This morning after feeding and watering the animals, I decided to let Penny (my Bronze Turkey hen) in the pasture with the goats. She has a nice sized yard now, but she always seems to want out. She likes being around people. I walked around the perimeter of the fence trying to find out where Martha and Spotty (Pygmy and Mini-Nubian) occasionally get out. Yesterday they got out once, then Martha got out 2 more times. I finally confined them to the pen which is a 6 ft tall chain link enclosure. I found the spot I believe they had used and blocked it with a large walnut branch. I walked further down the fence line and stopped at the back to look down the hillside. I saw movement and to my wonderful surprise, I saw two wild turkey hens at the bottom of the hill. I couldn't believe it. I turned around and looked at Penny and tried to get her to talk to them (my turkey language needs practice). They disappeared in the brush just as Jessie (my shep/collie mix) made his noisy approach outside the fence. I wish I'd had my camera, but the picture of them is still in my mind. I hope they stay on my property and away from the turkey hunters. I think it's still turkey season and I know my neighbor beside me and on the backside of my property would love to hunt them. I don't know if both hens and toms are hunted or just toms. I did not see a tom, but would have loved to. The only hunting I do is with my eyes and camera. We only have just over 5 acres here so any wildlife I see is wonderful. I even love to see the foxes as long as they stay away from my animals.

The beginning of my Hobby Farm

It's been almost 1 year since my family and I bought our home. Notice I didn't say house or farm. It's our home. We have many projects ahead of us to get this place to it's full potential, but it is ours (and the banks for now). Over the last year, we've experienced each season and many of it's wonders. We have seen wildlife such as deer, rabbits, groundhogs, fox, turkey, bald eagles, hawks, owls and many different birds, rodents, snakes and insects. Each is a wonder all it's own. We brought two cats with us and have since added 4 hens (1 fed the local fox), 1 dog and 5 goats. We hope to add more as we can afford to. This has been a wonderful year and I thank God for this blessing. I will talk about some of my experiences over the last year, as well as the year(s) to come. Thank you for reading and I hope you'll enjoy.