but glad to get-it-done. Only problem is.... teachers are never done, until summer that is. After I posted my Blog last Sunday, and once I was home from Nursery Care/Church/and School....I was bound and determined to get
school work done. There were over 30
I received this mug (which I really like) on Daniel's birthday from his good friend. Later I did have to go out and help Joe scrub Norman's rear end and tail. He had dried, caked manure all over, and was past due for a cleaning. Since this was the nicest (warmest) day we had had in a few weeks, it really needed to be done. Once I had decided to push through evolution and test at the end of the week so that I could start Human Body the following week, I felt encouraged. I had Human Body stuff to look forward to. I had a goal .... so planning became a little easier. I worked hard and got a lot done.
It was a rainy Monday morning but I was feeling good about life. It rained off and on during the night, giving us some much needed moisture. The old pasture grass had turned green over night. Norman had started eating his grain and alfalfa. And my school work was under control. There was still much to do, but it seemed doable. I worked hard when I got home from school, but took time to play with Amiga and Norman. Amiga started
racing around like a wild woman and
Norman was energetic enough to jump, run around the stall and kick up his heels. I was relieved to see he was feeling better. The ducks had started to peck at the glass lid and 
push up on the screen top of their tank. Time to get the girls out to the coop....if only I had time. These two photos were taken several days apart, but you can see the ducks taking an interest in the world beyond their cage trying to look out. In the second photo they are actually tall enough to see over the top edge. I worked on school work while Joe worked on spreading
gravel on the drive and Britney drove
to St. Louis to pick Dan up at the airport. He was returning home from Ft. McCoy on his 21st Birthday. 
After a quick bite to eat, Joe and I were then off to our Bible Study.
I had discovered Sunday that I had been driving with an expired car registration (since 10/10) Oops! Thankfully a colleague had pointed this out, not a policeman. But Joe could not take care of it until the DMV opened Tuesday. Evidently they sent the reminder to our old address.
A pretty sunrise Tuesday morning.
I put Amiga and Sir Loin out on the side pasture and caught them resting together while the chickens foraged near by.
We took Dan and the rest of the clan out to dinner for his birthday. We sat and talked with Courtney and Mike...first time in a few weeks. Joe and I are so blessed to have such nice kids (including Mike). Then I had to stay up late to grudgingly and gruelingly finish the Evolution Test and Study Guide.Wednesday was another early start day for me so Britney did morning chores. I left here at 6:00am... ugh. I was counting 8 weeks left of school.... and cheering myself on. "You can do this." Looking at the calendar also reminded me that Dan leaves for Ft. Bliss on April 23rd and
then on to Afghanistan. I get worried and
sad...and then proud all at the same time when thinking about it. He won the First Sargent Top Gun marksmanship award out of 160 soldiers (firing an M16). Guess those video games have paid off. LOL. Here he is sporting his prize.I let Norman out in the paddock for a bit when I got home. He was jumping, kicking and walking around. He pooped, tried some grass, shocked his little nose on the fence
and went scurrying back into the barn and peed. The ducks have been downing their food and water almost faster than Britney and I can keep it filled. They get pretty noisy when they need something. Britney took this video as proof.
Thursday and Friday were more, hard working, long days with little relief except to pause a minute while doing chores and watch the farm animals. I enjoy these moments and often snap a photo or two of the characters.
Brooster Rooster looking for bugs.
Sir Loin coming in off the side pasture.
Amiga and Sir Loin out on the side pasture....eating it up....literally. yum, yum yum.
It is so nice to see things greening up.....I think the chickens would agree.
The ducks were needing a complete cage cleaning every day and draining their water jar 5 or 6 times a day. We have been feeding Norman 3 times a day and giving electrolytes or water in between feedings. Poor Amiga has really been neglected, except she gets to visit or chase Norman when we let him out of the barn to "play".
He has lots of new friends.
Joe brought home wood chips which we unloaded and spread in the
stalls. Later Thursday evening Dan
flew to Washington DC for a little vacation. This time, Britney only had to take him to the Bloomington airport. Saturday started out cold and gloomy so I hit the school work hard. In preparation to his leaving on an 8 day vacation, Joe was very intentional about working hard around the house all day. He cleaned out in the garage
and then he and Britney put up a fence for the ducks and filled the feed bin.
A bit later I went out and worked in the coop cleaning and dividing it into two sections. The chickens will need to roost in the front end while the ducks can come and go through a second little (pop) door in the back.
Abbey thought she could be of assistance. Actually, I may have stirred up a few mice moving straw and feed around, so she was quite interested in sitting and watching. She has no claws but still thinks she can hunt with the best of them.
Joe washed and put up screens while Britney and I set up the duck pond and moved the 9 girls off the front porch and out to the coop. An empty xerox box was filled for transport, then gently set on its side.
The girls were quick to come out, look around, and discover their new pool.
They were hesitant to get in at first.
But once one got in, many were soon to follow.
We debated on depth of water, starting fairly shallow at first but adding water as we saw they were wanting to dive and swim under water.
Brother was caught up in the action and mesmerized by the whole thing.
Britney joined in by lounging
and watching the ducks.
The ducks enjoyed eating grass and swimming off and on all afternoon.
Joe took down the tarp in the corn crib and we opened that up. It was a beautiful day with a gentle breeze and tons of sunshine. We had to add shade to the duck habitat because they were getting too hot.
Norman enjoyed more time out in the paddock exploring and trying out the grass. He and Sir Loin were becoming good friends. At times it seems Sir Loin is actually trying to protect Norman.
It too got too hot for them and was time for a rest in the shade.
The beautiful Saturday on the farm ended all too soon. Joe left for the Peoria airport at 5pm and I came in to work on school work once again.
To Church and School as usual Sunday and then, once home, I did a little more work around outside. It was 80 degrees out but with the 33 mph winds, it was not that enjoyable. So I didn't lallygag too much. It was just as well that I was blown back inside because I still had plenty to do to get ready for Tuesday's formal teacher evaluation. That and laundry, cleaning the front porch, dishes, etc.
The winds were creating troubles with the new duck habitat, blowing over their shade board and blowing open the door gate. Luckily the barn cats were not outside... probably too windy for them too. I made periodic trips out and around to check on things. Amiga and Sir Loin were getting a little pushy with Norman.
He pulled a fast one on them and slipped between the two grain bins leaving them behind.
Smart little cow.
Sunday night/ Monday morning we had quite a thunder storm....very high winds and lots of rain. In the morning all was wet outside but peaceful. Amiga and Sir Loin were not happy about being kept off the new grass, but the field was too wet and muddy. I had to take the Expedition, with trailer attached, to school because Britney needed my car to get Dan at the airport. I had Joe hook up the trailer with hopes of taking Amiga to a lesson later in the week. I went in early and stayed late to set up a lab and do a bunch of grading. I ended up staying in town until Growth Group and pulling the trailer there too.
I got through my formal evaluation Tuesday. The lesson went very well...except I was a little short on time right at the end. The administrator will still pop in to observe any of my classes between now and our post evaluation conference next Tuesday. I have things fairly well prepared at this point with the exception of a quiz and review to write. There is always papers to grade. Daniel helped me finish off the last 2 of Grandmas chairs.
We have started getting ready for the
crowd coming next weekend. I even put up a few Easter decorations and lights. I hate that I have spent very little time with Amiga. She has been lucky to get a quick brushing and her hooves picked. At least she has a new friend (Norman). She is curious about him, but does not like him to suck on her legs. Sir Loin is a lot more tolerant of this behavior. Norman is good company for Amiga when she is kept in the stall to prevent her from eating too much green grass.I have been relieved to get the ducks out of the house. They are much easier to care for outside. I sat watching, out in the grass near them and was amused by their silly behavior.... swimming and running around and then suddenly plopping down to nap. I guess I sort of do that too. Go, go, go until I crash falling asleep at my desk or out lying in the grass by the ducks. The hardest part with the ducks now is getting them to go through the little "pop door" to go back into the coop at night.
Today I was up at 4am and able to finished lesson plans for the next 6 days... which takes me through Monday after Easter. I did a big happy dance on my way to school. Once home I felt I had time to "play" for a bit. Britney and I decided to clean the duck pool and in the process, I dug a hole to level it and make it lower to the ground and easier for them to get in and out of. I took the sod and filled in
some other holes in the yard with it.
Boy were the ducks happy to get clean fresh water to drink and swim in. We also figured out they do not need all the bricks and blocks to step up on, to get in or out of the pool.
There is nothing like fresh running water to make a duck happy.
And better yet, a clean pool to swim and bath in.
It is a riot to watch them running around, jumping to catch bugs in the air.
After messing with the ducks quite awhile, I worked with Amiga. She was in desperate need of a good brushing and then I took her for a ride. It was warm and sunny, allowing me to ride in a t-shirt, but causing her to get pretty sweaty. So she got a second brushing once we were done. Meanwhile, the cow boys (boy cows) were looking for trouble.
This was the 2 to 3 day mark until the chicken eggs start hatching. I had to remove the egg turner and add water to the second humidity tray. I also needed to get the second incubator set up, warm and steady for the new hatch-lings. Britney had cleaned the duck cage which was ready for use after the chicks dry off and are ready to consume food and water.
Since I was so busy, I decided to wait and do this post at the 10 day interval. The problem with waiting longer between Blog posts, is that the blog is so much longer to read and takes longer to write and get pictures down loaded and in the correct location. So, sorry it is later and longer than usual. Now that the worst of the work is behind me for awhile, I look forward to play time coming this weekend! As I often say, "I work hard and I play hard".
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