounted. No problem as I wouldn't want to do either. Don't want to shoot it so hope it doesn't try that again.

Well it is time to check on Tinker. Have a wonderful night and don't forget to count those blessings.