My winter barn fun has begun already and it hasn’t even snowed yet! It is COLD, windy, wet, grey, rainy and downright miserable out there. All creatures big and small on four legs are now huddled in the barn. Now mind you, its a big, spacious barn with a cozy spot for everybody. Do they spread out and lay down in their own corner of soft straw? NO! They huddle in one tiny spot which makes them angry at each other cause there isn’t enough room to be happy!
I walked in and there they were…three llamas, one alpaca, one horse, one donkey, two goats and five escaped chickens. In a small area about 10 x 15 as two more bigger spaces that are just as warm and cozy are empty, well one had a lounging cat and a pecking hen. The girl llamas Sweetie & Violet, were spitting at the boys. Dunkay was pushing the goats with his butt, Laci was guarding enough space for 3 animals, refusing to let anyone else come near it (of course it was by the food) and the hens were clucking at everything that moved, to stay away from a newly built nest tucked under the hay that the natives were trying to eat when not fighting. I walked in and yelled at everyone to “STOP IT, BEHAVE YOURSELVES”! I don’t know why I do that, it never works for more than 3.2 seconds. They look at me, glance at each other, snicker and go right back to what they do best, which is…fighting, spitting, shoving, bickering, guarding and being naughty! Yep, its gonna be a loooong winter!

I spent most of the day yesterday getting all of our animals heated dishes and water bins filled and placed inside pens. I hear there’s a big dip in the temperature coming tonight, there’s nothing worse or more annoying than going out to the barn in 50 below weather, to find a large animal or two with their tongues stuck on frozen water!  There were two extension cords that looked a little suspicious to me, so I did what every caring, loving farm wife does…send the hubby out in the dark to plug em in as soon as he gets home from a long, hard day at work!  Yep, I sent Super Farmer Chad out to the barn with instructions to make sure that the little red light turns on between the plugs. He was grumbling something about ‘if im not back in 20 min call 911’ as he went out the back door in dress shoes and tie. I quickly looked over our insurance papers to make sure we were paid up!  I then watched from the window to see if there was going to be an unusual glow coming from the barn.
No fire, no explosions, no yelling of choice words…so far, so good!. He was gone for more than 20 min.  I was getting ready to go out in the sleeting rain to save him when he walked through the door with a deep frown on his face. He told me the naughty’s pushed down the main gate to the section where we store the hay and were eating themselves sick.  They managed to knock over tables, bins, destroy a chicken nest or two, and so forth!  So Super Farmer had to chase them all out, fix the gate and plug in heaters without staring a fire!  Also, Biskapit was outside and Chad didn’t know it….he said he saw this huge black object come running towards him from behind a tree.  Chad yelled and waved his arms at the dangerous terror out of fright which in turn, scared the dog (big bad Pit) so much that he turned around, yelped, running back to the house to have mommy save him.  yes, I fixed Chad some dinner afterwards. Welcome home Super Farmer!!

My morning….get out of bed, trip over Chippie which makes him yelp. Let the 60 pound Pitbull and a 20 lb Rat Terrier out the back door…Biskapit bumps into me in his excitement to get out the door before Bouncer practically knocking me over which males me step on poor Chippie that’s was trying to sneak outside, who again yelps louder and longer. That makes the Pit turn around, run back through the open door, knocking me into the wall and yes that’s right, I kick poor Chippie who who was halfway out the door, he doesn’t yelp this time…He growls! Can these stupid dogs just go out in a normal way!!???

This is not a good sign….I noticed today that my horses are Fuzzy….furry….thick….they have their winter coats already! I swear they didn’t look like that yesterday! It’s October 4!! Come on girls….no winter coats till December! I’m not ready for the artic cold and fighting 5 foot tall snow drifts just to get inside the barn to find grumpy, think-they-are-starving to death animals!!! No…no…no…no…NO!!!!

Oh my gosh!!! This was so cute!! I was filling up the water bin that we have in our back yard for the animals when they are allowed out there to munch. Both horses, the donkey and two llamas were all gathered around the bin waiting for it to fill with clean, fresh water. So I pulled up a plastic green chair, setting it about 5 feet away, watching them, hoping for a show, actually to make sure there wasn’t going to be any fighting among the natives. Dunkay came up to me and I’m not kidding, he put his head on my arm and stood there with his big ol donkey head laying on me. I sat there rubbing his nose, softly talking to him. He then lifted his head up and rested it on my shoulder! We were almost nose to nose. He just stood there with me, watching the water fill up, his head on my shoulder. It brought tears to my eyes cause these are the reasons why I love my animals and farm so much! I am blessed to be able to go out on a beautiful, warm Fall day and sit with large animals who amuse me and half of La Porte county with their goofy actions and personalities. So I sat there with my donkey, his head on my shoulder as Chippie curled up on my lap. Together we watched Sparky and Laci push each other out of the way, trying to be the first to one to drink….by the way, they were so busy shoving each other, that Lincoln snuck in there and got the first swallow,
good for you, you sneaky Alapca!!
I am so blessed that my cup overflows!!