The Visit

So Sam, my big brother, has now come and gone. What fun it was to catch up and watch him interact with my own family. Everyone always loves him and Lexie's baby was no exception, "Where did Uncle go?" I've been asked numerous times since.

The weather cooperated and new fencing got put up in the back pasture as we work to convert it from horse pasture to goat pasture, with another four feet of electric wire on top to discourage the wild interlopers which we must remain ever vigilant of. A couple of ducks have taken up occasional residence in the small pond and they were fun to watch coming in for a landing.

We managed to sneak away to Orcas Island and of course drove up to Mt. Constitution. The views are magnificent as the San Juan Islands float in the distance. What I really love though is the watch tower. I can imagine myself making a home in it, four little rooms, one on each of the levels. I imagine it would be very cold within the stone walls, but my imagination stretches to beautiful big fireplaces in each room as well. Aren't imaginations wonderful....

Jury Duty Ends

Finally, I am responsible for my own destiny once again....

The jury summons had come in the mail six weeks ago. At the time, it had seemed far, far away. Then my brother Sam decided to come for a visit and in deciding acceptable dates, we had to work around our goat kidding, his cows calving, and of course, his job - the one that pays for all of those grass-fed beef cows! And so, it ended up that the end of my jury duty week worked great for him, and actually was pretty much the only time that did.

Since I'd never done jury duty before, I decided that Sam's arrival at the end of this week posed no problems. What I did not take into account was that not only was the requirement that I had to possibly go everyday to find out if my services 'might' be needed, but then if I was chosen as a juror, it could extend well into next week or longer. Talk about being just a little bit concerned!

Everything worked out however, and I only had to attend for the first two days. I am now better educated on how it all works and will be better prepared if I ever receive a jury summons again!

Now back to real life - YIPPEE!!!!

K-3+ Weeks

Today was hoof trimming day for the very pregnant two-year old, Ms. Babette (she's the dark one in the blog picture and is a true sweetheart by nature.) She is due to kid in just over three weeks, and since I don't like mama hooves to be too sharp with babies newly on the ground, today was the day. She doesn't know yet, but next weekend is her 'maternity haircut', which, if last year was any indication, is going to be quite exciting....

Babette was due last year at about this same time; in hindsight she had either lost the babies or hadn't taken as we expected, it's hard to say without an ultrasound, and we couldn't be sure one way or the other at the time. She was treated just as if she was carrying, including the extra bit of graining leading up to kidding. Babette really liked that part and got to where she'd race me to the stanchion once she was out in the open barn area! However, with two weeks to go, the clippers came out for trimming her back end up to neat and tidy. So here she was, after flying to the stanchion, quietly eating her bit of grain, knowing that a brief brushing could be enjoyed when she was done. All of a sudden, sounding like a hundred little bees buzzing, the clippers turned on and I started to trim her. UP flew her back end, feet flying, and she did the 'stanchion dance' like there was no tomorrow.

So you see, I'm thinking that next weekend should be very exciting around here.

In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb

Today was one of those very exciting, weather-wise, days! There was thundering rain in the morning, a small bit of blue sky (when DD Shelley snuck out to ride both horses), a bouncing hail storm in the afternoon, and this evening - beautiful blue skies with the sun shining between the evergreens. I love the excitement that wild weather brings!

My father was a research meteorologist and I remember many, many times when we would simply watch an impressive thunderstorm roll through from the safety of our covered porch. He was famously good at his work, but most of all I think he simply loved what he did. Isn't it wonderful when people love the work that earns them their living? I am lucky that my very, very dear husband (VVDH), Ralph, is like that. He always arrives home from the office content; I think it has probably made a huge difference in both of our lives over the years.

Little Miss Kicky-Feet

Oh - I saw her, this new little grand-daughter to be! She stretched, she wiggled her arms, and busy thing that she already is, her little feet were kicking away! Not being an ultrasound technician, I had to rely sometimes on explanations of exactly what I was seeing, but it truly didn't take away the magic of it all. She is healthy, she is active and she is beautiful!!!

And how priviledged I am that my eldest dear daughter (DD), Lexie, invited me to share in a part of this special event. Her husband, Watson, and sister, Shelley (my other DD), had been at the previous ultrasound and both had come home excited but a little subdued. It's quite an amazing, and humbling, thing when you stop to consider the miracle of new life. Although Miss Kicky-Feet is our soon-to-be littlest family member, I get almost as excited about our goat kids or new wild bunnies out nibbling the grasses along the edge of the woods. And I am so thankful that I get to see it all!

Tomorrow I have a friend coming to spend the day visiting, enjoying lunch, and relaxing while we do some of our hand-work projects. And yes, I AM going to brave that rosemary biscuit recipe once more and see if I can't make them edible this time!

Rosemary Biscuits - Not for Eating!

Oh, I do love to cook, and generally, I'm a very good cook. At least I thought so up until yesterday.

We had company for lunch, not fancy company, just the extended family kind, where you still want to spoil them a little but not have to make any extra trips to the grocery store. I was making a cheese souffle, fairly common for us on Wild Rabbit Farm, but usually a treat for others. With our extra fresh morning eggs, the result is always a deep orange-yellow, rising beautifully over the dish. A mixed greens salad with radishes, carrots and jicama, and tossed with a French vinaigrette was perfect. And now the 'little' problem....

I was pretty sure that we had a baguette out in the freezer. Lexie went to get it just before lunch and guess what - no baguette. The solution - fresh rosemary biscuits since we had buttermilk in the refrigerator and frozen whole rosemary in the freezer. Um, doesn't that sound yummy?

Just a little problem. Remember this if you ever think baking soda and baking powder are interchangeable: they are NOT. I inadvertantly, in my rush to get the biscuits made and in the oven before the souffle, mixed the two up. I added baking soda instead of the baking powder and even our little dog, Abby, wouldn't eat them, and honestly, she eats everything!

So our palates were tempted, but alas, no rosemary biscuits with lunch. (We ended up toasting up some delicious rye bread instead - good, but just not the same thing!)

Beginnings

I knew it would happen; I've been following blogs much too long to not start my own. In a moment of weakness, I 'clicked' and now here I am!

I ponder this new beginning, realizing that this is the perfect time for starting this venture. Yesterday, Babette, our two-year old Nubian goat, received her shots in preparation for kidding just one month from today. Wednesday I go to an ultrasound of our newest precious grandchild, a girl, due in early July. Bee hives are being set up for the bees and queen's arrival in April, and a new, much larger orchard just went in. So many changes, new beginnings, and each with such wonderful expectations (though I admit that the baby girl has the vast majority of our attention!)

So thank you for visiting and I invite you back to join me as we journey the many paths at Wild Rabbit Farm!