Miss Buff Orpington showed up at feeding time - soaking wet and a little ragged around the edges. I had to count the buff hens twice - I have two Americaunas who are light in color so I had to make sure I wasn't counting one of them. My guess is someone chewed on her (probably that Balto) and she ran away and hid in the forest for several days. I thought I counted her one other morning, but then didn't see her again, so I guessed I had made a mistake - but perhaps not. Maybe she is making intermittent appearances.
One lamb had a touch of scours the other day, but she's been fine since - Ellie has enough milk for three lambs, but only two left to drink it. The black and white lamb is a strong nurser and they were a bit upset by their first day in pasture. I was all ready to give her some Pepto-Bismol, but she recovered so quickly, it wasn't necessary.
The sky was actually clear this morning, but already clouds are rolling in. Someone at work made the comment that he'd been here for 25 years and this is the first time he actually considered moving due to the rain - so it isn't just me. This has been a dismal, cold, rainy year. I am hoping for a nice balance of tank-filling rain and sun in the summer!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
The Young 'Uns Have Me Pegged
First there are my two-legged children who ask, "Can you make me food?" at random times, just in case I say yes. They never ask their father, "Can you make me food?" (I usually say, "No, you've got hands - make a sandwich," but occasionally I relent, which is my downfall.)
Then, there are the lambs. When they can't figure out what the gate is for, even while watching their mama head out to the pasture - who carries them out to the flock? Me, of course. When I am not there to carry them out, do they languish waiting for "Dad" to carry them out? No, of course not. They use the gate.
I think there is a lesson in there, somewhere.
Those of you who are praying folk, please keep my daughter's friend in your prayers today. On her 11th birthday, she was diagnosed with bone cancer. They are 9 months into a year of treatment. She's received a bone graft on her femur, which is being held in place with a metal strut. The strut broke and she is facing a major surgery tomorrow to repair it. She's been through a lot in the last few months - as have her parents. If you could keep them in your thoughts and prayers, please....
Then, there are the lambs. When they can't figure out what the gate is for, even while watching their mama head out to the pasture - who carries them out to the flock? Me, of course. When I am not there to carry them out, do they languish waiting for "Dad" to carry them out? No, of course not. They use the gate.
I think there is a lesson in there, somewhere.
Those of you who are praying folk, please keep my daughter's friend in your prayers today. On her 11th birthday, she was diagnosed with bone cancer. They are 9 months into a year of treatment. She's received a bone graft on her femur, which is being held in place with a metal strut. The strut broke and she is facing a major surgery tomorrow to repair it. She's been through a lot in the last few months - as have her parents. If you could keep them in your thoughts and prayers, please....
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Can I Blog in Peace, Please
I am sitting here with my two youngest one either side - they aren't so young anymore (12 and 14) but they are setting up a caterwauling worthy of cranky toddlers. My 14 year old is opining that he has back tumors and that he needs an emergency massage. Apparently, back tumors are muscle knots. Neither of them can decide whether the cell phone I bought at Christmas for them to share is his or hers or theirs (it's theirs).
"At Christmas, my name was first, so it is both of ours."
"It was in MY bag, so it is mine."
"Mom, make him give me back OUR phone."
"Mom, if she goes through my bag again, the phone is mine forever - or until you buy me a better phone."
They are actually joking, and I can't complain that they want to spend time with me, but I have to admit almost 13 year olds and 14 year olds can have some very ridiculous conversations. I guess that's why I teach high school instead of middle school anymore.
I think I solved the mystery of the missing hen - today, I caught a dog (tied up for the sheep grazing part of the day) chasing a hen. That sneaky dog - how he figured out that he had to eat the whole hen, feathers, feet, beak, and all is beyond me, but that must be my answer. No wonder he looked so guilty the other day.
My older son had his senior prom last night. I didn't even get to see him all dressed up. He left early for a track meet, came home for a shower, but left to get a haircut and to get ready at a friend's house. He was supposed to get pictures, but he forgot his form. I am really bummed about that. I didn't see he or his date in all their finery. He stayed the night at a friend's in town. met us at church, and then went back to his friends. I am also slightly perturbed that Senior Prom is always on Holy Saturday at this school.
As I sat making three Easter Baskets (instead of the four I made all these years), it occurred to me that in a few short months, half of my kids will be gone and out of the house. When they were all little and it was so hard to go shopping or to go to church, I looked forward to having them a little older, but it just went so fast! I feel like telling every fed up mom how fast it goes and how happy/sad/proud you are to see your kids up there on that graduation stage. In five years, they will ALL be gone - but then again. the way the economy is going, maybe some of them will be coming back by then, and I will be singing a different tune!
"At Christmas, my name was first, so it is both of ours."
"It was in MY bag, so it is mine."
"Mom, make him give me back OUR phone."
"Mom, if she goes through my bag again, the phone is mine forever - or until you buy me a better phone."
They are actually joking, and I can't complain that they want to spend time with me, but I have to admit almost 13 year olds and 14 year olds can have some very ridiculous conversations. I guess that's why I teach high school instead of middle school anymore.
I think I solved the mystery of the missing hen - today, I caught a dog (tied up for the sheep grazing part of the day) chasing a hen. That sneaky dog - how he figured out that he had to eat the whole hen, feathers, feet, beak, and all is beyond me, but that must be my answer. No wonder he looked so guilty the other day.
My older son had his senior prom last night. I didn't even get to see him all dressed up. He left early for a track meet, came home for a shower, but left to get a haircut and to get ready at a friend's house. He was supposed to get pictures, but he forgot his form. I am really bummed about that. I didn't see he or his date in all their finery. He stayed the night at a friend's in town. met us at church, and then went back to his friends. I am also slightly perturbed that Senior Prom is always on Holy Saturday at this school.
As I sat making three Easter Baskets (instead of the four I made all these years), it occurred to me that in a few short months, half of my kids will be gone and out of the house. When they were all little and it was so hard to go shopping or to go to church, I looked forward to having them a little older, but it just went so fast! I feel like telling every fed up mom how fast it goes and how happy/sad/proud you are to see your kids up there on that graduation stage. In five years, they will ALL be gone - but then again. the way the economy is going, maybe some of them will be coming back by then, and I will be singing a different tune!
Friday, April 6, 2012
The Case of the Missing Buff Orpington
The first mystery is why the Buff Orpingtons are the ones that go missing. Why can't it be one of the Americaunas? I don't like them nearly as much.
And then, where is the hen? There are no piles of feathers or sad little carcases anywhere in the yard to give any clues - I am just down a hen. We don't have fox or any wild predators. Sometimes there are owls, but they are only about half the size of these huge hens.
Even my dogs would leave a few feathers - they aren't smart enough to eat the whole thing to hide the evidence. I doubt Nani, the cat, could do the deed, although I see her checking the hens that invade her area under the greenhouse tables with an evil eye. Nani is a rather small cat and has never made even the half-hearted attempt to stalk, much less pounce, on a hen.
This is the second Buff Orpington that has gone missing. The first one, I thought maybe she was brooding somewhere (they do go broody) - even though it would be in vain since the rooster had his fatal accident after attacking the nervous Gibby Crazy Horse. She never came out of the woods, though, so I guess that wasn't it.
These hens are already over a year and a half old and I was already thinking about getting a new batch, but I still resent that it was one of my beloved Buffs that are gone and not the less productive and less affectionate Americaunas.
And then, where is the hen? There are no piles of feathers or sad little carcases anywhere in the yard to give any clues - I am just down a hen. We don't have fox or any wild predators. Sometimes there are owls, but they are only about half the size of these huge hens.
Even my dogs would leave a few feathers - they aren't smart enough to eat the whole thing to hide the evidence. I doubt Nani, the cat, could do the deed, although I see her checking the hens that invade her area under the greenhouse tables with an evil eye. Nani is a rather small cat and has never made even the half-hearted attempt to stalk, much less pounce, on a hen.
This is the second Buff Orpington that has gone missing. The first one, I thought maybe she was brooding somewhere (they do go broody) - even though it would be in vain since the rooster had his fatal accident after attacking the nervous Gibby Crazy Horse. She never came out of the woods, though, so I guess that wasn't it.
These hens are already over a year and a half old and I was already thinking about getting a new batch, but I still resent that it was one of my beloved Buffs that are gone and not the less productive and less affectionate Americaunas.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
More on Ginger
This is my favorite (although invasive and non-edible) ginger:
(image from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hedychium_gardnerianum.JPG)
It smells soooo good and there is quite a lot growing around my area, although not on my land, because it really does spread. When I go on a walk when it is blooming, it's very nice.
This is the edible ginger:
(image from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shell_Ginger_Variegated_Pink_flowers.jpg)
I haven't seen this growing in my area; we might be too high. You can see they look very different.
(image from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hedychium_gardnerianum.JPG)
It smells soooo good and there is quite a lot growing around my area, although not on my land, because it really does spread. When I go on a walk when it is blooming, it's very nice.
This is the edible ginger:
(image from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shell_Ginger_Variegated_Pink_flowers.jpg) I haven't seen this growing in my area; we might be too high. You can see they look very different.
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