On a sad note, one of the ducklings had an accident. It was fine this morning when the barn was opened up, but this afternoon when #3 went to do barn chores she found it near the kiddie pool with a broken leg. We suspect one of the geese stepped on it, but we have no way to know for sure. We tried to put it back in the nest, we considered bringing it in, but it just cried and cried and then Matt got upset and started abandoning her other two to try to come to the window where she could hear the baby. Eventually we settled on using a large litter box (clean) filled with grass set right next to the nest, with some chick started feed in it. All was well as of 2:30 when kids left. When I went back to check at 5:00 the duckling was gone. When I went out again at 8:00 to close up the barn, I braved attack to lift Matt up off her nest. The two other babies were there with her, but not the broken one. I can't hear it calling, I can't find it. I think something got it. I suspect the new feral cat, since our barn cats didn't seem interested in the ducklings this spring.
We now have six more jars of apple butter, a baggy full of dehydrated apple slices, and about half a loaf of homemade bread left. Temperature in the house was 65 this morning. Not bad for being 38 outside last night and not having the heater on!