A bit of a surprise

We northwestern Oregonians got a big surprise yesterday when it started to snow. Portland has only seen snow before Thanksgiving twice in the past 25 years, in 1985 and 2003. Big, wet, gloppy flakes started to fall a little past noon. Chester and Beau, my donkeys, quickly found a spot under the thickest trees to wait it out:

This would've been a great plan, except the snow didn't stop:

Because the ground temperature is still so warm, we didn't get a lot of accumulation, but it still looked very pretty this morning:

The air is so crisp and clean. It felt refreshing and festive on my morning walk to the barn:

On my way, I noticed nature's version of a raspberry slushy:

Chester and Beau were pleased that, despite the white stuff, breakfast was still on schedule:

Morning, Chet!

Kai llama, still covered with hay and straw from what was clearly a cozy night spent in her stall, came out for a curious peek:

Regardless of the weather, Chester made it very clear to me that he still wished to partake in his morning walk, so off we went:

I think he looks very handsome against a white backdrop, don't you?:

Beau anxiously awaited Chester's return:

When I was finished up at the barn, it was time to get the goats. Pete and Reggie, always up for an adventure, joined me on a walk around the property:

The raspberries, though cold, were still a tasty treat:

Kai met us at the fence line and politely asked to join us on our exploration:

So now there were four of us traipsing around in the slushy snow:

We popped in on the chickens to say good morning and feed them their breakfast:

Pete and Reggie didn't understand why they couldn't come into the chicken run with me:

On the way back, Pete and Reggie set a brisk pace. It had started to snow harder and, for goats, being wet totally takes the fun out of being adventurous:

"Are you coming, mom?":

"Can we go in now?":

Kai, Reggie and Pete were able to find a dry spot under a big Douglas Fir. Here is Kai being very accommodating by letting Reggie eat the hay that has been stuck to her fur all morning:

See? He got a pretty good mouthful off her belly:

Such a patient llama:

Ok, everybody, time to go in:

The snow is supposed to stop after tonight but a colder front is moving in that will supposedly drop our lows down to 13 degrees, which is very cold for us. I am incredibly thankful for warm and dry barns, coops and houses for everyone on Critter Farm!

A feather garden

It's that time of the year again:

...when walking through the chicken run:

or the chicken coop:

or, basically, any place my chickens have been "hanging out", I see feathers. It's molting season on Critter Farm:

Chickens generally molt in the fall, when the days become shorter than the nights. They lose many of their feathers and new ones grow in their place:

At first, it was mostly small feathers, but then I started to find bigger feathers here and there:

Soon, they were everywhere. I had a hard time just leaving them lying there, all over the ground. They're so pretty:

Before I knew it, I had gathered quite a few:

Then it rained and they took on a whole new look:

Now there are a lot (can you see Roopert the rooster's curly tail feathers on each side?):

I may need another pot:

Pete thinks they're pretty and likes to sniff them:

My poor chickens. Many of my girls are looking like they've had rather invasive bikini waxes. Not an attractive look, if you ask me. :-)

Goats really love celery

Mmmmm....fresh from the garden.

Things I've seen lately

I've been going through a bit of a rough patch. A number of family challenges have surfaced lately that have left me feeling, well, challenged. And sad. I don't have much to say about this, but looking through my pictures from the last few weeks, I notice that this hasn't really lessened my appreciation of the various things going on around me. Here are a few of the things that have been intriguing me or making me smile lately. I'll let you decide which pictures did which. :-)

A very kooky raspberry:

Poison Oak. Did you know it turns various shades of red and yellow in the fall?:

My fall/winter apparel. It kind of looks like a crime scene chalk outline, doesn't it?:

This really cool package that was delivered to our front porch:

A new weather station was inside that package. My husband has proudly (and quite prominently) displayed it off the edge of our deck:

A Fork-Tailed Bush Katydid. We have yet to have our first frost in my part of Oregon - I find it uncanny that in mid-November I am still hearing these guys chirp at night:

Reggie and Pete helping to put up the clear roofing panels onto the chicken run. Thanks, boys:

My oldest son and his girl taking a fall walk with me and the goat boys:

My friend from middle school, Scott, helping me clean out the goat house:

Roxy, my farm pup, mesmerized by a squirrel in a very tall Douglas Fir tree:

A heart in my avocado. I see hearts in the most unexpected places some times:

Lots and lots of Earth Bread ready to go into the oven. This bread is heavenly (and an awful lot of fun to bake with your best friend):

My pal, Marcee, taking my sweet donkey, Beau, for his first "off property" walk. He did *such* a good job!:

A lacy tomatillo. It looks like a piece of art, doesn't it?:

Today, I am especially thankful for my camera and the ability it has to remind me of all the happy stuff that goes on, even when I'm feeling low.