Shadow Boxing
I posted yesterday about how Speedracer seems to spend an awful lot of time watching everyone else working and how I should probably start working on this loafing mentality of his. So we decided to start giving him some bigger chores–some stuff we thought he could start doing independently–not just “go help your sister.” The Cowboy had developed a complete distaste for feeding the chickens so this seems like the perfect time to pass that chore torch along to the next in line and move the Cowboy up to something bigger.
Off I sent them yesterday evening for the Cowboy to show him the ropes.
The Cowboy thinks cowboys don't feed chickens.
Little did I know that I would be supervising from the porch for 47 and a 1/2 hours while they tossed the popcorn in there one. piece. at. a. time.
(Just for the record, we don’t only feed our chickens leftover popcorn. We feed them chicken feed pellets in their coop. We just also toss them any grain or fruit and veggie scraps from the house every day or two. That’s the “feeding the chickens” job. They’re good helpers, but the crew’s not up to lifting 50 lbs bags of feed. Yet.)
But I got to capture this hilarious moment between our house cat, Scratchy, and one of our farm cats, Liberty.
Scratchy is an inside cat and declawed.
The pictures aren’t great, but I only had a few moments to turn around and start snapping.
Liberty's our friendliest outside cat and is usually found following the kids around or loafing on the porch.
Scratchy’s not allowed outside (at all) because he gets chewed up and then I have to patch him back up and it’s just a big, yucky, hassle. I think this last time might have finally taught him a lesson about sneaking out.
They started throwing themselves at the glass and leaping around completely airborn.
But he doesn’t let that stop him from trying to play with everyone.
They were sneaking back and forth between the two panes.
And Liberty’s use to rolling around with the other cats, or a piece of fuzz, or the Cowboy’s lasso, or whatever/whoever else will sit still long enough for her to pounce.
They were totally intent on each other.
It was so funny to see them playing, totally obviously to the fact that they were separated.
You can see that little pink spot still healing up from Scratchy's last outdoor adventure.
They went at it for a good 10 minutes, leaping and thumping and batting at each other–all in complete silence.
I think Scratchy misses pestering the dogs until they would chase him in the house.
They stopped long before the boys made it back inside.
I’m linking up with Farm Friends Friday over at the Verde Farm today, even though I’m a little light on the farming in this post. If you want more farming, more gardening and growing, and more animals, be sure to skip over there and click through–they’ve posted some great pictures of their Shetland Sheep today!
More from my site
How to Find and Use a Farm Sitter to Enjoy Vacation as a Homesteader
Putting the Summer Cover on the Chicken Hoop House
How to Steam Farm Fresh Eggs for Easy Peeling
How to Help Needy Families with Your Extra Eggs
Using Up Extra Eggs With Breakfast Freezer Cooking
Choosing Livestock (Part 3) …The Dollars and Cents of Starting a Small Farm
My hubs hates feeding the chickens and ducks too! It has been passed down to my 8 year old, it takes her just as long to feed them. I figure as long as it is getting done and I don’t have to do it…then I don’t care how long it takes!
I get into a routine and love it because I know what’s next. But the kids end up hating it eventually because they get bored. So I’m having to shake things up a little bit to keep them interested and keep them from getting sour about it. But it definitely means more work for me! 🙂
How great that they are doing chores. I love the cats playing–very cute.
That’s so funny how the cats go at one another!
I love the look on the cat’s face in the chicken feeding photo. He can’t get out of there fast enough.
Your capture of the shadow boxing was even better than a video. Great running commentary.
I loved the days when my son wanted to help, no matter the chores.
Then he got to an age where he would deliberately do a bad job thinking I would let him off the hook, I could do better and faster myself. Don’t fall for that trick.
And popcorn is a totally acceptible training tool.
Oh the times I have to hold my tongue and remember they’re only children! They dilly-dally and turn everything into a game and I just want to be finished! I keep reminding myself that we’re training them and we can’t give up.
And the farm cats come with their own frustrations, but we all enjoy having them around. They make us laugh. 🙂