Ginter Botanical Gardens~

We heard of a big Green House awhile back but never got around to going, until Yesterday.
We decided to visit the minute it opened on a Sunday morning. That way, we would pretty much have the place to ourselves.
Was so nice looking~~~~
Decided to buy a yearly pass.

The gardens are very well done, clean, no trash any where. They clearly take pride in these gardens.

Look forward to many future visits here.

There are a number of well done Fountains on the grounds.

Pretty little pond with a couple of turtles in it.

Inside captures of the, quite, large green house. I could use one of these. ;O)

Butterfly that liked my Hat.

Butterfly's every where.  This one blends in very well.

DH enjoying the morning in the Green House.

Just one of the many, many Butterflies.  Will be working on the photos the next couple of days.

Find the Butterflies!

Glamour shots of Katie..... and we can not leave Nari out of course....

Had DS take some photos of Katie for me this morning. 
 She really wanted to say Hi to Nari, but Nari did not want any of it. 

 I did try to take some photos of her loose... but as usual... LOL She did a cute little nicker at me and came right over.

Photo of Nari of course, who was not impressed.  LOL

Katie and the Sheep~~

Got..... Sheep?

 LOL  Couldn't help myself.
Caspian is hoping I have a treat for him.

Since taking a photo on my own of Katie and the Sheep.... doesn't work so well.

I had to do it from the other side of the fence.

Sure Katie thinks they are gifted ponies. LOL

The two sheep right next to Katie, is Abby the Finn... and Charming the Katahdin wither. Was hoping the Black and White wether would stay near her, but no such luck. He is taller than her.

She is in quarantine from the other horses for 3 weeks.... then I will slowly let them get to know each other.
Until then, her buddies are sheep and she seems to like them a lot.

Beautiful Flowers~

DH bought me some beautiful flowers.  So many in fact, I could fill up two Vases!  :O)

Big Hens~~~

Can't leave out the Big Hens.
The Buff Orpington above....  was complaining at me, because I was disturbing her very important bug hunting.
Like... Go away human, you are bothering me. LOL

One of the beautiful Welsumer hens.  Really love their very dark, almost Chocolate looking dark brown eggs.

Bantam chicks are growing up~

Wanted some photos of the Porcelain d'Uccle chicks, but it wasn't in the cards.
However, the Lavender Americana Bantams and Quails, did want their photos taken.

Above is a Lavender and a d'Anver Quail.
Quails are a couple weeks younger.

Lavenders again,,,  getting their first real feathers and wanting their photos taken. LOL

Lavender and Porcelains. The Lavenders have the dark beaks and clean legs.

The Quail  Antwerp d'Anvers.  Trying to give me Actions shots.

Has been very hot here, so I get them frozen water bottles. 

They love this and sit all around it to cool off.

Having a lot of fun with them.
They are still so tiny, will be awhile before I can put them in with the large Hens.

Chicks are doing well~~

The chicks were growing up fast in their giant carrier, that we put in the guest bathroom.
 While the Quails, aren't as far along as the others, we needed to put them out in the Tack room.... so they would have more room to roam.
They looked sooo big in the house,,, but out here in the shed..they are very tiny!

Was a bit worried about the night temps but they seem to be doing ok.

As it heats up, am going to have to put frozen gallon jugs in there so they can cool off.

Above are the little Quail Antwerps.... they love meeting me at the door, because they want treats! LOL

What greets me, the minute I walk into the tack room.
Try taking a photo one handed.  :O)

One part of the shed, with the Quails, Porcelains d'Uccles and Lavender Bantam Americana's.
Well and the Cochin Photo bomb up front.

Quails playing Queen of the hill.

Lavenders looking scruffy as they grow in their real feathers.

The Lone Cochin.... I think its going to be a Rooster.... 

New Mini ~

New mare..... a Buddy for Maggie.

Both her and Maggie were groomed up and fly sprayed, this morning.
New mare wasn't sure about it, but I think she will figure it out fast.
She did love being groomed. 

She is happily eating breakfast this morning

Fixing the Hail damage~

Sanders Construction, who is also a good neighbor, is working on, getting the hail damaged fixed.
We have a long list of things to be done and they are doing a great job.

Biscuit and Sunflowers~

Home made Biscuit Breakfast made by DH. Doesn't it look good?!

Had two Sunflowers growing in the Hen house yard, before the Hail storm. Now there is only one.

Can see the damage to the leaves due to the hail. 

Still is a beautiful and cheerful flower.

Baby Chick Up date~~

Baby Chick up date....

The 5 Lavender Americana Bantams are doing well, as are the d'Uccle Porcelians I bought from Murray McMurray when I figured out the hatch wasn't going well with the LAB's.

There is one lone Cochin in the middle.

The d'Uccle's when they were a little younger.

A Lavender Americana Bantam, can see how much larger their eyes are, compared to the other breeds.
Having a lot of fun with them,  they are quite tame.

Went to the wedding ~~~

Me in Make up, for the first time in 20+ years and even tried to tame my hair.

Was a nice wedding last night. Very happy for Russ and his new bride.

Got to dance with with my DH for the first time in a longggg time.
Only could do one dance, but I loved it.

Those cute little half boots,,,, surprisingly super, super comfy!
They are Yuu Marsha Leather Shooties, in-case anyone is interested in trying them out.

Bantam lavender Americana chicks~

Some of the chicks hatched 2 days before they should of....
Right during the time the Direct TV person arrived.....  
Thought the chicks that hatched would be ok until he left.... 
Bad move on my part. sigh ~~
Should of grabbed them and carry them around with me.

Lost the first three chicks.  :P   Due to the non broody hens stealing them from under the broody hens. 

Have 5 so far, though I am not sure the rest will finish hatching out or not.

Not able to find any more Bantam lavender Americana..... I just ordered a few Porcelain d'Uccles, so they will have a few more buddies.
They will arrive next Monday.  
Will raise them for awhile in the house and then move them out to the tack room in horse shed.

Will be nice to have some bantams again.

Hail Storm~

I need to clean up my kitchen garden this morning... but its depressing.... 

All the fronds have been knocked off the asparagus...

My peas and beans,,, while it looks green, they have been sheared off about 2" above the soil.

And the garden was doing so well before this.

Oh.... and the baby bunny in my garden.... that looked at me an peed. :P

Part of the dish knocked off by hail.

Some of the damage to the house.  While its not a lot it still needs to be fixed.

Above... is a punch through that is bigger than my fist.
Below... a number of hole through the siding. 

And why I really thought the hail was going to break a window... its hard to see the dents in this.

The hail lasted around 20 minutes,,, was Quarter sized, sizes in between and a few fist sized hail were hitting the house and garage.  And it was coming in sideways, different directions... and almost like we were in the food blender.
Sounded like a bomb was going off and I stayed in the center of the house.
Weird high and very strong winds didn't help.
The storm with the violent thunder and lightening, lasted nearly 4 hours here.
I wasn't impressed at all.

The Amish made, board and batten sheds, fared much better. They will just need a bit of stain here and there.
Wish I could put up either Hardy plank or board and batten on the side of the house.

Have called the insurance, so need to find a way to pay the deductible.
The good Contractor and neighbor, will be here later today to see what it will take to fix the many, many holes and damage to the siding and garage and make sure the roof's are sound on both buildings.