Welcome Comfort Farm

Good Morning to you too, Frank.

This is Frank.

Let me tell you about Frank. He is a very sweet guy, preferring to be on your lap than anywhere else. He came to us several years back as a youngster needing a home along with a very sick goat. Kind of a package deal. The goat didn't make it, but Frank did. Forever grateful, he lavishes us regularly with love and presents.

As I sat here this morning answering emails and planning my day, Mr. Generous pops in the doggy door once again bearing a gift. And yes, that is a dead mole. Laying the freshly deceased critter at my feet, he proudly and vocally announced his prize and then proceeded to his cat chow bowl.

Speaking of cats, the husband is wondering why these bald spots keep turning up on his lazy boy. Being up at 5 am reveals many things. Perhaps even the answer to why bald spots magically appear on furniture.

It's been nice knowing you, Chloe. The husband reads the Blog.

Hello Kitty.

This little fella hangs out in front of Patricia's barn and loves his tummy rubbed. The rest of her barn cats wouldn't dream of letting us do this, so we are all over this little guy with love and attention. Patricia's barn cats have a heated enclosure, warmed soft cat chow on a daily basis and straw bales to nestle in. You'd think they'd all be falling into our hands!

Greetings!

After searching high and low for Curly Sue's babies, we finally gave up. Chloe found her though and low and behold, curled up in about the smallest container she could find, there she was with three new babies! This can is no bigger than a dinner plate. Located in the hot house, there are plenty of other roomier containers to choose from, but we left her alone with her choice. She is well protected, that is for sure, and you would never think to look for her where she is! With barely room for her, we can't imagine her nursing three kittens, but they are fat and healthy and I can't wait to see where she moves them next!

$245.51 and counting.

Remember Big Head Todd? After having him a whole 9 days, he promptly found a large rubber dog toy in the shape of a pacifier more than appealing and ate it. I know that because after a very ill dog turned up at 4:30 am, necessitating an immediate vet visit, it turned up on $140.00 worth of x-rays, in his stomach.  What goes in, must come out, so the waiting game is on. Two days at the vet, and a few medications later, he is good to go. This too shall pass, we hope, or surgery is involved. With spring break on the horizon, I am wondering if the vet whispered sweet dreams of European vacations in his ears. I am hoping that his loyalties go to the hand that feeds him and he passes some rubber sooner than later!

Latest Rescue.

This Boston Terrier with "cherry" eye and a corkscrew tail turned up at a rescue shelter recently. Guess who they called?  We named him "Big Head Todd". He might be crossed with something else, with his head seemingly too large for his body, which is perched on tall skinny legs. Bursting through the door with lightning speed, devouring two bowls of dog food and then upchucking both on the carpet was his first choice of business. Following that fiasco, he quickly and discretely number 2'd on the other carpet. He has made himself right at home and has already learned the dog doors. Not even close to being house trained, the doors are used purely for entertainment purposes only.  He is about two years old and was just neutered yesterday. Still feeling his hormones loud and clear, this is going to be a long week!

Well Good Morning!

Making an unusual appearance at our front door, the Guineafowl posed for an early morning portrait.  Originally hailing from Africa, these prehistoric looking birds are a delight to have. They make excellent  "watch dogs", screaming at the top of their lungs if something is amiss.  They eat lice, worms, spiders, ants, and Lyme Disease carrying ticks. Small frogs need to look out as well. They can fly clear to the top most reaches of the barn and just scream for fun too. They don't particularly like to get too close to people, so I was surprised they allowed their picture to be taken. Gunieafowl mate for life and raise several babies, called "keet" every year.

Mud time.

Spring thaw is well on it's way and the mud is pretty much an issue everywhere. Not that the ducks mind. Maybe it comes from living side by side with the pigs here, but these guys don't mind the mud at all. In fact they'll splash around in everyone else's dishes and make even more mud! The ducks pictured here are "Call" ducks, so named because hunters use them to call down other ducks. I like them because of their small size and large personalities. The females, who are the only ones to make noise, sound like they are laughing when they quack. When one starts, they all join in, and you can't help but laugh yourself.

Today is the third day in a row that we could do chores without a coat, head muffler and gloves and it is a welcome sign for warmer temps to come. It's amazing how good 45* feels after days on end in the 20's or worse. There is just something about that first inkling of spring that is rejuvenating. I love the seasons here in Michigan. Just about the time I tire of one, another rolls around and I look forward to the change and all the traditions the next season brings.

Along with that first inkling of spring comes the first traditional thing for me and that is the "list". Mine is pretty long this year, with barnyard repairs, exterior painting and fence fixes along with the usual to-do's like get the garden ready for tilling, de-worm critters and have the vet out for all the vaccination rounds.

It seems everyone has a "list", including the hens. First on their list is nesting down and making chicks! This gal below found a not so clean corner, actually, in the cat house (and yes, that is a kitty litter box) to set up her nest. She has discovered all the cat food she can eat, a heat lamp, fresh water within a few inches and a secure spot away from all things disturbing. She pecks at any cat that comes within reach and will not budge from her spot. I guess I'll add "buy another cat box" to my list!

A new Rescue.

This little gal was found abandoned in this awful weather! She is a dachshund, about 8 to 9 years old with a persnickety attitude. We named her "Ruby". She made herself right at home and prefers to be in your lap as opposed to anywhere else. She can sit up and beg and she does not like to be disturbed after dark, unless it's her idea.

Now, the husband told me just a few weeks ago to not bring anything new into the house. I replied, of course, that I do not bring anything here, it just seems to find me! Lo and behold, who brings in the dachshund? Uhuh, The husband brought her home!

Bat Ears.

This gal is a barn cat that has discovered the magic of a doggy door. You can't really tell in the picture, but we named her Bat Ears because her ears are so big. Not at all stupid, if the temperature drops below 30 something, we can usually find the stowaway hidden somewhere in the house. The husband warned me that the dog door would let everything in and nothing would go out. I hate it when he's right!

Couldn't resist sharing some pictures of my winter babies!

My "Sassy" girl, a 14 year old Morgan and retired barrel racer, she doesn't take kindly to walking and goes from zero to sixty in nothing flat. Probably where the phrase, "Hold on to your horses" came from!

This is "CoCo", a Nubian with some great ears! I call her "CoCo Puff!"

Brothers "Wyatt" and "Junior"  don't mind the frigid temps at all; in fact they often sleep out in it, becoming part of the landscape when it snows.