I'll huff and I'll puff, and I'll blow your piggy house in!

After Stella went to bed, teeth pushing through her gums everywhere, James and I sat down to watch some Monday Night Football.  Not that concerned about the Packers or the Bears, we both drifted off into dreamland.  BA-BAB-BA-BA-BAB-BA-BAB-BAP!!!  We awoke to hail shooting down from the sky.  Rain and hail were pouring down in every direction.  I could see the windows quivering, it was so loud I'm surprised Stella didn't wake up.  We heard the thud in the garage of 250 lbs of dogs pushing up against the door to the inside.  Remus and Rowen are terrified of storms.  Leaves, limbs, and sticks were landing on our back deck that sits 20 feet high.  Hummingbird feeders and windchimes were being ripped apart.  We watched as my potted plants on the front porch flew away.  James opened the door to save my potted Crown of Thorns and the wind almost ripped the front door off the hinges.  The power went out briefly and after 20 long minutes, it was over.  I love to watch storms at the house because we have windows everywhere and we sit high up on a hill, but last night was a little scary.
I knew the llamas were just hunkered down in their carport, nothing really bothers them.  The pigs are sheltered by some trees and probably deep in the mud.  The chickens are whom I was worried about during every storm.  This morning I found all their houses overturned, perches had fallen over.  One rooster was out of the house, dazed and confused.  I'm still not sure how that happened.
So I spent some time outside today cleaning up debris, and finding doormats and such all around.

Finally...rain

It's been about a month of mid 90's and NO RAIN.  As we turned into the Fall Equinox this week, the Summer weather continued.  Everyone on the farm has been miserable; hot, dry and ready for some cooler weather.  This morning after 4am, Mother Earth finally touched us with precipitation followed by some cool air!  Everyone seems happy outside.  The llamas were dusty, the chickens couldn't scratch at the hard, dry earth for bugs, the dogs needed a bath, and the piggies were desperate for a mud puddle.  The rain has subsided, but the sky tells me that there is more to come.  After the land is replenished and begins to dry a little, we'll start to bush hog for the Fall, scoop poop, and till the front garden.  I am planting garlic this Winter, about 10 lbs of it.  I ordered three varietals and hope to grow enough to sell at the Farmers Market next Spring.  I'll keep you updated.

When we're away, everyone plays.

We hit the coast last week with some relatives from Pittsburgh. 
Whenever we're gone, we leave the farm in the trusting hands of Adam, our Executive Assistant to Farm Operations (houseboy).He comes over once in the morning and again in the evening to water and feed, and to check on the house.  To preface this story, Remus, our male Great Pyrenees, is a known "Biscuit Eater".  Sometimes if I gather eggs in the morning and leave them in the garage, he will sneak in and grab a nice breakfast for himself.  In the chicken house we have covered cat litter boxes set up for the hens to lay their eggs.
So a few nights ago, Adam stopped by to feed the dogs, water everyone, and lead the chickens into their house where they are locked into at night.  He found Remus sniffing around in the chicken house.  He looked into a litter box and spotted and egg.  As he pushed his melon of a head through the opening, his head got stuck!  Frightened, he shook his head crazily!  Adam was scared to touch him because he couldn't see and was obviously scared.  The chickens were running all around because this 150 lb. dog is flailing around in their house at bedtime!!  After a few minutes Remus' head was freed when the litter box broke off.  As for the chickens, it took them a few days to recover!