Some of the enjoyable subtleties of "farming"

Every day here on our "hobby farm" i find new things that make me hunger to be a real "poor farmer". i have been around critters my whole life (my mom thinks that she is Noah reincarnated. . . okay not really, but she does collect animals) and sometimes i have to be reminded that animals are as complicated as we. The turkey is a great example. Most folks think that they are dumb, ugly animals (except for Laura). They are both intelligent, and complicated. This morning i was educated in some of the more subtle nuances of their language. Sadly i lack the words to adequately describe what i heard. . . but i think of it as something like a very quiet diesel truck accelerating. As i was watering the goofy birds one of the dominant jakes (The term for a yearling male turkey . . . if they don't get eaten by year one, they eventually become Toms. i don't know how Tom is short for Jake, but i guess it is) came a struttin' over to me. Periodically he would, almost imperceptible, shutter. When he shuttered, he let out this sound. It was the first time i had ever heard a turkey make this sound, but as i listened i realized that all of the jakes were doing it. Cool stuff.

Its now nearly 40 degrees. . .yeah!!! At the local hardware store this morning i was able to be the first to "deflower" the newly set up gardening display. . . . planting season is coming!!!!!