Tag Archives: Education

The Adventure That Couldn’t Make Up Its Mind

Greetings!

This week the weather has been all over the place! Hot/cold, wet/dry, bright/dim, up/down – it just can not seem to make up its mind. We have managed to almost melt, freeze, and drown, all within the span of a few days! Thursday was the most humid, sticky, hot day since I arrived. Saturday brought a bitter breeze, cloudy skies, and constant cold temperatures throughout the entire day. Then it rained practically nonstop Sunday. Now today is threatening to outdo Thursday with its sweltering heat. Welcome to Spring in Florida, I guess!

There were some… slight mishaps in the kitchen this morning. While attempting to make poached eggs, Mema almost succeeded in breaking the egg-cooker, spilling everything, burning the eggs and herself, and setting the house on fire. Just your average, everyday brunch prep! Don’t worry; we all survived without injury – including the cooker and house. And the eggs were delicious!

The animals, I am happy to say, are getting used to me. The goats follow me around when I am near, hoping for an extra cookie or handful of grain – how could I not oblige them? (Shh don’t tell!) Feeding the rabbits that live in the tractor has become my personal task, so when they see me headed towards them, they dash from one end of the pen to the other in excitement! Silly rabbits. The geese are also adjusting to me. I was wary of them at first, but as I mentioned in my first post, they really are just hiss and no bite. They forget even about hissing when they see that you hold food!

Papa complains because the geese by the pond attack him but no one else. Well, of course they do! He is the dreaded Egg Taker! I am just the Food Bringer. And I am perfectly content to keep it that way.

Speaking of food… this week my taste buds have been blessed by savory salmon, homemade pizza, and my favorite: waffles!! Five-star restaurants, beware!

A few other happenings this week: 1) Princess (the cat) has taken up almost permanent residence in Papa’s chair. Guess who is not too happy about that? 2) I saw my first gecko since arriving. 3) We finally made it through a Mission: Impossible episode that had three parts! Whew! 4) I decided that I am definitely allergic to hay. 5) An English muffin from this morning’s breakfast was deformed to look like a lobster claw. 6) I found a fifty-year-old copy of Dr. Dolittle in the Lost Arts Library. Excited for some great bedtime reading!

Well, that is all for now, folks! Until next time, I leave you with this thought: What if goats had toes?

Sofi Grace <3

Quite a Noisy Adventure!

Greetings!

Life on the farm has been fairly quiet since my last post. Well, I suppose quiet is not the right word, considering that the geese had quite a rousing sparring match Wednesday!

Here’s what happened: It was the middle of the afternoon; siesta time. All four of the “Gaggle Gang” had come up to the front of the house to drink, preen, and refresh themselves in a tub of water. I was sitting in the front room, studying. Suddenly, an ear-splitting commotion of trumpeting, hissing, and flapping erupted just outside the window beside me! When I looked out, I saw the two largest geese in water bin, locked in each other’s grip, flailing their wings and circling around like wrestling opponents in a ring. The other two ganders were having a conniption about the fight. (Whether in protest or encouragement I do not know.) Before you could say “duck-duck-goose,” every single goose on the farm had joined in the chaos! This all went on for a good ninety seconds or so. The scrapping geese almost managed to knock over a bird feeder! Then, without warning, the fighting stopped. I looked over my shoulder to see a very grumpy sight. Papa had been awakened from his siesta by the noise and was not too happy about it. All he had to do was march up to the screen door and give one smoldering glare to the troublemakers… and everything was still. Okay, “everything” may be a slight exaggeration. Nevertheless, the commotion did stop!

After the geese calmed down, they set about cleaning and preening themselves, which is quite fascinating to watch. They do a very meticulous and thorough job.

Now on to the goats: Sadie lost her voice Thursday morning. She is doing much better now, and slowly getting used to venturing around on her own. If only Cow and Peggy would keep her company instead of butting her around when they see her! They do seem to be adjusting to each other, albeit gradually. Peggy had to have her hooves trimmed; a goat manicure! Emma enjoyed being milked on the new milking stand for the first time! We had to make a trip to the store today; The goats’ “cookie” supply ran out!

One of the chickens was acting strangely at dinner-time, and we thought it might be sick or egg-bound. It was doing fine in the morning, however. We now think it was just dazed from a fight it had with another chicken earlier in the day.

In the Lost Arts kitchen I learned how to make sauerkraut. It involved a great deal of pummeling cabbage into a juicy pulp, mortar-and-pestle style. If you ever need an arm-workout, just make sauerkraut!

Here are more of my various discoveries to inform your little grey cells: 1) Fresh, homemade baguettes are delicious, to say the least! 2) Chickens grow increasingly more annoying; 3) Sunflowers are whimsical; 4) Everything is better with gravy; 5) The rabbits cuddle while sleeping- such an adorable sight!

That is all for now! Until next time,

Sofi Grace

The Marbley, Rainy, Furry Adventure

Greetings!

This update is a day later than I intended it to be- my apologies. However, there is a good reason for the delay, which you shall see in a moment. (Ooh suspense!)

Starting up right where I left off: I learned how to marble paper! An incredibly relaxing and simple process once you get the hang of it. After a few trials while figuring out the best color combinations, swirling styles, and how to not completely dye my hands, I successfully created several lovely designs. Although I am still cleaning yellow ink from under my nails, I had an awesome time!

That same afternoon brought a rainstorm. The downpour started very suddenly, and we had to interrupt our siestas to rush out and let Spike and Half back into the shelter of their pens! It is quite fascinating to see all the different ways the animals react to rain. Goats hate getting wet and seek cover at the first sign of precipitation. Damp chickens look miserable and distraught; they are quite an amusing sight! The rabbits are content in their covered cages; the threat of rain never bothers them. Geese have no qualms about a sudden drenching. In fact, I think they welcome it! Raindrops gathering, glistening on their pearl-white feathers, rolling off their backs, flowing down, then gracing the grass below webbed feet; A brief, but wonderful sight.

The next day was not nearly quite as wet. I got to help with grooming Puffy, the Angora rabbit! She had not been brushed recently because of the cold. So many tags… We managed to cut most larger clumps and tangles out of her hair, but we will have to go a couple more rounds before the job is finished. Angora fur is so soft! I can hardly wait to see how it is spun into wool.

Monday was also the day we decided it was time to separate Sadie and Emma (kid and mama goat). Since then, the nonstop soundtrack to my day has been Sadie crying herself hoarse. Even now as I write this, I can hear her through the open window behind me. She will slowly get used to being on her own. Although I will never get used to her heartbreaking sounds.

Moving on to yesterday and the reason I was delayed in updating: I spent most of the day editing a video I made to post with this blog! Time really does fly when you’re having fun. It’s a short snippet, as I didn’t have much material to work with yet and am still learning the basics of the editing program. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy it!

Let us conclude with more assorted things I have learned: 1) Call ducks are wonderfully soft; 2) The Orpington chickens are escape artists/parkour amateurs [one of them even jumped on my back!] 3) Goats are fond of animal crackers. 4) White willow bark tea helps with headaches.

That is all for now, folks! Stay dry,

Sofi Grace c: