Not today, help, searching

Mama and I were planning to drive to Rhome, TX at my lunch hour today to pick up three ducklings, but the seller texted Mama today to tell her that two of the three died. Since it is not recommended to raise one ducking alone, we will have to wait until some others are hatched out. With that news in hand, Mama and I are looking online for other options to buy the specific breed of ducks Mama is looking for. So far without too much luck, but we are in no particular hurry. However, with winter coming soon, we will have to abandon our search when the weather turns too much colder for us to raise out little ones.

As for the pigs, Mama and I have committed to purchasing the Kune Kune pigs. It may be difficult to get together with the sellers to pick up the pigs, but neither of us are overly concerned about the timing. The seller is pulling down the post advertising the pigs and sometime next week we will get together to rehome the barrows. For my part, it will give me this long weekend to get the door replaced on the pig building. I relocated the glass door we have had there for many months to use it on the duck pen. I had planned and bought parts for a rolling door for the pig building, but never installed it. This weekend I intend to do so. With that, the pig pen will once again be complete and ready for occupants.

I am within sight of finishing the larger duck pen as well. I am not confident I will get everything done this weekend even with the extra day - Labor Day being Monday next week. I lack some roofing panels, the wire fencing attached to the exterior and the fraidy box for the ducks. I would call it a nesting box, but the ducks do not seem to be committed to using the enclosure for anything other than to hide in. It is hilarious to see them waddle at a run to get inside a box with a door that only one of them can fit into at a time. But at least they keep that part of their current pen fairly clean.

The puppies stayed another night with us since the Burns arrived late in the evening yesterday and have school teaching duties all day today. Instead of having to transfer the puppies to someone else’s care, if anyone would have been available, we kept the five troublemakers one more night and day. They will be going home today. They stopped by on their way home to check on the pups and ensure we were good with the care being extended. Both the Burns children were excited that the puppies seemed to remember them. It is difficult to say whether or not that is true since the puppies swarm every person that comes into the room. Regardless, the family will be happy to have their charges back with them and we will be happy for the release from that responsibility – as much as Mama and Victoria have enjoyed having the pups around.

Yesterday a friend we have made through having Rick – our goat instructor – as a common acquaintance came over to help us. She spent about an hour with Mama trimming the feet of our herd. We have only nine in that herd, so she counted is a nothing, but it was a huge blessing. Mama and I got to see at least a repeatable way to do that trimming. It is something we will try to handle on our own in the future. All the herd was treated for worms as well. As a result of the unusual activity on our nanny goats Mama and I are expecting to see some deliveries in the next few days, but that will not be much earlier than we originally forecast. Three have kidded and three have yet to do so. One of our older nanny goats is positioning herself in the far corner of the paddock today as she has for the past three kiddings. If she follows her past routine, she will deliver tonight or tomorrow.

The search for RV’s has begun again but I do not know how serious that inquest is. Grandpa is in no hurry at all. He is happy with the setup we are currently managing and does not want to add either expense or inconvenience to it. Inconvenience because what they have with us in this house is more than adequate and he is not able to help physically or financially with setting up a place for a camper. Victoria is the driving force in the search. She is interested in getting an RV hookup installed on the property to have a place away from Grandma for her dogs. Victoria also would like a place of her own. I do not resent her that desire. I just do not want to spend money, time or property unwisely to accomplish that unnecessary goal. If Victoria does accomplish that setup, Grandma will not rest until she has a place of “her own” as well.

I will drag my feet until I get peace about the situation. Or until Grandpa tells me to go ahead with the project.