October surprise . . . .

This post is not intended as the surprise, although some of you may be surprised that I'm finally writing in this space again....


October in our corner of the prairie has been full of surprises:

The tundra swans arrived at the Des Lacs Lakes near Kenmare.

Tomatoes (that survived the one 24-degree night)
are still thriving...

...and tasting delicious.

Mild temperatures and little frost
have encouraged the columbine to bud out again.

A new bleeding heart plant thinks it's spring,

And someone disappeared to make a nest.

Then she brought the chicks home.

Curious onlookers are not welcome.

Lay off, Leghorn....

Finally, everybody is tucked in where they're safe, under Mama.

Happy October!

You can read more about this little surprise here. 

So much for shutting down the barn for winter--we have a nursery now.  Mama and chicks are doing fine in their own pen, abundant clean straw and plenty of feed.  Last night, she called them out from under her wings to show me.

Winter might be a little more lively in our barn this year, with seven juvenile turkeys running the roost.

And this hen has certainly saved herself from the Thanksgiving table....

So, what surprises has October shared with you?