Ramblings from Ole Ma...

Ramblings from Ole Ma:

Well, folks, what a week it's been here on the farm, and what a special one at that! Last week, we celebrated the two-year anniversary of the Farm Stand, and now, it's our, Ole Ma and Pa's, anniversary. And let me tell you what a week it's been!  

As many of you know, our dear Clyde has been feeling the absence of his longtime love, Big Bird, who passed away over the winter. His loneliness was palpable, and it weighed heavy on this Ole Ma's heart.

So, we decided it was time to take charge and get some joy back into Clyde's life. With The Maker's loving guidance, we embarked on a mission to find him some new friends. And let me tell you, when opportunity knocks, it often knocks more than once. We received a message from a friend out of the blue last week. One we just knew would solve our dilemma. We ended up bringing not one, not two, but THREE new emus home to join Clyde.

We were quite busy preparing and making provisions to ensure our new emu flock could integrate slowly, letting them run the fence line together and get to know each other before the big integration. We reinforced sections of the fence, set up temporary shelters, and had been making every effort to facilitate their introductions.

One of the emus is a female, and we've named her Ms. Kitty. The other two are indeterminate on sex, and we don't know yet if they are male or female. Interestingly enough, there are no external visual indicators, and typically, until about 2 years old, it doesn't become apparent. When they finally "come of age," the females will begin their telltale booming and drumming and begin laying eggs, and it is them that decide if they will accept a male or not. The males generally are friendly sorts, rarely fighting among themselves during the non-breeding season and are instead relegated to homemaking duties. The big priority most of the time is the nest building. Using those sharp toes to scratch out dirt before adding homey touches of dried grass, leaf litter, and such.

Would like to say that things went smoothly, but alas, nothing ever goes as smoothly as you want it to. When we got them off the trailer, we could see that Miss Kitty had been harassed and injured a bit on the ride home by the ornery one that we have named Gator. That leads us to our suspicion that Gator is actually a female and not wanting to share the title Lady Of The House. Gator's very bonded to the third emu, the one we call Scooter, so it just seems logical that Gator's female and Scooter is male. At any rate, our well-laid plan of housing the new ones in a temporary pen next to Clyde until everyone worked things out went right out of the window, and something needed to be done quickly to separate Ms Kitty. 

Ms. Kitty was stretching her long neck through the fence, beckoning Clyde, perhaps waiting for her knight in shiny feathers to whisk her away from the Gator attack.  Clyde eagerly accepted the job and her affections, jumping right into the role of hero. We decided to let Ms. Kitty into his pasture because at worst, we just build her a temporary pen and separate them, and at best, it's a match made in heaven. It certainly couldn't be worse than the targeting she was receiving from Gator.

And much like it was 15 years ago with Ole Pa and I, it was truly love at first sight with Kitty and Clyde! As she danced and fluttered, Clyde followed behind her, making his proud guttural vocalizations. It wasn't much longer afterward he was up in the trees, busying himself scratching out a nest and calling his fair lady home to her castle. Clyde again living like a king. 

Of course, we're keeping a cautious eye on things with Gator and Scooter. Time will tell if they can join the Royal family. If, for some reason, things don't work themselves out, we will just add a pen and have not one but two emu empires. We are willing to do whatever we need to ensure these sweet birds get the "happily ever after"  they deserve. 

Why?  Because you know... love. 

Just like 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, and it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Love always (always) finds a way. 

(Happy Anniversary, Kyle, thanks for being my Prince Farming!)