Well, I mentioned that we didn’t have any big, busy plans this weekend, and I meant it. We did a few extra chores, and had a few spurts of excitement, and got a few extra errands done, but everything was pretty low-key.

Well…our version of low-key anyway. {smile}

We even had company in town. My aunt came for a quiet visit and joined me in running some errands. We got our internet fixed. We did a little birthday party planning. (The Cowboy is turning 7 in a few weeks!!) And I picked up a few gifts.

And our peafowl came back!

We looked up Saturday morning while cooking breakfast and there they were–wandering around the back field. We’ve seen them on and off over the last week, but not for a couple days now. The Ladybug hustled out there to toss them some food and kept coming back all weekend. I think they’re coming around and might have just freaked out over the new surroundings (and our total lack of experience in handling them!).

We also looked up to see all the sheep in the backyard. We moved the sheep to the back field on Friday and one hungry ewe had pushed the working yard fence open (it’s hard for the kids to latch properly) and was enjoying the last of our green grass. Of course, everyone decided to join her!

We also moved the chicken and the duck pens.  Having the sheep and the chickens together makes it hard for the kiddos to do the chicken and duck chores alone. The ewes mob the feed bucket and a flock of hungry, pregnant, 200 lbs sheep is more than we expect our crew to be able to handle–especially since kid-height for carrying the feed bucket is also just about snout-height for our sheep. (Even I can barely fend them off sometimes!) So we pulled the chickens and ducks to the top field for a while. Plus, the latches on the top field are easier for the munchkins, so we have less escapees…

We stuffed everyone’s houses with fresh, clean hay. Normally we would use straw, but it falls through the grated floors too easily. So we peel some off a large round bale and the long-cut grasses hold up much better. It’s one of those cases where you think it’s more expensive at first glance, but when you compare the direct cost to the cost of waste, it’s actually the more economical way to go.

And in the midst of all this…in the midst of the grass that needs to be cut and the shelters that need to be repaired and the feed that needed to be unloaded…Molly brought us a little Thanksgiving surprise!

We saw him just before dusk on Saturday. Then we couldn’t find him Sunday morning before chores–after freezing temperatures all night!!

So Mr. Fix-It and I started combing our 20 acre pasture, arm-length by arm-length. Molly was hanging with the rest of the herd by the shelter and by the hay bale, seeming completely unconcerned–which had us concerned.

After 20 cold minutes of rushing around with that sick-to-your-stomach feeling, we stopped to confer. Suddenly Molly starts snorting and doing this strange momma-cow moooooo under her breath and leaves the rest of the herd to start trotting over. Like, a serious, I-mean-business trot…right for us. And Mr. Fix-It says, “THERE he is!” The little guy was not 10 feet from where we were standing, taking a nap in the grass. We had passed him 10 times and never seen him!

But Molly knew exactly where he was!

Mr. Fix-It and the Cowboy checked on him with Molly snorting under her breath a foot away. Then we left them be. We’ve had Molly since she was a yearling heifer and she’s always been a top-notch momma, even with her very first calf. I should have known better than to worry so much. But then again, it’s rarely this cold around here in November.

We’re expecting Annabelle to drop her calf any time here shortly too. And we’re planning and cowboy birthday party for the Cowboy (complete with John Wayne movie!). And we’re going to be decorating for Christmas this weekend while we’re home for the holiday. How about around your homeplace? 

See where I’m sharing this week…

Oh, and did you see that Dayspring has announced the rest of their holiday SUPER DEALS? I love their beautiful platters as teacher and hostess gifts during the holidays. You can’t beat the sentiment or the price!