Animal update...

 Farmer J found this 'tiger salamander' in his garden!  

 Our front porch turned into a small animal vet clinic a few weeks back.  This is me, the wary farmwife, assisting farmer J in caring for Cheeks- our hurt hen.  We wrapped her in a towel so her little feet and fingernails wouldn't scrap me while J tended to her wounds.  Seconds after this picture was taken, Cheeks had diarrhea.  Luckily, she was no longer on my lap!  Cheeks is doing great!  She is roosting again, she can walk (or hop) all over the farm, she is getting harder to catch and is eating and drinking well.  The other hens pick on her a bit, but she does a great job of hiding in the woods during the day.  At night time, we separate her from the other hens, in a different part of the coop.  

 J planted flowers that would attract Monarch butterflies.  This picture is so beautiful and was taken just steps from the house.  

And yes!  A few bats have graced us with their presence once again.  J caught this one, with his perfected 'tupperware catching bat' technique.  So far, crossing our fingers (and toes), this has been the only bat in the house.  We have heard a few more up in the attic but nothing like last year.