Emu Haiku

Emus in Winter
Yearn for the Summer Sunshine
Frost in Their Topknot






Never did I realize just how much I would miss having a computer until both my home and work computers had to go into the shop for different reasons. They took almost 6 days to get back....I was definitely going through some blogger withdrawal!
I can't believe how behind I am on all the goings-on at everyone's blogs. :( I almost need a vacation day to get caught up....

Just another soggy Sunday........

Yup, another rainy day in WA. no surprise really. Except the weatherman DID say it was supposed to be a mostly dry weekend (granted it was said last week and it IS a weatherman doing the prediction). I was really looking forward to cleaning out the chicken coop and barn from all the "leftovers" from the critters during the snow party.

No such luck, guess I'll have to wait. Darn. :P I decided to do a little picture taking during feeding this morning.

I'll start with the most shocking picture....I don't normally take pics of myself (let alone let anyone else take one) and I definitely try to at least run a brush through my hair beforehand. Not this time. Here I am in all my glory, no make-up, sweats and messy hair. Ginger didn't care though, I love how animals enjoy visiting with you no matter what you look like. :)


There was plenty of soggy poultry waiting to be fed.....the guineas looked the worse for the wear.....madder than a wet guinea? (or does that only work for hens?)


Didn't slow down the chorus of "buckwheating" going on....


My Narragansett tom thought the rain was so much better than the snow, much easier to strut his stuff....


Is this a face only a mother could love (or a turkey hen)?


Hey! Take a pic of ME! I am after all the handsomest male on the farm (this rooster did seem to demand I take his pic):)


There also were many soggy sheep, Bevin says "I hear it's dry back home in OR!!"


Matisse says "let's get the donkey to distract her and maybe we can escape and hitchhike back to OR.....or maybe go further South and go hang out on a CA beach....


The smart ones of the barnyard were these three girls, hanging out on a stall door. I honestly think they thought I would come over and hand feed them their breakfast.


The other smart ones were the kitties, Coopurrr and Hooch, snuggled up on the front porch.

My Witchhazels are starting to bloom, they have to be my favorite wintertime plant. The colors are so vibrant and defiant against the gray cloudy days.

Sorry, Boss,.....I won't be in today....

I was a good employee, braving the ice and crazy drivers to make it to work the last couple of days. This morning, however, when my alarm went off at 3 am, I took one look at my Subaru and my Ford truck and said "Nah". There was no way I was going to spend the wee hours of the morning digging out. I actually sent two pics to my boss so he didn't think I was exaggerating.

(As always, click on the pic to "bigify")

The Subaru....

and my Ford truck.....


I drank a couple of nice hot cups of coffee preparing myself for my chores. I put on polar fleece pants, waterproof shell pants, a sweatshirt, wool Cowichan Sweater, snow coat, hat, wool socks, Caribou packs and gloves. Went outside, strapped my snowshoes on and away I went.

Why is it when you are going out to do chores in the snow it's not as enjoyable as when you're just out playing in the snow? It's the same beautiful, powdery stuff....

The dogs definitely know how to enjoy it.....

Finn...


This is the usual pic I get of Kylie.....I dream of the day when I have a digital camera that can take serious movement shots!


Though every now and then I can stop her in action....



Sheba, I think, believes she is in camouflage, hoping the other dogs won't pester her if they can't see her....


What's this? Harley? Are you trying out some camouflage too?:)

Nah, he's just getting into his "work"....

So, down over the hill we go to the barn.



Jasmine has been a bored donkey. She managed to bust up one of the water buckets pretty good. Easy to do when it's 16 degrees out. She plowed a few trails in the paddock which the young ewes and Uncle Carl used rather than breaking their own.






Jasmine did NOT like my snow outfit, especially those scary looking snowshoes!

I fed and gave fresh buckets of water to Duncan's group of Shetland ewes....

Then Lawrence and his girls....


Checked on the chickens, gave them more food and a pan of water. Everyone was crammed into the coop, even the guineas, turkeys and peacocks who normally roost outside.

The male peacock decided it was a bit crowded with me in the coop so he went outside. Not sure he thought that was a good decision....

I think I felt the most sorry for the emus, Fred and Ginger.:( I wish I could convince them to stay inside their shelter where it's warmer and helps them keep in their body heat.





I finally had to stop and try and defrost my toes for awhile in the hay room

After everyone was cared for and I had dug out around the gates so I could get in and out easier we headed back up the hill to the house.


Last but not least were the ducks, who managed to keep a small part of the pond defrosted.

Ice is no ones friend when it comes to losing your balance....

I thought I would end this posting with some random shots around Wrensong Farm....







Did I hear someone say that winter wasn't here yet???