TO ANOTHER. 
I had just made my coffee and fried meatloaf on a muffin for breakfast. You know I will fry up anything for my breakfast but a fried meatloaf sandwich is my latest favourite. And beep went my phone. The smallest of beeps – a txt message from the Post Mistress – TWO boxes of chicks had arrived – all alive and filling her Office with loud indignant peeping.
So I swallowed my breakfast, grabbed my jacket and hat, went to the barn, stole one of the piglets heat lamps, jogged back to the turkey house with it, set another receiving area up, turned the light on, filled up the water containers with water mixed with chick electrolyte, filled up the feeders, loaded up the dogs and raced off to the little country Post Office to collect the boxed flocks.
On arrival, every chick gets a drink before being set down into their warm container. The chicks huddled together and the ducklings were off running around their big space their big feet paddling at speed through their food and around their water chasing a fly that happened to be in there.
It takes a while to settle forty little birds. But they had a good day and a good night. Their (old cracked water trough) containers are covered in old windows – heat lights above so they weathered the nights cold very well.
Anyway on my drive back from the PO I saw that one of the electric cattle fences on the West side was broken so the moment I had finished the chicks I gathered my tools and loaded the dogs into the white truck and drove back, then down into the dell to fix the fence. Thankfully none of the cows had noticed!
Then I raced back home got cleaned up and went into the local school to donate blood. While I was lying on the gurney being bled my man with the pigs called. He had four for me and could he bring them this afternoon. No way was I saying no to that offer! So once I was done with the blood, (and agreed solemnly not to lift anything heavy and to take it easy for the rest of the day), though feeling nauseous and hungry, I drove back home and hauled in the last bales of straw and got feeders full and water in. Shifted panels and gates and awaited my new hogs.
They look good. Two Berkshires and two Herefords. And this man who took so long to get them here raises them softly and gently so they are also quite tame and friendly. Though this is the first time in their lives that they have been outside so they were having a great time exploring.
What a great day. And all in sunlight – even better.
I have airbnb guests coming this afternoon so after chores I will be setting up the Coop. There will be sun today too so it will be lovely to work in there today. But first chicks and pigs and piglets and sows and cows and bringing the glasshouse plants out to begin hardening off.
And after all that I will go and buy the hay seeds and oat seeds – if all goes well John will sow the new hay field this weekend. And I will begin in the vegetable garden.
So all in all as one thing led to another I had a very good day and another full day today.
And the farm is fully stocked up again. The quiet time is over.
Now to work! I hope you have a lovely day.
Love celi
WEATHER: SUN!!
Friday 04/20 0% / 0 in
Sunny. High 59F. Winds light and variable.
Friday Night 04/20 0% / 0 in
Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 36F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
Sun
6:06 AM 7:38 PM
Moon
Waxing Crescent, 23% visible 9:46 AM Not Available
The Kitchen's Garden 
47 responses to “THEN ONE THING LED …”
What breed of chicks and ducks did you get? They all look very healthy and spunky. Let’s hope we have all seen the back of the winter’s reach!
The chickens are Rhode Island reds and the ducks are Khaki Campbell’s. All for laying.
And then…, and then…, and then…! And guests too! And oh yes, you donated blood! I am sitting here in awe, all worn out. The new little ones are all very cute & fine. Have a lovely Friday, and a great sunny weekend, planting & sowing.
Yes! Though I certainly would not have CHOSEN to do all that in one day
Goodness, you make my head spin with all of your activities! Doesn’t the sunshine make all the difference though in one’s energy level?
Welcome to all the new chicks,ducks and piggies on your farm.
The sun shining on us made the dogs and I almost giddy with energy – even without that pint of blood
One day… you did all this in a single day. Celi, you are awe-inspiring ♡
It was a pretty busy day – I did take the time to send John a ‘bring home your dinner’ message.
Smart ☺
The four new Plonkers are going to think they are in heaven soon. Ducks are cute, looking forward to watching them grow up. What are you going to do for milk this summer, do you have a farm nearby that you can buy raw milk from? Laura
No milk for me. Any farms like mine are miles away!
… and somewhere in there I hope you drew breath, had a cup of coffee and something to eat and maybe took the weight off your feet for a moment or two? Don’t you think ducklings look a bit like pretty Disneyfied versions of themselves, so very big-eyed and soft and fluffy? And those young hogs look lively and healthy, so it was worth the wait.
Yes. Well worth it and he fed them GM free feed that whole time too!
So many new little ones! I feel like spring is finally on its way here. I slept in until nearly 6:00am(!) this morning and was woken up by a bird singing outside — and it was actually semi-light outside. Just a few more warm, sunny days, and we might finally get rid of this snow! Enjoy your mild weather today!
Oh Anna you are just like me – 6 am puts me in a panic- this morning is lovely – calm and sunny! Bliss.
How exciting – what a busy day! I love baby ducks – they are just like dinosaurs.That Berkshire, talking to you, looks cute – what a nice batch of pigs too!
Yes – I am pleased. They did sleep in this morning though – not quite sure what just happened I imagine!
Yes! The quiet time is over! And you are off and running! Hello Springtime!!! xo
I feel like we hit the ground running with a bit of a BOOM!
Goodness, so many new farm inhabitants arriving plus the air bnb! Things always seem to cluster and lull in life, don’t they? But I always find it a very satisfying day when so much happens and it all gets done.
So happy to read the chicks and ducklings are all safely there and healthy. Wishing you more sun and warmth! Sounds like a good day. Hope today is too.
Today is working so far! The warm sun helps so much!
“Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry. When I take you out in the surrey,. When I take you out in the surrey with the fringe on top! ” -> Yup, that is stuck in my head now – and yours too!
Farm Babies! And those pigs look terrific! Love the black spotted one.
Okay Berkshire vs Herefords – which have the fluted or ruffled fuzzy ears?
The berkshires are black and white.
Ayuh, and Herefords are like the Hereford/ Beef Cattle… (LOVE your wee Herefords, C; )
But wait, this new bunch – both Hereford and Berks all have notched, upright ears… Is/was this done purposefully? (And a slightly different breed than yours, judging by the ears?)
They notch the ears for show pigs – it give info on the litter and sow- where on the ear and which ear is cut says something.
Thank you!
what an amazing day!
Yes – a good day!
SO glad you “took it easy for the rest of the day”! (But everything’s easy in full sun daylight, isn’t it?; )
Looks like those ducklings are going to be a real boon around the Farmy: )
I see you “listen” very well to the blood takers instructions. 🙂 No time for any of that with all you have going on. Isn’t that where expressions like “when it rains, it pours” come from. chicks and pigs and broken fences all in a quick breath. Hang on tight. You are creating your own whirl wind. 🙂