trystinn | And thus, the wind did blow and the rain did fall

This morning is the first day of false Fall. Woke up to 55F, overcast and raining. This I love. The chickens, not so much.

I went in to check for eggs and found Mutilda, our Silver Gray Dorking, in one of the small drawer nesting boxes. She immediately jumped out, squawked the chicken equivalent of "you nosy bitch" and ran out. Mutilda does not like being disturbed mid-lay. Most of the ladies like a bit of rubbing, a treat or two and a duet. Not our Dorking. I'm hoping she'll tuck back in the shed to lay her egg.

I found a green egg hanging out in the old brooder hutch, one of the Ameraucanas is using it to lay eggs. Since those two refuse to use the shed coop, I'm sort of stuck allowing that. I would hope as the weather continues to cool, those two fierce darlings start using the coop for its intended purposes. Speaking of purpose, Ruby is so crazed with brooding, that when I picked her up off the nest and set her down outside the pen, she just squatted there as if she were still over her eggs and whined softly. *sigh* I really need to figure out a candaling method soonest, none of the flashlights I've been using are strong enough to see anything other than a dark mass. *sigh*

Doodle has been very cute, especially when Josh comes home. He runs to the door with his monster paw in his mouth "Daddy, I brung you my paw, Iz so happy you're home. You can haz my monster paw!" then as soon as I open the door, he runs off with the paw and deposits it in the den. "No, I changed my mind. Daddy, no can haz paw. But I lurvs you anyway" as he runs back for a petting or two. This scenario works through a few times a day. He goes to offer the paw, then decides against it. When you do, in that rare moment, get the paw he stares at you forlornly until you throw it back to him, then he runs off happily with his tail wagging, holding his head as high as his stubby little Basset body allows so he doesn't drag the paw on the floor. Doodle is an entertaining guy, lemme tell you.

We managed to pump out the duck pond and refill it last night before the wind and rain blew in. I keep hoping we'll see a few ducklings in the pond, but odds aren't very good. Our Runners have never enjoyed swimming, especially not Luca. I can hope the KC genes establish them as good swimmers, but so far they just toddle around the pen, following the soft murmurs of Mamma Luca.

As I type, hubby is making lunch, something notoriously bad for us, aka warm and sticky goodness. Flash is curled up on my feet, his heavy head slung over my ankle and his Libby Kitty curled up with him, much to his annoyance. She was very wet when she first came in and he had to groom her dry. When a Basset grooms a cat, there's a certain amount of claws, whining and teeth involved. But things have settled down, thankfully. As soon as Doodle realizes Flash has Libby, there will be more whining. They share her, but there are a few kinks in the system.

Someone loaned me a few books by Marie Brennan, if it's someone on here please let me know so I can return them when done. Not really my thing, but I'm dutifully reading them. Currently on In Ashes Lie about the alliance between Queen Elizabeth and the Queen of the British Isle Fae. Meh. Bit too Anne Rice wannabe, but not as good, frankly.