A Disturbing Sight

We just found our first snake too near the back door of the house. I'm not sure if it was transported there by another creature (so many options there!) or if it was found and killed where it was lying. It was a small one, about as big around as those crayons they give to kids in kindergarten and less than a foot long. It's head had been pretty well destroyed, so I'm thinking it was either the turkeys or the guineas who killed it. I thought it was just another dead bull snake. We've had remnants of a couple of those this year which were discovered only because the cats were playing with them. However, when I scooped it up to take it away I noticed two little rattles on its tail. I sure hope that is the only one of those we see this year!

Pictures of our latest new residents.

Thought you might like to see some of the newest residents at Prairie House:

Momma Turkey and her seven little ones.

Ginger's babies know how to eat very well. She still gives them milk reluctantly. Note that PegLeg's ears still stick straight out. Prairie House does not discriminate. We have creatures of all colors here.

Ebony, in the foreground, is Ginger's baby from last year. Mulberry and Camomile are heading for the camera, just in case there might be some treats in the photographer's pockets.

The turner and incubator were not functioning properly for the last batch of eggs so we didn't get many chicks. Next time should be better as we have corrected the problem, we think. We have about 20 chicks from previous batches who are doing well and living out in the chicken tractor now.

You may have noticed there are no kitten pictures posted. The kittens were born at Evelyne's house this time. She is the foster mother and can deal with the little stinkers who are now actively seeking things to get into. Juliet is a good mother and we are glad she only had 3 babies. I will get pictures of them when I remember to take the camera with me to her house. They are cuties, trust me.

Aunt Jo

Beehive has arrived!

My beehive arrived Saturday night about 10:30. It was drizzling rain when it got here. We set it on a couple of pallets. This morning I took out the little piece of screen blocking the entrance and the rag blocking the top. It was still pretty cold outside and only one bee came out. By noon the sun was out, it was warm and I have bees everywhere now. It seems to be a very healthy hive. Final cost for the double stacked hive was $150. I think that is a steal. So far they seem very tame, but are larger in size than I expected.

I'm still pretty excited about them. I will need to get the parts for a super to add to them as all I bought was a hive and I won't be needing it for a while.

They have already found their way into the greenhouse to do their work for me on the flowers blooming in there. (Tomatoes are doing fantastic, by the way. Have one which should be ready to eat by the middle of May. I think it is a big yellow one...my favorite!)

New Arrivals

Spring is a busy time at Prairie House. (I realize that is not a valid reason for not keeping the blog updated, but please forgive me.) We are pleased to announce the arrival of the following cute little babies at Prairie House:

Ten bunnies

Eight turkeys

(Mom patiently waiting. Updated pictures of the little guys to follow.)

Three kittens

Three goats

A whole bunch of baby chicks

Hopefully within the next month we will also have additional turkeys and some ducks included in the mix. I will have pictures and stories posted in the next few days, I promise. We have the early crops planted in the gardens:

Sunchokes Onions

Peas

Carrots

Radishes

Spinach

Kohlrabi

Turnips

Beets

Leeks

Potatoes

A Tough Week To Be A Guinea

We have lost 4 guineas to the highway in as many days. I cannot figure out what the fascination is for them there. Trucks do major damage to guineas; they don't fare well against cars either, but at least are identifiable after colliding with a car.

These are the 3 we have left:

What was the license plate number on that truck?

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Earl and I took a vacation for a week and while I was exposed to the public, I picked up a nasty case of influenza and bronchitis. I feel like I have been hit by a truck, and then the truck backed up and hit me again. It is all the more annoying since except for that bout with the shingles, I haven't been sick enough to need drugs for 7 years or so. Hopefully, the worst of it is over and I will be able to get some updated pictures of our truly adorable little kids, one of which looks an awful lot like a flying nun. We also have 3 litters of bunnies and 3 baby kittens which have arrived at Prairie House in the last few days. Hopefully they will cooperate for the camera as well. Aunt Jo