We've reached the creepy part of turkeys...

I've been trying for a while to get a photo of our Tom (yes, I said Tom.  As in "he".) in all his teen-Tom glory.  He's a funny one, just Hulk-ing out for a second, and I yell for someone to "Look, look!  He's doing it!!" and then I look back & he's just standing there normal & baby-turkey like, and I look like a loon.  (But really, I too would question the sanity of someone who spends so much time obsessing over the moods of poultry...) 

Again, pardon the blur.


So you can see the difference, here we have the lovely Geri.  Isn't she sweet?  She likes the sound of rain in the trees & nibbling on watches.  And in all his melted crayon glory, below we have Tom.  He's not too sure about these changes in his body, and wonders why several times a day he feels compelled to puff up, fan his tail feathers, and stomp around in a circle.  He also likes to eat dirt from freshly dug gopher holes.

Um... excuse me, but I think you've got a lil' sumpthin, just
 there.  Yes, right by your nose...

This is Tom just after a "flare up".  He gets full-on melty face, and that snood hanging off his nose will get 2 1/2 inches long.  All around his eyes gets blue.  He's quite hideous.  But just as sweet as always, we've not yet had any aggression issues- knock on wood.

Home again, home again...

Jiggety jog.  Happy Monday from my kitchen table.  My own kitchen table, in our cozy house.
We returned yesterday from a whirlwind trip to the South, a lovely trip filled with heat & coolers of beer & backyard dancing & a sweet new baby.  We had a wonderful time, and as usual came back exhausted.  It was great! 

I should have snapped some photos, but was too focused on committing it all to memory.  :)

Who the Cluck? It's Lydia!!

Hi there, it's me, Louisa!  I'd like to tell you about my new little sister, Lydia.  She came to live with us after my other sisters got eaten by the bear.    She's very quiet & smart- she listens to all my rules & does just what I say.  I help her learn all about the others on the farm.  Which of the Girls are the crabbiest, and just how close to those strange looking turkeys we can get.

Here, I am showing Lydia the best hiding spot.  We really like to hang out in here- we get the sun & lots of bugs to dig up.  But see how those 2 big ferns make a bit of a cave?  It's a really good hiding spot!
Lydia watches & copies just what I do.  She's going to be a smart & brave chicken, just like me!

Who the Cluck? by Louisa



This is Boss Jr, definitely the top chick.  But sweet enough to let me roost on her.

This is Louisa.  Louisa has had a VERY harrowing week, but has become a much more mature chicka for it.  She will soon begin a feature here at the Farm.  "Who the Cluck?" by Louisa will give you insight into the who's-who around our place.  Check back soon...

Happy Friday!!

Yesterday was spent driving 13 hours to deliver Boss Jr and WAY too many supplies off at her vacation beginning point.  She's off for 18 days on a road trip to the Grand Canyon- traveling with all boys.  I'm sure she'll come back totally sunburned & overflowing with stories.  We'll miss her terribly.

Today we woke up early & pulled on grubby clothes in the dark.  Grabbed coffee & met our friend Travis for razor clamming.  We'd never been before, and had a slow start.  But once we found a good spot, and learned what we were looking for, we totally rocked it out!!


Sorry, bad picture.  Boss Jr took her camera- so I'm going old school.

Bossman broke the shovel & cut his hand, but it was great fun!!  We will definitely be going again.

Livestock update:  No bear last night- not that we heard anyway.  Louisa (the one lucky chick) is having a hard go of it.  She cannot be with the big girls, and does not want to be away from us.  I think my choices are either chicken diapers & move her inside permanently, where she can cry & be underfoot & jump up on the counter while Bossman is cooking because she cannot stand to be away from him for a second; or to get another small chick so she can have company.  Any thoughts?

it was a bear

A bear.  A BEAR!!  In my yard.  A bear.  A real-live, "gonna eat your garbage & veggie scraps, and I'm not letting small chickens get in my way" bear!!
Piecing together small events of the last few weeks, and the history of the property, and the damage done (a big, bear-arm sized hole in the side of my coop that apparently was invisible to my shocked & shaken eyes earlier), we definitely think it's a bear.

Muddy swipes on our front door.  Our FRONT DOOR.  To our house!! 

Muddy marks on the doors to our garbage.  This was a big selling point for Bossman when we looked at the house- a specialized bear-proof garbage unit.  And the great news is that it works!

Hole.  Big ol' bear-arm sized hole in my coop.  And see those brussel sprouts?  Those were leftover from last night's dinner.  Apparently bears do not care for brussel sprouts...


It is now my belief that the chickies were just a casualty.  The little coop was simply in the way of the veggies, the coop got tossed aside, the sleeping & shocked chicks ran out, the bear ate the broccoli & cauliflower, then 3 of the chicks.  Or maybe the bear lumbered off to give the garbage closet a go, and some delighted raccoons or fox showed up for the chickies.  I guess I'll never know...

Very bad day

This morning I woke up, and as usual peeked out the window on the stairs landing to look at the coops- a general viewing of the morning "harmony" and to see who is up & who isn't.  The little chicks have just gotten the hang of tucking themselves in at night, and racing down the ramp in the morning.  It's definitely part of my morning routine.  This morning I see this:

You'll notice the A-frame (the little chicks house) is NOT cozied up perfectly next to the big coop.  Like a freakin' tornado came by & threw the coop, babies & all down the hill!!  It was one of those "everything moving in slow motion" moments.  I ran outside & could not find any of the chicks!!  I could not find any evidence of chicks, no corpses, no feathers, no peeping, no nothing.

Behind the big coop, there is this giant hole.  The wire has been pulled up & broken.  As you can see, veggie scraps from inside the coop has been pulled out.  It looks like something big was digging- and it would have taken something big (or multiple medium-sized somethings) to move the little coop so much.  The silver lining in this big hole is that it allowed this:

One lucky little chick found her way into the big coop, and survived.

I know this is all "the circle of life" and whatnot- but it still sucks.  I hate any of my babies to be scared & fighting to get to safety.

Strawberry Rock

Last week, Bossman took a well-deserved day off & we took a wander to Strawberry Rock.  It's a hidden gem of the area, and very much worth the trek.  Up at the top, you get a full 360 view of the ocean on one side, and the redwoods on the rest.

We had a great time, and while rainy most of the time, it was a beautiful hike.  We will definitely do it again on a sunny day!

Defending my flock

Below is the "transcript" from a very recent conversation, on the subject of the stupidity of the Tweedles:
   Bossman:  Yeah, totally stupid...
   Me: I don't think they are unintelligent...
   Bossman:  Oh, I'd love to hear what's coming next.  Yes, please, tell me your defense.
   Me:  (laughing) I just think they make bad choices.
   Bossman:  Yeah, like right now, they are eating a towel.

And the Tweedles spent 10 minutes attempting to eat the towel.  Once wandering away, then from the other side of the deck, ran back to chomp on the towel again.  And I think we can all agree, that is, indeed a bad choice.

As expected...



Pardon my finger on this one, I was walking as I was snapping

 We have the start of the parade, with police cars & firetrucks- lights & sirens going.  Because of our location, we had the added fun of a Coast Guard helicopter leading the pack.  It was fun to see everyone get so excited.

The middle school band- just as I remember it...

This is our group!  Look at how festive they are!  There was a great turn-out & they all did their dance perfectly.  It was really fun!!  I think the best part was afterwards, when they were all rewarded with popsicles.  They had a really great time.  It's such a great school!!


And the absolute highlight of our weekend... Boss Jr riding a mechanical bull!!  You know your kid is a tough cookie when she's running towards you with a paper shouting, "You have to sign this or I can't ride the bull!!"

She also won a goldfish, which she named Rigby. 

Get your parade on!! (rainboots encouraged)

This morning we're attending our town's annual festival parade.  Boss Jr. will be dancing in the parade, representing her school.  (Yes, I will post a review & pics of the festivities.)  From what I've read, the festival is much like the one I enjoyed in my hometown- and all small towns have a version.  Parade + Cook-off + Beer Garden + Craft Booths + "Please, mom, I just need $3.00 to get this really cool ________.   Please!!!" + wandering around = Small Town Festival.  And as a bonus, it's raining.


Gratuitous lushness