Anticipation

Andy and Alex have been up since about 7 am, with NO Fighting.  Imagine that.  I don't count on it lasting, it never does. 
Mischka and Ringo had two dead pullets this morning, I don't know who killed them but they are both in the doghouse, so to speak.

Picture of Jack, mostly because I'm annoyed with Mischka and Ringo

Anticipation...school starts in 1, count it 1, weeks from today.


John Martin Reservior

Last weekend we went camping for one night, that's all I can handle in a tent. We like to go to John Martin Reservior by La Junta.  We played in the water, Peter fished and we cooked hamburgers on the fire.  Alex and I slept on the cots outside the tent since it was HOT.  And it didn't rain.  You can see who slept in the tent.

Taken thru the window netting, Andy and Peter sleep in on Saturday morning

Peter preparing to set up the tent

Alex getting his camping pillow for a nap after swimming

Coyotes to Wolves

This evening I was sitting outside by the blue barn, watching the storm clouds go overhead, dropping a few pitiful drops of rain.  We just moved the 16 buff orpington teenage chicks in with the bigger chickens tonight.
Alex came outside and wanted me to come inside so he would feel safe.  He thought there were coyotes up by the truck.  I had heard some howling earlier off to the south.  I told Alex that the coyotes wouldn't come up because the horses would chase them off.  So Alex then asked about wolves.  He's convinced that wolves could hurt the horses. And then what he do?  I told him he could climb the gate and get on top of the blue barn if a wolf came around.
This morning, prior to moving, I was feeding the buffs and turned the bag of feed around to open it.  There was an inch or so long centipede on the bag.  I flicked it off and one of the pullets grabbed it and then lost it to another pullet.  We can get some huge centipedes out here.

Cousins

We recently visited with the relatives from Idaho.  One of which was Reilly, (Andy's cousin Allison's daughter).  It's a cute picture of the kids so I thought I'd post it.  Picture taken by Reilly's mom.

And to make it fair.

Alex recently lost his two front teeth.  Finally.

Goats

Gloria, who is due to kid November 15, keeping an eye on  4 month old Ringo, the border collie, black lab mix

Gloria, Arthur the wether, and Clara

Sasha, the daughter of Sage who was our alpha doe for many years.  Sage died soon after Sasha and her two brothers were born.

Barbara and Tina, not related to anyone, at four months old.

Tonight's sky

Not sure what that is obscuring Pike's Peak, but needless to say, the rainclouds didn't drop any on us

Taken the same time as the top picture, just a little to the north of the Peak



For my Dad, a big fan of the Duke

9 on the 10th

So Alex is now 9 years old.  The celebration started on Sunday at his Grandma Evelyn's house (Peter's mom).  We had one of Alex's favorite meals, ribs.  With ice cream cake.
On Tuesday, his actual birthday, we met my parent's at Chuck e Cheese.  We had pizza, salads and cake.  Alex and Andy played a number of the games, Alex won several jackpots.  Met the big mouse thing.   Put Alex in the wind tunnel to get more tickets.
Then the four of us were going to go to the carnival, the grandparents passed on the carnival.  We got there and it wasn't open yet so we went up to Manitou Springs and spent the rest of the day at the Arcade and then drove around Cheyenne Canyon.  If we were to move to town, that is where Peter would like to move and I think I could live there.  Andy was in favor of moving to town if we moved to Manitou, mostly because he likes the Arcade and the park with the creek running through it.
So all in all, Alex had a good birthday.



Alex receiving his birthday crown

Alex in the air tunnel catching tickets

Alex loves Pokemon

The "boys" at Manitou Springs Park

Alex and Andy on the big rock at Manitou