Spring Has Sprung Early!

Were you part of the March heat wave? 9 straight days of recording breaking heat here in Michigan. Who would ever have imagined that?! We actually had several days in the 80s and the night time lows were only around 60. Perfect, perfect weather!!

Beyond the beautiful days, we were given tons of green stuff sprouting all around. This is far earlier than normal. Most of these flowers and plants aren't seen in my yard for another 4 weeks or so. Even the grass has turned a bright spring green.

Today it's only 45* and I am missing those warm temperatures even though I know they'll be back eventually. Also there is a freeze watch for tonight so all the farmers in the area will be worrying about those early buds and flowers. The crops may be in trouble if they freeze.

Lets keep our thoughts warm tonight.

Wordless Wednesday - Robins! Spring is Coming!

Wordless Wednesday - Already Dreaming of Spring

Spring Babies? I Don't Think So.

Patience is a virtue, right?

{Big Dramatic Sigh}

I hope so because waiting can really stink.

When you think of babies on a farm, I bet you think spring. Spring chicks, spring lambs, spring pigs...spring alpacas?? Alpacas are not so accommodating in the spring birthing department.

Alpacas are pregnant for 11 1/2 months. Yes moms, you heard right, eleven and a half months. Can you imagine? Nearly twelve months of carrying some foreign creature around in your belly and then some crazy human says you're supposed to have it yesterday morning.

Alpacas can be bred and deliver at any time of the year, but generally we try for spring or summer births. Easier on mom and definitely easier on baby. Who wants to be dropped on their head in a snow bank?

It seems we will have no spring births on our farm this year, but instead will have summer births since our mommas are holding out on us.

Calculating an alpacas due date is not exactly an exact science. Oh, we know when the deed was done, but that doesn't mean mother nature will have a set time line.

Some "experts" say the average alpaca gestation (pregnancy) is 335 others say 345. Most alpacas will disagree and say they will have that kid whenever they darn well please and to heck with the "experts".

Last year we had a delivery at day 340, but we also had one that hit day 372. That is a month's difference. Thirty two days gestation difference between the two, but yet neither was considered immature. AHH! This farmer stuff is tough.

Anyway, the whole point is our momma alpacas are coming up on their due dates and this human is getting impatient. Our first up is Lil (short for Little Black Dress). She was supposedly due on June 2nd. Try telling her that. She is now at day 349 and seems to want to keep that little one all to herself a little longer.

{Sigh}

Patience is a virtue, right?

Planting Season

Have you ever seen the movie For Richer For Poorer with Tim Allen? It's one of my favorite movies.

If you haven't, it's basically a story about a couple that hiding out from the law (they're innocent) and end up on an Amish farm posing as cousins from Missouri. The movie lets you think that they fooled this Amish family into believing they are the cousins until the end when the couple comes back to visit and make amends for the trouble they caused. The Amish couple reveals that they knew all along that they were "English" and just choose not to say anything. When Tim Allen's character asks why, they reply "Planting season". They needed the help so they let them stay.

All week I've been walking around thinking about that and how when it's planting time I wish there was more help. I'd love to get all the planting done in one day instead of several, but I also know that I'm just picky enough that no one would ever do it as good or how I want it.

I know this is a major fault of mine, but knowing this I try not to complain about the work too much. It keeps everyone happier that way.

We finally finished planting last night. There was a big push to get it done as it was supposed to rain today. And guess what....it finally is. When I woke up to sunny skies I was slightly annoyed. I thought the weatherman was wrong again.

We now have nearly 5000 sq. ft. of yummy veggie goodness waiting to grow and become dinner. I can almost taste them just looking at the rows and rows of potential awaiting us.

I did manage to plant a few flowers, too. Not too many though because for whatever reason flowers and I don't get along so well. I planted one barrel of annuals and hopefully I can keep them alive. Poor things.

I think I'm now going to go grab my book and watch the rain fall. I believe I deserve one afternoon off, don't you?

An Afternoon in Black & White

Wordless Wednesday - Feelin' The Alpaca Love

We are jumping up and down here on the farm as we have just realized we've hit 100 posts!! Whohoo!! Thanks for joining us and enjoy Wordless Wednesday!

What's In Your Yard?

I'm not sure why, but all of a sudden I had the "what's in your wallet?" commercial in my head, hence the title. :o)

Every year about this time we have snapping turtles. Big, huge, mean snapping turtles. They come out of the surrounding swamps to find a place to lay their eggs. We get 5-6 different ones every spring. Yesterday there was one in our neighbor's yard. Today one is in ours.

The alpacas are not very fond of these turtles. I think maybe it's because they can't really tell what they are. They can see them moving across the yard, but they don't stick up above the grass much.

It takes each turtle 2-3 hours to cross our yard depending on which way they are going. The entire time they are visible to the 'pacas, the 'pacas are screeching. If you've never heard an alpaca screech...well, I think I need to invest in a pair of ear plugs during turtle season.

This particular turtle's shell was around 12"x14". I'm only guessing though since I wasn't getting close enough to measure it.

I got a video of the turtle walking. It's so funny because it walks a couple feet then takes a 10 minute break before walking again. I also was able to get 1 video of my watch-girl Athena screeching at the turtle. I swear, the second they see the camera they shut up no matter what hazard they think they see.

Wordless Wednesday

To the Greenhouse We Go

It's Spring, at least according to the calendar, so it means it's time for the annual trip to the Greenhouse. Most things we plant from seed, but tomatoes and peppers are bought at the local greenhouse. I decided awhile ago that it wasn't worth it to try and grow these from seed.

We had a great time looking at all the pretty flowers and yummy veggie plants and the people here are always so nice.


Now if only he weather would cooperate. It's 40* and WINDY here. Brrr. For now my little plants will have to hang out on the kitchen table.

Baby Chick Poem

While reading through her reading text today, Micaela found this cute little poem. Now why she was doing school work on Sunday I don't know, but I AM NOT complaining. If only the other 2 did their school work with such enthusiasm.

This poem seems especially appropriate with Spring here and all the little chicks arriving around us.









Baby Chick - by Aileen Fisher

Peck
peck
peck

on the warm brown egg.
OUT comes a neck.
OUT comes a leg.

How
does
a chick,

who's not been about,
discover the trick
of how to get out?

Spring Flowers

We are enjoying an absolutely wonderful 80* today. I have the entire house opened up to let the warm, yummy breeze in and to help remove that winter, closed up house smell.

Breathe in....Breathe out

Smells sooooo good and Springy.

We walked around with the camera looking for flowers that had made an appearance. We found quite a few.

Spring has Sprung

The kids found these out by the garden.
There were even a few bees enjoying them as well.

Top 5 Signs Spring is Near

The top 5 signs that Spring is coming soon to Tomorrow Farm:


5. I am assaulted every morning by an insane amount of birdsong. Generally this is a good thing, but before my morning caffeine fix.....

4. What was once a giant pile of snow is now an ugly mud pile that has a strong magnetic pull to any and all children within a 1/2 mile radius.

3. I have an annoying urge to clean and organize. It's only annoying because I'd rather be spinning.

2. The pacas are leaving the barn of their own free will for the first time in 4 months. They are also now using the outside toilet.

1. And the top sign Spring is close.......

Nick is peeing on trees again.