Bee Lady and her Shug visits farmgirl...

Well I have to tell you it was a busy weekend. We were out at our house all day Saturday and most of Sunday, and we finally finished the storage room in the basement. The garage is very close to being done. This week we are starting on the living area in the basement. So, when my Shug came home Friday night, he was a bit shocked that I bought ducks. He thinks they are "cute little boogers" but the timing is off. I wanted them to put on the pond when we moved out there. The ducks will be ready in 8-12 weeks. We're not sure we'll be out there at that time. Our original goal was May 1, but it's been so cold that we haven't been able to work as much as we wanted to. As they say, construction is never on time or budget. And on Saturday when I was working on our house....I worried. Did they get out of the tub I had them in. If they did, did they poop everywhere? (yes RJ, they poop a lot) Did they get too cold? Did they get too hot? Did they run out of water? aye yai yai...... When my farmer friend Kathleen said she'd buy them, I let her. I know....I shouldn't have gotten them in the first place. I did, I learned. However, we did decide that we will get them again someday and Dave is going to heat the breezeway so I can put them out there when I first get them. So that was a good thing. In the meantime, I'm just focusing on the house....that's it....I promise (Gloria, RJ, Scribe, Mom!) On our way to Farmer Kathleen's my Shug wanted to hold them so he could play with them on the way.

They didn't want to play!

And Verde Farm, thank you for hooking me up. I really should save this post for next Friday, but I wanted everyone to know what we did with the ducks. When we put them in their new home you could just tell they were so happy. They started grooming themselves right away.

What is now the duck house is a newer building, and it isn't finished being painted yet. They have a little door that opens downward, which makes it a ramp for the ducks to walk on to go outside when they are big enough. There is a fenced in area with a netting over the top for protection from hawks, coons, and other predators.

While we were there we checked out her other animals. Look at these beautiful cows.

Have you ever? I want to spin their hair into yarn!

And they are friendly. They want to be petted.

So do the goats. As a matter of fact, one goat kept getting a little too friendly with me!

She has milk goats and meat goats. Kathleen raises most, if not all, of the food for her family. And the animals she raises are stress free. They are living the high life. She does not believe in crowding them in cages, and pumping them with hormones or steroids. Her belief is that the animals should be treated like queens and kings while they are living. If they are healthy, then you'll be healthy.

These are healthy, happy ducks. I'm happy for them.

Cindy Bee

Bee Lady goes Quackers!

Well I have to tell you, I wasn't planning on linking up to Verde Farm Friend Friday today because the weather has been so cold and crappy here, there really isn't much beekeeping going on. The plan was to pack some household stuff today. I wasn't even going to get on my blog. I really don't have the time for it today....but I'm so easily distracted.....and when I went to do an errand this morning Marcia called and said she was in town and can I meet her for lunch. Well why not. Then I realized I had to get gas, and right by the gas station is Rural King. And I needed dog food. I'm linking up by the way.....Verde Farm (well can't link up...they're server is down) So I had lunch, got gas, and went for Dog food when I noticed all these bins with lights...again. You remember I saw them a few weeks ago and they had chicks and ducks. Well doggone it they are tempting me....

So I got my phone out and tried calling the coop keeper

Glenco answered...

"Glenco?"

"Yeah?"

"This is the bee lady, is the coop keeper there?"

"No, she's across the street, won't be home until later."

"well, doggone it I need to talk to someone about ducks. I'm at Rural King, I want some, and really, I probably need someone to talk me out of them....or at least tell me what to do. I know nothing about them. I don't even know what kind to get."

"well, I think we got Rouen ducks. They're not hard to take care of...."

oh dear....Glenco was not going to talk me out of ducks.

So I called my farmgirl friend Kathleen. Maybe she has ducks. No she doesn't but how hard can they be, she says? And "I think you should get them because....well....they'll be your first farm animal and they're just so sweet and they'll keep you ...."what was the word she used.....I forget....kind of like serene...anyway....she was all about the ducks. She asked how my Shug felt about me getting ducks and I said, "well, he didn't say no." She even said, "maybe ducks will be your thing." I thought bees were my thing....hmmm.

So I told the sales girl I wanted some.......

then I started reading this book and decided I didn't want them. Then I decided I did...but what kind? The next thing I knew it was a whirlwind of activity going on in my cart....

She was hurrying before I changed my mind again....

the next thing I know....

I was loading up my dog food and heading home.

Meet Purina, Ralston, Hills and Iams. (kidding about the names)

Nope, not an April fools joke!

Don't tell Mom.

Cindy Bee

PS - Oh dear....My Shug just got home. I'm gonna let him read this.....wish me luck.