Gopher Hunting

Hi to all our friends.

The baby chicks are all doing well and we haven't lost a one!

I was a little confused as to how Ben and Angel keep catching so many gophers during the night (their workday). Marvin went out last night and caught them in the act. They hunt them down when the gophers come out of the hole. If they miss, they simply dig up the hole - a make a new one big enough for an elephant! I guess that explains why they look like little mudballs in the morning. Fortunately, they have really cool fur that seems to shed dirt throughout the day and they start a new work night as clean white polar bears.

Our grandson Landon came to the farm today. He is 14 months old and getting to be quite a character. I let him hold one of the baby chicks and Grandpa and I took him for a ride in the Kabota. He always eats animal cookies, so it seems only right that he went out to the cows and petted the heifer Maybelline. He loves watching the chickens, which is kind of sad 'cause he is allergic to eggs!

Marvin is busy on the entry. We are taking out the pipe fencing that was originally there and replacing it with wooden planks. The big plan is to fence the entire 3100' of the front of the property. This will be a very tall non-climb fence to keep the critters out of the road.

I had such a busy day yesterday. It started in the moring with a Central Coast Lavender Association meeting, then buying buckets at the Dollar Store for livestock feeding. After about 40 more errands, I rushed home at 5:30 and was beat. Marvin and I jumped into the Kabota and went to collect eggs. It was so peaceful up in the field - we have a huge number of meadowlarks. If you haven't heard these birds, you are missing out. Their song is one of my favorite sounds. There was no wind and the temperature was right around 65. We let Burner and Tuck run around and just sat there enjoying the peace and quiet and unwinding. Nothing like ending the day on the Farm. This is really a very special place.

Plan to come a visit us one day!