Colors, Marshmallow, and the farm

We had some good fall color while the visitors were here (first pic), but now it is mostly gone. We also had lots of rain while they were here, and now it is mostly sun. It's a trade off. I'm not sure which I prefer.

We have 10 female goats who were excited to meet their new boyfriend, Marshmallow. He was transported in his private limousine on Tuesday by our goat lady friend, Karen.

If the girls accept him as the purebred Saanen stud that we think he is, he might just earn himself a permanent home here. And if he does stay, we might just have to change his name to honor our friend and neighbor with the long white hair and beard.

The 2 silos that often appear in the background of our photos belong to our neighbor. The farm has not been active for several years, only the fields are used for hay. He recently demolished the 2 large barns, and the silos will probably come down in the next few days. 

When we first moved, I thought the falling down barns were messing up our beautiful view. Now I will truly miss seeing them. They made the perfect backdrop to our tiny farm here at Lester's Flat.

Leaf peepers and the house on the hill

Our colorful baby forest with Don's house on the hill behind

The best view on the planet :)

It's difficult to get good fall color in Florida, so they had to come north. B&E, Hub's brother and his wife, came up for a short visit.

We took them up to the house on the hill just in case they wanted to purchase a summer home. (What's the opposite of a snowbird?)

Our favorite neighbor, Don on the Hill, passed away in January. He left no will, so now his family is doing their best to settle his estate. The house is just now in the process of being cleared out to put up for sale.

I truly miss my neighbor and all the afternoons we spent with Woody and Cyrus and his dog Bandit. Don and I would have a beer and take in the most amazing view while the pooches would run wild. Woody got into the most trouble—dragging back dead unrecognizable flat things for Don, disappearing into the woods and coming back with a cut on his ear shaking blood all over the place—lots of fun stuff...

And Tim and I would go to his house every year for Don's birthday on Christmas Eve.

We miss you, Neighbor! Christmas Eve will never be the same.

Chicken mayhem

Big Coop Chapter 1
The new rooster was supposed to settle in before I moved the girls into the newly refinished big coop. (I know, it still needs some work!)

He didn't even stay for a full day. He spent the night doing a lot of pacing. Next day I opened the door, and he flew out, ran to the fence and jumped over before I even made it out the door. We saw and heard him around for a few days, but nothing since.

Big Coop Chapter 2
We moved the 5 ladies from the Omlet. They seemed happy enough for all the space with no muck underfoot. Not even in there for 24 hours, this blondie decided she would go for an adventure and flew or jumped the fence just like Duke the Roo.

Tim and Cyrus found her outside and we managed to guide her back home. It's been about 2 weeks and everybody has been behaving since.

Omlet Coop Chapter 2
It took me 2 days to clean out and move the Omlet before I could bring in the youngsters. No mayhem here, this was a successful move. Then our Goat/Chicken Lady friend offered us one of her youngsters that turned out to be a rooster. Surprisingly, there was also no mayhem adding him in with the 6 youngest ladies. He is a Buff Orpington, just like our Big Roo from a few years ago. A perfect breed (nice and calm), and a perfect age (young like his new friends). Once they settle down and grow up a bit we can combine the 2 flocks and make one big happy family. At least that's the plan.