Unflocking

So with the heat wave, projects, heatstroke avoidance, lazy farm dogs and lots of non farm stuff, my poultry has taken a major hit this summer. I am down to 10 hens, 0 roosters, 10 ducks. Was 21 ducks, 2 roosters and 20 hens. The culprit- coyotes with pups. Saw them, got one and still the hunt continues. They are smart predators and my best dog is too old and my younger dog is too lazy. This was unexpected. My husband is ok with it as it saves money on feed and time. But I feel cheated to loose all that time and effort.And I love my farm fresh eggs. Our birds are free range and come in at night. The coyote hit during the heat of the day. My birds are an easy snack as my neighbor no longer has goats. The rest are all cattle and too many for the coyote to deal with. So my birds take the hit this year. I always counted on my dogs for years. No dog no protection for my birds. Which is sad since I have always wanted to have my own flock. I am sad that is slowly going away. But my husband wants to travel and poultry and livestock keep you at home. So I guess that is the bright side, for now.

Space Science in the Ozarks

I saw this guy at a quilt shop and quilted it for the local library Space month. Libraries had volunteers decorate, presentations, book readings and crafting for all of July.

Picked up some large shower curtains and photos backdrops to decorate the library.

Part of the craft I taught the kids. Used a clear plastic plate, glued a snap in the center and mod podge colored cello to the plates. The kids got to add the moons as per my directions and then the top black paper plate snapped on top of the cello/moon plate. Held up to the light and turn to see the moon phases. Below is the kids working on the top part.

The kids then got to eat freeze dried fruits, veggies and ice cream like an astronaut. My husband did a slide show of the gross things doctors deal with for astronauts in space. Our part of the event turned out great as my husband worked for NASA back in the day.

When it's cats, it pours!

This tiny 10 week old was found abandoned inside walls of a local business. He was feral, covered in fleas and ticks and very underweight. I was called as a last resort. Today he is almost his correct weight, tick and flea free and ready for the world.  He is tiny but very fast and very clean little man.

He is up for adoption here in the SW Missouri area. I need him to find a new home so I can deal with my latest event- newborn kittens.

I got a frantic call from my vets office, they were given a box of kittens by a local farmer. The mom cat had been run over by a brush hog machine in the field. The kittens needed care and no one was available. I was given five cold kittens in a shoe box in the middle of a busy clinic.

I live close the the clinic so I got them home fast. One died about an hour later, it was huge but not acting right. It had hydrocephalus and was poorly. The rest made it through the first 24 hours. And there is where I am today. Every 3 hours I am up and feeding them. They have tiny umbilical cords still attached their bellies. I have not had time to sex them. I have too many things to do and do not want to get attached. But they are very soft and in good condition. Many I have raised were full of infections and fleas. This batch makes for 36 kittens I have fostered. I have the heating pad, formula, bottles and syringes and the time to deal with these babies. Luckily, my older kitten was ready to join the adult cat household. For great advice on kitten care go to the Kitten Lady.