Your top-knot is top-notch,
Your plumage pure perfection.
But even if they weren’t,
You’d still be worthy of love and affection.
— Beaker, who, as a true renaissance bird, is both a scientist and a poet.
Here’s What’s Happening At Good Spirits Farm
The turkeys were a success!! So far, we’ve had rave reviews and lots of orders for next year. I’m so relieved! All that work was worth it! [Kind of…I think our entire profit margin was consumed by having to take Veli to the vet after she dug up the turkey guts we carefully buried in hopes of avoiding this and she got a serious case of the runs. Never a dull moment!]
Because our ambitions are bigger than the rational thought parts of our brains, we’re expanding our garden for next year. This weekend we’ll bump out part of the garden fence, so the easternmost edge is actually the wall of our garage. We’re hoping to build cold frames abutting the garage, and let the warmth that gets trapped in the metal building during the day keep our kale and collards toasty on cold nights.
Veli’s training continues. She really and truly just wants to guard me…and maybe her bed on the front porch, too. This is likely related to separation anxiety, and the fact her whole world changed when she lost the farm she grew up on. So, we’re rolling with it. Every day we go out and simply sit with the sheep and cows. I pet Juliet, Puck, and Nurse and try to make sure Veli knows that these critters are part of our family, too. Hopefully, the day will come when, because she loves me, she wants to protect the things I love. And: I love my sheep and cows.
Here’s What I Loved This Week
This TikTok of Burt The Sheep learning he isn’t allowed in the house. It reminded me of our experience last spring with our sweet house lambie (who very much would like to come back inside).
Well done on the turkeys! I love the idea of expanding your garden and using the trapped heat. Patience and love are the best way with fearful pups, I’m sure you are on the right track! And Beaker is both beautiful and wise! ❤️
The juxtaposition of this pic of Juliet and the video of her running through the field — she’s come so far!