Northern Lights

I confess that on Friday evening when the Northern Lights were supposed to be amazing I looked out my north window, saw the sky looked faintly lighter than usual, and then I went to bed.  After seeing all of the amazing photos on FB the next day and reading one person’s advice to just take a picture because your eye can’t see all the colors that will be captured by a camera, I decided to try it on Saturday night.

It was meh.  I liked the pictures, but it was nothing brilliant.  I also realized that I need to take a night and learn how to use my big girl camera at night.  I’ve never done that, so I had to revert to my cell phone.  Good thing it’s a smart phone and knows how to do night photography.

Just as I was getting ready to quit, I saw the brighter green.

I decided that I might as well go back up to the windmill if I had stayed up this late (it was well after eleven o’clock by this time).  I’m so glad I did.

It didn’t last long before the brilliant colors began to fade again.

I’m ready to go chase Northern Lights now. I mean, as long as I don’t have to leave my farm.

The House Pasture

Well, it’s official. I no longer have a back yard. I have a house pasture.  Saturday, I bribed Skittles back into the small Morton pen with some llama food and put a panel back across, so that’s all she had.

 

Skittles back in the tiny pen.

Then I dismantled the fence I just put up for her.  I turned that into a fence across the back yard.  It went from the fence to the house.  And on the other side of the house to the Morton building.  My dog was a little disappointed, but he’s mostly lazy anyhow.  He’ll survive for a few weeks with just the front and side yard.

Sky wondering why there’s a fence in his way

Before I could let her into the new “pasture”, I had to protect my baby plum tree.  It made it through last summer’s drought and a rabbit attack over the winter, and it’s doing well.  So I put a fence around it as well.

Hard to see how good it looks with all the green in the picture

I also put the pen around the parent tree.

Then I let Skittles in.

I did remember to remove the clothes line.

She might have tried to kick my dog through the fence when he sniffed her.  I have no doubt she would smash him into the ground if they ever got on the same side of the fence.  I’m going to do my best to make sure that never happens.  Because I do rather like my dog.

He decided not to sniff her back leg again.

It makes my yard actually look pretty big when you see how much room it gives her.

I think she’s enjoying it.  The next step was to catch Maybeline when she was up in the barnyard while the main herd was still in pasture.

The Rest of the Rainy Weekend

Saturday morning, I decided I needed to make some adjustments.  My garage was overflowing and I still had two girls that I needed to sort from the rest of the herd because they were also due.  First thing in the morning, I snagged Zinnia and Venus from the herd and put them in with Antigone and Ostara (who I had let out of the Love Shack so they could also get into the pen).

Antigone, Zinnia, Venus, Ostara

Then I put panels in the barn to divide it.  I gave the moms the first two little sections.  It will easily hold most of the moms.

Venus checking it out

Then I brought Tansy and Hera and Chiffon (and her babies) and Rosie (and her babies) out of the garage.

Chiffon with Ty and Thalia

They are staying in the barnyard for the rainy weather (There’s plenty of chances between Sat and Thurs).  Between the Love Shack and barn, everyone is able to get inside.

Rosie, Hera, and Venus (Ostara is in the next section over)

Hera fills the doorway!

All the kids but Antigone’s girl.

I did put Antigone (with her girl) back in the Love Shack–my wimpy girl.

I left Aphrodite (due on Sunday) and my last two girls to kid in the garage–Cupid and Penelope.  That was a lot better!

Penelope and her girl; Aphrodite, and Cupid

I didn’t mess with the group up north.  They are all getting along and have shelter and I can still baby Casey and Dolly that way.

LilyAnn and her kids, Mina (Palomino) and Angus

I did take a bit of time to reinforce the fence between Skittles and the barnyard to try to make is as kid-proof as possible.

I actually had to fish one of Ostara’s boys out of there, so I added some in front of the gate to the left of my arrow also.

Although, I did have my first signs that she will be able to get along with the goats.  She and the north group were happily munching on either side of the fence and it looked quite peaceful.

Dolly, Bee, and Floyd on one side; Skittles on the other side

I also held Thalia up to Skittles, and she was interested and sniffed her and didn’t put her ears back, so I’m going to call it progress.

She isn’t putting her ears back for my camera and phone now too!

Anyhow, we are as ready for the next rounds of rain and kids as possible.