Monday, August 25, 2008

Surprise Birthday Party

Monday on the farm has been all about cleaning house this summer. We used to clean house on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, but now we sell at the Daleville farmer's market instead.

As Patrick scrubbed the stove and Rose cleaned cabinet doors, Maggie swept floors and cleaned the deck. Nora organized shoes in the shoe cubby and Thomas took out the trash and fed milk to the pigs. I hung out loads and loads of laundry on the clothesline daring the skies to rain. At some point Maggie ran in with a wonderful surprise! Our free-range mama Rouen duck had rejoined the two rouen drakes out on the pond. Along with eight adorable little babies swimming along behind!!! All chores came to a screeching halt as we found some old bread and Patrick and the rest of the gang ran out to the pond to inspect.

What a treat. Thankfully Mama Duck is a much better mother than Jemima Puddleduck. Nevertheless, we compelled her and her sweet babies to join the chickens in the chicken yard for awhile. You never know when a wily old fox will come along and try to "sweet talk" her and her babies to dinner.

PS. The laundry on the line trick has failed to work so far. Maybe I should leave some blankets out or something? Roll down the car windows? We are praying for rain. The ducks would love some more puddles for splashing.

1 comment:

CountryDew said...

Hopefully the recent showers have alleviated your concern. I know we have been glad to see them.