Soon after my son started school, we were introduced to a wonderful early reader’s book titled, “We Eat Dinner In The Bathtub.”  The book is written by Angela Shelf Medearis and illustrated by Jaqueline Rogers. The story follows two boys who learn that rooms in a home don’t have to be used for a specific reason ~ why not eat dinner in the bathtub after all? I’m remembering this story because I’m typing this post while sitting in the room most would say is the dining room. And there is, in fact, a dining table in the room. There are also assorted animals, various paraphernalia that goes along with each animal, and naturally, room for more animals. It’s a perfect “indoor barn” and a great place to share updates from the farm with all of you!

Midnight, our resident rabbit, has settled in beautifully. We cuddle for a while when I clean his hutch, then he’s able to hop around on the floor to stretch his paws.  The other day, he discovered that he could jump the two feet back into his hutch as I cleaned it, and this seemed to absolutely delight him. He jumped in, then back out again. In, then out. Each time he landed on the floor, he did this little two-step jump in the air as if the enjoyment was just too much to contain in his small body.  We’ve learned he enjoys apple branches over pear branches, but that carrots are best of all. We’ve also learned that when a black rabbit and a mostly black Aussie shed at the same time, fur is simply flying around the house.  

Our chickens started laying eggs about three weeks ago, and now they’re giving us three to five eggs a day. We had thought we had three hens and three roosters, but now we’re not so sure. Like all the animals at Sundance, the chickens have their own daily routine. Every morning, just at sunrise, I go into the coop and open their door to the enclosed run.  As I’m opening the door, six chickens line up single file better than any second grade class I’ve ever seen! One by one they file out the door, down the ramp, and into their run. No one hurries, no one bangs into the chicken in front of them ~ it’s wonderful to watch! Around lunchtime, I’ll go back out and give them whatever vegetable scraps I have from the morning. I’ll also collect eggs. Then in the evening, when I’m returning to close the door for the night, they dash into the coop, jostling each other in a race for the mealworms I put in their food dish.  Apparently, ending the day single file is just too much to ask.

Echo and Tiger, our resident kittens, are growing so fast! We’ve learned that Echo is a male, and he outweighs his sister by over a pound. Tiger is a feisty little girl, climbing everything in their enclosure and moving constantly. Echo is more thoughtful ~ vocal and insistent, but thoughtful. He will stare at a new object ~ or an old object! ~ before pouncing on it.  And Steve? He is fastidiously ignoring both of them. When I clean their enclosure, he will spend the time ~ in another room of the barn ~ grooming his paws. When I’m holding one of them, he’ll stare for a minute, eyes wide, hiss softly, then walk away, tail sticking straight up and waving ever so slightly.  I’m hoping this standoff changes for the better before I release the kittens! 

As much joy as I feel from all of our animals, though, I think that the greatest expression of contentment is from the sheep.  Cricket, Mary and Betsie seem to find the greatest comfort in coming to me and laying their heads against my legs, my shoulder, my arms and having me stroke their wool and speak softly to them. And, yes, Betsie is moving so much better these days! As soon as she catches sight of me moving toward the quarantine pasture, she starts trotting ~ trotting! ~ to the gate to meet me! I’m giving her medicine hidden in Fig Newtons ~ I had no idea that Fig Newtons are high-value treats for sheep! Wilma, though,  is still very hesitant, Fig Newtons or no Fig Newtons.  I’m hopeful, though, because if she catches sight of the grain bowl in my hands, she will come much closer than she has before.  Bella, I’m learning, is Bella. She loves to be groomed in the morning, as long as she’s had a minute to jump on top of the hay rack, coat her black nose with the bright red mix of minerals I give them every morning, and head-butt Mary at least once.  She definitely has her own drummer!  

So while we’re going to eat dinner somewhere other than the dining room, I wouldn’t have life any other way. John and I are learning and laughing with many different animals, and they seem to be learning and laughing right alongside us. There are still many puzzles to figure out and many projects to finish before the snow flies, but when the chickens rush to say hi through the wire mesh of the run, when Steve lays down to join us in an extended conversation, when Betsie wants to cuddle, well, everything just needs to pause. What doesn’t get done will be there in the Spring! 

Thanks for reading, everyone! Enjoy Autumn ~ Tracy