Garlic harvest

 Just harvested my garlic - 3 weeks earlier than normal

 Some of the elephant ear bulbs are the size of my fist.

 They will cure for a couple weeks on old window screens I salvaged from the old dairy.

Good number of bulbs this year.

Think all plant a second crop of peas in the area vacated by the garlic.

Goats temporary home in Greeley

 16 of my kids are staying here until the fire danger lessens - wishing for snow.

 Andrew had most of their names figured out before I even left.

Thanks Todd and Glen!

Wilma the Wanderer

I’ve counted several times and there are only eight red hens in the house. Where is the ninth one? Don’t see her wandering the corrals, but I’ll check again. Maybe she is around the corner of the Oberli goat house.

Nope, not there either.

Well, I’ll put the other chickens to bed and hopefully she will appear. I’d hate to leave her out all night, the fox would surely get her.

Hmmm, who is that woman up by the lawn mower? She asks if I’m missing a spotted chicken. The chicken is under the lawn mower, she lost her grip on her and she ran under there.

“Yes, that is my chicken!”

“ Where did you find her?”

“She was wandering around the chicken house at Garins. No one was sure where she came from then George mentioned that you have chickens”.

I retrieve the hen out from under the mower, she is breathing hard, scared and thirsty. My goodness it is Wilma!

I don’t normally name my chickens individually. They usually get group names such as all the Silver-laced Wyandotts are named Matilda, all the Black Australorps are named Penelope. But Wilma made herself known as an individual. As a young hen she started following me around and talking. She likes to be picked up and carried around. I think she is one of my barn cats (Connor to be exact) that was reincarnated. When holding her, I can “purr” at her and she “purrs” back. I would hate to have lost her to the fox.

Don’t know how she managed to get over a 4 ½ foot fence and across a 3 acre horse pasture during the day. Why did she wander so far from the other chickens? Must have been chasing some juice grasshoppers or maybe the wind blew her down there. It was strong that day.

Been crazy around here

June was a crazy month. Kidding season ended with 19 kids born. Two batches of day old chicks were delivered (total about 58). They are a month different in age. I've had help cleaning corrals, so been on that a couple days a week. Some alfalfa was delivered. Starting to stock up early this year. Could be a major shortage due to the drought. Currently have enough to make it through the next six months.

The major disruption has been the cleanup of the property for fire mitigation. Also have been packing up valuables and have the bugout bag ready to go if we have to evacuate. No major fires have been close to us except for the one in March, but it is soooo dry. It only takes one careless person or a lightning strike to set the mountain on fire. We have had a few tenths of rain in the last week but not near enough. They say we may see the monsoons start on Friday! Hope they last for several weeks like usual.

Have been developing an evacuation plan for the goats. If there is enough time, say 1/2 a day, I could get everyone out. But if there is less time......
So a wonderful friend Todd, has allowed me to move 16 goats to his farm. They live on the plains by Greeley. Even though it is incredibly dry there also, at least it a grass fire is easier to stop.
More about the goat move later.
Now I could probably get everyone out in two trips.
Does anyone know of a 4 horse/stock trailer for sale??? It doesn't need to be new or fancy, just sturdy.