This morning Tony and I got two of the trees mulched (with landscaping fabric under the mulch). After he left, the kids and I did two more, and I did one more myself after the kids lost interest. Three more planted fruit trees to go! Then we have to plant the rest of the trees. If I counted right we still have six trees and tons of berry bushes that need to be planted... plus strawberries, asparagus, and potatoes... I am feeling so behind!
While we were working out in the field with the trees I spotted a caterpillar on one of the shovels. I later saw one up by the clothes lines while I was hanging laundry up. It took some research, but I have identified them as Eastern Tent caterpillars. Apparently they prefer fruit trees and are a bad pest. I hope my birds find them tasty.
I paired Kaelyn to Servine, since Kaelyn's father (Sushi) is a Rex cross, perhaps they will produce some Rex coated offspring. Kaelyn has been paired several times but has never had a litter. Servine is new to us and we've never used him for breeding, so this is a fresh attempt. There was a witnessed connection, so we're hoping for babies.
I paired Gretchen and Ulysses in hopes of a good meat litter. Ulysses is now a proven buck since Snowflake's failing litter was sired by him.
I paired Lilith and Rascal. Both are descendants of our old breeding buck, Bennett. Rascal is out of a purebred Rex momma, and Lilith is from Gretchen's first litter. Neither is spectacularly pretty to look at, but I'm hoping those genetics floating around in there might connect and make some harlequin babies.
All had witnessed successful fall-offs, so here's to three robust litters in July!
The chick that I thought was so pretty when it hatched, remains a sight. It's getting feathers in and what a pretty bird this one will be! Photo below...
#1 and #3 are off at friends' houses, so it looks like #4 and #5 will be shopping tomorrow with Grandma and I, and #2 will be helping to get all the flowers and stuff we buy planted when we get them back to Grandma's house.
The new pup still has no definite name, but we have it narrowed down to a few choices. In the end it's Tony's choice what to name her, since she's his dog. He has selected some nerdy/geeky girl names. Honestly, I'm leaning towards Zelda, but dreading the possibility of calling her Sylvanas or Alextrasa. I could live with Wren, but I prefer Zelda. I may have secretly been calling her Zelda Puppy today to potentially influence the choice if he decides to go with what she best responds to.