We got some new Chicks!

Spring has come, though with the snow over the weekend you would not know it. Spring always means one thing around this house - Baby Chicks! Here is our newest batch, fresh out of the eggs last Monday. An assortment of Americaunas and Barred Rocks.

Spring is Finally Here!

The snow has finally decided to melt, and the Spring rains have come. Things are getting greener everyday, and the fruit trees have bloomed. We decided to get out of the house and take a trip to the Malpais Lava Flow. This place was formed by a giant volcano that belched forth lava creating a 50 mile long flow of black lava across the high desert plain. The boys love this place.

Way behind here at Skunky Acres...

We have gotten so far behind, it is almost impossible to keep up. Let's see...

In the past month we have had a young 'un get his tonsils removed and ears plugged, A dad with fractured ribs (now healed), and a dead turkey which caused all kinds of sadness. She was a pet after all and died from a chronic illness. The big Tom Turkey is now very lonely and even more annoying as he follows us around the yard.

Basketball season has started for the boys. The oldest is pretty good, but our youngest REALLY needs to learn how to dribble. He is so bad he hurt himself doing it. Pretty sad...

We are still recieving a large amount of snow, but the days are getting warmer at least. In fact, we are due more snow this weekend.

That about sums it up. More snow than actual family activities going on.

News from the Acre...

Hot off the press...

Tomorrow is ski day at school. Part of the benefits of living in a ski resort town, is that the local school takes them to the slope every Friday for ski instruction. Our oldest is quite excited.

In other news...

It is still snowing. We are about two feet deep and holding for now, in our yard. Cloudcroft has been hammered and is sitting under about 3 feet of the stuff. All of it piled on the 3 feet from two days ago. It is awful for travel, but great for skiing. All the trails are currently open.

More news...

In a totally unexpected development, the patriarch of our little family has broken another bone. This time it is a rib. Ouch!

Snow, Snow, and More Snow...

It just seems to keep on snowing here on our mountain. We have lived here for several years, and this is by far the snowiest we have seen it. We have literally gotten pounded by snow every 3 to 5 days since the end of September. The snow in our yard almost melted totally off just once, and it promptly snowed again later that night.

A little further up the mountain, they are measuring their daily snow in feet, and not inches like we have become accustomed to over the last few years.

All this snow should make for a really green spring when it finally stops, say around late May, if the past winters are any example. That is a whole 8 months with snow in them.

And they say New Mexico is a desert.

The Raccoons must be Starving...

The night before last, our local Raccoon posse decided to invade our rooster pen. It did not go as planned. Even though carnage and death was involved, it was funny to see those three roosters open a can of destruction on the raccoons.

We stopped it and scared off those furry little marauders.

Unfortunately, they came back later on and snatched one of our meanest roosters. It is actually a mixed blessing. We are sort of glad he is gone, but sad he went the way he did.

Taking the Rakes Skating...

We took our two boys, aged 10 and 6 ice skating today. Wouldn't you know, the first thing that my oldest boy did was use his man skills and pick up a girl. They skated around hand in hand for a while, then dissappeared to go build snow forts together. Suffice to say, we left shortly afterwards.

When your ten year old dissappears in the woods with a girl, it is time to go.