Well the time is finally getting close! We will have the first chicks in about three weeks. This weekend Lisa put up the fencing-hard work but it looks great!! (I wasn't much help since I'm having an MS relapse...but I looked on approvingly nevertheless.) lol
Still have to get the underpinning up around the coop and the storage shed where we'll keep the feed. And still have to put in the two gates-but it's looking good and we're excited to be on our way! Next weekend we'll probably hook up the heat lamp, make sure everything stays nice and toasty and then continue the anticipation. I will have plenty of weeds for them to snack on too.
Will post a picture of it all tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for a batch of healthy chicks!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Snowy Thoughts
As I sit inside looking out into the morning snow, I'm wondering what happened to the 60-degree weather we'd been having? The weather here in Appalachian Ohio has been way too warm for winter, and the only thing it has accomplished is making me yearn for the baby chicks to arrive and getting the garden going. (I suspect my friend Farmer Bob is getting a bit tired of me asking him if I can start my seeds yet!)
The nice thing about snow, even the little bit we're having now, is that it provides me with a time to slow down and just enjoy life. Some of my winter projects have actually been completed (!) although I still haven't knitted that winter hat that's been on my list since last year. I have time to enjoy the cats and attempt yet again to de-mat the Manx. I've painted the "cat room" and redecorated it; Lisa and even the cats seem to like it!
I've even e-filed my taxes already!
So what's a girl to do now? Well I could go check out the new pics of everyone's baby chicks...but that just makes me want some of my own. I don't even have any yet, but I've already figured out how to expand the coop we have so that I can get some more breeds. Cabin fever anyone?
There are two blue jays sitting on the tree beside the window, glaring at me. Time to get off the computer and go feed them! (Just one more peek at the chicks on Facebook...)
The nice thing about snow, even the little bit we're having now, is that it provides me with a time to slow down and just enjoy life. Some of my winter projects have actually been completed (!) although I still haven't knitted that winter hat that's been on my list since last year. I have time to enjoy the cats and attempt yet again to de-mat the Manx. I've painted the "cat room" and redecorated it; Lisa and even the cats seem to like it!
I've even e-filed my taxes already!
So what's a girl to do now? Well I could go check out the new pics of everyone's baby chicks...but that just makes me want some of my own. I don't even have any yet, but I've already figured out how to expand the coop we have so that I can get some more breeds. Cabin fever anyone?
There are two blue jays sitting on the tree beside the window, glaring at me. Time to get off the computer and go feed them! (Just one more peek at the chicks on Facebook...)
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Ordered Baby Chicks Today!
Well, this is the start of our new adventure. Took the plunge and order chicks this morning-Easter Eggers and Buckeyes. The Black Copper Marans had to be ordered separately and will come at a later date. I didn't know people ordered chicks so early!! I've been checking different websites trying to decide on breeds, and when I went to order found that almost all of the early dates were gone! We had hoped to have them in April, now we're looking at May and the first week of June. Ah well...I suppose that will give us more time to prepare, and maybe we'll even have the fencing up by then! lol
The Buckeye Chickens are the only breed developed by a woman-so you know we had to have those. They are on the Critically Endangered list, so at some point we will probably get a rooster and hatch some eggs. They are the color of a (duh) buckeye nut-and the woman was from (duh) Ohio. Good choice I think.
The "Easter Eggers" lay blue-green eggs. The true breed is Araucana and they are from South America. Breeders have bred for the egg color in this country, and so the "Easter Egger" was born. Not a true Araucana but the colored eggs should be a novelty and sell well.
The Black Copper Maran is also a rare breed and lays chocolate eggs (like a Hershey bar color!)
This should be fun-more to come as the days go by. Below: top pic is a Black Cooper Maran, followed by a Buckeye and then an Easter Egger!
The Buckeye Chickens are the only breed developed by a woman-so you know we had to have those. They are on the Critically Endangered list, so at some point we will probably get a rooster and hatch some eggs. They are the color of a (duh) buckeye nut-and the woman was from (duh) Ohio. Good choice I think.
The "Easter Eggers" lay blue-green eggs. The true breed is Araucana and they are from South America. Breeders have bred for the egg color in this country, and so the "Easter Egger" was born. Not a true Araucana but the colored eggs should be a novelty and sell well.
The Black Copper Maran is also a rare breed and lays chocolate eggs (like a Hershey bar color!)
This should be fun-more to come as the days go by. Below: top pic is a Black Cooper Maran, followed by a Buckeye and then an Easter Egger!
Friday, January 6, 2012
If you are a business, and especially if you are the US Government, please relay the following to your employees:
1. If your automated "customer service" message asks for my birhdate/address/order# or social security number-DO NOT ASK FOR IT AGAIN when the actual human finally comes online. If you feel you MUST repeat yourself, at least preface it by saying that you need to confirm the information; don't act like it's the first time you heard it.
2. When I, as the consumer, ask you a question-ANSWER IT!! Do not play used car salesman and talk around the issue until you've changed the subject. If you are afraid I'll be unhappy, I'm more unhappy when you DON'T ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION!
3. If I have to ask you to repeat yourself more than 3 times because I cannot understand a word you're saying, be proactive and politely transfer me to someone I can understand. The 4th time I ask you to repeat yourself I'm getting a bit perturbed.
4. When I call you for a phone number for another agency or business that YOU have referred me to in my LAST call...do not ask for my phone number and billing address. You don't need that in order to provide a phone number. Asking for my billing address allows me to think you're going to charge me for something I've probably already overpaid for. And you've already read my phone number on your intrusive caller ID.
5. Understand that if you've done the above and you then ask me to fill out a short questionnaire at the end of the call-I am NOT going to give you a good review. (I don't tip lousy service at a restaurant either-my guilt doesn't extend that far). And if you are the government, especially the Social Security office-put a service questionnaire in place. When I ask for someone to comment to, the fact that there is no recourse for me just makes me go blog about your lousy attitude. I pay your salary, and when you tell me my disability backpay is not a priority for you...well that's just insulting. It IS a priority for me, and I don't appreciate the attitude.
While your CEO's and my representatives are raking in the big bucks, I'm sitting on hold and then having to listen to your rudeness. Stop forgetting that you're being paid because of people like me..
1. If your automated "customer service" message asks for my birhdate/address/order# or social security number-DO NOT ASK FOR IT AGAIN when the actual human finally comes online. If you feel you MUST repeat yourself, at least preface it by saying that you need to confirm the information; don't act like it's the first time you heard it.
2. When I, as the consumer, ask you a question-ANSWER IT!! Do not play used car salesman and talk around the issue until you've changed the subject. If you are afraid I'll be unhappy, I'm more unhappy when you DON'T ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION!
3. If I have to ask you to repeat yourself more than 3 times because I cannot understand a word you're saying, be proactive and politely transfer me to someone I can understand. The 4th time I ask you to repeat yourself I'm getting a bit perturbed.
4. When I call you for a phone number for another agency or business that YOU have referred me to in my LAST call...do not ask for my phone number and billing address. You don't need that in order to provide a phone number. Asking for my billing address allows me to think you're going to charge me for something I've probably already overpaid for. And you've already read my phone number on your intrusive caller ID.
5. Understand that if you've done the above and you then ask me to fill out a short questionnaire at the end of the call-I am NOT going to give you a good review. (I don't tip lousy service at a restaurant either-my guilt doesn't extend that far). And if you are the government, especially the Social Security office-put a service questionnaire in place. When I ask for someone to comment to, the fact that there is no recourse for me just makes me go blog about your lousy attitude. I pay your salary, and when you tell me my disability backpay is not a priority for you...well that's just insulting. It IS a priority for me, and I don't appreciate the attitude.
While your CEO's and my representatives are raking in the big bucks, I'm sitting on hold and then having to listen to your rudeness. Stop forgetting that you're being paid because of people like me..
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Humanure and More
Today I learned that a friend of mine is going to have treated sewage deposited on six acres of his farmland. What a great thing!! The sludge is coming from a local treatment plant, and he'll be paid by the ton deposited. The sludge will be spread out over the field and left to compost for a year. These fields were used to grow hay before, now they should yield several times as much hay per acre after the rich compost settles into the ground. Part of the deal is that the soil will be tested several times each year-I would expect only rich hummus to result.
Civilizations have used this practice for millenia. It is still used in China. Read all about it in the wonderful book The Humanure Handbook by Joseph Jenkins. It is past time for us to start being responsible for how we treat our wastes. Why dump everything in landfills when we can reuse it as compost for vegetables and flowers and who knows what else?
In our times we need to be creative about how we live. Mother Earth is too precious for us to keep treating her this way. Instead of hiring some company to pour poisons on your lawn, why not plant a few tomatoes and peppers? Even in cities you can keep a few chickens! Be responsible for what you eat and what you do. Your children will thank you for it.
Civilizations have used this practice for millenia. It is still used in China. Read all about it in the wonderful book The Humanure Handbook by Joseph Jenkins. It is past time for us to start being responsible for how we treat our wastes. Why dump everything in landfills when we can reuse it as compost for vegetables and flowers and who knows what else?
In our times we need to be creative about how we live. Mother Earth is too precious for us to keep treating her this way. Instead of hiring some company to pour poisons on your lawn, why not plant a few tomatoes and peppers? Even in cities you can keep a few chickens! Be responsible for what you eat and what you do. Your children will thank you for it.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Kitten ADHD
Well! The kitten is just wild! Guess we don't remember how active they can be. lol Hopefully he'll be ready for a nap soon. Lisa has decided to name him "Strider"...although she swears he has ADHD!! He's adorable though. He has decided he is going to drink out of the "big boys" water bowl, which is an old dog bowl on a stand. The others just stand up there to drink; he's too small so he LEAPS up onto it and lands in the water every time! There is water everywhere, but unfortunately he doesn't seem to care!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
2 Years Later...
Been awhile since I blogged! Lots of stuff has happened...Lisa is working in Lancaster, and I got my social security disability approved after 3 years. What an ordeal!
We're up to 6 house cats (all rescues) including the newest- a white kitten I got Lisa for her birthday yesterday. The other cats don't seem too impressed, although they like the kitten food. Sigh. The 7th cat is Sam-who lives in a ditch down the road and refuses to come inside where it's warm. He does show up for meals 2-3 times/day though.
Most of the cats are named after Lord of the Rings characters-except Hera who is our only female and named after the Goddess of Mischief. The kitten doesn't have a name yet, but he looks Elvish so he'll probably get an Elvish name. Right now he is watching me type this from my lap.
In the spring we're getting chickens! We have the hen house ready, but still need to do some (okay ALL) fencing. We're getting abut 25, including a few guineas, and "easter-egger" chickens that lay colored eggs. Can't wait!!! More on that to come.
Stay tuned for all the news -and feel free to leave me a note!
We're up to 6 house cats (all rescues) including the newest- a white kitten I got Lisa for her birthday yesterday. The other cats don't seem too impressed, although they like the kitten food. Sigh. The 7th cat is Sam-who lives in a ditch down the road and refuses to come inside where it's warm. He does show up for meals 2-3 times/day though.
Most of the cats are named after Lord of the Rings characters-except Hera who is our only female and named after the Goddess of Mischief. The kitten doesn't have a name yet, but he looks Elvish so he'll probably get an Elvish name. Right now he is watching me type this from my lap.
In the spring we're getting chickens! We have the hen house ready, but still need to do some (okay ALL) fencing. We're getting abut 25, including a few guineas, and "easter-egger" chickens that lay colored eggs. Can't wait!!! More on that to come.
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