65 In Homesteading

Monthly Musings On The Farm-February

This month has brought sub-zero temperatures along with daytime temperatures as high as 60°F.  Everyone hunkered down and braved the cold.  Once that passed, the snow and ice began to melt to reveal green grass and muddy paths along the farm.  

The geese and ducks have been enjoying daily adventures to the stream again. They then waddle their way back up to the homestead, filthy after all the fun.  During the hard freeze, they were determined to get some bath time in.  They chose the exceptionally small bucket full of drinking water, and proceeded to create a giant mess in the newly cleaned barn.  It is rather cute to watch them create a mini monsoon while trying to fit their large bodies in a tiny red bucket.  

Phoebe is in her mother goose phase, so she has started laying eggs again. She stays close to the farm creating nests in the manure piles as well as the hay trailer.  The goats don't enjoy the cold, so they stay curled up forming a yin yang shape in the pen.  The horses have been shedding like mad and require constant brushing.  Even then, a few minutes later it looks like they haven't been touched in weeks.  We need to hang a sign that says beware of horsehair!  It is a surefire way to know that spring is right around the corner, so I couldn't be happier!  Come follow along with the daily adventures here on our New England farm.

Waterfowl Gang

Finn acting as guard to the ducks while they forage in the stream

Little Wing Swimming
Finn The Toulouse Goose

Finn wading his way across the stream with the ducks close in tow

Finn and Little Wing

Finn and Little Wing dunking their heads underwater

Swimming In February

Leader of the pack

The Gang
Rooster

Burt waking up the whole neighborhood, no alarm clock needed

Cockadoodledoo

COCKADOODLEDOO!

Chicken

Roo

Finn

Munching on some cracked corn

Little Wing

One dirty duck

Fluffy Butt February

Some fowl fluffy butts

Finn Portrait

Portrait of Finn my feathered friend

Sassy

Sassy hoping to play fetch with the dirtiest tennis ball she could possibly find

Goat

Goateeos exploring the newly cleaned barn

Goats Munching

Scout and Jem munching

Watermelon time

Phoebe joining the goats for a watermelon snack

Wild geese

Canadian geese making their way through the field

Indica

Indica enjoying the warmer weather

Khalilia

Khalila

The Girls

The girls enjoying some mints

Please enjoy this video of Phoebe, Finn and Little Wing attempting to take a bath in a tiny red bucket full of drinking water. They make a mess, then proceed to groom. They are too cute to get mad at!

THROWBACK PICTURE

Throwback Duckies

Duckies only a few months old in 2011

Is it starting to feel like spring where you live?  I'm hoping to enter the warmer months with ease.  I'm over the freezing weather and ready for some milder days.  Right now, I'm growing some wheat grass for the chickens so they can have some fresh greens!  I'm excited to give it to them as a treat soon.  What are you looking forward to this spring?   Tell me in the comments section below, I'd love to hear.  I always look forward to seeing pictures of animals and nature on Twitter, so tweet them to me @thefreckledrose.  See you next month for another edition of Monthly Musings On The Farm!

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65 Comments

  • Reply
    Judith@Lavender Cottage
    March 8, 2016 at 8:33 pm

    Although I live in a rural area, we’re in a pocket subdivision so I don’t have any farm animals but sure enjoy those that do, sharing them. Cute to see the watermelon feast and the fluffy ducky butts.

  • Reply
    Cindy
    March 6, 2016 at 3:50 pm

    There is nothing more beautiful than seeing these amazing creatures…what a blessing to live among them. Gorgeous photos.
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      March 22, 2016 at 1:21 pm

      Thank you very much Cindy! I appreciate the kind words 🙂

  • Reply
    Rosie @Eco-Gites of Lenault
    March 6, 2016 at 5:07 am

    It is beginning to look like spring here but the weather is saying otherwise with every conceivable type of winter weather being thrown at us this week. Your photos, as ever, are stunning and so good you could almost make me forget how I am not keen on geese as the one’s on my friend’s farm used to attack me as a child! My ducks also bathe in a similar way and they have a baby bath with enough room to get in if they want – but they seem to prefer to make a wet mess everywhere! Thank you so much for adding this wonderful farm update to #AnimalTales

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      March 22, 2016 at 1:20 pm

      It always drives me crazy how the weather gets warmer, then seems to snap right back to cold around this time of year! Thank you very much! Oh no, they can be very protective! Yes, all the waterfowl seem to want to make a mess most when everything has just been cleaned! Always happy to link up 🙂

  • Reply
    JES
    March 4, 2016 at 6:05 am

    Your photographs are beautiful! Thank you for sharing on the Art of Home-Making Mondays! 🙂

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      March 22, 2016 at 1:17 pm

      Thanks Jes! Always happy to link up 🙂

  • Reply
    Heather @ New House New Home
    March 3, 2016 at 8:09 am

    I love your monthly musings! And the photos are gorgeous!

  • Reply
    Jesh StG
    March 2, 2016 at 7:54 pm

    What a delight to see the beautiful details of these animals. I love the print from the first horse – wants me to draw and paint it right now! Thanks for this series!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      March 22, 2016 at 1:15 pm

      Thank you so much Jesh! I always wish I could draw and paint, you have such an amazing talent.

  • Reply
    Sarah Van Nattan
    March 2, 2016 at 4:20 pm

    These pictures are great. The five acres we live on seems like nothing compared to your farm. I look forward to the spring wild flowers of Texas. First all shades of blue/purple, then yellow/orange colors, then white and red.
    Sarah the human

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      March 22, 2016 at 1:13 pm

      Thank you Sarah! Any farm no matter how big or small, is heaven to me 🙂

  • Reply
    Michelle Ramblingwoods
    March 1, 2016 at 2:15 pm

    It must be in my genes or I owned a farm in a past life, but I love these animals and so enjoy watching them. Yes ducks and geese are messy, but so much fun to watch,,,Michelle

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      March 22, 2016 at 1:12 pm

      Thank you Michelle! I couldn’t imagine a world without animals 🙂 Ducks & geese are amazing and make great pets!

  • Reply
    Merlinda Little ( @pixiedusk)
    March 1, 2016 at 9:42 am

    Your photos are so amazing! So clear and crisp each one of them =) #mysundayphoto

  • Reply
    Driller's Place
    March 1, 2016 at 9:10 am

    Very interesting set of images. Since I am a fan of portraits, the close-ups are among my favorites. Nicely captured and composed. Have a blessed day.

  • Reply
    Clare Speer
    February 29, 2016 at 8:22 pm

    Your photos are so clear and beautiful… and thanks for the variety of animals! What a wonderful lifestyle and adventure!

  • Reply
    Christine
    February 29, 2016 at 7:21 pm

    Oh my goodness! All your animals make me want to live on a farm! Cuteness overload!

    It’s warm-ish here in Texas, but every few days it gets cold and windy for no reason. I’ll be happy when the weather decides what season it wants to be.

  • Reply
    Kim Cunningham
    February 29, 2016 at 5:39 pm

    The start of spring is so welcome! Hope all the farm babies are enjoying it!

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      March 22, 2016 at 1:05 pm

      Yes, so happy spring is finally here! Thank you Kim 🙂

  • Reply
    Christine
    February 29, 2016 at 8:44 am

    With wonderful furry friends like that, who needs humans! Your incredible photos make me just want to pet them and give them treats all day long.

    • Reply
      Thefreckledrose
      March 22, 2016 at 1:05 pm

      haha that’s so true Christine! 🙂 Thank you & they would love that!

  • Reply
    Sally
    February 29, 2016 at 6:06 am

    I love ducks, yours are so gorgeous! Incredible photos!

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