“When hinges creak in doorless chambers, and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls. Whenever candle lights flicker where the air is deathly still — that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight!” That is the beginning narration in Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion ride; did you recognize it? It wasn’t until I was in my 30’s that I started being able to go through the ride with my eyes open… I still have difficulties – it’s scary! Well, we don’t have much cause to be scared here, unless it has to do with rattle snakes, scorpions, or some spiders -the three scary s’s – but I thought I should at least try for a Halloween themed post today. Shall we take a quick tour of the halloween farm? “There are several prominent ghosts who have retired here from creepy old crypts all over the world. Actually, we have 999 happy haunts here — but there’s room for 1,000. Any volunteers? (Bwahahahaha) If you insist on lagging behind, you may not need to volunteer. And now, a carriage approaches to take you into the boundless realm of the supernatural.Take your loved ones by the hand, please, and kindly watch your step.”
Ok – so we don’t have a carriage, nor even a hay ride to take you on our tour today, but we’ll go for a quick walk through the farm. Our first stop will be at the brooder side of the coop. The littles have continued to get used to being out and, at night, they have found they enjoy congregating on the higher roosts. They are at about our eye level, which can be unnerving, but there really isn’t any need to worry – unless their eyes begin glowing… then you better run! OH NO! Maybe I better go check on Sue, just to make sure she got out of there intact! Zombie chickens can be tough to deal with.
OK, don’t worry everyone – she’s safe. Yesterday, though, she took this mysterious photo. Sue came back from the goats to find the wheelbarrow, on it’s own down the path, next to two trees with newly placed mulch around them. What was the mulch covering, I wonder, and who was moving the mulch with the wheelbarrow? Was it old man Hatfield getting the trees ready for impending rain? I certainly hope he didn’t follow me here from Ramona (we lived by Hatfield creek and my dad used to regale us with ghost stories of Old Man Hatfield). The only thing I know for sure is that it wasn’t me!
Finally, we do have spooky noises on the farm at night. The wind howls right along with the coyotes some nights, and works hard at finding its way into the house and causing chills when you least expect them. The coyotes wander the neighborhood crying out their peculiarly lonesome song into the wee hours of the morning. We also have owls that pay us a visit. Sometimes they are screeching, sometimes hoo-hooing; sometimes flying by in deathly silence; hunting the small creatures that only think they are safe in the darkness. We do have a a night visitor that enjoys sitting on the dead oak tree and looking 
over the depression during the twilight hour right after sunset. He – or she – is always eerily quiet. It watches. You know, you can join us at any time to experience these events for yourself. “Make final arrangements now! We’ve been dying to have you…” Until then, as always~
Thanks for reading! and Happy Halloween.
Today’s Weather: Rather windy and cold. High today was only 66° and with the wind blowing, it felt colder. Currently, 6:11 p.m., it is 56° and clear. Overnight low is looking to be around 36° – that’s starting to get quite cold for us. It may be warming up slightly throughout the week. Our sunrise was at 6:35 and sunset at 5:30.
Egg Report: Tuesday – zero goose, zero duck, 21 chicken. Wednesday – zero goose, 1 duck, 20 chicken.
Wing and a Prayer 