We're Back!

I apologize for not updating my blog since last week. Jason and I had a brief getaway over Easter weekend. My parents have a beautiful place on the Gulf Coast that we are welcome to go to any time we want. My sister goes so often she keeps a key on her key ring. Jason and I have not been since 2006! We decided that was pretty stupid on our parts and decided to rectify that this weekend. So we made a quick trip to the coast and enjoyed a short break, ate a lot of fresh seafood and relaxed.

The view from the master bedroom

One of the more popular local residents is Chuckie the alligator at the zoo. Chuckie is an eleven foot alligator that weighs over 1,000 pounds. He lives at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo which was featured in the thirteen episode Animal Planet series The Little Zoo That Could. If you have never watched this series I highly recommend it. This zoo did what no other zoo had done before - a complete evacuation of all the animals before a hurricane. I will admit I am often not a fan of zoos as sometimes the animals just don't look happy and I feel bad that they are stared at all day. But the animals at this zoo truly looked happy and well cared for. And if you've watched the series you know just how much the caretakers care about these animals . . . it kind of reminds me of Jason and I with the horses here. You have to love the animals and love caring for them to really do it right.

Chuckie's story - he was harassing guests at the state park for their picnic baskets. The zoo offered to take Chuckie so he would not have to be destroyed.
Chuckie was sunning himself lazily

Although it was nice to be away for a couple of days it is always nice to come back to the farm. I had a really nice gift waiting for me when I got home. I read Luanne's blog All In a Day's Work. She is not only a horsewoman with a lovely farm but she is an amazing artist! Recently she gave away some of her handmade dichroric glass jewelry to some of her readers. She had a fun contest where we answered a few questions that were easy if you read her blog! Then we had the fun of picking our jewelry! I even had Jason helping me out, they were all so beautiful I had a hard time deciding. Plus, it was hard to accept such a generous gift.

However not only did Luanne send me the gorgeous necklace I picked out, but opening the whole package was a fun experience. First there was this really cute box that I realized was a recipe box. The necklace was inside, but she also included a handwritten recipe from her own collection for Chocolate Nut Pie. Clearly Luanne has been reading my blog since she knows I love dessert! The whole presentation was just so perfect it would have made anyone's day and it definitely made mine. I guess I am just not that . . . nice? Or that thoughtful? Or that creative? I sure as heck cannot make jewelry (or at least nothing anyone would wear!) much less put so much thought into creating such a cute package.

My wonderful package: the recipe box, necklace, and the Chocolate Nut Pie recipe

Isn't this necklace awesome? I love the colors and love the fact that it is a one of a kind creation, no one else will ever have one just like it!

It was nice to be back working on the farm today. Aside from a very brief rain shower this morning and another ten minute rain shower this afternoon the day was beautiful. Bright sunshine, a gentle breeze and a temperature in the low 70's. I have noticed there is one Canada Goose still hanging around the pond. He also hangs out in the pasture next to the pond where Buffy and Harmony live. I don't know if he got separated from his group or what. He appears to be perfectly healthy and happy. The geese stop by the pond both when they head south and then again when they head north.

He (or she) is between Buffy and Harmony in this picture but is tiny and hard to see in the pictureStrolling through the pasture

Hanging out

Other than that we don't have a lot going on around here. The exciting news one day last week was that Cuffie actually stopped grazing for a moment when he was outside! This was newsworthy since he has literally never lifted his head from the grass when he has been out. He took the time to roll in the grass and now does so every day. The grass will still be there when you get up Cuffie! I was trying to take a picture of him today for his family and was desperately trying to get a picture of him doing anything other than eating. I was waving my hands, clucking, etc. to no avail. I finally resorted to pulling his head up by the halter and taking a quick picture. I got a picture of Cuffie looking very displeased with me! Bella the dog did find it interesting to watch me being silly.

Cuffie with a big sigh says "will you please GO AWAY, I am trying to eat!"

Bella put HER ears forward watching me trying to take Cuffie's picture

As you can see Asterik took advantage of our brief rain today. I don't know why I am even posting this picture as he is so filthy! He is normally white . . .