If the weather holds out tomorrow, I am going to start tearing out the old hog pen, so we can get the new one up and ready for spring pigs! I need to dig out the corners and spread it on the gardens. There are 2 corners where they poo'd. I like " clean" pigs! LOL Guess its bedtime...long day tomorrow.
With my forgetfullness...this is not a good thing. So, I went to town, picked up a few things, and headed home. On my way home...I was doing ohhhh about 55-58 mph, when a Australian Shephard decided to jump up out of the ditch. THANKFULLY, I missed the poor thing. I think we both lost a few years today. I can feel the grey hairs growing as I type! So, I got home and went to let the chickens out...yeah, it was late, but I didnt want them out in the 28 degree weather and high winds....so, I am walking out there, and here comes one of the barn cats. Now...its rained so much here, we literally have a "pond" in the front yard that I have to cross through. Not a problem for me, I have mud boots...BIG problem for a kitty! He is wailing for me to wait up...so I can carry him across the water. OK, stop...pick up the cat...and carry on through the water. Get to the other side....drop the cat...and head for the South coop. I looked up and something didnt seem quite right?? Start checking the runs, and one of the Turkey toms...had somehow gotten from his fenced in covered run, into the run with the White Leghorns, who are now cowering in the coop. Well, because or our own design flaw...there is no gate to the run..and only a small pop door to get from the coop to the run, 
and dont you know Mr Turkey will NOT come inside. OK, get in the coop....Leghorns freaking out because I am in thier pen...on hands and knees climb through the pop door..IN THE MUD and whatever else is out there...to grab a Tom that Number one, weighs about 25 pounds, and number two, does NOT want to be held! Get him cornered, grab him up...I get beat dreadfully by the wings of a MONSTER TURKEY...and find where he got through. Plop his lard butt through the hole, and get that fixed...then back on my hands and knees through the pop door, to FRANTIC Leghorns in the pen. Whew...ok, Im wet...muddy and whatevery...and my morning is just beginning. Oh, and dont you know...I didnt think about putting my hair in a ponytail before I went out there. My hair is about to my waiste. Well, I wasnt thinking I would be crawling in the muck! So, wet stinky hair too! OK, leghorns settled in...Turkeys settled in...everyone fed and watered in the South coop...time to go to the West Coop. Yup, another coop, 4 more pens. Out the door, grab up the howling cat who is now sitting on an island, surrounded by water. How he got there, I have no idea...the water is only a few inches deep, but to a cat, might as well be the ocean. Grab the now wet cat...throw him on my shoulder...and through the muck and water we go. Safely on the other side of ankle deep mud and slush...drop the cat...who by the way is NOT ammused that I put him down, clung to my coat...clawed my face..and luckily was not THROWN INTO the water. Got to the West coop..and yup, I forgot the keys. DANGIT! 200 yards BACK to the house...to get the keys. This time I left the darned cat...im not in a good mood by now. Get the keys...back to the coop...once inside I have 45 ticked off chickens complaining that they were not let out earlier. We exchange a few words...mine were not so sweet...and I start going in one pen after another to let them out. Get to the last pen..and ooops, I stepped on a hen. MAN can they scream!! She is alright..and out the door she runs to thier yard. OK, now to get some scratch....this will be easy. All feed is kept in galvanised trash cans, to keep the mice out. Well...it doesnt work when you dont put the lid on tight the night before. Open the lid, and a mouse jumps out, scared the beejeebers outta me. Threw scratch to all the pens..and grab the stinky wet cat..and head back to the house. Its now almost 10:00am. Get inside to a hubby that is up and getting ready for work...early?? OMG I forgot, he has to be at work at 11. No time to cook for him, he is grumbling...I throw together a quick lunch for his lunchbox....pack 9 dozen eggs in a box for him to take to work..and get him sent out the door. Whew...he wont be home till 9ish, so I have some time to rest...rihgt? Nope.. have to set up the brooder, I have chicks hatching right now! OK, so where did I put the chick waterers?? I KNOW I have about 5 of them. They are all lost..or put away in a " good spot so I can find them when I need them" wherever THAT is! 
I am Sooooooo looking forward to a HAPPY New Year! COME ON MIDNIGHT!
The wierd thing is...most of my life I have been seriously allergic to cats...now that I am back out in the country...doesnt seem to bother me! Im so glad..I just love my 2 barn kitties. They are both strays..both males...one is fixed..and both are very loveable. 
