Birthday musings

I had a wonderful birthday celebration with my family yesterday.  It was a bit of a problem getting there- our car has a bad windshield wiper and we drove through some monster thunderstorms, had to pull off the road 4 times.  Only 30 miles south of us they got at least an inch of rain but here at home my rain gauge only registered a 1/4 inch.   At my folks home 50 miles south they too got only a 1/4 inch or so.  It was a narrow band of rain.  We really need some more rain. 

My family got me some wonderful garden related gifts and we had a nice potluck meal.  My son and his wife did some wonderful cooking along with my sisters.  I am so lucky that both my parents are alive on my 60th birthday and in good health and mind and that I could be with them. 

When we got home I found that Lily had jumped the fence in a low spot to get into the pond pasture where Chance is at.  I will guess she is in heat although she was chasing him away quite roughly and he was going.  She left Lucky behind and he was quite upset.  When I put her through the gate he latched on and began to nurse frantically.  Her udder was full so she had been over there a while.    You just can’t go away from this place for a few hours. 

 This morning I strung some hotwire across that spot.  Hopefully she didn’t get bred.  I want her to wait until at least May to be re-bred.  But I will mark it on the calendar.   She is looking for good grass, not eating hay well so maybe she was just hungry.  I was hoping for rain to get the grass growing again. 

We should have baby ducks hatch this week.  The guineas are laying eggs but it’s the tom turkey who is sitting on them.  I don’t know why, he started sitting on some duck eggs then the guineas started laying there.  The turkey hens just started laying in another spot.   Tom turkeys shouldn’t sit, but I have two that do.

 My apple trees are blooming today, unfortunately it may freeze tonight and tomorrow night.  So no apples either probably.  It’s a rotten year for fruit people- expect high prices.  The dandelions are gorgeous, whole fields are yellow with them.  At least the bees will have something to eat.