Weak One (and a partial cast of characters)

Today is my 11th day on the farm; my seventh doing a variety of chores. The basic idea is that we're cleaning up the farm from the summer / fall seasons and getting it ready for a more dormant winter season. Lots of espresso bean harvesting, apple picking, raking, sweeping, pruning, weeding, chipping, mulching, mending, schlepping, feeding, and herding. 

At the end of every day I'm pooped. That good kind of pooped when you feel like you made good progress, maybe accomplished something, and it's all you can do to muster enough energy to make dinner and collapse onto something soft. And I wake up every next morning with energy and excitement for whatever is next. (It's still early, I'm super curious to see what happens to this feeling of excitement and renewal over time.)

Also, I've met a full cast of characters this week. I'm thrilled to introduce you to some of them this time and through the next couple of posts. From Queen Victoria, a 15 YO muscovy duck who has her own sleeping and eating quarters, next to but separate from her duck community, to Groucho, the alpaca who doesn't get along with the other three so spends his time in the back corner or their field and eats separately from his mates. It really is a full range of personalities. Here are a few of my new friends:

White alpaca
Groucho - the loner alpaca. Trust issues?
Two brown alpacas
Harpo and Chico - A cartoon waiting to be made.








Alpaca grazing with head through fence
Stuart - Discontented.












Rosie - I'm told she's sweet and smart. Also to be careful when she's in heat.









And finally, a video of the geese who are hil-ar-i-ous, especially first thing in the morning being let out of their coop and, as this video shows, at dinner time. This is how every day ends for me. Enjoy. More pics and characters to come...




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