Puppies and Farm Update~

So, we had previously decided on a boy and a girl pup. Here's why. The way I see it, someone around here would LOVE to have a local dude to breed their dudette with and also I would love for someone local to have a dude that I can breed my dudette with. Like a barter, possibly. (I love bartering!) At any rate, we want a female so we can sell any future pups (If we're able to part with them!) and a male so we can let people pay to breed their dog with ours. Make sense? Good.

Now, I have PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!

Out of 9 pups born, only 2 were boys. One had badger markings and the other was white. After questioning The Dude and the gang, we decided on the badger, and here he is!

The 7 females are both badger and all white and since we got a badger male we decided to get a female with white coloring. A good way to tell them apart later, depending on how much of the badger-coloring fades as he grows. I don't have a picture of the specific female we're getting but here is a group shot of the puppies with their mama. <3

So, now we just get to sit back and wait on them for about 5 more weeks or more. Wait. WHAT? Sit back and wait? Hardly! We have a double dog house to build, collars to find and purchase, along with leashes, fencing to put up, food and treats to buy...grooming equipment, studying to do, etc....

This is going to be so fun! And the best part? They will come home around Christmas-time. Couldn't get more perfect than that, could it?


In other news: We did our first REAL thing to the farm on Saturday. The Dude and I stopped and purchased 3 fruit trees and then went and planted them on the homestead. We want more (2 of each or more) but a little at a time and all that rot! I wish I had taken my phone out there with me because it would have been REALLY neat to have pictures of that but I didn't have any pockets to put it in so I left it in my truck. Booo. :o( It was chilly out that day too so we didn't spend a lot of time just walking around like we normally do. Muffin and Punkin' were with us and both had on short-sleeved shirts so they got cold quick! (so did Mama!) At one point Muffin had my skirt on like a poncho. (I had leggings on underneath LOL!) Another reason I should have brought my phone so I could take pictures. Ah well... live and learn. Next time I will make sure to wear something with pockets!

The goal of our homestead, as with most, is to grow as much STUFF as we can on our own to provide FOR our own. So the fruit trees are just the first step. There are LOTS of fruit trees, bushes, vines, gardens, etc planned, but it's kind of hard to plant things when you aren't positive where your house is going to be OR where all the trucks hauling stuff to BUILD that house are going to be driving and where all the people are going to be tromping around, but I think these trees are safe. :o) Hopefully.

The Dude and I (well, mostly The Dude) have been working on the chicken coop. We're starting small because well, it's our first go at building one and though we might increase the number of hens where we are- for right now we will just get a few to start.

Here are a couple of pictures of the progress.

I love to watch him work. <3

Looking good, huh? We like it! It's actually progressed further than this picture but all those pictures have kids in them. As in, they are IN the coop. They apparently think they're getting a playhouse. Maybe I should let those 2 be the egg-gatherers! Ha!

I might post some recipes soon because this weather is perfect for yummy soups and breads. It's been nice chili weather and we've had it twice in the last 2 weeks!