Bee Tree Farm

Today did not include any pastoral charm.  I woke up to a beheaded hen and a frightened flock.  I killed a black widow spider after lunch.  We chased and lured home an escaped herd of donkeys and a*&hole cows.  This occurred precisely 30 minutes after the donkeys ate the baby peaches off of the lovely gift from my mother-in-law (But the trees are still alive!  I’m so sorry, Cheryl.).  And I continued to nurse a brooder full of chicks with an upper respiratory infection which has already killed three.

It was blood and drizzle and mud and sweat and an aggressive heifer and sneezing chicks.  This sounds silly, to the outsider.  But for me, it was a dreadful day.

Yesterday, I reserved a great pyrenees puppy meant to serve as a livestock guardian for the baby goats that are coming.  After today, I plan to bring home two.  Not because I’m hoarding adorable dogs, but because this will be a working farm, and I’m serious about protecting my animals.

Right now I’m sitting on the couch after starting the new herb garden, expanding the brooder, chasing livestock, drinking a glass of wine and making a dinner of cilantro pesto pizza from my mother’s cilantro and parsley – the combination of which tastes pungent and green as spring.  It was a hard day.  I feel exhausted and sore in that way that means you worked hard and did your best.  I feel stronger than I have in years.