Ducks First Bath

As part of the ongoing expansion of the farm we are branching into ducks.  This year we started out with a couple Silver Appleyards, Fawn Runners, Blue Runners, and Pekin Grimaud.  The Grimaud are for food while the others are for eggs, garden management, and fun for watching.

Below are some pictures of their first time in a bath.  These ducklings are only 1 week old.  As they grow I will take more video.  Upcoming attractions this year include a new coop for all the fowl, a proper pond, and garden all the animals will enjoy.

The brothers Appleyard already look like trouble. In the picture below are two of the male Silver Appleyards we recieved.

The were already trying to swim under the water and float on top of it.

It is amazing how fun they are to just watch.

Nothing like video of ducks swimming.  There seems to be an issue with the moble app and displaying the video.  Here is a link: https://youtu.be/LGzDqshCaKs

Snow Day

 

A bit of snow on the farm today.  All the animals seemed to handle it differently.

Moya loves the snow and ended up sleeping on the deck when she wasn't out running around.

Just like Moya the horses were not bothered one bit by the snow.  They just stuck their noses through the layer and came up with prime grass.

Moya checking on Beau to make sure he is all good.  Beau tolerates Moya.

Buddy here, is checking out what is going on in his field. 

Buddy and Beau had a small territorial dispute but it was quickly resolved.

Beau is wondering what that odd thing is attached to my arm.

Roo is thinking the same thing but along with wondering if he can eat it.

The alpaca aren't bothered by the cold but they do not like all the clingy ice to their legs.  They mostly stayed in their shelter.

Truck with a View

Should I be concerned if I walk in on the truck deep in thought enjoying the view? 

Nope. 

Quintisential Country

If this doesn't look proper old school, then I don't know the meaning.  Just to make it proper fitting, this is where the truck died and wouldn't start.  After pulling apart the entire fuel system (pump -> carb) I finally found the culprit, a broken wire under the dash.

Iron Chef - Battle Cod - June 14th, 2020

Tiernan challenged me to our first iron chef style battle.

The outcome was as expected.

But starting with the secret ingredient, Cod.





Tiernan had it all under control.



I had to bring out the fire.



For the final meal Tiernan presented:
- fried fish fingers
- devilled eggs with cod filling
- pan fried cod on a bed of mashed potatoes with a soy sauce glaze.

I on the other hand presented:
- jallepeno poppers
- fried black beans
- blackened cod tacos with a corn salsa

And the winner was...  Tiernan !!!

The combination of flavours and texture left nothing to be desired in a meal.

I on the otherhand was outraged.

Baby Chickens - 3wks Old (maybe)

Outside time for the chickens between thunderstorms.

Traversing the World's End

Let the adventure begin.

For a quick weekend outing we visited the World's End conservation area.  This area is a massive park "just" outside Boston which is managed by the Trustee's (http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/south-shore/worlds-end.html).  After spending nearly an hour traveling the 14 miles from Brookline to Hingham we arrived at the end of a residential street to find a gravel parking lot.

Who would have guessed that there was Fredrick Law Olmstead development-turned-park just a quick jaunt away.  What was even more surprising is that Olmstead opened what is considered the first Landscape Architecture firm less than a mile down the road from my apartment.

Well enough history,  at this park there were rolling fields and sheltered groves of trees.

Following the tree lined field we continued towards the far side of the park.

At the top of the hill we could see Hull and the Cape to the south.

We continued through the park to see shorelines,  

and shelter coves.

A little hard to add words to the dynamic scenes available in such a small area.