Family Arrangements

 Nathan's family left last night and the house and farm sure feel empty without them! We had a great visit and I think they probably got the best October weather possible with only a few days of rain.

Between both of our families visiting we got the greenhouse all cleaned up (but we'll miss them all for more than just their working abilities!):

Our house might be feeling empty...but Thomas and Zeb's isn't. The girls have moved in!

I guess Thomas is making them feel welcomed? He sure was excited to see them...

Poor Zeb is left out. We want to put him with the goats but he wasn't happy about being away from Thomas on our first attempt. We'll have to make the change gradually. 

The goats were happy to munch on some plants that we pulled from the greenhouse. We may have made a mistake giving them the brussels sprouts plants - it seems that they can be bad for goats and May wasn't feeling very well yesterday or this morning. I don't think they're *too* bad though (unlike the rhododendrons).

Squishy has officially abandoned SoZH at night. I guess 'abandoned' is a bit harsh since he is old enough to fend for himself now. She goes up to her roost and he stays on the ground. Last night I brought him inside to sleep in a box since it was so cold....

Ryan hopes you had a happy Halloween! 

Take your Border Collie to Work Day

Ryan got to go to work with Nathan today. I'm not sure why that makes it seem like he's a 'real' farm dog - our farm is pretty real - but it somehow does.

I went there mid morning try a little sheep herding with Ryan on different sheep, and with a pen set up. He was really good, considering he still doesn't know directions. He ran really far to get them...but when the sheep scattered he started sniffing around because he wasn't sure what to do. Eventually he did gather them and together we pushed them back up the field and, eventually, into the pen.

Ryan and Nathan getting some bad tomatoes for the pigs.

Ryan and the scary pig.

Muddy pigs!

Ryan's bread reward at the end of a long work day.

Meanwhile, Abby and I worked on a sheep pen so that we'll have somewhere to corral the sheep into when we have to check their feet, eyes, etc...and also so that I can practice with Ryan.

Abby waiting at the gate. 

The sheep checking out their new pen.

They seem to like it - we'll try to keep it that way!