A Postcard from Ole Lake

Sundays are good days to spend some quality time with your partner, so this morning Kevin and I did just that.  Cleaning out the goat’s indoor living quarters is best done with more than one set of hands.  We followed that little chore with a hike out to Ole Lake.

We call our place Ole Lake farm, but there is no lake.  Ole Lake is a real place, and was a lake a few hundred years ago.  Now it’s a pothole surrounded by tamarack bog, making it pretty much inaccessible sometimes, and fairly difficult to get to the rest of the time.  Winter is by far the easiest season to get there, but only if it’s been cold enough to freeze the bog.

Crossing the bog this morning was quite a workout.  If you’ve never had the opportunity to traverse such a place, imagine walking across an enormous waterbed (the original 70’s version, no baffles) that is covered knee deep with poufy, yet firm pillows.  Got that?  Ok, now add hidden roots and holes filled with water and muck that apply suction to your boots.  Pure pleasure!

Pitcher plants growing in the bog

Ever get that sinking feeling?

You may recall from yesterday’s post that the plan was to move the hens from the Summer Coop to the Winter Coop.  I finally got a couple of photos to record the event.

Kori pauses for a dramatic moment

Kori came home to help with moving the flock.  She is our best and most skilled chicken catcher.  We wait until after dark, when the hens are abed on their roosts.  Javier made the move on Friday; it is necessary for him to be the first one moved, otherwise he can get a little .... agitated by the ruckus that the hens make.  Agitation is not a desirable condition to have in your rooster.

And the handoff!

And lastly, I will close with photos of Spot and some wood.   Just because.   See you next time!

Golden eyed Spot