Though the weeding is killing me, our garden is starting to look a bit more cheerful, which makes it so worthwhile. Here's what is currently in bloom:

According to a recent article in The Wichita Eagle, this has been an unusually good year for wildflowers due to the long cold winter and then immediate summer-like (hot!) weather. We seem to have skipped spring altogether, but I won't complain since the flowers have been so beautiful and prolific this year. Here's what's been blooming around our house this past week or so:

On Monday we picked up our two newest pets ~ miniature twin wether lambs Caelan and Colby. Born on March 12th, they're a Mini Cheviot/Babydoll Southdown cross, so will remain much smaller than traditional breeds. They're rather shy, but oh-so-adorable!

South Down sheep originated in the South Down hills of Sussex County, England and are typically raised for their wool. Miniature Cheviots hail from the Cheviot Hills country that form the border between England and Scotland; they'e an extremely hardy breed, also raised for wool.

This was our happy little chicken yard, as of only Monday. Early Tuesday morning, a large feral tomcat managed to break through the *double* layer of chicken wire on the baby chicks' temporary coop and slaughter 18 of the 21 birds. He didn't eat them, but was apparently killing for sport. We also lost a baby goose to this cat, which has left our surviving goose very sad indeed.

Needless to say, I've been in shock all week. I had no idea a cat would have the will, intelligence, and strength to do such a thing! We had some truly beautiful babies, including a number of Polish chicks (only one of whom survived), so we're all quite disapointed. We'd never planned on keeping all 21 birds, figuring half or so might be roosters, but this was tragic. Eleven chickens remain.

A few of the 30+ roses we've planted this spring are finally in bloom! Here's what's blooming at the moment: