…It pours. I am fairly certain there is a small black cloud following us around at Maynard’s Farm. Ironically, I love the rain and I especially love a good thunder storm. However, if this dark cloud would kindly go away, I would be ever appreciative. Let me back up to the beginning of this month.

Justin and I came down with a terrible horrendous case of the stomach virus.  It lasted about two weeks.  Did I mention we drove 8 hours (one way) and back to Ohio for two more goats?  Yep, fever and all.  We know we are crazy.  We bought two sweet babies, Traveller and Odyssey.  Traveller was going to be our new herdsire.  Yes, sadly there is a past tense with that. I don’t have any pictures of just Traveller and Odyssey.  The stomach virus was that rough…. because I am a picture fiend.  But here are all four babies playing.

Two weeks ago this past Monday our little black cloud came to visit.  Justin had just finished his morning chores and I was in the barn milking when he started screaming.  I ran to the porch and he was rolling on the ground in pain.  A quick trip to our Doctor landed us at the ER.  A few tests and a mountain of bills later… pancreatitis.  It’s a rather large cloud.

The following Wednesday we came home from church to find Traveller (who I had fed three hours prior and he was fine) dead.  We were devastated.  I hate losing animals, it is the toughest part about what we do.  I cry every time, and I am not a crier.  I just always feel like I should have done more.  However, today the autopsy results came in and there truly was nothing we could have done.  Bacteria from his gut seeped into his veins and killed him very quickly, no symptoms present, and most likely there was absolutely nothing we could have done.  Yep, that black cloud is a doozy.

The morning Traveller died we happened to receive a fantastic package we had been waiting on.  Are you ready for the cuteness?

DUCKLINGS!  Oh my goodness at the fuzzy cuteness.

We have three different breeds.

Cayuga (these guys will be green as adults!)

Black Sweedish Runners (these guys will be black and white and look like they are wearing tuxedos)

And…Gold Star Hybrids (these are egg layers…this is Justin’s pick.  Always practical.)

Despite the absolute adorableness these are the NASTIEST, MESSIEST, SMELLIEST animals.  Ever.  Oh my goodness.

Here are their nice clean boxes at night after I have cleaned them (We have to clean them twice a day.  It needs to be more often but we aren’t home).

And here is what they look like by morning.

It is hard to tell but there is about an inch of water.  They are so messy.  Ugh.

By the way… remember that black cloud?  We came home this Wednesday and two ducklings were dead.  It is a serious black cloud.

But, as little orphan Annie says, “The sun’ll come out tomorrow…” Let’s sure hope it does!

For now I am counting my blessings one by one.  Want to see pictures of what God has so richly blessed me with?

This picture below warms my heart.  Hercules is the most loving dog you will ever meet.  He has been so concerned with Justin sick.

It may not be four but these are three little tails I am so very thankful for!

See?  I told you I have so many things to be thankful for and these aren’t even all of my blessings!  So many of my loves aren’t pictured, like Hebe for instance.  I know all of you probably think we neglect that sweet girl, but those two dogs are like night and day.  Hebe will NOT pose for pictures, she will not sit still, and she does not like to be petted too long.  She is all business – always protecting.

I will leave you all with this –

“When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.”