Butterfly Hill Farm: 1st Day Out

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May 20:

The Farm is really greening up. Plants are breaking into buds and flowers, under our ever watchful eye. Buffalo Gal, a rose we brought with us from North Dakota, is covered with buds and today she presented us with her 1st flower.

Irises began blooming yesterday. And we were not surprised that the 1st to flower were Irises from Melanie's 2 Grandmas (Ethel and Dorothy, who have both passed). I noted that the Yellow Columbine is also breaking into flower. And the Bleeding Heart just continues to throw out cascades of flowers.

We got 1 inch of rain last night. We did lose a few limbs, but otherwise, the countryside is in that luscious, after rain, spring-moving-into summer, green.

I do remember that my Dad, when he came to our Farm in 2007 just 2 months before he passed, said: "This is paradise. When I go to Heaven, I want to come here." It surely is beautiful here. The landscapes are radiant.

And the Hummingbirds, with all their energy, have just arrived. They buzz about. I don't know how they have all that energy. They wintered in the Yucatan, crossed the Gulf on those tiny wings, and now are setting up home here. I supposed you could say, they are setting up home just like us.

All this makes a perfect backdrop for wedding preparations and for the wedding itself. Is this for real?

Photos

Except in very specific circumstances, all photos depicted here were taken on our Farm. Those circumstances off the Farm relate to the purposes of this Farm and this writing exploration. Almost all were taken by 1 of the 3 C's. If not, I try to make sure others are credited. I (Glinda) am usually the one carrying the camera, but not always.

I do my best to gain permissions of Folks whose pictures are shown on this Blog. If for any reason, you are pictured and would like your photo removed, just let me know. Thanks.

Glinda

...began her professional career as a Home Economist, later serving as a Home Economics Teacher Educator for 2 decades. In 1995, she moved into analyzing the Human Side of Environmental Issues. She went from studying Humans in their Little Homes to studying Humans in their Big Home, the Earth. Those 2 leggeds were, after all, creating a substantial problem for the Earth, which sustains them. After 30 years in higher education, she became Professor Emerita of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Ecological Studies at the University of North Dakota in 2005.

Glinda has a special interest in analyzing the split Humans have with Nature. Her focus is bringing Humans home to the Earth, opening at long last to the awe, magic, and love of this beautiful Earth whirling in the Great Cosmic Sea. She is a writer, teacher, poet, artist. She is the writer for this Blog, the substance of which will likely become a book she has known she would write.

Recent interview with Fast Recipes: http://www.fastrecipes.com/latest-news/nature%E2%80%99s-recipes:-living-off-the-land-in-missouri-2010061740080/

Richard

...grew up on a 120 acre Farm about 5 miles west of here. Those humble beginnings have had a profound effect on his Life. He was trained as a Wildlife Biologist and later responsible for the Wildlife Management Program at the University of North Dakota for over 3 decades. Retiring in 2007, he is a UND Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology.

Richard brings to the Farm a lifelong interest in the Natural Sciences (Birds, Wildlife, Prairie Restoration, Ecosystems, Gardening) and the Humanities. As his wife (Glinda) says: "He is one of those few people in our Culture who can still read Nature's story and make it accessible to those around him."

Melanie

...would list a bio a little shorter than her Mom and Dad. That's because she hasn't lived quite so long, which is the normal course of such things. But her bio would be no less interesting and perhaps even more so. She has come to this work and this walk far earlier than her Mom or Dad.

Melanie has an interest in healthy lifestyles. It's not something you read about; it's something you do. She brings her love of life, her travel near and far, her love of people known and unknown, her playful curiosity, and her knowing to Gardening, Raising Chickens, Herbal Healing, and the Culinary Arts. She makes a place for Kids of all Ages on this Little Farm.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

1st Day Out

The Baby Chicks hatched on Friday and Saturday (July 24 and 25). Lacey and the 3 Humans are proud to report that 5 Baby Chicks who are tiny balls of Fluff are doing well. On Sunday Morning, Lacey had decided to abandon the 5 unhatched Eggs. It was time for Lacey to take her Little Peeps out into the World.

We Humans were all excited about this and were quite sure that Lacey would wait for our Assistance to leave the Little Brooder House. Not so. On Sunday morning (July 26) Richard came into the Human House, announcing that Lacey and the Baby Chicks were out and about in the Grasses around their Little Brooder House. Lacey had already taken her Little Brood out into the World for their 1st Day out.

Richard thinks the Chicks must have been in Free Fall as they left the House and negotiated the Tall Step that separated them from the outside World. That Tall Step is about 3 times their height. I guess they were ready.

Of course, the Humans had to immediately go out to the Brooder House and see this Next Stage of the Adventure. They placed Ramps for the Little Ones to negotiate the Tall Step that separated them from their House and from the World Around. Chick Feed and Water were also placed outside the House.

But Ms. Lacey skipped the Food Formulated by Humans and went right for the Bugs. Richard thinks the Bugs gave her Precious Chicks higher Protein. Those Bugs are also more easily digestible. Gee, we Humans have some things to learn about Chickens and their Food.

Ms. Lacey would scratch with the Chicks right beside her. She would tell them with some Clucking Sound that they knew that she had found some delicious Bug. Those Little Chicks were right there. Other times, when the temperature was a little cooler or it Nap time, the Little Chicks would snuggle right into those lovely Feathers of their Mother.

In the meantime, a continual entourage of the Big Sisters and their Rooster would come by to check out the Doin's. Mostly Lacey was all right with this.

Throughout the Day, she was ever alert to possible threats to her Little Ones. She would quickly give alarm calls simultaneous to those given by her Sisters and their Rooster. But mostly, things were quite peaceful on this 1st Glorious Day to be Out in the World.

When 1 of the Barred Rock Hennies came by to check things out, Lacey got all fluffed up and led her young Charges off. We Humans don't exactly know what all of that was about. We didn't see any threat, as if Humans can know these things. Lacey had seemed content with the Visits by the other Hens and their Rooster, but not with this One. Maybe She had had just 1 too many Visitors on this 1st Beautiful Day to be Out.

1 comment:

Sue said...: What nice pictures. Lacey looks like she's a great mom. The chicks are adorable.; July 29, 2009 at 2:28 AM

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Tuesday, July 28, 2009

1st Day Out

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