This is a sad update to write, but Pippin the kitten has died. Over the last weekend it became obvious that she had some problems and she wasn't eating or drinking much at all. Tuesday morning we took her to the vet where they wormed her, rehydrated her, force fed, etc. and received a good report on Tuesday evening that she seemed to be bouncing back. On Wednesday morning, however, we got a call that she had taken a sudden turn for the worse and died overnight. Although we were sad to hear the news, we felt good that we'd given her a few good days before her end. It seems the real birthday present was a lesson in compassion and selfless giving.

Death is only half the story of course, and there's new life on the farm! One of our female guineas has successfully hatched out 13 WEE little babies. They are about half the size of a baby chicken. We only get occasional glimpses of the new family as the mother keeps them herded out in the fields or woods most of the time. This is just as well because the mother is a determined protector and seems to take my attempts to help out her brood as threat to their well being. This is a conundrum because she wants the food and water I provide but doesn't want me getting close enough to provide it!

Every evening I go through the same "put the chickens to bed" ritual where I call everyone back to the coop and give treats (aka chicken scratch) before locking the pen for the night. Only Reynaldo and the hens spend the night in the chicken house, but the guineas come running for their share of treats as well. Mama guinea brought her chicks to share in the nightly feast, but she attacked me THREE times while I was trying to refill water bowls and scatter scratch. Such gratitude!! After the third round of wearing a screaming, flailing guinea for a hat, I abandoned the scene and left them to fend for themselves. Joe had to go in later, after everything had quieted down, and close the food barrel.

I'll hopefully have a picture to put on here soon, if I'm brave enough.....