Going to the Farm

We went to Frank Jenkin's farm on the afternoon of the chick Easter pictures. Frank and his wife Deborah Thompson loved the new arrivals. I took lots of pictures with my camera. Here is Mommy holding one of the baby geese after lifting it from its box.


Deborah got to hold the goose afterwards. The log cabin that Frank and Deborah built is beside her.

We took the baby chicks, baby goose, duckling, and the baby turkey to the sunroom at the back of the house. The chicks were all scampering around in their box.

Mommy enjoyed showing Deborah the baby turkey.

There were three handicapped chicks among the bunch. Each of them had one leg stretched out to the side, and they were unable to walk normally. The other chicks kept scrambling over them. Deborah held them in her lap as a respite from what they had to endure in the box.

Hazel enjoyed holding this baby goose.

Here is a cute picture I took of Hazel peering at the baby goose at eye level.

I took this close-up picture in the box that the two baby geese and the duckling privately shared.

I imagine they were looking at the comics. They were interacting with each other a lot.

We went behind Frank and Deborah's house, where the chickens were running around completely free and pecking in the grass.

These two chickens were in a hurry.

We walked up to Frank and Deborah's barn, and on the way up, I looked back and saw the last of these chickens cross the gravel road. Here I was, seeing an actual real life example of the famous joke of "Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side." I was quite amused to see a real chicken cross the road. Several years ago, I made up an alternative joke, which was, "Why did the rooster cross the road? Because he was lonely, and that's where all the chickens were." The chicken or rooster that I just saw crossing the road wanted to join his or her friends! It was too late to take a picture of the chicken crossing the road, but I took a picture of all these chickens together, with them having just crossed the road.

The sheep were all walking away as we passed by them, but I took this quick picture.

As we reached the barn, I saw this rooster or hen strutting outside.

This rabbit is one of many rabbits who were kept in cages inside the barn. They are the only farm animals not allowed to be outdoors, and I always feel so sorry for them when I visit. I am quite attached to rabbits. Deborah was holding one of them in her arms when I entered the barn, so at least they get that kind of interaction. Deborah was saying that just that day, one of them escaped and was found hopping outside. This particular rabbit was completly alone in its cage. I held my camera right up to the bars to take this picture. That may be why it's rather blurry. The grass food is the only greenery around.

The horses were on the other side of the entrance to the barn. This horse was just a colt when we visited last year. We saw it wandering outside in the horse pen with its mother. This year, I got to take a picture of Frank and Deborah grooming it.

We exited the opposite end of the barn and noticed these two horses standing together in their pen. They both turned to look at me as I approached the fence. I love the resulting picture.

This is a cute picture I took of Hazel and Sage looking at the sheep. Sage was holding her Sasha doll that Hazel made for her.

This mare seemed interested in Hazel and Sage.

Hazel, Sage, and Emma got to pet the mare together, with Daddy and Frank watching nearby.

Here is an adorable picture that Daddy took with his camera.

Mommy then got to visit the horse with Sage and Emma.

I could tell this mare was looking at me as I came to her and took a picture of the side view of her head, with the other horse beyond her. I love the result.

She turned and approached me. Deborah borrowed my camera and took this picture of our meeting. I was careful to hold my head high, as to avoid a repeat of my earlier experience of the horse that I befriended in Ireland giving me kisses all over my face, and then stealing my glasses right off my face before dropping them in his stall. I was enjoying this new encounter, and I think the mare liked me too. Mommy was ready to come to my rescue in case my glasses got stolen again.

Mommy said that in this picture, the mare appears to be whispering to me! Mommy and Emma were certainly grinning at us!

My camera memory card completely ran out of space, but Daddy was able to take pictures of the mare and me using his camera. I am seen smiling at my new friend as she looked at Daddy.

We had another nice moment looking at each other before saying goodbye.

I had to delete past pictures from my camera one at a time in order to take more pictures. At least I was reassured I had pictures saved on my laptop computer, plus I had my blog pictures. I really wanted to take more sheep pictures as Deborah started feeding them pieces of corn.

Sage enjoyed having a view up close of the sheep as they ate.

Peering down over the gate...

I thought this was a nice solo portrait. Deborah later told me that this ewe is pregnant.

Here's a black sheep by contrast.

This sheep seemed interested in me.

I got to scatter corn seed to feed the birds that had gathered in the barn. Here is a rooster or hen strutting towards the entrance.

The birds eagerly descended upon the corn I had just thrown down.

The rafters were popular. Here is one of the many birds who perched on them before flying off again.

I wasn't really willing to delete any more of my old pictures, but I think I got quite a sampling of what farm life is like. I enjoyed my visit here!

Easter Chicks!

As a first grade teacher, Mommy hatches eggs with her class every year at Silver Creek Elementary School. The eggs were supplied by our farmer friend Frank Jenkins. As well as the usual chicks, a baby turkey was hatched, as well as two baby geese and a baby duck. We got to keep some of the chicks, as well as the baby turkey, goslings, and baby duck overnight before taking the whole bunch back to Frank's farm. That Sunday, exactly a week before Easter, was a beautiful day, and we took Easter pictures with Daddy's camera in my family's front yard. Hazel and Sage were with us.

Here, Mommy is letting Sage pet a baby goose.


Here are a couple of sweet pictures of them together with the gosling.

Hazel joined them.

Mommy had a nice pose alone with the gosling.

Daddy decided to lie down with one of the baby geese.

My family joked how the baby goose appears to be whispering into Daddy's ear.

It seemed interested in Daddy's mustashe.

The duckling joined them. It liked to climb all over shoulders and onto our heads.

Daddy appeared nice and relaxed with his two companions.

Emma posed with the duckling.

We had to keep Rusty and our cat Charlie away from the baby geese, duck, and the chicks. Rusty got to have his own photo.

Here is a nice family photo.

Sage certainly enjoyed being together with Hazel and the baby geese.

We finally brought the chicks out in Emma's Easter basket.

Here is a nice close-up. The baby turkey is in the top right corner, with dark feathers on top of his head, and white around his eyes.

Sage posed alone with the Easter basket and a chick on her lap.

It was Emma's turn to be with the Easter basket.

I finally got to be in the pictures. Here is me with a chick.

When I attempted to pose with the Easter basket, this baby turkey wanted out!

Here, they all stayed put, though one of the baby geese was interested in my hand.

Here is a nice overhead picture with a better view of the chicks.

Hazel got to hold a baby chick.

Hazel joined me at the Easter basket. One of the chicks had gotten out and was looking around. We enjoyed looking at the baby turkey before letting him run free too.

The baby geese were cute in Hazel's hands.

Emma got to visit with them. The baby goose that Hazel was holding seemed interested in Emma.

I have another bunch of photos of the visit to Frank Jenkin's farm. I was busy taking pictures on the farm. I'm eager to have them posted. Happy Easter!