This morning I woke up at 5:30 am. I never wake up that early. I had a headache and it is still bothering me some (leftovers from this stupid sinus infection! grr) Well I figured since I was awake I knew I would feel better if I just got up. So I did. The weather outside is so nice right now 77 degrees. When I went out to do chores at 6am it was so beautiful with the sun peeking over the treeline. The chickens all looked at me like I was crazy but I opened their doors anyway lol. They usually don't get let out of the coop until 8 or later.
One of my little Cochin/EE roosters finally found his crow; he and my silkie rooster were having a match. LOL! It was so cute. I am thinking about getting some more of the banty chickens, I have just fallen in love with them. I found an ad on CL that has several mixed Cochin/Silkie/EE chicks all ages. Which is perfect since that is the mix that I already have. I think they are so adorable and would love for them to hatch out more chicks next spring.
I have another broody EE right now. It is our other white EE- haven't named her yet but I am letting her sit on 4 eggs. I hope if she hatches them out that she will be a better mother than the other one was. I wonder what a RIR/Silkie or a BR/Silkie looks like? She is sitting on brown eggs and I know some of the eggs are being fertilized.
I have chicks hatching in the incubator-their due date was yesterday but none hatched yesterday. I had 2 hatch on Sunday and they are little Cochins. I have one that pipped last night so there is still hope that some more of them will hatch. The peacocks are due next Monday, but I am afraid that only 1 or 2 is going to hatch. I feel bad for Joy- he is the owner of the pea eggs. He gave me 7 and 2 out of 7 is not very good. I guess he has only had 7 peachicks hatch out of 30 some eggs so far this spring. I wish I could find him some cheap peachicks to give him as a present. He gave 2 pea chicks the last time I hatched for him, but I am so in love with those two. They are only about a month old but they have such a personality already! I can't wait until they get older.
I ended up buying 2 bucks on Saturday from the lady in Tunas. I bought 1 New Zealand and 1 Californian. I am hoping for a better year this year on breeding. I think I will wait until the end of August to start breeding though. I don't want the mamas to get too hot. I was 9 months pregnant in August and I don't have fur like they do. It was miserable and I had AC! LOL
Chris and Dad baled more straw yesterday evening. So far they have baled 273 bales. They have quite a bit left to bale though. We have a tractor pull tonight in Lebanon though so they won't get to bale tonight. The pull starts at 7 but we have to go as soon as we can.
Sometimes it is just the simple things in life.
Tuesday, July 12
Monday, July 11
So I made some changes yesterday
I joined Rock Prarie. I know most of you have no idea what I am talking about, but this is something I had battling the Lord with. I had felt for about a month that I needed to join but hadn't been following my heart. Bro. Zane had already called on someone to dismiss and I knew I had to say something. They accepted me on the promise of a letter from Half Way. You would not believe the amounts of blessings I recieved in the few short minutes after that. Even right after I said it I knew it was the thing to do. I just wish Chris had been there.
I was scared to tell mom, dad, and granny. Heck I was scared to tell Chris too. But it all worked out and Dad said he knew I was going to join that he could feel it. I was glad that other people had a feeling for me. There were a few when they went around to give the right hand of christian fellowship that hugged me and told me they had had a feeling for me to join for a long time. Granny was a bit upset, but after we talked about it she was assured that it was the right thing for me to do. Mom was the most surprised of them all. I don't think she thought I would do it. But I came to spot where I knew I couldn't rely on what people thought and only could rely on the Lord. I know he works in mysterious ways and this may be one of them.
May God Bless You All!
______________________________________
I have chicks hatching in the incubator.... they are so cute and fluffy. All of God's creatures are cute.
I was scared to tell mom, dad, and granny. Heck I was scared to tell Chris too. But it all worked out and Dad said he knew I was going to join that he could feel it. I was glad that other people had a feeling for me. There were a few when they went around to give the right hand of christian fellowship that hugged me and told me they had had a feeling for me to join for a long time. Granny was a bit upset, but after we talked about it she was assured that it was the right thing for me to do. Mom was the most surprised of them all. I don't think she thought I would do it. But I came to spot where I knew I couldn't rely on what people thought and only could rely on the Lord. I know he works in mysterious ways and this may be one of them.
May God Bless You All!
______________________________________
I have chicks hatching in the incubator.... they are so cute and fluffy. All of God's creatures are cute.
Friday, July 8
I hate being sick...
So today I have no voice NONE. Someone tried to call me awhile ago and I couldn't even answer. ugh. Do you have any idea how hard it is to discipline kids with ZERO voice. I can barely whisper...and whispering NO doesn't do any good to toddlers.
My throat hurts, my chest hurts when I cough and my nose is stopped up periodically.
Tomorrow I am going to look at 2 white New Zealand bucks- the lady has 4 of them, but I only really need 2. She lives over by the Amish Stores so of course I will have to stop and do a bit of shopping. lol
I am bummed about my gardens... My beans are done. The plants are dying and are bug eaten. My potatoes are rotten under ground. My corn has been choked by bindweed. And the cantloupe has taken over-- along with the weeds. Cucumbers are just now coming on, something is eating my zuchinni, and I only have green tomatoes and lots of blooms. Sigh. I really need more tomatoes, more corn, more peppers, more potatoes...etc.
Last night Chris and I discovered how truly stubborn our daughter is. Chris put her to bed 5 times before she stayed and fell asleep. She just kept getting up and screaming! Chris' patience was wearing thin! He had never saw this ugly side and now I think he has my sympathies. lol
My throat hurts, my chest hurts when I cough and my nose is stopped up periodically.
Tomorrow I am going to look at 2 white New Zealand bucks- the lady has 4 of them, but I only really need 2. She lives over by the Amish Stores so of course I will have to stop and do a bit of shopping. lol
I am bummed about my gardens... My beans are done. The plants are dying and are bug eaten. My potatoes are rotten under ground. My corn has been choked by bindweed. And the cantloupe has taken over-- along with the weeds. Cucumbers are just now coming on, something is eating my zuchinni, and I only have green tomatoes and lots of blooms. Sigh. I really need more tomatoes, more corn, more peppers, more potatoes...etc.
Last night Chris and I discovered how truly stubborn our daughter is. Chris put her to bed 5 times before she stayed and fell asleep. She just kept getting up and screaming! Chris' patience was wearing thin! He had never saw this ugly side and now I think he has my sympathies. lol
Thursday, July 7
A Pet Peeve Post
Reading over some post on BYC brings me to my latest pet peeve...
People that raise their own CHICKENS to EAT should process them themselves. One they are missing out on that feeling of accomplishment and two it is something I think everyone should do. It is not that hard to do.
I just don't understand why if you are going to raise animals why you don't have the stomach to kill them too? I was always taught that it is okay that you don't like to do it, but you should be able to do it. I have had to kill chicks and ducklings. I shot a rooster a few months back. We processed 22 chickens in about 4 hours when we did our meaties. Plus after feeding the birds for weeks it isn't cost effective to pay someone to process them.
We pay someone to do our steers- but that is 500-600 lbs of meat. If we had the setup to do it though, we would. We process our own deer and turkeys though. Knowing how to kill and cut up an animal is a survival skill- no matter where you live or what kind of background you have. There would be less hungry people in this world if people knew how to do this.
I think it should be required in school to learn native edible plants, how to cook on an open fire, and how to cut up small animals (and large). It irritates me to see a homeless guy standing on the highway with a sign reading God Bless You- I am hungry and Broke---when a few feet up the road someone has hit a rabbit or squirrel... Most likely he saw them hit it, if it wasn't just completely ruined he could have snatched it up, skinned and gutted it and roasted it on a fire. The road ditches are filled with tiger lillies and blackberries this time of the year. Did you know that most of the tiger lilly plant is edible?
I read a blog post the other day all about eating tiger lilies- very informational. Also there are wild onions, morels in the spring, gooseberries, wild plums, wild grapes, and many many other plants and trees that are filled with vegetation!
I really think it should be a middle school requirement to learn about it all. Our country expects our men and women to go fight in a war and kill humans, but yet most have never even killed a squirrel the humane way--a bullet.
I read gardening posts about poisoning and drowning squirrels- just sick! I would rather be shot than poisoned or drowned!
Now I am not claiming that I know how to gut and skin everything, but I think I know enough that I could get by. .22 shells are cheap and if you don't have a gun you can always revert back to indian ways and use a bow and arrow, sling shot, or spear. Also you can set small animal traps.
Homeless people wouldn't be so hungry and broke if they would revert back to the ways of their ancestors. They could trap animals--sell the pelts feed their families. So many people are just used to relying on other people it makes me so mad.
I wish we could just move away and become hill people. Yes Hill people may be poor, but they don't care- they are fed and clothed well enough for them. They work hard and enjoy life. The simple things in life. While computers are nice, I think they are ruining this world. If we ever go into a depression and have war or something this country will fall quickly. I am surprised that so many people overlook this.
I was reading yesterday that in Indiana they are banning teaching cursive writing in schools. They have to teach typing instead. How are kids going to know how to sign their name? They won't be able to read cursive or enjoy a nice handwritten love letter.
Which brings me to another pet peeve--DIVORCE. Yes I feel that there are times when Divorce is needed, but these days it is so common that it is almost expected. More times than I care to think about I have heard the phrase "I wonder how long it will last?" Most people say I'll give it a year. I plan on being with my husband until we die. Till Death Do Us Part. Did you know that some people take that out of the wedding ceremony? sheesh! I don't understand why so many are getting divorces these days? My parents have been together for 35 years come December--that should not be weird, that should be the norm. Sure they have had their arguments-- but they NEVER fought in front of us kids and they never went to bed mad at each other. My husband and I will celebrate 5 years in about a week. I think most things can be worked out-if people just try. Cheating is never okay- and usually the problem is not just cheating- there is usually a problem before the cheating that has been over looked. You need to find the root of the problems before trying to work it all out. I am not an expert and I know I am not, but seriously I cry for this world. It is so sad what we have came to.
okay I will quit rambling and venting for today.
People that raise their own CHICKENS to EAT should process them themselves. One they are missing out on that feeling of accomplishment and two it is something I think everyone should do. It is not that hard to do.
I just don't understand why if you are going to raise animals why you don't have the stomach to kill them too? I was always taught that it is okay that you don't like to do it, but you should be able to do it. I have had to kill chicks and ducklings. I shot a rooster a few months back. We processed 22 chickens in about 4 hours when we did our meaties. Plus after feeding the birds for weeks it isn't cost effective to pay someone to process them.
We pay someone to do our steers- but that is 500-600 lbs of meat. If we had the setup to do it though, we would. We process our own deer and turkeys though. Knowing how to kill and cut up an animal is a survival skill- no matter where you live or what kind of background you have. There would be less hungry people in this world if people knew how to do this.
I think it should be required in school to learn native edible plants, how to cook on an open fire, and how to cut up small animals (and large). It irritates me to see a homeless guy standing on the highway with a sign reading God Bless You- I am hungry and Broke---when a few feet up the road someone has hit a rabbit or squirrel... Most likely he saw them hit it, if it wasn't just completely ruined he could have snatched it up, skinned and gutted it and roasted it on a fire. The road ditches are filled with tiger lillies and blackberries this time of the year. Did you know that most of the tiger lilly plant is edible?
I read a blog post the other day all about eating tiger lilies- very informational. Also there are wild onions, morels in the spring, gooseberries, wild plums, wild grapes, and many many other plants and trees that are filled with vegetation!
I really think it should be a middle school requirement to learn about it all. Our country expects our men and women to go fight in a war and kill humans, but yet most have never even killed a squirrel the humane way--a bullet.
I read gardening posts about poisoning and drowning squirrels- just sick! I would rather be shot than poisoned or drowned!
Now I am not claiming that I know how to gut and skin everything, but I think I know enough that I could get by. .22 shells are cheap and if you don't have a gun you can always revert back to indian ways and use a bow and arrow, sling shot, or spear. Also you can set small animal traps.
Homeless people wouldn't be so hungry and broke if they would revert back to the ways of their ancestors. They could trap animals--sell the pelts feed their families. So many people are just used to relying on other people it makes me so mad.
I wish we could just move away and become hill people. Yes Hill people may be poor, but they don't care- they are fed and clothed well enough for them. They work hard and enjoy life. The simple things in life. While computers are nice, I think they are ruining this world. If we ever go into a depression and have war or something this country will fall quickly. I am surprised that so many people overlook this.
I was reading yesterday that in Indiana they are banning teaching cursive writing in schools. They have to teach typing instead. How are kids going to know how to sign their name? They won't be able to read cursive or enjoy a nice handwritten love letter.
Which brings me to another pet peeve--DIVORCE. Yes I feel that there are times when Divorce is needed, but these days it is so common that it is almost expected. More times than I care to think about I have heard the phrase "I wonder how long it will last?" Most people say I'll give it a year. I plan on being with my husband until we die. Till Death Do Us Part. Did you know that some people take that out of the wedding ceremony? sheesh! I don't understand why so many are getting divorces these days? My parents have been together for 35 years come December--that should not be weird, that should be the norm. Sure they have had their arguments-- but they NEVER fought in front of us kids and they never went to bed mad at each other. My husband and I will celebrate 5 years in about a week. I think most things can be worked out-if people just try. Cheating is never okay- and usually the problem is not just cheating- there is usually a problem before the cheating that has been over looked. You need to find the root of the problems before trying to work it all out. I am not an expert and I know I am not, but seriously I cry for this world. It is so sad what we have came to.
okay I will quit rambling and venting for today.
Wednesday, July 6
Something actually went down in price!!
Chicken FEED!! If I had someplace to store extra I would stock up lol! I bought 1 50lb bag scratch, 1 50lb bag layer pellets, and 1 50lb bag of rabbit pellets and it was only $29.50!! So exciting!
Yes things like that excite me...especially after I put $40 in the truck and it barely gave a quarter tank... lol
Oooo another exciting thing is that Chris found us a window for our truck...the one that was shattered awhile back by a pebble on I-44...It is the drivers side back window...the little tinted one on the dodge-- retail they want around $380 for one. Yeah right! Chris found one at a junk yard today for $125- which I think is still super high and no telling what they are going to charge to put it in. ugh. At least we have the seed money right now from fescue. And as soon as we get the straw baled we will be selling straw. They tried to bale it Monday, but it was too wet and they needed to work on the baler anyway. I think they are going to try and bale it today after Chris gets off work. (at least some of it...)
I hope to get some good pictures of them baling. I want to make Mom and Dad a huge picture collage for Christmas of things around the farm. I think it will be awesome.
Yesterday evening I took a 30-gallon trash bag FULL of TOYS to the thrift store and there are still toys everywhere. The kids haven't even seemed to miss them yet. I am sure they will miss some of them later, but oh well. We can't hold on to them forever-and they will always multiply. I also took a 30-gallon bag FULL of clothes--need to take a few more! lol I realized the other day that I really don't have very many clothes of my own that I can wear. It is sad really. Chris and I share t-shirts, shorts, socks, and even shoes. I have 3 pairs of jeans that are all TOO big and 5-6 shirts that are nicer (church-ish) and a couple jean skirts. Chris has like 10 pairs or more of jeans, work shirts, and a few church button ups. Then we have the t-shirts...most of them are stained and have holes...and then we have about 4 pairs of shorts that we wear swimming and around the house. In the winter we share hoodies and sweats too...and coats. We wear the same size in shoes so he wears my good cowboy boots for good and I wear flip-flops mostly in the summer. This winter he is going to HAVE to get him some new boots. I guess he should be lucky that I am not a high maintenance girly girl!
Yes things like that excite me...especially after I put $40 in the truck and it barely gave a quarter tank... lol
Oooo another exciting thing is that Chris found us a window for our truck...the one that was shattered awhile back by a pebble on I-44...It is the drivers side back window...the little tinted one on the dodge-- retail they want around $380 for one. Yeah right! Chris found one at a junk yard today for $125- which I think is still super high and no telling what they are going to charge to put it in. ugh. At least we have the seed money right now from fescue. And as soon as we get the straw baled we will be selling straw. They tried to bale it Monday, but it was too wet and they needed to work on the baler anyway. I think they are going to try and bale it today after Chris gets off work. (at least some of it...)
I hope to get some good pictures of them baling. I want to make Mom and Dad a huge picture collage for Christmas of things around the farm. I think it will be awesome.
Yesterday evening I took a 30-gallon trash bag FULL of TOYS to the thrift store and there are still toys everywhere. The kids haven't even seemed to miss them yet. I am sure they will miss some of them later, but oh well. We can't hold on to them forever-and they will always multiply. I also took a 30-gallon bag FULL of clothes--need to take a few more! lol I realized the other day that I really don't have very many clothes of my own that I can wear. It is sad really. Chris and I share t-shirts, shorts, socks, and even shoes. I have 3 pairs of jeans that are all TOO big and 5-6 shirts that are nicer (church-ish) and a couple jean skirts. Chris has like 10 pairs or more of jeans, work shirts, and a few church button ups. Then we have the t-shirts...most of them are stained and have holes...and then we have about 4 pairs of shorts that we wear swimming and around the house. In the winter we share hoodies and sweats too...and coats. We wear the same size in shoes so he wears my good cowboy boots for good and I wear flip-flops mostly in the summer. This winter he is going to HAVE to get him some new boots. I guess he should be lucky that I am not a high maintenance girly girl!
Tuesday, July 5
Just realized I forgot to share
I only have 2 baby muscovies left... On friday something happened to 14 of them and I don't know what. It happened in about 4 hours...I went out at 3 and saw them all with mama and even took pics! (will share in a moment) and then at 7 when I went out to feed the rabbits there were only 2 yellow ducklings and the mama was wandering around. She wasn't paying any attention to the 2 ducklings so I caught them and I know have them in a brooder. So sad.
Here are the adorable pics I took earlier that day:
Here are the adorable pics I took earlier that day:
And then saturday something got our Pekin...
and I think one of our bunnies is going to die today...
July has been such a rough month!
Monday, July 4
4th of July
Well today is the 4th of July...
When I was little this was a fun filled day and it makes me sad that my kids won't have the memories that I have. I remember going over to my grandparents' house and BBQing, eating homemade ice cream and drinking "colored" pop. They would have big metal tubs full of ice and pop- orange, grape, strawberry, cream soda, etc The older cousins would all go down to the milk barn to set off firecrackers while the younger ones would play with the snappies and smoke bombs. We would play softball and other games. Once it became dark we would all gather our lawn chairs and blankets out in the orchard. A few of the older cousins would set up the fireworks out on the HWY (yes the hwy) and start the show. The younger cousins were given sparklers to "write and draw in the sky". Before we went home for the night we would catch some lightening bugs and put them in a jar with some holes poked through with an old beat up ice pick. Those were the days.
My parents are just too busy to stop and do anything like that these days. It makes me sad. No one seems to like to celebrate anymore- it always seems like a chore these days. Mom said she wasn't going to do anything because she didn't have time to clean her house. Who really care if there are a few cobwebs or the endtables are dusty? We are going to be outside most of the time or in the pool. But no she is not even home today. My dad's mom is house-ridden with her broken hip and we have to take care of her. My mom's mom is house ridden because she smokes too much and has made herself sick. My mom's dad works way too hard and pushes himself until he can't go anymore. He is way to old to be out mowing hay in 100 degree weather and no cab on the tractor. He can barely walk across a parking lot with out holding on to grandma's wheelchair. yet he thinks he needs to bale hay. He doesn't even have very many cows, but he has land and is tight as they come. He will sell the hay. We all think he should just rent his land out. I know my husband would like to rent it.
I think we will probably go out to the college tonight and watch the big fireworks display-that is if the kids aren't afraid like they were last year.
Yesterday Chris and I took them to their very first movie- Cars 2. Sophia was afraid for the first few minutes, but she got over it. Cooper LOVED it. He wants to go back today. I wouldn't mind if it weren't so expensive! $5 for him and $8.50 for me! It seems kinda pricey to me.
Today Chris and dad were going to start baling the straw, but miraculously it is too wet. Yes it finally rained yesterday. We are not complaining about it being too wet.
I would like to take the kids swimming today in the river, but Chris is not home, and I can't take them by myself. Cooper likes to play in the water- Sophia is not so sure about the water, but she likes to splash a bit with her hands.
I grilled corn and hot dogs for lunch, but the corn wasn't very good. I bought some cream soda to drink but it is not as good as those I had on the fourth when I was growing up. I really miss those days.
When I was little this was a fun filled day and it makes me sad that my kids won't have the memories that I have. I remember going over to my grandparents' house and BBQing, eating homemade ice cream and drinking "colored" pop. They would have big metal tubs full of ice and pop- orange, grape, strawberry, cream soda, etc The older cousins would all go down to the milk barn to set off firecrackers while the younger ones would play with the snappies and smoke bombs. We would play softball and other games. Once it became dark we would all gather our lawn chairs and blankets out in the orchard. A few of the older cousins would set up the fireworks out on the HWY (yes the hwy) and start the show. The younger cousins were given sparklers to "write and draw in the sky". Before we went home for the night we would catch some lightening bugs and put them in a jar with some holes poked through with an old beat up ice pick. Those were the days.
My parents are just too busy to stop and do anything like that these days. It makes me sad. No one seems to like to celebrate anymore- it always seems like a chore these days. Mom said she wasn't going to do anything because she didn't have time to clean her house. Who really care if there are a few cobwebs or the endtables are dusty? We are going to be outside most of the time or in the pool. But no she is not even home today. My dad's mom is house-ridden with her broken hip and we have to take care of her. My mom's mom is house ridden because she smokes too much and has made herself sick. My mom's dad works way too hard and pushes himself until he can't go anymore. He is way to old to be out mowing hay in 100 degree weather and no cab on the tractor. He can barely walk across a parking lot with out holding on to grandma's wheelchair. yet he thinks he needs to bale hay. He doesn't even have very many cows, but he has land and is tight as they come. He will sell the hay. We all think he should just rent his land out. I know my husband would like to rent it.
I think we will probably go out to the college tonight and watch the big fireworks display-that is if the kids aren't afraid like they were last year.
Yesterday Chris and I took them to their very first movie- Cars 2. Sophia was afraid for the first few minutes, but she got over it. Cooper LOVED it. He wants to go back today. I wouldn't mind if it weren't so expensive! $5 for him and $8.50 for me! It seems kinda pricey to me.
Today Chris and dad were going to start baling the straw, but miraculously it is too wet. Yes it finally rained yesterday. We are not complaining about it being too wet.
I would like to take the kids swimming today in the river, but Chris is not home, and I can't take them by myself. Cooper likes to play in the water- Sophia is not so sure about the water, but she likes to splash a bit with her hands.
I grilled corn and hot dogs for lunch, but the corn wasn't very good. I bought some cream soda to drink but it is not as good as those I had on the fourth when I was growing up. I really miss those days.
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