Between Storms

We're between storms this morning. There was hardly a break from all the rain we had yesterday, and the news full of flooding reports, even structure collapses. This morning, under blue skies, with birds singing, I took some time to maintain the coop and run, to comfort and assure the goats. Their yard is deep in mud, and sloshy, not easy to walk across, not ready for the rain to come. So, from our yard recycling bin, I filled a basket with pine needles... load after load to lay down on the mud. I only have to turn the basket over, dumping the needles in heaps, then the chickens take over kicking and spreading it, covering up puddles, making the mud navigable. The goats help, too... eating, nibbling, chewing, munching, and dining on dry, crisp pine needles. It's as though I brought them a tray of irresistible nachos! Their eyes glaze over in snack bliss. Friend, our blue jay visitor, and Shy Friend, followed me around the yard, and waited for their snack... peanuts. A hummingbird, and a mocking bird perched in the potato vine. It's hard to imagine there will be more rain, but we'll be ready. The goat's cottage has a new layer of dry and eatable bedding. The hens have laid, and are rummaging through the refreshed ground cover. It's good we have this time, between storms.