Goes to eleven

The goats are definitely feeling boxed in, and I 'll open that back door for them once the sun shines AND the wind dies down AND it's above freezing at the same time. I don't want much. The doeling from last year is wired for sound, and at feeding time she gets so frantic bouncing around the pen that her mother and sister start pasting her every time she momentarily flies into range. Sometimes they hit her and she hits me and it's like dominoes, but less artistic.
   What a day today was! Kind of cool out, but the sky was a rich, clear blue. And the sun melted snow wherever it hit. Reports from neighbors tell me that everyone is having the best sap runs they can ever remember. The weather forecast has this freezing/thawing thing going on for a bit, so sugar makers will be easy to spot by the dark circles under their eyes. For me, alas, it means the band won't be practicing Monday night, because three out of four will be collecting and boiling. I haven't done sugaring in years, but rely on the kindness of friends for syrup. Works pretty well.
   The chickens once again distinguished themselves by laying 11 eggs. This is significant, because there are eleven hens and so they all get a gold star. I've also promised them a trip to Hawaii. This may seem extravagant, seeing as they're only chickens. But it's really not. For one thing, because they're chickens, they have pretty low expectations of life. So for them Hawaii could mean, "Oh, boy! He's going to open the pop hole so we can go outside! Welcome to Hawaii!" Also, they don't seem to understand anything I say. So I can promise them pretty much anything, and they still lay eggs. I think it's a fair arrangement.