The Children's Easter Tree

The children's easter egg tree

The children found this tree in the garden a few months ago and said it would be perfect for the easter tree.  It is a branch usually attached to the palm trunk which holds all the seeds.

Our little felted chicks comfy in their nest

The children and I each made a little chick to put into the nest.  We needle felted two little balls each.  Felted them together and added a little red wool for the beak.

You can see the little nodules on the branches which once had a big red seed attached to it - enjoyed by the birds.

Some of the eggs the children painted surrounding the tree

The boiled eggs painted were used to decorate the bowl which holds the tree.

Easter bunny and chicken

The big easter bunny has been with us for a couple of years now.  The hen, chick and smaller bunny are new additions for the easter display.

Little chicks with their new mama

Our little chicks from my previous post are doing well.  One of our wild hens had been roosting on eggs out in the cow pasture for a long time.  I paid her a visit, taking along the little chicks and shook her eggs only to hear liquid within.  They turned out to be rotten.   I brought my little chicks along with me just in case and carefully tucked them under her at the same time.  After she pecked me a couple of times I took her and the chicks to a small hen house and left them there together.  She has adopted them after they were three days old. Unfortunately my little boys who were attached to them cannot go near the little chicks since the wild hen is extremely protective. She has flown at me a few times to protect her new babes.

A Fluffy Surprise

Where does all that cheeping come from?

We had to move mama hen and her eggs to another location because her nest was infested with mites. We dusted her and the eggs with diatomaceous earth.   Stressed by the move she abandoned her eggs.

Sadly we took them home and placed them upon our gas stove.  The pilot lights remained on providing warmth to the eggs.   This was not an easy task as at times the stove got so hot from all the cooking or too cool in the evenings.  We thought we had lost them.

The egg is cracking open

Until early one morning when I came downstairs to prepare breakfast and I heard this beautiful cheeping song.  Excitedly I ran out to call the boys and these are the photos of the first few hours of our little chick being born.  Two others followed soon after.

It's opened

She cheeped and cheeped and pushed and pushed...

She's pushing herself out

The boys couldn't help peeling a few pieces of the shell..... then she pushed herself out

Almost

She was curled up in a damp ball.

The Head

Sania's little hand stroking her head.

A Wooly Nest

We brought out a little wool nest I previously felted.

Keeping her cosy

and cradled her to keep her warm.

Sasha with little chick

To let her know she is loved.

Warm Chick

Sweet tender hands amazed by this beautiful miracle.

Learning to Stand

Leaving her to explore.

Fun with the little chicks

Playing daddy to all the chicks.

Out in the garden

These little chicks are so beautiful and run to us for food as if we are their mama hen.  It would have been nicer for them to have their mama's comfort, easier for them to find their way and explore the world with more safety.  At the moment they roam in a small open cage kept in the garden during the day and we bring them into the kitchen at night. In a few more days I think they will be able to join some of the bigger chicks and explore on their own.

Feeding older chicks

These are older chicks we had a few weeks ago.  They have become quite tame and enjoy being fed by the boys as much as the boys enjoy feeding them.

Another Little Calf - Farm Friday

Another little calf is born

This wonderful mama cow was grazing away with this baby's feet sticking out for a while, she wasn't in any pain.  I brought along a bottle of olive oil and assisted her bringing this slippery wet babe into the world.  He's so beautiful.

Calf

He slipped gently into my arms and I brought him to the ground for his mama to see.

The baby was sucking his hand

The boys were fascinated by the birth and touched it's slippery sweetness.  I was covered in it.

Admiring the calf the day after it's birth

Special moments.

Climbing the giant rocks

The next day we enjoyed a rough trail ride with some friends.  The boys took them on a hiking adventure along the stream, climbing over huge rocks.  I am always amazed at how skilled and agile they are, they  move about like little monkeys.

Riding through the King Grass 

Leaving the stream, passing through the king grass, much loved by the horses because of it's sweetness.. they dragged us into it.

Our house nestled in the jungle

The view of our house and barn from the top of one of our pastures.  You can see a bit of blue which is the pool.  The house in the middle, barn on the left and the cottages on the right.   The royal palms you see are situated in a ravine which dips in front of our home. The palms are about 80-100 ft (30m) tall.

Heading for home, they heard the other horses

They heard the other horses calling.

Puma rolling in the sand after his long trail ride

Puma loves to roll in the children's sand pit after a long ride to dry off the sweat.

Play time with the trucks in the sand pit

The children spend much time building castles,  roads, bridges and mountains.

Farm Moments

Thank you for the wonderful comments left on my previous post.  Many of you asked how my children handle seeing animals in this condition.  Since having my children I have done my best to present the world and it's surroundings in the most beautiful way and offer them a safe and comfortable paradise to live in.  My children see little of the worlds imperfections, there is much time for that in the future.  When an animal is hurt I remain calm and refrain from being dramatic about it, letting them know that they have a small injury and that we can make them better. The children are always delighted  to bring another animal into the home to play with and care for.

 

[caption id="attachment_2389" align="aligncenter" width="449" caption="Tomatoes are juicy"][/caption]

Our tomatoes are beginning to ripen the boys love to find these red juicy treasures and slip them in their mouths.

[caption id="attachment_2390" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Fabien driving the tractor"][/caption]

We relocated these tress from our coconut palm plantation to our new house.  My husband was moving some sand with the tractor and I was standing in the empty pool while the boys were splashing in the rain water that had collected.

[caption id="attachment_2391" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Opening up the cells to release the honey"][/caption]

Our wonderful bees have gifted us with an abundance of good organic raw honey.

[caption id="attachment_2392" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Sania loves to help"][/caption]

The boys love to harvest our honey.  We had waited so long that the hives were so full. Of course we can't keep those sticky fingers out of the honey pot and the many jars we have filled.

[caption id="attachment_2394" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Flowers are blossoming"][/caption]

My mother planted the bulbs of these beautiful lilies about 4 years ago.  It's always so lovely to see them appear every year bringing fond memories of her pottering away in my garden with my children by her side.

[caption id="attachment_2396" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Little hedgehog I crocheted"][/caption]

I found this cute little book on how to make simple crocheted toys for children called Amigurumi World.  This was my first project.  He's so cute.

[caption id="attachment_2395" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Luke riding coco the pony"][/caption]

We have enjoyed a wonderful visit from my sister-in-law and her little boy.  Here he is on the pony.  He's enjoying learning the wild and wonderful ways of farm living from his cousins.

 

 

Animal Neglect in the Dominican Republic

[caption id="attachment_2370" align="alignnone" width="640"] Open wound on the withers from Saddle[/caption]

Not too far from our heavenly paradise, home to many nourished and loved animals there are those who suffer from neglect, starvation and abuse.  I have been silent for a while with my posts.  Disconcerting thoughts and feelings  have taken me elsewhere. Into the lives of so many suffering animals.

Our help with animals/cows began here in DR 5 years ago. You can read a part of the story in a previous post "Our Story".  Months after our move to the farm I bought 5 neglected horses from a neighboring farm.  Three of them previously abused, high spirited and dangerous - their energy intense.  I had always dreamed of having horses yet I feared them because of a previous accident when I was young.  I searched for help from other experienced trainers. Two trainers from Germany refused.   A local trainer came for a day but I was not comfortable with his harsh methods of training and soon after I hired a German lady who claimed she had 35 years experience with horse training. My horses didn't take to her traditional methods of training.  After much research I found Parelli Natural Horsemanship and ordered their home study videos on how to train and understand horses.  Those 5 horses were pregnant when they arrived on the farm and I was grateful to have the invaluable knowledge shared by Parelli. My fear diminished and we were able to calm them before the foals arrived to foal imprint them.  We boarded 4 of Pauline's rescue horses from Project Isobel and rescued another 7 horses (the ponies included).  Having a total of 22 horses, including Bella, myself and Luis, my horse assistant have gained the trust of these powerful animals earning their respect and being good leaders. Learning the Parelli natural training methods and horse psychology we made drastic changes in our lives and the lives of our horses.

So this post take me back a few weeks, as I was driving by this farm I noticed a couple of horses that were limping and had severe wounds on their back.  I asked permission to visit and this is what we found.

The above photo is of a horses back, the wound almost to the bone.  This horse is still ridden in this condition today.  His hooves overgrown and painful to walk.

[caption id="attachment_2365" align="alignnone" width="640"] A starving dog on that farm[/caption]

We passed by the first employees home to find a little puppy and a cat.  On the brink of starvation.  The cat ran away so we couldn't photograph it.  It's hard to see in this photo but this little puppy was so thin his bones were protruding.  He was surviving by eating chicken poop and whatever else he could find.  The owners previous two dogs were poisoned with rat poison because they ate a couple of his chicks.... well I guess they were hungry.  We are now taking food for this little dog and the cat.  They have both been dewormed.  So I look forward to showing you photos of them in the future.

Pauline from Project Isobel recently found a dog hung by the neck being punished because he ate a chick.

There aren't many dogs on the streets because they are run over, killed or starve to death.  There are a few who survive but they suffer.

[caption id="attachment_2368" align="alignnone" width="640"] This saddle wound was infested with maggots[/caption]

This was the other horse we found, he had two wounds on his back that were infested with maggots.  We treated their wounds, dewormed them and Luis will trim their hooves next week.

[caption id="attachment_2369" align="alignnone" width="640"] Two saddle wounds infested with maggots[/caption]

Wounds around the girth and two saddle sores on his back.  There are many horses like this that are ridden by tourists on the beaches of Cabaretti.  Should anyone wish to trail ride please check the condition of the horse and especially check for saddle sores and hoof condition - this applies to trail riding companies in the USA too.

[caption id="attachment_2364" align="alignnone" width="640"] Bella, she's two months pregnant and starving[/caption]

Whilst at the farm the owner came, he is a wealthy Dominican and importer of American Quarter Horses and Brahman cows. His priority being cows, this mare was neglected.  He said he would give her to me to take care of but he wants the foal because she breeds good foals.

She is now in my care, I've named her Bella. She is still weak but slowly gaining weight. She understandably doesn't have much spirit. I have noticed though a little spark growing in her now that I'm bringing special food.  She even trotted today but lamely.  I will dread the day the man comes for her baby, he might even take her to because she will look well.

[caption id="attachment_2363" align="alignnone" width="640"] Bella's hooves, one had a shoe that had been there for a long time with rusty nails[/caption]

These were Bella's hooves.  One had a metal shoe with rusty nails, it must have been put on a long time ago and grown into the hoof.

[caption id="attachment_2375" align="alignnone" width="640"] Braman Cows[/caption]

These are his cows, they are his trophies.  They are kept with this harsh halter upon their noses and locked away in this box and fed straw in order to fatten them.  They have little room to move and rest in their manure.  They would damage their skin and lose weight if they roamed around on the large farm.  I have yet to see them out.

[caption id="attachment_2365" align="alignnone" width="640"] Little kitty[/caption]

My husband found this little kitten at the entrance of our driveway off the main street. Her tail was chopped off and her entire anus was eaten away by maggots.

Even though she emitted a foul stench, my little boys still helped me care for her.  She didn't survive.

Since we've been on the farm we have taken in 11 cats from the streets.  Some didn't make it.  We now have 9 cats,  4 beautiful cats that we share our home with.  Two in the stables and three at our other farm location.

[caption id="attachment_2373" align="alignnone" width="640"] Street dog open head infested with huge maggots[/caption]

A dog we found at the entrance of our farm,  once again off the main village road.  His severe wound was infested with huge maggots that must have been there for a long time. He miraculously survived and we found him a good home.  All dogs and cats we care for are wormed and neutered.

[caption id="attachment_2362" align="alignnone" width="640"] Little pup[/caption]

This little foxy loxy whom we call little pup has become the highlight in our home. Not only is he now soft and cuddly but he's obsessed with chasing our cats, cows and horses.   After deworming, removing hundreds of ticks and getting rid of his mange he's looking beautiful.  He now sleeps next to our bed at night and sometimes makes his way into it.

[caption id="attachment_2372" align="alignnone" width="640"] Sania loving little pup[/caption]

Their little baby.

[caption id="attachment_2361" align="alignnone" width="640"] Lulu[/caption]

This is little Lulu, she's a feisty little one whom was hit by a motor bike on the main street.  We brought her in a nursed her back to health.  She was just a puppy who managed to survive.  You can see her twisted hip and she still walks with a limp.  She loves to chew all our furniture and she gobbled up one of my baby chicks but I still love her.

[caption id="attachment_2376" align="alignnone" width="640"] Claudo[/caption]

This is Claudo, once a wild street dog, we found hiding by our chicken run more than a year ago.   He's one of the loveliest dogs I've had, so loyal, sweet and affectionate. He was surviving by eating the kitchen scraps and eggs of our chickens when we found him so skinny and afraid.  The children have so much fun with him as he chases them around the garden. Claudo would be a great stock dog if trained because he loves chasing my horses and cows, he's always alongside me during our trail rides and can endure long distances and rough terrain.  He’s my special baby!

How would I have known that moving to a farm would have taken me so far on this incredible journey learning and bonding with all these amazing animals.  The children are delighted to have new animals.  Sasha asked me why people buy animals when we can get them from the street and they are free:)