Monique works quad dogs

Monique came over today and worked dogs. We let the dogs run in the pond pasture after they get their training session. But the ducks had to be put away first. Monique went to put the ducks away with  Lucy.

But she soon dicovered not only she could work Lucy to put the ducks away but Roo, Bongo and Tess. We were all quite impressed that she could work four dogs at one time and still manage to put the ducks away.

We have heard of  Brace  work but never of Quad work!!

Good job, Monique!

Matilda the Muscovy

Matilda is the fifth generation Muscovy duck that has been born on the farm. True to her lines, she is very protective of her babies. I have large bruises on my legs to prove that. She has her nest next to the back door in the root section of a large oak tree. All of her prior generations have done that. She hatched out 12 ducklings and was raising them just fine until the Bald Eagles began to pick them off. Soon she had none left and was very distraught.

I had just had eight baby chicks and two ducklings hatch out in the incubator. The chicks were two weeks old and the ducklings were one week old. So I snagged Matilda and put her and her "new babies" in a small hen house. She kept calling to them and trying to mother them but the babies tried to run to me. After all, I had just spent two weeks handling them and being their "mother".  So I did tough love and walked away. They had their little faces smashed to the wire cage and cried...it was awful walking away. Matilda was trying to comfort them but they ignored her. Later that night, I snuck into the barn and what did I see?

Matilda giving me the Muscovy HISS.

The chicks and ducklings did keep trying to run to me but I kept my distance.

A couple of them decided that Matilda's back was warm.

She is giving me the evil eye. She tried to nip me through the wire cage.

A few days later, I moved them to the big horse stall. They sleep under her now and  often will give me a look of "Don't I know you from someplace" but go back to her. Again, she is giving me the HISS!! If I get too close, she will fly up and latch onto my leg.

Her new babies all sleep under her and now are her new family. She has done great in raising other species and loves them. I have a little pool that the ducklings go into but the chick are not to sure of going into it! Matilda doesn't seem to mind if the chicks do not swim. She is still one tough mama and two weeks later,  the new babies are her family. The Bald Eagle has left to find other prey as the babies are no longer allowed out of the stall. Matilda is one happy duck and going to raise the sixth generation now....what a great duck!!

A real type of Cowboy

This is Roger Edwards at his first sheepdog tria!!  Roger runs in cowdog trials but recently had made his foray into the sheepdog area. Roger is a wonderful person and I enjoy his company very much. This was taken at the trial in April. Roger drove my truck for me since I am still recovering from the frozen shoulder injury. He is a retired brand inspector and I learned lots about the branding area.

I would consider Roger the "good ole cowboy"....one of thise rare kinds that open doors, says "yes and thank you and please" and what country western songs are all about. Roger has been married to Gaynor longer than most of us have been alive.

Welcome to the dark side, Roger!!

Grilled Garlic Eggplant with Feta and Mint

Ingredients

• 1 large  eggplant (1 1/2 lb or several small eggplants)
• 2 tb olive oil
• 1 tb fresh chopped garlic
• 1/4 c crumbled feta cheese
• 2 tb chopped fresh mint
• Fresh lemon juice
• Lemon wedges
• Salt and fesh ground pepper

Directions

1. Cut eggplant into 1/2-inch-thick slices or if you use small ebbplant, cut into thirds lenghtswise
2. Brush each slice with olive oil.
3. Heat a ridged grill pan over medium-high heat
4. Cook eggplant slices 4 to 6 minutes per side or until tender. Stir in garlic
5. Place on long plate
6. Sprinkle with feta cheese, mint, and squeeze fresh lemon juice over top
7. Put lemon wedges onthe side
8. Add sprinkle of salt and fresh ground pepper

Farm Cartoons

How appropriate as I have a Dell laptop!!

Missing the beer holder.

We will have a toast in his honour!

Kinda how like how I felt after my heart surgery.

I guess this does answer the old age question of "Does a beer sh** in the woods?"

Poor piggie bank.

I love Ice Cream and Chocolate so what does that make me?

I guess the Day shift didn't suit him afterall.

Now where does Chocolate milk come from...?