our first farm animals

We moved in on a Saturday in August. Things were not in the best shape out here - lots of dirty, even more junk/trash/stuff left behind, Ashton and his moving gang getting stuck on the bridge and showing up an hour late while people from our new ward sat on the floor waiting to help us move in. It was all sort of awful, especially after I spent so much time beautifying our little Fernstead home and getting every nook and cranny clean and shiny for the new owners - I just figured that was expected when you sell a house, but I was proven wrong!

I had to edit my post to add the dishwasher! They left it with DIRTY DISHES. It was the most disgusting thing I have ever experienced. barf. Please, when you do walkthroughs of a new house, open that dishwasher and do not make the same mistake as we did!

I am forever grateful for the men, boys, and a lady who came to help us move and just chilled with me while we waited for the moving stuff to show up. Also, so grateful for our Fort Smith friends who loaded the moving truck while also lending their own trucks and trailers to get it all in in one move. 

We moved to our property with two animals - a Rooney's goldfish, Goldeen, and our ten year old english bulldog, Thor. We knew we wanted animals eventually, but guess what - we got some as soon as we moved in!

Three kittens, a beehive much too small for the amount of bees in the hive, and 6 guineas - one who was sitting on some eggs.

Marlowe and Rosie meeting for the first time.

The broody guinea was on her nest in the left corner, behind that little wooden crate. Not visible just from the front.

We didn't realize the guinea was there as our realtor and I were checking out the hive. She spotted her and we both about screamed.

I had never seen guineas prior to moving here. They are odd birds who like to make lots of noise! They aren't everyone's cup of tea, but for the most part, I think they are hilarious and I sort of love them. They have, dare I say it, the ugliest faces, BUT the most beautiful polkadot plumage I have ever seen. Also, they eat ticks and other pests - which makes them invaluable!

Now, that goldfish we moved with? She disappeared the day we moved. We transported her in a big orange bucket and at some point, while none of us were at the house, she got out. I checked everywhere around the bucket - down the kitchen sink, under counters, all the floor - never found her. It was just Goldeen and Thor for no more than two hours. So... I have an idea of what might have happened, but I will let you create your own theories.