This week is the start of the hardest week of my life so far. On Wednesday my state of "continual denial" will come to an end as we gather at the church to celebrate the life of one of my best friends. I know that she is in Heaven, not in pain, not relying on oxygen tanks, meds and doctors. So it will definitely be a celebration of the life she led here on earth.

Today her sister, Debby, and I got to hang out at their brothers' farm. That's where we met Oreo the baby goat. Oreo is only a few weeks old and her mother has decided that she does not want to be bothered with feeding her, so Oreo is being bottle fed. When Dan opened the gate to get Oreo, he called to her and she ran up to him like a dog. It was adorable. Then Debby and I took turns holding her and feeding her the bottle. After she was finished, she curled up in my arms and went to sleep. Of course I started rocking her in my arms. I mean what else would you do with a cute and sleepy baby goat? Let me just say...God knew what I needed today. Holding that little baby in my arms, rocking her to sleep and hearing her snore, just soothed my soul. I know that I can't change what happened to my friend, but I love how God showed me this precious little life today. What a huge blessing!

So this week, when I am feeling down and need some comfort, I am going to go to my friends farm, pick up Oreo and just hold her and rock her in my arms.
 
 
Today's adventure was all about wrangling chickens. My friend is a Chicken Farmer. She raises chickens to sell to people in town that raise them for eggs. She only feeds them organic food and they are pretty much free range (meaning they are free to roam the large fenced in yard).

We got to put "tags" on their wee lil ankles so we knew who's chickens were who's (24 in total) The tags are just little bands, that are not tight (like tiny bracelets). We both would try and catch them and I got to put on the bling. Luckily we were in a smaller area so we didn't have to chase them very far. But, I have to say, they are quick little suckers!
Here's Britney trying to catch them, she was pretty good at it and most of the time she could catch two at a time. I was not as good at it and could barely catch one at a time. LOL
These are some of her own chickens, prancing around, showing off to the smaller tikes.
Our husbands spent the afternoon reinforcing the fence, so the chickens couldn't get out and to keep predators from getting in. And then there were the 8 that got through one of the spaces in the fence and started playing in the dry creek. Those we had to wrangle back into the large yard.

This picture (below) is one of my favorites. I call it "At the Water Fountain" :) I love how the ducks are waiting in line.
 

Rural Housewife