The One and Only

Okay, blog readers, here is the last one in the series of canine dog birthdays, and it is indeed an important one....the princess, Miss Kaia turns ONE!!

And what she has accomplished in just a short year!  

She has most definitely won over the heart of her owner, Kris, and Ian's too! 

She has turned Connor's life upside down, but in a good way! 

She has literally run circles around all of us, and has kept us all on our toes with her fun-loving and frequently thieving ways!  

She is fast, sweet, sometimes conniving, smart, cute, tough, and definitely spunky!  

Around here, all humans and canines alike are looking forward to celebrating many, many birthdays with this girl! 

 

Happy Birthday Kaia!!!!

Two Good to be True

Hello blog readers, Farm Buddy here again...

Guess who is two, two, too good to be true?  

It is my boy, Ian!!  Yes, he turns two years old today!  

He has had a week of celebration with multiple trips to visit his buddies Kaia and Connor for exciting trips to the ledges where there is a beautiful creek for swimming and new hiking trails to explore.  Of course Kelsey and Bess have accompanied him on these journeys.  

Ian has been herding sheep and cattle every day, and he also enjoys spending some daily time observing the new three piglets.  Ian has a talent for finding fun in all farm chores.  For example, when I move the cattle to their daily new section of pasture, I have to roll up the polywire from the previous move.  Ian loves to grab this wire and bring to me, while I furiously reel it up before he manages to tangle the whole mess!  He also finds it to be a thrilling prospect when I move the stock tank each day.  When I carry the 50 gallon tank to the next section of pasture, the 50-foot hose dangles behind.  Ian thinks it is helpful for him to grab this hose and carry it, while I try to convince him to stay ahead and avoid possibly puncturing the poor hose.  

And then there are the cats.  

Ian remains fascinated by the cats.  Every morning, I let all four of my cats outside for a 15-minute excursion.  I then put Ian out with them to supervise them and to make absolutely sure that the they don't bother the birds.  Don't worry about the birds; Ian knows where each cat is and makes sure that they behave until they are back in the house.  

Then there are his eating habits.  For over a year and a half, he was an incredibly fussy eater.  He was not tempted by my spectacular stews made of farm-raised beef or chicken, fresh eggs, or assorted organ meats and bone broth.  He would only eat his food, and then reluctantly, when the dry kibble was fed separately from the added beef/chicken/eggs.  And then he would really only eat his food when Kelsey or Bess expressed interest in it.  Then all of a sudden, one day he decided he liked to eat!  Now I can mix his dry food with the beef/chicken/eggs/bone broth, and he is the first dog to clean his dish! 

Probably his happiest day in between turning one to two was when his new buddy Kaia entered into the picture.  She has given him much joy, and he is thankful that Kris got her for him!!!

Happy Birthday Ian, and may you have many, many more!!!!

A Bird in the Hand

Hello Blog Readers, Farm Buddy here....

The month of June is a special one for dogs around here.  There are no less than three important birthdays in this month!  

We start off with Kelsey, otherwise known as Kelsey Bird, who turns eleven years old today!

She has gracefully and skillfully assumed the role of oldest dog in the pack, and she rules the others with quiet authority (for the most part) and subtleness, which is also her strategy for working sheep and cattle.  She has kindly put up with the shenanigans of young Ian over the past almost two years, and she has even tolerated Princess Kaia, who could test the patience of any Border Collie!  

We celebrated this auspicious occasion in grand fashion by taking the pack for a hike on the beautiful Finger Lakes Trail, where the dogs got to gallop through beaver ponds, chase each other around trees, and just enjoy the sights and smells of a new location.  Everyone had a wonderful time!  

We finished off the hike with a swim in my pond to wash away any beaver swamp scum, and now Kelsey is taking a well deserved nap on the couch.  She will get a special dinner with lots of grass-fed beef and milk from my cow, Jane, and will be in fine shape to tackle the years to come.  Let's hear it for Kelsey, and may she be with us for many, many future adventures!!!

A Quiet Green Briliance