Our weather forecasters

Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil may have predicted six more weeks of winter, but our chickens know spring is in the air. They don't step a foot out all winter, unless it is a really warm day and even then they stay within a few feet of their coop. However, they have been trooping around all over for the last couple weeks, even across the ice glaciers on our place. They were even excited to get out this morning when it was 6 degrees! They are good little weather predictors. If it is only going to be a short rain shower, they stay in their coop until all is clear. If it is going to rain all day, they come on out and get to their business as normal. So, watch your critters.... they could help remind you to bring your umbrella!

In the zone....

BJ bowls once a week and has bowled for several years. You would think I would remember, but somehow I rarely remember until he is walking out the door. (Denial?) We finally bought him his own ball so he didn't have to use the one with his mother-in-law's name on it and also bought him some new shoes... the old hand-me-downs were litteraly falling apart, leaving little specs of rubber on the lane as he bowled.

See his shoes in the background. Where are those way cool striped ones that you got to wear after hundreds of others had sweat in them? And, his ball has another hole way off to the side. What's up with that?

Guess the new ball and fancy shoes have helped. They have been winning their league quarters and the whole season (39 wks!) quite often the last couple of years, and his score continues to imrpove. He bowled a 600 series last night with a high game of 247. He was quite excited... so kudos to you hon.

Just pretending...

As I trudge along doing chores, I feel like I'm a pioneer woman, hauling water to the goats and the donkey (too short to drink from the tank) and hauling in wood to the house on the sled.

I let the horses out in a different pen to have some room to romp. Annie gets all excited. Her nares flare, and they all start hoofing for grass.... mind you they have a manager full of leafy bailed grass inside the barn. I wonder if they are just pretending they're on the prairie or that old dormant grass is really that much sweeter. Husker the miniature donkey I know is prentending to be a mighty steed, trying as hard as he can to kick up his heels. Who can't smile at his effort. Whoa, there goes Annie bucking up a bit, probably pretending to fight off a mountain lion on the prairie... nope, just a bunny ran by.

Around the bunny trail....

I took the bunny trail around the house after chores and cound't resist sitting on the back patio to watch the snow and the birds. I just love snowy days like

this with the snow coming down so gently and fluffy.

Fifth Grade Basketball

RJ's team played in their first tournament of the year. They didn't win, but they definitely improved as the games went on. RJ didn't score any this time, but he did score 4 points at the game on Monday. They all continue to improve, and they are fun to watch.