Timeless rambelings

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????

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

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!!!

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...

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

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

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.