Another story from the farm!

Dawson trying to scare LouLou away!
LouLou trying to get to the nest.
This might be hard to see, but the duck is on the right beside the turkey and LouLou is on the left.
LouLou coming out.
The female duck made because LouLou is on the nest!

What problems do you have in your garden?? Bugs, dogs, cats....well my problem this year is a certain duck and LouLou the turkey!!

This all started afew weeks ago when the female duck decided to lay another nest of eggs in my flower garden! She ripped out the lilies and made a nest out of them! Since she is a type of mallard I didn't mind too much. She's beautiful and so are her babies. I love having them wandering around the farm. So at first not a big deal until LouLou the turkey decided that this nest was perfect for laying her eggs too! At first I thought she just wanted to sit on the nest and would push the duck out of the way. Dan then noticed that she was also laying eggs in the nest. (Too bad we don't have a male turkey so her eggs are infertile). It's been a battle here for at least three weeks while her and the duck take turns/fight or this next! I keep kicking LouLou off but she is determined! Then she'll go a couple days leaving the duck alone until she decides to lay another egg. I'm hoping the eggs while hatch soon and I can have my flower bed back!! Not only do I have to settle fights between the kids, the animals are having a hard time sharing too!

Bunnies

Yes, we've added yet another 3 animals to our farm. About a month ago we took some of the ducks to Keady to an auction/farmers market to sell. While Dan was busy with the ducks the kids and I were looking at the rest of the auction. Sure enough we found these three little dwarf bunnies. So I went to get a bidding number to make our bid. It ended up we got them for $3 each! No, Dan wasn't overly impressed when out we came holding three new critters to add to our collection, but he got over it fast :)

Since we've brought these little guys home the kids have been Loving them to pieces!! It seems someone is always holding a bunny during the day.

Travis has named one whiskers, Kaitlin has named one fluffy and Dawson named one Gorgeous! (This came from a little old lady at the market who told Dawson his bunny was gorgeous. From then on that's what he's been calling the bunny! I don't think he had even heard that word before!)

We have had one minor (thank god) problem with the bunnies. After cleaning out their cage last week, it seems the lid was not put back on enough....so yes you guessed, Three missing bunnies!!! We quickly found the white one all wet from Dixie "playing" with it. It wasn't hurt at all just a little warn out. We then looked all over for the other two bunnies. I though for sure they'd be in one of the fields surrounding our house. We looked and looked with no success. After supper while outside though sure enough we saw one out in the pen with the goats! The kids were thrilled, but still one was missing - Gorgeous. This all happened on Wed night. It wasn't until Friday night that we spotted the third little bunny by the shed. Dawson was so happy to have found it and I was surprised and so glad that all bunnies made it back ok! I'm so glad that the kids have the opportunity to experience looking after and playing with all these animals. Not many parents want the burden of this, but I think it's well worth it to see the kids love of animals grow.

Dawson's soccer

This summer Dawson was the only one who wanted to do any sports. Kaitlin has done 2 years of t-ball and one year of soccer and just didn't want to do either this year. Travis has done one year of baseball afew years ago, but since then doesn't have any interest. Dawson is my "athletic one". Although I know I shouldn't label kids. He is the one though who loves to be able to play any sports. He's naturally good at them and has the "keep on trying attitude".
Here are some pictures from soccer this year.
Here's Dawson in the "huddle" before the game looking at me and the camera.
Dawson and some of the his teammates.
Dawson ready for the ball.