shortyjohnson farms

denying you're in denial is not denial........

2011-01-08T14:40:00.000-08:00

Wellll Helloooooo! Quite the hiatis from the blogusphere (not sure any of the spelling is acurate and to tired to care).You would think a year would provide much catching up but really not so much and like the day time soaps, I am certian I can pick right up with today and everything will blend as if we never missed an episode!!
I have to start out with saying "How great is my man?!" Well, pretty great really. He is one of the handiest people I have ever met, tries his hardest to cater to my whims and quirks and does quite well at it.
My latest is stall cleaning. I would love to not stall our horses and most of the time I think the horses would perfer to not be stalled. However, we live on a hill and it seems the wind is always blowing here. Lovely in the summer, not so much in the winter. There is not one place that the wind does not blow up/down/over/under/around and into. If there is an opening there will be snow. Because of this, we stall our horses at least at night most nights between December and March. This means stall cleaning. One of my quirks is that when it comes to cleaning I can't seem to stop at "good enough" I am all or nothing and since it had to be done, spent hours everynight in the cold cold barn. Poor Dan would have 3 stalls done to my one (but mine was cleaner!;)) By the end of last winter my love for horses was ebbing away....thank god for summer. This winter I have opted for "nothing" and tasked Dan with barn duty to which he has graciously taken on. It took a lot for me to get over the guilt. After all, he never signed on for them. It has worked out well though....he also got tired of the duty and created something to help out! So much less work in half the time and a job I couldn't have done better myself!! It may not be pretty to those of you reading but it is the most beautiful contraption I have ever known! He has assured me it is but a prototype but nothing will take it's place in my heart.

This lovely piece of machinery (if items constructed of wood count as machinery) left me plenty of time to enjoy the other aspects of pet ownership. It was a good day!

Luvin from Taz!

I absolutely love my new hat!!

Emma burned off some pent up energy....not all of it though- never all of it.

Fozzy did some "hunting"

and then came for some luvin. :)

Pretty Lady

2009-12-09T12:56:00.000-08:00

I have discovered a very cool way to upload pics directly from Picasa to my blog and am playing around to see how they turn out.

Big Man on Campus

2009-12-09T12:52:00.000-08:00

Another reason I love snow days is because you don't have to feel guilty about not doing things that should but don't have to be done outside, thus leaving more time to play...for example on the computer! Which is exactly what I'm doing. HA!

SNOWDAY!!!!!.......

2009-12-09T12:17:00.000-08:00

Seriously though,here we go again! But really, aren't I too old to be enjoying a good ole fashion snow day?! Absolutely not! Of course I now have a slightly different take on it. I'm not bundeling up to go enjoy it from the outside,no, no, no. I am deliriously happy with being "trapped" in the house knowing that everyone is fed, warm,and dry, all tucked in for the day and night and maybe another day. Although, I am longing for a cozy blanket, a cup of hot cocoa and a copy of the movie Snow Day with Chris Elliot's fantastic version of Snowplow Man!!!(which I don't have)

Yes, for whatever reason, the turkeys have come home after being gone all summer and I quite enjoyed them being gone but what do you do. Anyone up for a turkey dinner for Christmas? ;)

Overdue update.....

2009-11-22T18:40:00.000-08:00

Perhaps knowing that I included a specific timestamp in my heading will ensure I update this before the holiday following....

As I've been reminded frequently in the past month and a half, I need to get out here and let you know that we did indeed get the roof finished. It took only 4 weekends and looks quite nice! Very clean and new. I wish the inside of the attic did. And isn't it funny how one new item amongst several old ones makes the old ones look even worse than the did before? I am now trying to decide what color we should reside eventually. Not that white is bad, it just seems lacking. I'm thinking a nice gray/green.

Of course the pink Tyvek really adds a little sumpn sumpn doesn't it?! :)

This weekend was not a good one. I had to say goodbye to a very special and dear girl that has spent the last 12 years being my very best friend, sticking with me through thick & thin and giving unconditional love and sassing every day. It is far from the first time and I ask myself, why do I continue to set myself up for the inevitable heart break. I guess it means the love and happiness is worth the heartache. She had a long (although it never seems long enough) and very good life and I am comforted knowing I was able to give her that. I will miss her very much.

MissPgirl. 1997-2009

I really have no other updates at this time. I am looking forward to my youngest getting his drivers license. It seems most parents dread that time, full of worry and anxiety but I can't wait! I have put more miles on my car in the last year than the previous 4 I owned it! One more month and I will have more time at home than I will know what to do with!! WAHOO!!!
They had a wonderful football season this year losing only 2 games and since track is the only other sport he goes out for, we will have some time to relax.
#69-Trevor J. puttin the smackdown on some poor guy!

Smite Me Oh Mighty Smiter!!

2009-09-24T19:42:00.000-07:00

Finally enough money to purchase the materials to put the new steel roof on the 140 year old house. A large crew of excellent help and a beautiful weekend. We (everyone not involved in roofing) had a wonderful Saturday. The kids had a good time again. Give them a stick, a big chunk of rope and an atv and watch them go! How creative they can be!

It took all of Saturday to get the 4 layers of asphalt and original layer of wood shakes off the entire house. They say hind sights 20/20. Perhaps we should have done this in sections i.e. part off, part on, part off, etc. and perhaps we should have taken everything out of the attic to keep it clean. Who'd have thought when everything was off you'd be able to look completely through both sides and see blue sky?!

But we didn't. Go for the gusto right?! Rip it all off! After all, putting the big sheets of steel back on should be a piece of cake right?

That was Saturday.....Sunday was a slightly different outlook. I kept a wary eye on the wasps, with visions of them taking up new residence inside our now easily accessable house or possibly the slightly larger winged creatures of the night.

Sunday morning, all was good-except the dirt that fell into the portion of the attic where all my extra's are stored.

Sunday afternoon it was all to obvious that only a small portion of the roof would be completed before days end. Oh well, glass half full, I have a really good vacuum cleaner to suck up 140 years of dust, dirt and grime and Tarps were at the ready.

Monday morning, while the internet guy was reinstalling the dish dismounted from the now scantilly tarp clad roof, I thought I would begin my vacuuming.
Then it started to rain...I was thinking how nice to hear on the tarps, soothing, like camping but as it came down harder, I realized it was now raining inside! I was no where near done cleaning all the collective crap and now was watching as water poured down from the heavens, through the tarps, soaking boxes, turning the dust, dirt and grime to mud and muck and it was coming in hard!! Panic stricken, I scrambled for buckets to catch the water when I very quickly discovered they were no where near big enough to catch the incoming flow! So, mud and sweat from head to toe, in the midst of anger and dispare, tears and swearing, I managed to shove everything over enough, dumped stored clothing from rubber maid tubs into garbage bags, (more laundry to do later) placed the tubs under the leaks (leak is such an understatement) took an extra anti-anxiety pill, shut the door and went downstairs. That was Monday, it's now Thursday and I've not been back up.

Well, after re-tarping the 3rd night in a row, I think it's holding. More rain forecasted for the weekend. Bring it on.

More from the "Big Top" later......

Continued....

2009-09-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

I've decided to break my post up seeing how this is my 3rd attempt at posting. Living beyond the reach of high speed, and even though I sacrified satallite T.V. for the expense of having satallite internet vs dial up, connection can still be quite slow and I've found that too slow might as well be none. But, I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Partridge Cochin Hen.

Embracing his inner lion! Aren't zebras supposed to have stripes?!

Timeless rambelings

2009-09-16T07:01:00.000-07:00

Here we are half way through September, the leaves are turning, falling, and Halloween is just around the corner. Obviously blogging has ranked low in my all to often scewed list of priorities and yet, with all the time that has passed since my last post I feel I have nothing new to share except my new found appreciation for all times when I was young, hearing the common phrase udders freaquently (from those who at that time seemed old!) "where has the time gone?!"
However, I felt compelled to post some new pics of the "ladies" (and gentlemen) for Thelma...or is it Louise, (I never know which is which)as well as a few others that prove I am very easily amused.
My lovely little flock as really filled out over the summer months. They've been given free range of the farm yard for the past couple of weeks and I still love wathcing them do....what chickens do. No eggs as of yet, but I knew going in that I didn't purchase a great egg laying breed.

Chipndale in all his glory now living up to an alternate reference of his name. He has matured much quicker than the rest of the chickens and is trying with all his little rooster might to be the ladies man! (whether they like it or not) However, being extremely high strung, very noisey and somewhat aggresive, he will probably not be a long standing member around here.

Blue Cochin Rooster- still looking very similar to the hens but as I mentioned, late bloomers. Still pretty though.

White Chochin Hen
Silver Lace Cochin Rooster- Can't wait to see what he looks like all grown up!

Black Cochin Hen my bravest and most laid back. (Dare I say favorite?!)

Buff Cochin Hen.

Therapy????

2009-06-11T19:41:00.000-07:00

I've read that having a fish aquarium can be very theraputic and reduce stress levels. True but I no longer get enough satisfaction to outway the hassle of cleaining it. No fish for me. Although I love to go the big aquariums and could spend an entire day sitting in one spot.
Instead, I have my girls who are growing up to be quite the lovely ladies! This week was their first venture outside and they are really loving it! I find that I can easily lose 30-60 minutes just watching them do.....what chickens do.

I took these pictures with my phone so the quality is lacking a bit. If you look really close you can see the feathers down the legs. They look very retro in their bell bottoms! (except Chipndale)

And here is Chipndale looking nothing like a chipmunk anymore.

I can't have ALL chicken pictures!

And even with the insane schedule lately I was able to catch a movie...in a theatre! Nothing beats that! I was dying to see Drag me to hell and my bff Fran was eager to join me! It was a blast! Not only because of the good company, turns out it wasn't so much scary but but grosly hilarious!! If you like the Evil Dead movies this is definately a must see! Nothing like seeing a haggard old gypsy woman put the smackdown on the cute little doe eyed blonde!! And what did I take away from this? Don't mess with the elderly!

Catching up

2009-05-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

Well not bad, 3 weeks since my last post. It feels like it's been longer. I've been wanting to get out here but between an unbelievably slow connection (still working on that) and extra hours at work which is due to be increasing more starting next week (thankful I have a job) and getting a 2nd house ready to put on the market (Now the things I've wanted done for 5 years are getting done) It seems to leave just enough time to feed everybody give them a little attention and head off to bed to start again tomorrow.
Another reason I've been itching to post is due to the babies. They seem to grow and change daily! They no longer are the cute little cotton balls I picked up in one small box just 3 weeks ago. Sad, but yet exciting. They have gotton a lot of their feathers in and you can now see what color they are going to be!

This little crabby looking girl will be completely white.

This will be what they call blue.

Here is a group shot that shows the buff and partridge(brown)as well as the silver lace (black s/white speckles)

Here is one of the blacks.

And of course there is chipndale who it turns out is a speckled sussex?? To me he/she looks like a sparrow. He/she was the first one to feather out and has far more than the rest of the group.

The yellow chicks which were CXR's (jumbo rocks) are really growing fast. It's seems all they do is eat and grow.

And I can't forget some of the other "Kids"
...They really do have a regular water bowl but I guess it's not as fun...

Here's the "old lady" kicking it up a little.

Finally here!!!

2009-05-02T16:33:00.000-07:00

I want to put out a very special Thank you to Murray McMurray Hatchery!

We just couldn't wait any longer (plus I couldn't stand the thought of my little babies being shipped via mail). When Dan told me it wasn't far, I called and changed my order to "pick up" instead of delivery and this morning we headed west!
I was in love from the minute they opened the box lid to show us our purchase. I knew they would be small (this isn't the first time I've seen a baby chicken) but I never realized they would be that small! They are absolutely DARLING!!! ....and messy.

They've been home now for about 7 hours and everyone is eating, drinking and making a mess of the newpapers. Whew! I was very excited to take some pictures and took several which proved to be a smart move because they are very difficult to photograph. They are constantly moving, not to mention the time I spent trying to edit out the babypoo which proved next to impossible, in 7 hours it's everywhere!! Dan's gonna stay pretty busy for a while! LOL!

Of course all the yellow babies are going to grow up to be white and I know what most of the other are supposed to look like as well but there is one that really stands out and has me puzzled....it looks like a chipmunk to me so this one is going to be.......chipndale! (did I just age myself?)

Another week...

2009-04-19T19:52:00.000-07:00

Spring has finally hit our little mini farm! As we were out splitting wood (cleaning up a huge pile of cut wood that came with the house) I noticed that the trees were blooming! I so often get caught up with the fast pace of life and end up missing the simple yet extrodinary wonders the surround but not this weekend!! The buds were so beautiful that I just had to stop what I was doing and grab my camera.
We are hoping to put a new roof on the house and add a dormer or two and turn the attic into a bedroom but to do that, we need to clean up the wood pile. It's a crazy six degrees of seperation thing that I won't go into but there you have it. If I clean the wood up then complete several other things I will end up with a new bedroom and maybe, just maybe an upstairs bath.
We also spent some time today getting ready for our new arrivals due May 4th! Dan has been diligently reading books and taking notes. We have the first "brooder house" ready. 37 little fuzzy peeps!! You know I'll be taking pictures like a crazy woman when they get here!!

Easter Weekend

2009-04-12T18:16:00.000-07:00

Heres hoping everyone had a Happy Easter!!
Since Mother Nature decided to be gracious this weekend and kindly grant us lovely weather Dan and I decided we would take full advantage and do some much needed cleaning of the treeline. Yes, I know some of you may be saying "but what about the natural habitat?" and to that my reply is.....we live within a couple of miles of a large county park- the critters can go there! (plus there are still several fence lines in the area) OR they can go hide in the barn. It currently has very easy access!
We decided that it was better to clean it out and let new bushes grow in and rid the area of the years of knocked down, broken and dead shrubs and tree tops. I was suprised how much dry, dead, brittle wood was crammed into that small area. It was actually more of a kindling line than a tree line. Not to mention Mulberry trees, HELLO!!! Why is it they grow everywhere you don't want trees and no where you do? We did leave several large ones so there is my contribution to the wildlife. There will still me many berries for the wildlife.
We were able to clean out half of it. Just enough to really let you appreciate a good days work and make the remaining untouched half look ten times worse!
The biggest battle was disposing of the waste. Burning is not often an option here due to being located on very high ground and having a constant "breeze".
We were able to burn a small portion and hopefully finish the remaining already cut a piled messes within the week. Then we can start on the second half!
Dan's biggest toy really made quick work of hauling the brush! Nice not to have to haul it by hand but it left big tractor tire dents all over. Oh well, I'll worry about those another day.

this is how you make a really big fire! It was orginally SO big I was to busy watching for the surrounding Cedars to burst into flames to take a picture!!

Whos got the marshmellows??

Gentle Hands

2009-04-08T18:06:00.000-07:00

It amazes me how these grubby, cracked, often dirty, battered and abused manual labor hands can also be so gentle and tender. It also makes me giggle when I see the "mighty hunter/woodsman extraordinaire" sitting on the floor in the spare room, bottle in hand quietly talking in the most soothing tone to his little orphan bunny that has become very attached to his adoptive mother. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't witnessed it with my own eyes.

It's really spring right?!

2009-04-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

Mother Nature and I are not on speaking terms right now. Yet another day avoiding the outside. I swore I would not blog today altough I am oh so tired of cleaning, sorting papers, laundry, paying bills and surfing the same stuff on the web. I swore I wouldn't blog because I really had nothing to share and vowed I would not blog about the weather again. I swore......and then....
I saw a flock of robins in the yard. Hanging around in one of the few spots that didn't have snow, snitching scraps of cracked corn left by the turkeys. (my only form of bird feeder) better than nothing right?!
However, for the past 30 minutes I have been listening to a light tapping on my front window to which after the first few minutes I had to go see what it was.

Apparently this Robin is unhappy with the spring weather we are having as well and wants to come in the house with everyone else! He wasn't hitting the window hard, merely fluttering at it with his Robin sized determination to gain access. Had he known waiting for him inside were the dogs eagerly anticipating his success I'm sure he would have been quite content finding a nice perch in our completely bird accessable barn.

And yes, I realize the pictures are not of the best quality however, you need to keep in mind that I was trying to snap it quickly all while holding back to two bird dogs trying to go through my window to get it!! Not an easy feat!
So I caved I blogged once again about a weather related topic.
And in my boredom I shopped online. But unlike the typical woman, I didn't shop for shoes, clothing or even housewares, bedding or new decor (although all of those items would have been more practical) No indeed, I ordered my baby chicks which are to arrive the first week of May!! Wahoo! Now I'm somewhat glad Dan is laid off for a while, after all he has a chicken coop to build now! LOL!
I was very discriminating in my choices. I didn't settle for just any ole run of the mill chicken, no no no, my chicken of choice is Cochin. They are big and poofy with feathers all the way down the legs. I ordered 2 girls in all six beautiful colors for total of 12 egg layers! I am so excited for summer!

absent

2009-03-16T19:24:00.000-07:00

A flood of mixed emotions. Excitement, disappointment, anxiety guilt and disgust. Yes, I have been cheating. I was enjoying my blog, what girl doesn't like to talk and share?! It was fun and I found myself posting the dumbest things just because. Then, someone introduced me to facebook. That was all it took. It was new, there was feedback, I reconnected with some old friends that I hadn't talked to in 25-30 years. I was quickly sucked into looking at walls and profiles and pictures. Not always because I was intersted in a good way some of it is just downright snooping!
I found I had nothing to say on my blog but would rush out to see what was new on facebook. What was everyone up to? Don't get me wrong, I love that I have been able to reconnect with some very dear friends that I did lose touch with however, I am swaying away, being more "selective" with time I spend out there. I don't care to partake in the extra things such as the beads, sweets, pass a drink etc. Connect, chat, catch up and share photo's...can't that be enough? So now that I am "restricting" my time I can come back to blogging which is much more enjoyable.

I was correct in that we no longer have snow and now have plenty of mud!! It is definately spring by the signs of Edd and Eddy stepping up to take Ed's place now that he is now longer with us. We will eventually have many little turklings (I don't know what you call baby turkeys) running around. They have been fun to watch.
what else is new?....
snow to mud...blonde to auburn......I thought I'd see what life was like for a redhead! Going well.... Oh! EXCITING!! I got my port out last Thursday! What a big day that was! If I'd have known it was so pretty I would've had them leave it on the outside!

For those of you reading this that do not know me -can't imagine there would be anyone in that catagory- I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2006. I just hasd all my 6 month checks and so far so good- I am still clear so I decided it was time to go that next step!!
The surgeon that I had was the best!! He is somewhat like Ron White only sober (I hope) Cracks me up!!! He assisted in my exploratory surgery, put my port in and then took it out. Of course I was out for the first two procedures but that last one made up for it!
Well sadly, that brings everything up to date. No quilting at the moment as I have been working a lot and then trying to help my mom get back into her flood damaged/repaired house.
Can't wait till May! I am ready to kick back and relax! My goal is to keep my posts more up to date. So goodbye for now, but never fear- I will be back! LOL!

A whole month you say?!

2009-03-02T19:42:00.000-08:00

I just don't know where the time goes nor can I tell you what I have been doing for the past 30 days that has kept me so busy that I haven't had anything to share and yet, I am still without anything really. Anything good anyway.
I was asked to update the stop sign with all the warm weather we have been having and so here it is. Doesn't it look tall?!

As I talked previously, I did start quilting and I've really been enjoying it. This actually started out to be an inexpensive hobby making dog blankets out of old jeans and sweatshirts but has really grown from there!
I am posting some of the squares I have completed. Now, keep in mind I don't sew and I obviously do not sew well but I love to try. I am a very impatient person that bores easily when it comes to hobbies and projects. I started out without an iron but I couldn't wait so I just started cutting squares and sewing them together and I really had no pattern in mind....this is what I started with...

Then I decided to try to make a pattern......

Then another....

Then I decided I would just try each of the several patterns in the book and worry about connecting them all later....

The funny thing is that I am actually seeing more as I go.....more of how the colors make up patterns within the patterns if you are really careful with how you line things up.....So I actually see where I could have improved on some of the squares I've done not only in making sure things line up better but also in paying more attention in how the colors line up.
I really think I may be working on more than one at a time.

Still peeking out..

2009-02-01T09:51:00.000-08:00

Yesteday was wonderful weather~wise with temps in the upper 30's!! It's actually melting a little! I saw several people out having a good time on their snowmobiles before we lose the snow completely. I personally don't have a snowmobile so it will be no love loss for me. I keep saying how ready I am for the snow to be gone and then I stop and think..... actually daydream....envisioning the trade off.....we all know it's not going to just evaporate, it will melt and melt means mud...lots and lots of mud so for now, I will enjoy the nice clean snow!

Untitled

2009-01-24T17:02:00.000-08:00

The other day I was wathcing Dan move snow (again) and as often happens, something just popped into my head. Something I remembered from high school. So off I was to search the web and I found it......

This was take from "The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus"
The gods had condemned Sisyphus to ceaselessly rolling a rock to the top of a mountain, whence the stone would fall back of its own weight. They had thought with some reason that there is no more dreadful punishment than futile and hopeless labor.

and there's Dan in his own purgatory of futile and hopeless labor, moving the snow only to have it blow back in tomorrow...and tomorrow....and tomorrow.....

Diversify

2009-01-20T18:21:00.000-08:00

I am a recovering TV junkie....But like many other addicts I am finding that I am simply replacing one vice with another. Intead of a continual scroll through the channels, its now web surfing, blog pages, and now facebook? So on my mission to become a more well rounding individual I have began a new challange....quilting.

and to add to the challange, rumor has it that this is turning into a quilting throwdown between Ray and I against a golden girls version of Thelma and Louise. I don't know...Thelma is bringing experience to the table...although I'm not sure she has actually finished a quilt. Ray will be carrying the experience on our team since I'm just beginning. This should be good!

Update....

2009-01-18T19:31:00.000-08:00

I told BettyG I would get an updated picture of the stop sign at our corner once I was able to get out of the driveway..........

Is the snowplow man required to get out of the truck and scoop the snow away from the sign if it gets deep enough to cover it completely?? hmmmmm....

I hope I don't have to find that one out.

Winter Casualty.....

2009-01-18T08:16:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure you could call it that but none the less, today I am sad. I truly do not wish death on any of Gods creatures but does it make me a bad person when I question to myself, out of all 5 of the birds here, why Big Ed? The one that looked different, the one that greeted me every morning, strutted his stuff for me. and gobbled back at me when I talked to him? Sigh...............
Big Ed
????-2009

realization

2009-01-15T15:58:00.000-08:00

This week has been a challange. I am feeling like quite the slacker. I am into only my second week at my new job (which I must say, I am loving so far) and I've already missed half of one day (for an appt I had scheduled prior to having a 2009 calendar) and all of yesterday due to the weather. Winter has worn its welcome completely out at my house.
Yesterday was another snow day for us. It doesn't matter how much snow falls, it's how much wind we have and yesterday we had plenty. Our lovely "summer breeze" has been wreaking havoc since the end of October.
Everyone is getting very tired of being pent up inside.......

Or is everyone just getting tired?!.........

Today was supposed to be the ultimate low but the wind died down so it was back to work and there is no where else to go but up starting tomorrow! I believe I heard or read that we will be back above zero temps by weeks end, getting all the way up to the 30's by midweek next week!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!
You probably won't hear from me as I will be back outside! I've got a ton of work to do to wear these dogs out! Anyway, I digress....back to the job.....
...I don't know why I didn't make a move like this years ago! Yes I do. There is a very fine line between excitement and fear. The unknown can be exciting but it can also be quite frightening.
Perhaps the fear of the unknown combined with the comfort of familiarity out weighed the excitement of something new. Whatever the reason, I am so glad that I over came and made the leap. I am really enjoying the interaction and the feeling of having a job that is not just going through the motions.
I still have a while before I will be comfotable again but who says that's not a good thing?
I stopped in my old area today to visit for a minute (I don't want them to feel out of my sight out of my mind) and I as I was talking to my pal Ray about an e-mail that was sent out.....

I realized I had made the right decision. I also realize that I need to work on my fear of the unknown, not being such a procrastinator and taking more leaps of faith. What's the worst that can happen?

To add to a good day, I was happy to get the mail. I received 2 more movies! (I recently joined netflix) I am going to really enjoy that as well I think. All we currently have is a TV and a dvd player. No cable, no dish, no antena, all we can do right now is watch movies, seriously, no joke. I really don't miss it though....much.

And I received my new Murray McMurray Hatchery catalog (Thanks Thelma!) If you have seen my previous pics you have seen the Turkeys. They came with the place in addition to a couple of Guineas that we no longer have thanks to the native wildlife.
I have been playing with the idea of building a chicken coop/yard (to keep them safe at night) getting some chickens and maybe replacing the Guineas. I never knew there was such a variety. I am leaning towards Cochins chickens. They are rated low as layers but they are a large chicken with feathered legs, come in several pretty colors and appear almost "fluffy". Since my only interest is eggs for myself, a few friends and family, they don't really need to be prolific egg layers. I am not sure about the guineas. They state they are wonderful for eating bugs especially tics but you have to buy a minimum of 30. That's alot of Guineas! I may have to find someone to split the order with. They were comical to watch. It may not happen this year since it's our first year living here and we are finding things that are a little higher on the priority list but I'm having tons of fun looking! I am very much a planner so I am enjoying deciding the future site and design of Shortyjohnson Farm's Poultry Palace.

Photo~op

2009-01-11T18:04:00.000-08:00

For not starting out well, today ended up to be a wonderful day! I woke up early, headed down stairs (I live in an older 2 story farm house) only to slide off the second step from the top and continue on my ass all the way to the bottom. Somewhere along the line I managed to scrape my knee on the wall but can't imaging how?! After about 30 minutes and 2 cups of coffee I had forgotten all about it until a couple of hours ago when I bent over. My prediction is tomorrow won't be good. :) I promised by youngest son I would help him with his 1,000 word report on Zachary Taylor (12th president).
About half way through I decided to stop and take advantage of the daylight with some pictures.

Emma still has her bouts with the cats but overall, everyone is adjusting fairly well living under one roof. I still can't wait until spring and I do think I noticed that it was light a little later today~that brought a smile to my face! The countdown is on! I believe it's March 20?

BRING IT ON!

Emma, (pictured above) is my a.d.d. child. One minutes I am pulling my hair out and the next I am rolling with laughter. Actually, I often find myself trying to styfle a laugh while scolding her. I love her to pieces. If you read the GWP breed description you will see the reference to "clown" at least once if not twice. The only time this dog is still is when she is laying in your lap because she is truly the most affectionate dog or staring at the cats (or whatever else she is "hunting")It is all she can do to sit still long enough for you to snap off one picture then she's off. Usually she is dragging others in with her to play.

Below is the gag reel to todays photo~op.

He's built more for power than grace and speed!

We had a great time playing today and we got our report done. 1300 words! I even learned a few things! All told, it really was a great day!

Here kitty, kitty, kitty!

2009-01-10T20:46:00.000-08:00

Waiting for the cats to come downstairs and play.

and waiting......

I actually have her attention for a brief second...

Then it's off to find someone to play with...

Mr. Mellow....

Etc......

2009-01-09T18:07:00.000-08:00

This post is dedicated to my good friend BettyG. who is moping right now because she is vacationing down south and missing some of the best winter weather we have had in a decade or more!

Now, even though her words said how much she was enjoying the fun and sun you could tell it was forced. It was obvious that what she wanted to say was that she would rather be here, with us, plowing the driveway instead of walking the beaches, shoveling the walks instead of basking by the pools, skidding around on the icy sidestreets instead of cruising with the top down up the coastal highways and wearing 5 layers of clothing before daring to step outside or risk frostbite instead of shorts and tank tops that expose your already bronze skin to the harmful rays of the sun!

So for you BettyG, I am posting one more seasonal picture, to keep you from becoming so homesick that you cast your remaining vacation plans aside and race back home!!
Enjoy the rest of your vacation!!

Trapped again...

2008-12-27T15:33:00.000-08:00

It seems 2008 is going to roll out with Mother Nature continuing her unecessary reminder that it is not we who are in control....

I have to be the first to admit, I was loving the 41 degree weather yesterday. However, like most things that seem to be too good to be true, there was an underlying consequence. There is an old adage, what goes up must come down and apparently that includes the temperature. Today we are dealing with yesterdays melting snow combined with this mornings gentle rain in the form of a lovely layer of ice on everything!

And so here we sit again. Luckily it's not been bad enough to make us lose power. So we've made the best of it. Dan's been working out in his shop finally getting things put away. He hasn't had a chance to unpack since we moved here in July.

After spending a good portion of the morning trying to get xbox live hooked up (inluding many pestering calls to my very patient and personal IT support person) only to discover there is still something not quite right about it, I took the opportunity to get caught up with my much neglected laundry, baked brownies, date bread, and beer bread. I like to cook, don't really like to bake. I'm not good at starting something, walking away and remembering to come back! But all went well.

Trevor decided to get out the "Big Cat" and have a little fun outside. So I decided to grab the camera and get some action shots.
It's a good thing I don't have a yard fettish!

Do you see the yard those tires are spitting out behind them?!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas???.

2008-12-24T15:08:00.000-08:00

Only when it comes to the weather!

You can almost see where the road is!

Even Big Ed's getting tired of it. He and the horses wait for me so patiently in the mornings for breakfast!

I do believe the cats are tired of the cold as well, not because they have to be out in it of course. oh no, no, no! But because the dogs are in the their house and Emma is relentless! I'm even catching myself day dreaming of a nice a condo somewhere warm with a lovely patio garden! hmmmm...tempting.

It's Christmas Eve day and I can't believe its here. I, to my own dismay, have managed to out grinch myself this year! No tree, no decorations, I have not baked one cookie or made one piece of candy and bought nothing fun or frivalas in the way of gifts.

It seems everyone is trying to tighten the purse strings, yet are in need of practical items so cash (or prepaid visa cards) it is. Boring.

This is the time of year when I start wishing the current days away anxious to start anew! Thinking, plotting and planning on how 2009 is going to be the year!
I believe I have taken the first step in making that happen by pursuing a position in a different area at the company I work in. Same comfy place but a change in faces and challanges. It's always good to shake things up.
I have denounced the lemming pledge and will follow it no more!

I am happy to say that there will still be good friends not far away plus some aquaintances that I'm sure to get to know better!
And so, with the wind blowing the snow into drifts all around me, my wish to you is a very warm (even if only in your hearts) healthy, and happy holiday season!

Snowed in Sunday

2008-12-21T10:55:00.000-08:00

Fozz and Ms. P enoying the snow day

Winter in Iowa, you gotta love it. I believe I heard the temperature to be a balmy -9 without windchill and some insane number like -40 with it. I'm not quite sure what keeps me here since I am not a fan of winter sports of any kind.

We've spent the day indoors taking it easy, playing on the computer and watching T.V. Something that really doesn't happen much since the move to the country as we don't really have the T.V. hooked up yet. DVD's mostly reruns playing for background noise when it gets too quiet or I find I'm talking to myself too much!

My friend Ray has been trying to get me blogging for a while and although I don't really feel my life so interesting that others would be intrigued enough to read about it, I thought I'd give it try for something fun to do as it would appear I will be in need of some indoor hobbies.

In one half of the house we have Fozz and Ms.P who are kicking it my speed while the other half is not feeling the love of being snuggled together under one roof!

Baby Boy

A War of Wills