Country Living at it's Best!

Summer mornings on our farm are my favorite time of day. It’s quiet and peaceful with only the first blush of the sun along with sounds of birds drifting through the open windows to herald the new day. As I walk down the hall toward the kitchen, the quiet is quickly shattered by the cacophony of barking from my own dogs greeting me and telling me that the first order of the day is to feed them, as if I could forget. Once their morning meal is dispensed with, peace returns if only briefly as the day begins in earnest. I pour a cup of coffee and step out to greet it. The first sound I hear is the yapping of the local coyote pack in the distance. The perimeter fence gives me a sense of security knowing that the livestock are safe.

I head toward the henhouse to let the hens out to begin their day.  The 15 hens hear me coming and start cackling, probably telling me to step up the pace a bit and get to the food!  They are quite gregarious creatures, wanting to be in the company of whatever other life forms happen to be around. If we are outside they will continually mill about our feet, purring and clucking at us. If no people are around, they can be found foraging alongside the sheep or even sitting up next to the dog yard fence, preferring the less than ideal company of the dogs to none at all.

With the first cup of coffee consumed, the chores begin. It is going to be a hot day so the first chore on the list is to check all of the water dispensers scattered around for the chickens. Then it’s on to the garden to pull a few weeds and harvest some tomatoes and peppers before turning on the water. At some point, I take the time to sit down for a few minutes to listen and watch the morning progress.

The property abounds with wildlife. We have counted 67 different species of birds, either nesting, feeding or flying through. The deer are in constant residence with several generations over the years establishing their own favorite browsing areas. This morning, twin fawns with rapidly fading spots, are grazing outside the garden, looking longingly at the lush green plants just out of reach. Mom keeps a watchful eye from a distance, tending to her own patch of forage. The bluebirds are busy keeping track of the young ones and making multiple trips between the bird bath/water bowl and the trees, gathering up any delicious bug or grub unlucky enough to happen along their flight path. The robins greet the new day with their raucous territorial squabbles, which usually begin at the break of dawn and continue throughout the day. The quail are foraging for breakfast through the tall pasture grasses as the male sits watching over the female and her brood from the top of the nearby fence. The strident call of “be careful, be careful” is echoed by a neighboring quail, and then another as a male Northern Harrier makes a strafing run from west to east at an altitude of about 6’ off the ground. This beautiful hawk is such an amazing aviator; a fighter jet was named after them. The quail dart for cover as the chickens also sound the alarm; all are safe for now. A neighbor drives by, giving a honk and a wave as he sees me (absolutely required behavior out here). I walk back around the house toward the garden just in time to see a rather large Bull Moose taking a leisurely stroll through the property. I had enough time to grab my camera and get some photos of him before he effortlessly jumped the fence.  

It is time to head for town. I look at the house and what I can see of the property as I drive away, taking stock in what I see, making sure all is in order. I will return in a couple hours after running errands and I can feel myself relax the closer I get to home. The pressures of the day start to ease and the pace begins to slow as soon as I drive through the gate. The list of chores that I need to tackle will probably take at least a couple hours to get through, but it truly is a labor of love. This is my second most favorite time of the day after morning… time for settin’ out… Country living at its’ best!