The little house on the ditch.

It's been awhile.  We have a gazillion PHD's  (projects half done) and more that haven't even been started yet.  The kitchen floor is still just partially stripped.  The driveway is still just partially dug up.  The fiber studio is still just studs.  The vegetable garden is half planted.  The potato field is prepped but there are no potatoes planted yet.  The fence line for the new alpaca pasture is cleared and prepped, but the rolls of fencing remain rolled up and waiting.  The grapes still need trellising.  My shrugigan is still in progress.  We have so much to do it has become overwhelming.  Even thinking about blogging was more than I could handle.

We began the driveway project with the full intent of staying on task until it was done - but the rain hit.  When there was finally a break in the weather it was spring and spring things needed to get done.  Now it's important to do things that can only be done in the spring.  The driveway and thus, the garage conversion, landscaping, etc now has to be back-burnered while we tackle vegetables and grapes and hops and more.

Chicklets are a spring thing and mine are thriving.  Of the six chicks I got a few months ago 5 are growing into fine beautiful hens that will be soon laying gorgeous eggs.  One, however is not.  That one is growing into a fine rooster to give the chicken coop that manly touch.  He's still working on getting the crow thing down.  Right now he sounds like a child screaming because they aren't getting candy for breakfast.   I really wanted a rooster - I love the crowing, when it's done right.

Several weeks ago Peter called on his way home from work to ask if we needed anything.  Honestly, I couldn't think of a thing!  But somehow he knew my unspoken thoughts.  An hour later he walked in the door carrying three Toulouse Goslings.  Toulouse geese are the geese that look like "mother goose" from the children's books.  The little things are so cute!





I love learning new things.  And hey, I learned something new!  Not too long ago I learned a very important lesson - One should not tuck rain pants into barn boots during a hurricane  (they just act like downspouts into your boots).

The newest lesson in my book is this:  Disciplining a cat when half naked is a bad idea!  We have two indoor cats and 3 outdoor cats.  One of our cats, K@t, is trying very hard to become an outdoor cat by doing all the things she knows will get her thrown off the island.  Yesterday I came home from work with the lofty goal of doing some gardening.  I changed my shirt, took my pants off and grabbed my overalls, only to find them soaked with urine.  Eww!!  K@t seemed to be hanging around in evil anticipation waiting to see the outcome of her dirty deed.   I swiftly scooped her up and  began rubbing her face with the pee-soaked pants.  She didn't like it at all (go figure!)  claws came out, teeth were barred and and she twisted frantically to be released from her punishment.  Needless to say, I instantly regretted my bare legs and questioned my own choices.  My thighs were a huge (well, maybe not HUGE)  pasty white target for 6" talons looking to exact revenge.  Trying to minimize any damages I might receive I spun her around and pinned her back to my legs, while her claws clawed the air.  I felt like I was in a Hollywood slasher movie!  During our struggle her claws found the palm of my hand.  I am fortunate she didn't connect with any other exposed flesh.  Her time in the house is limited - I really like this cat so she has at least one more chance, if not two or three or ten.  But there will be a limit.  I'm sure!