What is more fun than a duckling??

Answer ... a duckling with her own wading pool. I paid $8.00 for a small wading pool at the Dollar General Store and it was money well spent. Daphne has had such a good time the last two evenings playing in her pool. She does this snorkeling thing and skims the bottom then jumps up and flaps her wings. Freaks the cats out. She is very jealous of her pool and the cats are not allowed near it. Poor Leonard, while minding his own business, walked past it last night only to have Daphne reach out and tweak his tail. 

We are suppose to have a pretty weekend so I will be working on her pen. I'm thinking it will be 10'x 20'. That should be plenty of room for her and the four Ameraucana pullets I will be getting next month. Really looking forward to adding some blue eggs to the mix of cream and brown eggs I am currently getting from my mixed flock. 

Sunday I planted  the Santa Rosa Plum where it will eventually offer some shade on the bunny hutch. I am still deciding where to plant the dwarf North Star Cherry tree. Apparently at some point the back yard was heavily graveled which makes any deep digging beyond me. :(  

My wee bit of garden is producing Kale and scallions. The Kale is very tender with a good flavor. Two of the Rhubarb plants came back. They were in a bad spot that wants to flood in heavy rain so I have transplanted them to a raised bed. So far they are pouting and very droopy. We are suppose to get some rain tonight and I am counting on that to perk them up.

I am experimenting with container growing Yukon Gold potatoes. They are in shrub pots that I have partially filled with compost. As the plants grow I will keep filling the pots with more compost/top soil. Not expecting a big harvest but just enough to rob the plants for small potatoes for the green bean pot. :)

                                                                      ~ Penny ~

New Addition to the Farm

My cousin Emma gifted me with a duckling last weekend. After determining it was a duck, and not a drake, I named her Daphne. Miss Daphne is an Indian Runner duck. This is one of the breeds I particularly wanted for the farm so I am very excited! She was handled so much that rather than run around in the hen house doing duckling stuff she wants to be held. I told my sister Angela it was as though I had a new puppy. She is content to sit on my lap for a very long time just snuggling. I am smitten!

A Good Book!

I recently bought "One-Woman Farm: My Life Shared with Sheep, Pigs, Chickens, Goats, and a Fine Fiddle" by Jenna Woginrich of Cold Antler Farm. 

It was very good from start to finish. I read it straight though in one evening but after my friend finishes it I will read it again more slowly. The artwork that began with the inside papers and continued on every page through out the book was wonderful. The text came partly from her blog but I think it was presented with a little more polish and deeper thought.

I may not agree with everything she thinks, or does, but that is okay. Her words cause me to examine my own goals for my farm and life. I have 25 years on this young woman and those years cause me to be more conscious of the what ifs that can occur and must be dealt with nearly every day.

There are almost 10 years left before I will retire. Until that time I am working to have the bones of my tiny farm in place so I will spend my retirement enjoying and maintaining what I have worked hard to set in place. Being responsible for much of my food is an important goal for me. Getting major repairs made to my home is a necessary goal that can't wait very much longer. With the extra I am paying on my mortgage my house should be paid for in two years. I am praying my 14 year old car will hold on for 3 more years before it completely gives up the ghost. Lately every trip is a spiritual experience. One of those "Please Lord just one more trip" if you know what I mean.

Library is about to close so I need to get a wiggle on. Praying for a productive week for all!

~ Peace ~