The Farm Life

   It is immensely satisfying to have a farm! Even a small one like ours. There is something about getting up, and doing the morning chores that helps to ease my soul! I know that sounds a little crazy, however when I head outside in the crisp morning air, to refill the duck pools,water troughs, and feed buckets for the animals, it makes my day a little better! I love watching them, their antics and their interactions fascinate me. I love gathering the eggs, seeing how many we have, checking to see if my Goldie is still broody and sitting on a WOODEN egg!! It is great to go let out the ducks and see how many eggs we get from them, to see if another one  of the ladies has started to lay! I guess it may be the routine of it all, or the fact that with each animal and their gifts we get more self-sufficient. It is awesome to go to the canning cabinet, or outside to the chicken coop to gather supplies for supper, rather than going to the grocery store.  The greetings of the goats when you go outside, their faces happy to see you, and pushing and shoving to see who can get that first pat of affection, can not help but make you smile! 
    The things you can learn from your animals are endless. The other night, we went out to pen up the ducks. We free roam them during the day, but pen them at night to protect them from predators. Usually, they are near the pen, if not already in it, but this time they were not. We looked around and all of them were up by the turkey coop. When we tried to herd them down to theirs they would not go, they kept returning to the turkey pen! Upon, closer examination, we discovered one duck had somehow gotten IN the turkey coop, and could not get out. The other ducks would not leave her! They stayed as close to her as they could, only after we got her out did they head to their pen! I loved that,no duck left behind!! They would not abandon her. From how our hen mothers her chick, protecting her from the others, but also making her be a little independent, is very informative. I learn from my animals everyday! 
     Yes, it IS a lot of work! There is always a fence to mend, a shelter to build, a coop to clean out, or an area to winterize, but you feel a great deal of satisfaction when you are done. To know you are contributing directly to your food sources, to know they are treated humanly, and are happy, mean a great deal! The work makes you feel like you accomplished something, that you can directly see the results from. I never thought I would be doing this, but I am so thankful and blessed this is where I am!I think the way things are today, people try to get by with less and less work, what is easier and how can they do less, but for me the extra work is worth it. It is fulfilling, and makes you appreciate your food and life! I love my little farm!