Wednesday, May 28, 2008

update on things around here

I was so excited when I went to the garden today. My radishes were ready to harvest! On top of that, my green beans are FINALLY starting to pop up, corn is rowing, as are the peas...cucs are starting to look good and tomatoes are budding. I wish the strawberries would start producing better, but in time I suppose. Potatoes are going nuts, and the peppers are 'fair'. So, I wanted to post a couple of pictures of the radishes I picked today...

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And believe it or not, this is 2 seperate flowers I planted LAST YEAR!! They seem to be the only thing doing well in our crazy weather!

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And finally, the chicks....they are getting real big, and will be ready to butcher in about 3 weeks.

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So there ya have it folks...I'm getting about a dozen eggs a day on average, and once the weather levels out, the garden will be doing great!!

Enough Said

What is going on?

I'm not a religious person in the least. Call me a true believer in Darwin and his theories, hate me for it, I don't care. I'm not one to bash people, and try not to judge people for their beliefs. As long as you don't push it on me, I'm good.

I do, however, believe that Mother Nature is an entity that should not be messed with. I believe that things happen for a reason, and although it may not be "higher power' related, it is the Earth's way of smacking us in the face. So I ask...what is going on?

Tornadoes, hurricanes, wild fires, drought, tsunamis, disease(cancer is rampant), famine, poverty, .....the list goes on. My church-going friends tell me its written in the bible that the 'end of days' is approaching when these events come to pass in the intensity that we see them at. I believe that Mother Earth, or Mother Nature if you prefer, is trying to tell us to SHAPE UP. She is giving us a swift kick in the ass as a wake up call. But the problem is, we aren't listening. Ok, maybe we are starting to listen, but its too late. Too little too late. "Going Green" is a great concept that should have been started 30 years ago, or longer. So why aren't we doing more? Well, that depends on who you ask.

Some will tell you its a government conspiracy, some will tell you its all a lie, and the list of theories goes on. I'm not sure what I believe, or know, but I do hope that if nothing else, my children will grow up in a better world, and even my grandchildren. I think the younger generations are seeing how we screwed up, and are wanting to do something. Colleges/Universities are now offering classes on "green", and the even younger children are working towards stopping this problem. They are trying to fix what we messed up. I truly hope they do.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Crazy Auction....

I wish I could have taken pictures. I really don't know if I can describe it to make you all see what I saw, but I will do my best.

This past Sunday, DH and I went to an auction. It was supposed to have various animals such as chickens, ducks, geese, guineas, rabbits, etc. Their policy is "no hooved animals" and they throw in equipment for said animals as well. Ok, so we go to see what this entails. OMG is all I could say. I was in crappy jeans and a t-shirt, and was severely over dressed. Evidently showering, or combing your hair is not a prerequisite for attending. Also, you need to have one of the following things going on:

*walk with a limp
*have one eyebrow that extends from one ear to the other
*missing your front teeth
*drinking a beer
*wear boots (for guys) that are covered in shit and mud
*wear flipflops (for girls) and have enough dirt on your toes and embedded in your toenails to grow a garden
*wear camoflage on some part of your body
* and finally, if you are a woman, you must wear a shirt that shows your belly, regardless of your weight.

All children must be filthy, and run like mad through the crowd continuously.

Lets move on to the animals...

8 chickens (including the rooster) cramed into a cage that was only big enough for 4 of them (if that)

rabbits that are on steroids

geese that were so old they could barely stand

baby chicks that had hatched that morning

and if you did buy the chicks, they were put in a cardboard beer box from the bar next door (out of the dumpster).

The smell of the small garage/shed thing where this was held was a mix....beer, animal urine, wood chips, straw, poop, portable toilet, and body odor of about 75 people. Did I mention it was about 80 degrees F in there? I had to step outside on several ocasions.

On to the boxes of 'stuff'.....there were boxes of all sorts containing things that I swear people just pulled out of their barn. Funny thing though....they labeled each box as to what was in it. No biggie, right? HA! Let me translate 2 of the boxes for you...

Lot 30, Box of Rabit Feters = Item #30, box of rabbit FEEDERS

Lot 15, fiders = Item #15, FEEDERS

Get the idea???? I couldn't believe it!!

No, I don't think I explained it very well, didn't describe it very well, but I'll tell ya, it was a sight to behold. The teenage girl and her bf/DH (?) who was handing out the bidder numbers, had her child in a playpen next to her desk, surrounded by cages of chickens and rabbits. "dad" was seen on several ocasions bending over into the playpen to check on the child, the whole time with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth...I thought for sure he would drop ashes on her, but thank goodness he didn't. One small child decided she had to pee, and didn't want to get her mom and use the potty, so she was just going to go in the grass. Her mother found her before the act was finished, and took her into the toilet.

I can't think of anything that would put into perspective of what I was witnessing. I wish I could! Lets just say, I won't be going back!!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Many photos...

I have lots of pics I want to show of one particular day this past weekend. Saturday was a good day. DH and I got lots of work done around here, taking advantage of the wonderfully warm weather. The dogs loved it, too, and our 'guest', which is the Weimeraner, Spirit, had fun running with the Macaroni and the 'big dogs'. She learned how to play with a pack, and in the end had fun. So this blog is for your enjoyment...a photo essay of sorts, with a few off-hand comments made by yours truely to enhance your viewing...LOL.

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'Mom, these girls are weird...rolling around, now eating grass? *sigh*
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'Yes?'
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This one was funny...Ben was posing for a picture, when out of nowhere came Macaroni, pouncing on him from behind...Ben was NOT amused..lol
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Missed....
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Resting...
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Sharing a moment, chewing on a bone...
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Hope you enjoyed it!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Random thoughts

So I've been sitting around brooding, thinking, and just letting my brain do its thing. Its funny the things you can think of when you just let you're brain wander.

So I was thinking about things I've heard....funny really, what got me thinking of it. I actually heard a chicken flatulate. That's right, a chicken fart. I can honestly say that is a first for me. I've heard dogs, horses, cows, and various animals at the zoo, but never a chicken. Odd really. Kind of like a rooster 'purring' or 'growling'. They 'purr' to their hens when I take corn or food out, but 'growl' at each other. I've heard dogs and cats growl, even heard a deer 'cough' as a warning signal to other deer, but this again was a first.

Another thing happened that got me thinking....I saw a baby chick YAWN. Yep, evidently he was tired, and just stood there bleary eyed and yawned. It was really cute, actually. Again, I've seen various animals yawn, both the 2-legged and 4-legged species. But its something kinda different to see a chicken do it.

I'd be interested to hear what unusual things you all have heard/seen. :)

Something else that I was thinking about.....

We've all pondered the question "If you could do it all again...." So I asked myself the question. 'Knowing what I know now, would I go back to a certain time/place and make a different choice?'. Probably. Don't get me wrong, I have no regrets in my life. I believe that if you live your life regreting decisions you made, you'll live in misery. They feed upon each other. So no, I don't have regrets. I am however, curious about things. What if I'd have said or done something different? What direction would my life have taken? I came to the conclusion I would go back to 1993-ish. I was in Las Vegas. I knew people. I did things. I just wonder if I would have changed a few decisions how it would have gone. Do you all ever wonder? I'm happy with my life as it stands...I've got a great hubby, my boys, my animals, my "farm", my Harley, my friends. Why would I change that? lol....But if you could just see what it would be like, would you?

And speaking of decisions....I am one to usually give people the benefit of the doubt, but only once. I also believe in the saying "Keep your friends close, your enemies closer". That being said, I've been played the fool. I mistakenly gave someone, a family member even, a chance. I thought that after 8 years of being 'blown off' and not taken seriously, that she actually wanted to give true friendship a go. I thought she actually valued my knowledge and experience, my advice. Turns out, I was used...and badly. Once the rough spot was over, I was thrown out like yesterday's trash. What was a phone call everyday, or an IM or email, ended abruptly. The hubs warned me, but I kept saying "No, I think she really wants to make this work" ...PPPPFFFFTTTT. When will I learn that 90% of the time he is right about these things???? So, As I said, I feel the fool. BUT...it will not happen again. Although I am bitter about it, hurt even, I will not let that show. I will keep my enemies closer. I will not let on that I know of her deception. I will take a different approach. Being a 'seasoned woman', its not like I am new to the drama, the deception, the lies, etc. I've been down this road before, and come out just fine. I will be fine again. Although the hubs is not happy about it, but its his protective nature, as any man would be when his girl is hurting, or has been hurt. It goes back to the caveman days of 'protect your assets'. We will get over it, and put it in that file that all women have in the back of their brains....you know the one. >:~}

I also stopped to think about how I've changed over the years. Going from a spontaneous, do anything at anytime person, to planning a majority of my day and making sure things are taken care of before jumping and running. I didn't realize I had become that way, but the hubs has nicely pointed it out on several ocassions. Thanx for that. I think it comes from having children. You must plan things, and plan around the plans. Same with animals. Both species feed and thrive off of schedules. They feel secure when they know what to expect, and although spontenaety is great, some things need to be kept on track. I've also become...not more lenient, but more tolerant. I am no longer the 'drill instructor' mom I used to be. I still require things be done when I say, and no talking back, but I also don't freak out when my kids run screaming through the house on their way out the door. I don't have a fit if they don't eat supper, I simply don't allow desert. I have learned to keep my blood pressure level...lol.

All in all, people will do what they do, regardless of our views, thoughts, or actions. The best we can do is what we know is right, and go from there. I personally enjoy letting my thoughts wander, and highly recommend it. You'd be amazed at how you can really laugh at yourself, and the things you think of. :)

Monday, May 12, 2008

Pictures

Here are the pictures to go with the earlier post....enjoy!


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Decision made....

After thinking long and hard about it, I have come to a decision....

Come this winter, I am letting my hair grow back out. Yep, you read that right, no more short hair. It is driving me nuts. Maybe I'm lazy, but I can't just put it up when I want to run around outside, when I get up in the mornings its mashed to my head, and I spend more time 'fixing' it than I do enjoying it. Not to mention every 3 weeks going in for a cut. I look like a boy if I don't do something with it. UGH

So, I will grow it out to about my shoulders, and call it good. I will still get it permed on occasion, and probably have it colored to hide the grey that seems to be taking over, but I will be happier.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Hard work.....

No matter how you feel about the American Pioneers, you have to admit that if nothing else they were hard workers. Out here where I live, which is essentially on the praries of the Mid-West (near the Mississippi River), although modern farming has turned the prarie into miles of crop land, I can still appreciate what the pioneers must have gone through. Let me explain...

As you all know, I have been working on a garden, and chickens. And I must say, it is a rather large garden, but hey, if you're gonna do something, do it big. Anyway, the dirt here in the mid-west is good black dirt. Its the kind of dirt that is rich, holds moisture, and generally good for farming. But it has one drawback....when the top layer dries, it becomes hard as a rock. I mean that literally. It forms a top crust that yes, holds in the moisture, but also makes it impossible for sprouts to penetrate. Now, I was given an interesting contraption....and although at the moment I don't have any pictures (more on that later) I'll do my best to describe it to you.

It consists of a wooden T handle, and at the bottom are 4 tines for digging into the dirt....in front of those tines is a roller with teeth, and a sort of 'beater bar'. So here is how it works...as you push it across the dirt, the roller grabs dirt clods and crushes them to dust ( or smaller pieces) against the beater bar (all of this is metal). Or, you can flip the handle to the other side, and the roller will break the dirt, and the tines with 'plow'. When I get pictures of it, you'll understand, until then, just go with it. Anyway, its operated by human power..no gas, no electricity, etc. It only works as well as you do. And after getting the hang of this thing, you can actually dictate how deep it goes, or how much of the crust to break up. Quite a handy device if you ask me.

So lets move on with this new hand tiller, and I'll tell you about hard work.

I started out on Friday putting my dog's old whelping bed back together in order to move the baby chicks out of the house. Lord were they stinking up the place!! So my ohsosmart DH gave me the idea. I took the plywood off the frame of the floor, filled in the spaces with straw, then covered it with chicken wire. In retrospect, I did it backwards, as I put the sides on then tried to attach the wire on the inside...DUH, put the wire on first, then attach the sides. *rolling my eyes at that stupid move* So after fighting with the stapler, the wire, the dogs who felt they had to give their input (Ben whispering in my ear, knowing that it makes me laugh) I finally got it done. Got the babies moved out, fed and watered, and moved on to the next project.


I decided to put plastic netting around my garden to keep the rabbits out. Most of us know that you don't need a 4 foot fence for this, just something lightweight and low. So I had this netting laying around, and was able to attach it to an existing fence with wire ties, and then cut it lengthwise so I had twice as much. I was able to wrap my entire garden (minus 5 feet, dammit) with this mesh. Its thin and light, and I was able to temporarily attach it to the steel rods that my bro-in-law had set out on the pasture side in prep for the electric fence. This 'hot wire' was put in place hastily to keep the cows/calves out of the garden. However, he failed to hook it up and make it hot, so it was just a wire stretched between rods. ANYWAY.....I had the mesh pulled tight, and wiretied to the posts and fence...spent half a day working hard on it...the first part on the baby chicks' new digs....

So Friday comes to a close, and I sit down to hands that are raw. After working with the wire, mesh, dirt, etc, my hands feel like I spent the day wadding up balls of sandpaper. They are sore, raw, and dry...full of cuts, scrapes and splinters from the wood. I couldn't hardly type a thing on the computer. And my body? HA It was worn out too. I finally made it to my hot tub for a good soak, and although I didn't go under, I did fall asleep in it! I really need to be more careful.

Saturday morning is a new day....I had planned to work in the garden. After morning chores, and breakfast, I went outside and what has happened???? The damn calves have tromped through my garden...tore down the wire, the mesh I worked so hard to put up, and it appeared that they had a freakin barn dance with all the footprints. I was PISSED. So I call the DH, and he isn't happy, either. Anyway, I call the BIL to tell him to fix the wire, and PLEASE make it HOT!! I get blown off, as usual, because I am not important enough to worry about. So....I load up some steel rods into the car and head over to my MIL's to cut them in half in order to fix my mesh. And who is there but my MIL and she just happens to ask about my garden. When I told her about the calves, she was none to happy. Lets just say that within 2 hours, the wire was fixed and HOT...LMAO.

In the meantime, I took my handydandy tiller out and was working the dirt. Its great for going inbetween rows, as its only about 12 inches wide. So it gets the weeds and clumps all broke up. And let me tell you, that is better than any structured workout I've done! I worked muscles I didn't know I had, and of course it reaked havoc on my hands. I was busting up clods, and then going back to through the big chunks of grass out. So between pushing the tiller, bending and throwing, not to mention duck-walking around...WHEW!! Did I tell you my hands are trashed? LOL...muscle bruises on my palms from the handle on the tiller (pushing) raw from the dirt and the wire the day before, dirt in my cuts, fingernails are now non-existant. And after all of that, I hand hoed 2 more rows for beans and peas. Got it all planted and watered by 1800.

I came in afterwards, ate some tuna with crackers, then layed down on the couch to wach NASCAR....HA! I didn't make it 10 laps and was sound asleep. I woke to the phone ringing at 2025 and it was the DH telling me to go to bed!! We talked for a bit while I made the coffee for in the morning, and I was back in bed by 2045..SOUND ASLEEP. Didn't wake back up til 0710 today!! I am still tired, but I have another long day ahead with it being Mother's Day and all.

So my whole point was to share with you all about my new appreciation for the hard work of the pioneers. They didn't have the hand tillers...they had hoes. They worked acres of ground with a horse and plow, and their smaller gardens by hand. They had to rely on Mother Nature for the rain to make the grown soft enough to work. They were tough. They went to bed early, got up early, and worked their asses off. I can only imagine through my small taste of this work how it must have been for them. They were some tough cookies, that is for sure.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Growing Fast!!

Yeppers, the chicks are growing fast! I keep waiting for them to fly out of their new digs, as they keep testing their wings. Not to mention they are outgrowing the kiddie pool I have them in. I have had a few fatalities, as to be expected. 5 in all, but I was figuring it would be more.

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In other news, we did a test run of sorts on butchering. I won't get into the details, but lets just say it was a learning experience. I didn't know that there was a large meat difference in laying hens and just meat birds. Laying hens seem to have very minimal meat, which makes them no good for quartering. However, they are good for soup, broth, casseroles, etc. Instead of quartering, you just boil the meat off of the whole chicken, then go from there. That is a relief to me, as I was struggling to get it figured out. :) I've also decided that the backyard is not exactly the place to be de-feathering, and we need a better spot, as you can well imagine. Not to mention I need a spot to dump the gut bucket. And it always helps to have a really really really sharp knife! So my next project is to finish butchering the ones that aren't laying, then move the babies OUT. Boy, do they STINK!! Plus, they are standing the cooler temps, so I think its time!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Things......

Just a few 'things' to keep everyone updated.

The baby chicks are doing well. I've only lost 2, so I figure I'm doing good. Their 'big kid' feathers are starting to emerge on their wings, and it seems they are becoming more brave with each day. When I clean out their cage, they are starting to peck at my fingers, run up my arm, or even look straight into my face as if daring me to overlook their cuteness. And it is so hard! I do have one that I am concerned for....he/she has splayed legs, and can't stand well. Its belly fuzz is either wet, or crusty from laying flat. I feel bad for it, I do, but I didn't buy these birds for pets, and cannot get attached. So I have to let it fend for itself, and either it will make it or it won't. Call me cruel, but that is the way it is.

The adult chickens are doing fair. I have one of the 3 year old girls that has separated herself from the others and is very.....blah. I figure she won't last through the week. That group has completely stopped laying, and will be taken back to market on the 4th of May. If I can sell them for $3 each, and find younger hens for $5 each, I'm only out $2 per hen purchased.

My best friend (female) Jade should be arriving here tonight. She is waiting to hear if she has been accepted into the USMC, and hopefully today is the day for good news! If she is, she will be bringing her dog Spirit for me to babysit until the end of the month. I'm looking forward to her visit, as we haven't seen each other in probably a year! Although, she'll be here late (9pm/2100) we'll have time to catch up and just relax. I'm stoked!! ;)

A small step with crazy dog Carlo. For those of you who aren't familiar with my run-ins with Carlo, him and I have led a rocky road of companionship, resulting in me getting bit. In the past, he has detested me feeding him. I have had to lock him in his doghouse, then let him out after I am completely out of his pen. Well, today he decided to be nice. I noticed a change in his behavior and decided I would fill his bowl and try to slide it in through his pen gate. Now in the past, he has always tried to either come out the gate at me, or attacking the bowl and dumping food everywhere. Today, he decided to sit quietly, and stay put when I told him to. He even had a bit of a tail wag for me, and showed no aggression when I slid the bowl in. I praised him like crazy, then left him to his breakfast as a show of "you did good, no harm from me, eat well". I can't guarantee it will happen again, and I can't say I trust him, but today was a good day. Its been almost 2 years, and 'baby steps' are slow, but good. I'll take the good ones when I get them.

As for the DH, he is doing well. Working at the new company, although not yet hauling the acid he was hired to haul. But I'm not complaining. There were 9 people in his class, and he was the first one to be called in to work a full week before the others. We aren't sure why, as I told him he probably unknowingly 'wooed' the dispatcher. Who knows the real reason, but I'm just glad there was an overlap between jobs. In today's economy, work is good. No gaps, even better. So far he has been home every weekend, although I don't count on it. I go and get him when he calls, and take the days off when I get them.

The garden is doing ok, I guess. We had a hard frost, and even though I covered the tomato plants, they died. I also lost my pepper plants. My strawberries seemed to have made it, and so have my cauliflower and broccoli plants. We'll see how the rest do this week.

I managed to get in a short motorcycle ride yesterday evening. After mowing the grass, running the trimmer, fixing kennels, strawing kennels, grooming my sis-in-law's dog, and raking the grass clippings, I was able to ride 15 miles one way to get fuel and then back. It was a nice end to a hard working day. No, I wasn't in full HD garb, and my hair was full of grass, my face dirty, and jeans filthy, but I didn't care. The wind in my face was all I needed to make it perfect. A real sole cleansing time, even if it was short. But then again, its like that every time I get on my bike. I love it!