Off the Grid - Day 2

The answer to last night's question is Yes!  The rooster woke me up.  6:52.

I don't care though.  Today is my first full day at the farm and I want to enjoy as much of it as I can.

I get up and start thinking about what I get to do first. The good thing about being on a farm is you don't have to worry about anyone seeing you before you've brushed your hair, washed your face, etc.......

I step outside, put the muck boots on and take a walk around the farm just to see how everything looks.  The roosters that live in the barn are out and about already, crowing to their hearts content.

Very dreary day but everything looks peaceful.  I come back in the house and make some tea.  It's so quiet.

After my tea it's time to get busy.  Out to the barn I go.  I tell them all good morning and check on the babies before I feed them.  Everyone is doing great.  I get them all fed, check the water spouts bring some wood in to start a fire.  It's one of those days where it's not really cold but there is a chill in the air that makes it chilly.  It's been drizzling all morning also which made the chill worse.

I have to wait until late morning to let the chickens out so I come back inside to do my inside work. Feed the dogs, water the plants.





Finally, it's time to go let the chickens out and collect the eggs!  I am so excited to see how many eggs there will be.  First I have to find something to gather them in.  Decisions, decisions.  I end up throwing a towel in a pan and going out there. What an experience!
I open the door and they all run out the door.  It's like a chicken stampede. They all run over into the grass and stop in a big group. Now for the eggs.  I go in the coup and take a quick glance.  There's a lot!  I start collecting, being very careful with them.  Some of them are still warm.  I admire each of them as I collect them.  All different colors, all different sizes.  Nature is amazing.


After collecting them all I have a total of 12 eggs!  I am so happy. Somehow I feel that chickens liked me so they all were comfortable laying.

Guess what I am having for breakfast?!


As the day goes on, I check on the pigs, I check on the chickens, I walk around the farm.  Some of the things I am finding myself doing and saying are quite funny!  Time to take the scraps out to the chickens.  They seem to know what I am doing as soon as I walk out the door.  As I head to the chicken coup they all run in before I even throw the scraps in their bowl.  As I walk away, I turn and see one of the dogs standing in the doorway blocking a rooster from going in.  I find myself saying, "Hank, get out and let the rooster in."   How many people have an opportunity to say that?!

I take a walk this evening before I feed the pigs and shut everything down.  The dogs are with me of course. My protectors! Beautiful walk.  Still a dreary day.






Some sights from around the farm....