Tag: Chickens

Here Comes the Sun



Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right




Star magnolia tree in our side yard, 
a  mother’s day gift from my daughter
a few years back 💗
 We are rejoicing in the reappearance of the sun.  Temps are still on the chilly side.. but we have green. We have warmth, we have that golden glow in the sky.  Amen.

The chickens are sun and dust bathing again…
The horses grazing… 
   We have a little side deck off the kitchen sliders – the wood heats up when the sun is out and ooh, does it feel good to lay out there, back pressed to the wood, soaking up the rays – which we did quite a bit of yesterday, me and the dogs, and for ten mintues, even the husband.

   The grass is greening up, the horses are shedding their winter coats and birds are nest building with some of that horse hair.   Egg laying has commenced.

Purple finch eggs behind our porch lantern
 The forsythia is just beginning to bloom, weeks late,  ever so hesitantly – and daffodils that are not planted in the shade are blooming.  The others still need convincing.    The seeds my guys planted are out in the little greenhouse sprouting away, too soon to safely live out in the garden plot, so we wait.   These below are purple peppers I ordered from Bakers Heirloom Seed Co.  I look forward to tasting this new-to-me variety  come summer.

  I was never overly fond of the Bush Family, but I have certainly admired Barbara Bush for her strength and tenacity,  dedication to literacy of our children,  her devotion to her family and to the grace and dignity she brought to her position over the years.  May she rest in peace –

      Let me tell ya – we can laugh about the following little ditty… but it’s absolutely true up here in this house.

  Sharing this Good-For-You meal found in Family Circle, perfect for Spring and Summer – 
Zucchini Noodles with Asparagus, Peas and Bacon 

  • 1/2 pound asparagus
  • 1 yellow pepper, seeded
  • 8 ounces bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 pounds spiralized zucchini
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 large cloves garlic, grated
  • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
  • 1/4 cup basil, very thinly sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. 1Trim woody ends from asparagus and peel bottom 2 inches if needed; slice on the bias into 1/4-inch-thick pieces, leaving tips intact. Cut pepper lengthwise into 8 pieces, then slice crosswise into 1/4-inch strips.
  2. 2Heat a large stainless skillet over medium. Add bacon and cook until crispy, 8 to 9 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Pour off bacon fat, then return 2 tbsp fat to skillet.
  3. 3Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium and cook zucchini and 1/4 tsp salt, covered, until crisp-tender, 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain zucchini.
  4. 4Add yellow pepper to bacon fat; cook 1 minute. Add asparagus; cook 1 minute more. Sprinkle vegetables with flour and cook 30 seconds, stirring well.
  5. 5Stir in milk and garlic. Add peas and half each of the bacon and basil. Cook until sauce thickens, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  6. 6Add zucchini, 1/4 tsp salt and the black pepper, and toss to coat. Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with remaining basil and bacon. Serve immediately.
  7.   

  9.           Have a good day, all –  and thank you for stopping by. 

The care and keeping of souls

     Do animals have “souls”?   Technically, people and animals consist of the working parts of the body and the powerful mind. I’ve always marveled at what makes us  the essence of who we are,  though.  What gives us emotions and a conscience, or lack of one?  Is it the soul?  If you’re religious and depending on who interprets it, the Bible implies all living creatures have souls.  Heaven isn’t given an absolutely clear description, for how can anyone know it’s truth until they have passed on…  but in the bible, animals are mentioned as present in the afterlife.  For me, Heaven would be no place to be if there were no animals.  Many would argue Jesus didn’t die on the cross for the souls of the animals.  I say many animals are more loyal, loving and giving and worthy than some people walking this earth. Animals have been making survival possible for us humans in so many ways for all the years humans have existed, whether working in the fields, as food, as companionship, transportation and protection.  …. seems to me only fitting that a kind and loving God would feel they deserve the afterlife, too.   

      I have loved and taken care of animals since I was old enough to pet the family dog.  As a child, having the restraints of living in a suburb,  at various times I managed to tend to a pigeon, a goat, our dogs, our cats, a few parakeets, some fancy silk mice, a hamster or two.  My parents allowed what was reasonable at our residence but I knew as an adult I wanted to be able to do much more.  The logical career choice for a kid such as myself  would be  veterinarian. It was indeed listed on any school papers where we chose what we’d like to be when we grow up.  That all changed when I had to take one of our cats to the vet to remove bee bee’s someone had shot into her hind legs.  I tried staying with them for the procedure but the excising made me nauseous and woozy.            Onward! 

     I landed in Connecticut at the age of 19 with an old abandoned race horse that I adopted on Staten Island. He was around 28 at the time and had two more good years in a pasture on my Aunt’s horse farm just up the road from This Old House.  From there,  after college and while working in a law firm I met and married my husband and together  we built our first small horse farm and our family.  We currently live on our third farm, so I’ve been taking care of horses on a daily basis for the past 30-plus years. 

     While living on a farm can seen romantic, it’s a heck of a lot of work and dedication to something you love. Every single day, without exception, regardless of weather,  the responsibility demands that you get up and out in the morning to feed and water the animals.  Their living quarters needs to be mucked and fresh bedding laid down.  They are turned out into pastures if they’re lucky or at the very least, paddocks.  Then, whatever you’ve got going on during the day, you need to return to feed them again in the evening, refresh waters if needed, check for any cuts, scrapes, etc.   Horses need grooming, regular trims or shoeing from a farrier, they need exercise. It’s a lot to take on and requires real dedication.. and love! 

   We have dogs and used to have cats too, most of you are familiar with their necessary care.  We’ve also got a coop full of chickens, something I decided to set up here about 7 years ago.  Chickens aren’t as much work as the horses, but they still require daily care. Their feed needs to be replenished, their water cleaned out and refreshed. I clean out the coop about once a week, unlike the horses daily stall cleaning.  Their chicken yard needs to be raked to stay fairly sanitary – no easy feat with chickens, they are messy.   I let them out to free range occasionally, but not always. Coyotes and hawks  are a big problem around here.  

   Often I’m asked by family and friends… aren’t you tired of having to do all that work all the time? Every. Single. Day?   The answer is complicated.  





 Yes.. there are days when I really don’t want to trudge up the muddy or snowy or frozen hill in the early morning hours to tend the horses.  There are cold winter nights when I don’t want to leave the warmth of the fire or the family holiday gathering to bring in and  feed the animals.  Having fibromyalgia means there are days when every muscle in my body aches and the last thing I feel like doing is mucking those stalls, lugging those water buckets, throwing that hay.  But these animals I have here on this farm have taken care of us over the years.  They have been my therapy in troubled times, they have been dependable, sturdy souls who did what we asked of them, and sometimes that was a heck of a lot.  We are all middle middle aged now, the horses and myself.  They deserve to be cared for properly, they earned it.  

     If you think animals don’t have emotions, then you’ve never really spent time or developed a relationship with one.  Do you define intelligence as the indicator of the presence of a soul?  It’s proven Dolphins have a language they use to communicate with each other.  Dogs can be taught an amazing array of communicating and they certainly display emotions such as happy, sad, frightened, lonely,  jealousy, exuberance, pain, even loss.  Gorillas have learned sign language to communicate with humans, and that they do.  These are just some example of what I believe are evidence that animals have souls, whatever that may mean. 

I call our little crew the geriatric ward now.. 

Coady and Lacey are mini horses, both have been used as therapy horses in nursing homes, rehab facilities, back in the day.   Lacey was a driving horse for myself and a good friend for years as well. Many a mile did we cover in our little carts, Lacey at the helm taking us through the meadows and woods.  The photo below was taken at a carriage driving demonstration. Most days our attire was tee shirts and jeans.  We’re both a little chubbier now. 


    

 Lacey is aging well, but Coady has cushings disease.  He requires a daily pill to help manage the symptoms.



    
    Opie is my Steady Eddie.  He came to us at 8 years of age and is now 21 years old.  We’ve gone on many a trail ride, and when the going gets rough – like a big scary bridge to cross or a stream to get through, we can count on Opie to be the first to walk across and let the other horses know it’s OK to move forward.  He can be a little stinker, not wanting to work more than he has to, but he’s always honest and for the most part, predictable. I can put the tiniest babe in the saddle and walk them around the ring knowing he’ll keep his head down and just do his job.  He’s aging well, except for an eye condition that occasionally requires two sets of ointments to clear the cloudy. 



 Max, my daughters horse, is another Steady Eddie – with quite the accomplishments under his belt.  He didn’t come to us until he was 18 years of age.. having already traveled parts of the country as a show horse for several other owners.  K had three great show years with him and then he colicked, bad.  We opted for surgery to save him and he did survive the ordeal, but it was clear retirement was the best thing for him.  So, we brought him home to recover and enjoy the good life here on the farm.



Since his surgery Max has trouble keeping weight on, so we keep him warm in winter and feed him plenty of good quality feed and hay and he grazes in the fields during the day.   It’s the least we can do for all he has given us over the years and continues in his light work on trails and in the ring. 




  The girls in the coop aren’t much trouble, and the fresh eggs they provide are wonderful. If you’ve never had fresh eggs off the farm, you’re missing something. Go seek them out and taste the difference for yourself. Right now, in the middle of winter! go figure… some of mine are molting.  I have a cozy coop heater in their hen house, so they are able to stay warm when the temps get real low and their water doesn’t freeze. 




  My little pack of dogs… they are my best buddies. They follow me around the house throughout the day, and if I’m up at the barn and they aren’t outside in the dog yard watching me work, they wait for me to return at the side door.  When I’m working at the computer, they are all around my feet.  If I’m in the kitchen, they lay in the sun spots at the sliders and listen for the sound of wrappers crinkling or refridge door opening or treat jar cover clanking.  They mope when we are away on a mini vacation (which isn’t often… because FARM) and they rejoice when we return even from a half hour errand.  They bicker among themselves but never harm each other, and are often found snoozing together  in a tight little circle. 







Ben, the largest by far, is not the boss.  No, the littlest of them all calls the shots.  That would be the white fluff, Bailey. 

 Miss Sally is my most recent rescue.  As she as matured her front legs have become extremely twisted.  It is a deformity, a result of either some very poor breeding or just crap luck. She manages well, runs like the wind and loves to go for walks.  But when sitting or standing still, her little front legs constantly give out so that she is usually laying down rather than sitting or standing.  The vet assures me she’s not in pain, it’s more painful for us to see than for her to live with.  For now, at least, that appears to be the case. 



     Frasier is a momma’s boy – he’s very jealous when I pay attention to any other creature,  his most favorite place to be is on my lap, and he is fiercely protective of me, even more so than the dane, Ben.  He gives me this face when I leave on errands….


 He is very definitely my best bud. 





     So, would I let the horses down at this stage of the game and try to dump them off at an auction or find that ever elusive “retirement” home and hope someone else won’t use then and abuse them in a way that is so undeserving of all the service they have provided us?  Nope – it’s not an option.  This geriatric crew is here to stay and as long as I’m able, I will trudge up the hill and out to the coop and tend the little  chicken flock and dog pack I have here because I love them all dearly, they are family.  I wish all people who took on the responsibility of a pet or livestock would understand and honor the responsibility and go the distance in caring for them throughout their life or at the very least, hand them off to someone who will. 

   Do these animals have souls despite the fact that their intelligence doesn’t match our own (and with some people I question that very thing) ?  Their soul is as real as that of any human if you ask me.  If there are no animals in heaven, then heaven is not place for me.  

Till soon, friends – 




Blossoming

 New England has seen one wet Spring so far… everything’s pretty soggy ’round here.  The leaves are beginning to pop and pollen would coat everything right about now if it weren’t so rainy.  The grass is a vibrant green and the horses are loving the pastures… 

 My tulips are blooming in the border gardens and the peach trees are just bursting… 

 The vegetable garden beds so far have yielded an abundant weed crop… and the 500 onions are coming along…   we’ve got some work to do out there. 
 The chicks were moved out to the garage a few weeks ago, and now reside in their own little section of the Egg Plant.  There is bird mesh separating them from the big girls until they are about the same size – approx five months old.  The Mr. built a small make-shift coop for them so they are protected at night.  It’s basically a big plywood box with a door and holes in it.  
Amazing how fast chicks grow – this little girl (Florence) is  a Dark Brahma, the feathers on her feet are adorable.  
 I’ve been letting the big girls out to free range when I’m out there cleaning… it’s so good for them but the coyote and hawk population around here makes it treacherous. 
 And because I gotta be me,  let’s talk about this unpleasant subject for just a moment….  how’bout that interview 45 gave Reuters yesterday in regard to his first 100 days?….   I said from the very beginning…. I don’t think he wants the job!  (And I really didn’t think he’d get it)…. Why would a man of his temperament want all the restraints the POTUS position will bring to his life?  He would hate it!…. 
So I have to tell you… I do get just a little satisfaction from reading this yesterday… 
*sigh.    He’s gotta be him, too. 

New Chick Hut and holy twitter storm, Batman

 Today I ran around like-a-chicken-without-it’s-head  looking for a new box to house the chicks in on our summer porch.  They’re growing like weeds!…  First I  stopped in the local hardware store – nothing big enough but they let me look through the dumpster anyway.  Much appreciated.   Then I headed over to Stop and Shop and asked the grocery store clerk if they might have a box from old deliveries I could buy or take off their hands.  Turns out they recycle all boxes  at 7 a.m. every morning, where they are all crushed in a compactor.  So, If I want to get there at 6:30-ish a.m. tomorrow I could get a big box from them.   I appreciated the tip,  put that feather under my cap and moved on. Next was Ocean State Job Lot.  Now.. have you ever been to one of those?  Everywhere you look, and I mean everywhere you LOOK!!!… are a hundred boxes of varying sizes, mostly filled with “stuff” they are trying to sell, and some others that are randomly scattered and waiting for a purpose .. or something.  I thought – cinch! I can get one here for sure, right?  
So I tap on the shoulder of one salesperson and ask politely if I could have one of their many thousands of boxes for  chick rearing purposes.  
She said “oh nooo, we don’t sell our boxes, we recycle them.”  
 Me-   Oh, that’s great!  and my purpose would be a recycling of sorts, no?  Plus, I am more than happy to PAY you for a big box, I don’t care how beat up it is.  Can I do that?  PAY you for one of the ones I see sitting around?”   
 “No”… she says… “We really don’t give them to anyone, ever.”  
“What about that one over there, it’s really beat up and looks like you’ll be throwing it out soon, I can tape it back together and use it, would that one be OK?”.  
 “No. We use them all”.   
Can I talk to your manager?  Maybe He or she would be OK with me buying just one.. for my chicks. 
Manager is called – but doesn’t come to see me. The message is relayed.. “We recycle our boxes, we don’t give them away or sell them.. to anyone for any reason.”
Now it might appear right here that I think I’m something special and for ME they should make the exception.  I’m really not thinking along those lines, honestly.   No.. as I’m standing in that Job Lot looking at about 1,000 boxes, some full, some half empty, a whole f*ing stack of them in the middle isle EMPTY – I’m thinking it’s overkill to stick to your guns and not  let a person buy a F-ING USED UP BOX for her baby chicks. 
But.. sometimes you just gotta let it go.. so I went. 
Next stop was our trusty Appliance salesman who only had top and bottomless boxes last time I stopped in.  This time he had one that was indeed bottomless, BUT..  at this point I am more than willing to improvise. 
And Improvise I did…

 My old Egg Plant sign has withered away, so I put a new one up yesterday… just some stuff I found on sale at Michaels.  (love that store).  Now I may be crafty, but patient I am not.  So this will need to be touched up a bit.. letters crooked, splattered paint around the edges.  A job for another day…
    That about covers my egg-sellent  adventures for the day… 
 Meanwhile.. back in The House…  Agent Orange is twittering so fast as the FBI discusses lack of wire tap findings and possible R*ssia connections I’m surprised his fingers haven’t fallen off yet. 
Can we all agree it’s really childish and very un-world leader like to tweet horrific accusations with no evidence to back them because you saw it on Fox News? 
Can we all agree Russia wants: our relationship with our allies compromised…check
NATO undermined…check
Our world wide respect shaken…check …..
I will say it again- I love my country. I want to respect our leader. I think respect is earned and I think respect for the powerful office he holds is his responsibility first and foremost. I honestly believe not one single person on my friend list would conduct themselves the way 45 does if placed in that position, not one. Forget the news, forget policy, what does your conscience tell you. .. what does the decency you were raised with tell you.

*sigh

Blizzard Stella and other Random Ramblings

I woke up early this morning, grabbed a cup’a coffee and headed out into the Tundra-that-was-not, Blizzard Stella as they are calling it ( Same name I gave our cottage – how funny is that!)  to feed the horses, rabbits and chickens.  T’is true the predicted winter blizzard has just begun, and maybe I’m pushing it a little, but I don’t see this as becoming a major storm.  Already the snow fall prediction has dropped.  Just hoping the wind doesn’t pick up dramatically. 
 The horses are in for the day with clean bedding, hay and water and their breakfast grain. 
Same goes for the chickens out in the coop – and the chicks on my porch are waiting for their morning treat of  hardboiled egg mashed for their convenience.  No, this is not cannibalism. Egg Yolk is the nourishment a chick feeds from while developing in the eggshell. 
Notice the new feathers, which have sprouted practically overnight – 
 Saw this kitchen on FB – love everything about it. 
 I’m not going to spoil my day by bringing up the Orange Scream and those who continue to lie and twist and contort facts versus fiction. No… instead I will share with you a delicious lemon loaf recipe I made the other day. Apparently Starbucks has an enviable Lemon Loaf recipe.  I don’t go there because I’m probably one of the few on the planet who doesn’t like Starbucks coffee – too bitter.. or something.   Anyway…this recipe is delicious if you love lemon – give it a try! 
Better Than Starbucks Lemon Loaf

Print
If you like Starbucks Lemon Loaf, then you’ll love this moist, delicious Lemon cake! This easy to make recipe is loaded with delicious lemon flavor, and topped with an amazing lemon frosting.
Author: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Serves: 10
Ingredients
  • 1½ c. flour
  • 1 (3.4 oz.) package, instant Lemon pudding mix
  • ½ tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. baking soda
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 c. sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. butter, softened
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 tsp. lemon extract
  • â…“ c. fresh lemon juice
  • ½ c. oil
  • ¾ c. plain Greek yogurt
  • zest of one lemon
  • Frosting:
  • 3 Tbsp. Butter, soft but not melted
  • 1½ c. powdered sugar
  • 3 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. lemon extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of a 5 x 9″ loaf pan with a piece of waxed paper. (With a pencil, trace the bottom of the pan on a piece of waxed paper and cut out with scissors.) Spray the pan, and waxed paper with non-stick baking spray. Set aside.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, pudding mix, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With a stand or hand mixer, combine the eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla, lemon extract, lemon juice, oil and yogurt. Mix until evenly combined. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the lemon zest, and mix until just combined. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 55 minutes, or until center is fully set, and a toothpick inserted comes out crumb free.
  3. After baking, let cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes. Run a knife around the sides of the pan, invert and remove from the pan, removing the waxed paper from the bottom. Cool completely on a cooling rack.
  4. For the frosting: Combine the butter, lemon juice and lemon extract with hand or stand mixer. Gradually add the powdered sugar, and beat until smooth and creamy. Evenly spread the frosting over the top of the loaf. Refrigerate to let frosting set completely before slicing. Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container.

Bare wood and the Egg Plant

   Stella’s floors are sanded and awaiting a final coat of stain/satin finish – and then… and THEN!  when the water is turned back on in April on the island (not really an island as it’s attached by land but it’s called that for some reason) … I get to furnish with all those finds I’ve been sharing with you here and decorate!  I’m also looking forward to working out in the little garden areas surrounding the cottage. 
      After all that joyous springlike weather, today we’ve got snow, with really cold temps on the horizon and more snow, up to a foot in the coming week.  Bleh. The dogs and I mope around the house on days like this –  I’ll be on the computer most of the day working on two editing projects for our town.

  The horses are reblanketed, K and I brought more hay down from the back barn before the snow.

 The chickens who live out in the coop have their heat lamp on once again.  As for the littles, they’re doing well – all have survived the first week of chickdom and that’s a good thing. 

 Speaking of the outdoor chicken coop… for the past few days the guys have been renovating it to accommodate the new girls once they’re old enough to join the others.  I call this the Egg Plant.  The sign I made for it originally rotted with rain, I’ll have to make new one. 
Pepper, Ethel, Rose, Ruby and Star, among others,  stood around my feet when I first let them out into the newly wired section clucking away, saying.. OMGsomethingNEWwhatisTHISawesomenessBUTisitSafewheresthetreats,Cheeriosmaybe? 
I’m pretty sure by the cluster of clucks. 

Chairs and Chicks and Checks and Balances

  I must confess I did not have a personal caning experience with the Western Union Operator stools we picked up recently.  Nope. I chickened out.  When we took a closer look, it was possible I could really screw up the wood when trying to get the old embedded caning out of the seat .  We found a furniture doctor in a nearby town that does caning and he did a great job.  I just need to use some sort of treatment oil to keep the caning supple – tung oil is recommended or a furniture polish with high oil content.

  Have you ever marveled at how birds develop so quickly from egg to flyaway?  The typical wild bird takes about 21 days from the time the egg is laid in the nest till they are feathered enough to fly away from the nest. That time period does vary  among species, but it’s an insane growth rate, don’t you think?

 That’s K discussing Domestic Policy with Emmeline.

 As for chickens –  they are considered mature between the ages of 16 and 20 weeks.   If you’ve experienced raising chicks, you know that their growth rate is amazing.  The changes are witnessed daily.  When they were day old chicks they had no wing feathers – if you look closely, just five days later, look at their wings –

  I’m happy to report that Nora, Florence, Emmeline, Elizabeth, Rosa and Coco are doing well.  I give them one mashed egg yolk daily with a little grit mixed in, plus they get medicated chick feed and plenty of clean water.  A Heat lamp is necessary at this stage but as they mature the heat source is slowly raised and then removed before they move out to the coop.

   I’m safely guessing that whether you are a supporter of the current administration or as offended as I am by them, you’re as disgusted with all the turmoil in the news regardless.  When Washington is in total chaos, we all look like fools and I really, really hate that.  We as a nation are collectively so much more than that circus.  It does not represent We The People and yet we all will be held accountable.

   Here’s a thought – All this Russia-gate crap, the denials, the accusations, all of it from both sides of the proverbial isle…..  I don’t know if it holds any water. But…. why  initially omit or lie about meetings, why deny Russian interference in our election process which was proven and even Agent Orange admits occurred now…  Why not just release your damned tax returns so that all those who are using that as a reason they don’t trust you  and believe you have Russian ties can be set to rights by your proven innocence?  Isn’t that what Obama did for the Orange Scream when he accused him of not being born in America?   When you are accused, you provide proof of innocence.  When you refuse… who wouldn’t draw the conclusion you’re hiding something?..only natural, and so easy to set the record straight.

   As for accusing the previous POTUS for illegally wiretapping your private residence before your election ON YOUR TWITTER ACCOUNT, and without providing any evidence, well.. that kind of behavior is dangerous, reckless.  This man is everyone’s President – at the very least he owes the larger half that did not vote for him behavior and actions that will give us some sort of  ability to be able to trust him. So far, he’s done nothing, has not provided a thread we can swing from in an effort to weave a fabric we can all respect regardless of policy views.  Any man in the Presidential position owes that to all the people of this country.  Ain’t happen’n from what I can see.

   I have friends who voted for Agent Orange and for varying reasons.  I still respect them, regardless because I understand and commiserate with their gripes about our government.  The ones I don’t respect are those who will defend absolutely every single action of this new administration, no matter how intolerable it would be if it were anyone else.  First, lets kill all the hypocrisy.

Chick Day!

   Currently I have 13 chickens in my coop.  I’m guessing about six of them no longer lay eggs due to age.  Some folks would get rid of them at this point, send them off to auction in a crate or give them to a neighbor who uses them for chicken broth.  (gah!).   My girls are retired here on the farm and will live out their golden years in peace.   There will never be a chicken in every pot on my watch! 
  Now, that coop is full.  It’s a ten chicken coop and I have 13 living in there – they’re happy enough, but space is very limited.  The Mr. has been itching to do something, as if Stellas resurrection weren’t enough, right?  But that’s OK, because my chicken coop is getting an overhaul to accomodate more chicks.  He feels the farm needs to function more like a farm, therefore more young chickens need to replace the older girls in the workforce around here.  He did mention a fella who wanted my aging hens for his chicken broth – but then he tucked that crazy back in and all I had to do was lift a brow. 
  Anyway… the boys will be here this weekend ripping out some of the coop to expand it enough to house my new crew. 
  So you know when I heard that plan today, what I immediately went out and accomplished  after barn and coop cleanup chores and before 11 a.m, right?  Because lets not leave any room for someone to change their mind on this thing. 

 Meet Rosa,  Elizabeth, Emmeline, Mary, Nora and Coco.  If one of you guesses the origin of all of those names correct, I’ve got a prize for you.  And if no one guesses the origin of those names, but gave it a good try and got SOME,  you’re the winner – of not a chicken dinner.

Snow and Thunder

    Last night’s sky…. just beautiful… 
 No sooner did I brag about the mild winter we were having when a good ole nor’easter blew in. I woke up this morning, fed the dogs, sat down to read e-mails with nothing happening outside my windows. Half hour later there was an inch on the ground already as I went out to feed the animals.
The flood light is on in the henhouse, it throws enough heat to keep them cozy and the water from freezing. 
The horses were fed, watered and given plenty of hay to keep them busy, they’re closed in while
the wind is blowing.  And boy is it blowing. 

This was 6 am-ish.  The scene is much different already….

I’ve got a call in to the bird feeder repairman….. half the roof is sitting in the snow. 
He’s out plowing and wasn’t amused. 
 We are actually experiencing thunder during this storm. Such a bizarre thing to occur with snow – sounds like someone’s bowling upstairs.  Say a little prayer for my boys to come home safe.  Oh and don’t I know the hypocrisy of someone asking for prayer when they aren’t religious.  I believe being spiritual and being religious don’t have to occupy the same space to be valid, how’s that for an answer.  


I drafted a letter to the President and made it a public post on FB just incase – here’s what I would love for him to read. 
Dear Mr. President (and mouthpiece Spicer) 

Your daughter knows the truth – ask her! Nordstrom notified her last January that her lines weren’t performing well.  It’s a smart business move to cut losses, won’t you agree?  Her products are still available in their stores though, she wasn’t Banned.  Believe it or not, it’s not about you.  As the so-called “Jobs President”,  you are contradicting yourself by maligning and attempting to topple a large American company for your own purposes.


  I want to stand by my President. I have respect for the highest office in the land. I believe in America and I love my Country.  If you want to stop seeing fake news, if you want the larger half of the Country to stop the negativity and rally on your behalf and ours – you really have to stop the daily lies – the little lies, the big lies, the fake news you and your cohorts perpetuate daily.  I’m tired of the political angst, the upheaval of everything, the frustrated posts on FB and blogs.   I’ve been looking for the clearing in the storm, a reason to have hope… but you keep lying and tweeting ridiculous rants. So juvenile for the leader of this great nation. 

Please – stop the lies and the tantrums and the unethical behavior.  Do that if there’s an ounce of you that gives a damn about the rest of us.  You work for us now, we don’t work for you.  I’m really trying to find a reason to believe in the President of My United States, won’t you please rise to the integrity of the office you were elected so that we ALL can move on. 

Sincerely – 






 Heading back out into the tundra to shovel the dog run for the second time.  Till soon, friends…

Be the Light

        Yesterday after spending hours at the computer editing for our local publication,  I called the Mr. and said – What do we need for Stella, I want to get out of the house for a while.   As it happens,  we need  light fixtures.  Not my favorite chore.  Why?  Because THE VOLLEY.    You see.. even though I’m left with the relatively simple instructions to  get a  single sconce bathroom light for over the sink, a work area light for over that whole kitchen area that has no light needs five foot chain, and get a cheap paddle fan with light kit… and he clearly states pick whatever you think will look good there….. it never happens that way.
     Having been married to a builder for roughly 29 years, and he’ll agree with me the word roughly applies, we’ve traveled down this road many times, whether it was our own house or someone elses.  (where is the comma there, I’m not even gonna look it up, and I call myself an editor).   
      I go to the shop and take a look around. I see what I think will be perfect and sit down with the shop owner to discuss price and suitability for the space that will require the light. I even bring pictures of the work spaces because I’m that kind of special.  We get most of the way through, and then of course….. there’s a question I can’t answer knowing for certain I gave the right information.  I have to make the call into the powers that be.  That would be He.   
        He provides the answer.. and then says the words I knew were coming….
  but what is this for exactly.. let me see what you’re picking.  
 My nose starts to twitch as I send the requested photo from my phone.  The texting ensues… 
Him:  No.  Too contemporary.
Me: What? This is an antique replica. 
Him:  It probably cost more than the entire cottage! Too nice! What else… 
Me:  Ok how about this… 
Him:  That’s an exterior light fixture, this is for inside.
Me: Yes I know, it’s also for interior use and I think it would be perfect for that spot.  Mr. X says so too… 
Him:  No. What else.. 
And so it goes.  Suddenly, Mr. X seeing my frustration, points up into a corner of the showroom and says – you know.. THAT one would work but I don’t know how you feel about the look. 
Ah, we have a winner.  And the price was just right. 
This fixture will hang from the ceiling (which is the peak of the roof) of
Stellas “kitchen” area. 
     Meanwhile.. back at the ranch…we’ve had some very soggy weather lately. I’m not complaining one bit, soggy is better than heavy snowfall and bitter cold.  I did some cleaning of the barn, coop and hutch yesterday morning and it felt good to tidy up. 

 Ruby thought it might be fun to tag along in the gator but  actual motion changed her mind.

    My 94 year old neighbor stopped by for a visit – She still lives in the home she raised her five boys in, just across the street.  Her son pictured here is such a good man – lives hours away and comes weekly to check up on mom and get things done around the house.  He cooks for her friends on occasion too.  When weather permits, she loves to take rides around the woods on his quad.  
When I grow up I want to be like Margaret. 
    I’ve been a little dismayed at the bitterness I have seen on the internet lately between women who didn’t approve of the Women’s March on Washington and those who attended or supported it.  A good friend of mine said she was really offended and didn’t need anyone marching for her rights. She felt women are damned lucky in this country, we have many rights that women of other countries don’t have and we don’t need to be “like men”.   *sigh.   She felt I was stuck on myself because I have opinions and I express them openly.  Those particular words admittedly stung. I thought about it for a while – am I a conceited idiot who thinks her views are the only way?  The answer to that is no.  Are my intentions always good regardless of the topic?  I can say whole heartedly YES.  I’m not one to shut up, and I won’t apologize for caring and having a big mouth that expresses it. 
    As for the March – I’ll tell you what – If women didn’t march in our recent history, we wouldn’t be voting, we wouldn’t have our own credit cards, we wouldn’t be able to take out our own mortgage, we wouldn’t have access to affordable womens health care, and a myriad of other freedoms we now take for granted.    There are still issues we face, and this March in particular was about many different things.   I have no problem with women who don’t want to get involved – we all have to choose our battles.  What I don’t understand is the offense taken.  I truly believe if you know in your heart you are doing whatever you’re doing in the hopes of improving things for all, you’re on the right track in life.  I’m not going to apologize for it. 

 Till soon, friends –