HAZEL-A BOOK I AM READING-JEWEL WEED

GREETINGS

The heat and humidity are still here, it can’t last forever!

HAZEL

He really looks like he got into a bad fight. Think all this damage was from him pecking the hardware cloth.

Poor Hazel something happened in the night.  Mrs. Brown is perfectly fine. After getting them both back in the house and cleaning him up I found a hole under the fence.  My son and I both feel that something tried to get them and he was protecting her. Nothing was done to the cage.  He is still quite feisty and crowing.  I will get some baby food  for him and I won’t put them out again.  He will need time to heal.

Much has been said about rooster.  I am glad that I have them.  Their brave instincts are amazing.  Protection and making sure the girls eat are  priorities.

The love that these two birds have for each other is a sight to behold.  He called out to her while I was taking him upstairs and she was pacing back and forth talking to herself.  They were so happy to see each other.

A BOOK I AM READING

STILL LIFE WITH CHICKENS  by Catherine Goldhammer

I have had this book for a while, there are some books that need to be read over and over.  Each time taking something new away from them.  It’s a memoir of starting over.  Her marriage ends and she takes a huge tax bracket dive.  Life changes for her in so many ways but with the addition of chickens and a new life she perseveres.   I highly recommend this book, life has twists and turns this book shows something good can come out of the worst of times.

JEWEL WEED

The jewel weed outside my computer window is now over 12 feet high.   Hope to get to puling that soon.

Many thanks for reading my blog today and I hope that its cooler where you are.  Carole

 

 

USING UP OLD YARN-ONE GOES OUT AND TWO COME IN-MORNING GLORIES

GREETINGS

Another beautiful day today.  Lots to do and cooler weather to do it in.  Blanket weather at night.  Sometimes the hens have to lay eggs at the same time it does cause some space problems when they both want to do it in the same space.  Their are two more nest boxes!!

Matilda  is kind of upset with the situation!

USING UP OLD YARN

Years and Years ago I was given a trash bag full of very thick yarn.  It sat for years in the bag then I used some to weave a rug, then more to crochet a rug and now I am working on the last of it.

 Made this cat bed while on the river.  One more to go and the yarn will finally be gone.  The cats will love them.

 

ONE GOES OUT AND TWO COME IN

Yesterday while letting the side chickens out I noticed that Hazel was holding his little leg up and hopping.  Immediately brought him in and soaked his leg,  I couldn’t see anything visible and it seems to be better today.  I also brought Mrs. Brown in as they can’t stand to be separated.

I will keep them in for  a little while to watch him and bathe his foot daily.  When they go out they will go in the dog house as the new hen is working well with the others.  Now that this has all happened Eddie can finally go out with the girls that will happen this evening.  What a day for him.

I never get sick of seeing the beauty of morning glories.

 

Hope you have a wonderful day.  Many thanks for reading my blog.  Carole

 

 

FAMILY BLUEBERRY PICKING-ADDING THE NEW HEN TO THE FLOCK-HOPS AND MORNING GLORIES

GREETINGS

The humidity has gone away .  It’s a beautiful summer day.

BLUEBERRY PICKING WITH FAMILY

Friday was a delightful summer day with the humidity gone and bright blue skies we headed to Chesterfield to pick blueberries on my cousin’s farm.  Roberts Family Farm.  The berries are organic, sweet and plump.

 I picked over 7 pounds and Davids family picked over 11 pounds.  We rode down the back roads of Chesterfield and ended up at the Williamsburg General Store.

 A place where my Dad and Uncle took my children when they were small.  The penny candy and old-fashioned toys and home-made pastries were always their favorites.  And of course an ice cream cone to top off the day.  From the store back roads home where  a turkey vulture flew very close to the car and we saw a group of turkeys.

ADDING THE NEW HEN TO THE FLOCK

It’s always interesting to add a new hens to the flock.  I have done it many ways and you never can tell how its going to work out.

Morticia has been sneaking in she is the bravest of the bantams and Kit is not happy with her and pecked her, it still did not stop Morticia but sent her daughter Violet, (who always hides behind her mothers apron strings) running back to safety.  

 The only bird who did not come in was Hazel..   He was muttering to himself another big hen!  I  sat with them for a half hour and realized that there was only one bird in the flock who would peck her and it is Rosie (funny thing in the large group of hens in the front Rose was low man on the totem pole)  I think things will work out fine and there is plenty of time.  Every day I leave the gate open a little more.   I expect to see one of Samantha’s eggs in the dog house soon as she has been in and out of it.  She loved it there last year.

HOPS AND MORNING GLORIES

The hops have made an nice archway between the two chicken areas.

The Morning Glories are so nice this year.  Each year I worry that they won’t come back but they do and with more brilliant colors.

Many thanks for reading my blog on this wonderful summer day.  Enjoy the day.  Carole

 

 

WHERE DOES OUR FOOD COME FROM-NEST DISCOVERY-JAMMIE DODGERS-BAY TREE-HAZEL AND MRS BROWN.

GREETINGS

Much needed rain came last night with heart pounding thunderstorms.  We may get more of the same later this morning.  The farmer I buy my tomatoes plants and corn from is investing in an irrigations system this year.  It’s probably a smart move t get it now the way the weather is changing.  Tonight the humid air has gone and its a lot cooler.  Great sleeping weather.  I bought a few veggie plants yesterday including fennel which I have never grow.

WHERE DOES OUR FOOD COME FROM

Upon reading many articles about more and more food coming from China I have spent more time in the grocery store throughly checking labels of food I intend to buy.  I wanted to make Ambrosia, a delightful treat that my Aunt Helen used to make and while its loaded with bad things once in a while is fine in my book.  I went down the canned fruit isle and to my surprise nothing I wanted to buy there came from the states.  Pineapple was the most surprising, I always though that it came from Hawaii.  mandarin Oranges , China.  I am really trying not to buy items from CHina but it’s extremely hard.  I just bought a printer last week and of course its made in CHina, I had no choice.  I really hope that we as a country can get back l all the jobs that were lost to China and come back to having safe foods.  

I HAVE SPOTTED A NEST

Its located in the apple tree.  Don’t know what kind of bird lives in it but it could be a Baltimore Oriole nest.  I also saw a robin nearby buy its kind of elaborate for a Robin.  Last years dried out pumpkin vines are woven into the nest and the ends flying in the breeze.

JAMMIE DODGERS

2 packages of these gems came in the mail today from Cindy.  They are hard to find and when she does find them she puts them in the mail.  I found these on my first trip to Ireland and they are non GMO .  Great with a cuppa.

 

 

HAZEL AND MRS. BROWN

I lock them in their house every night and tonight was a perfect night to sit with them till they were ready to go in.  WHen I got out there he was inside fluffing up the nest and calling for her.  She just wasn’t ready to go in and he kept calling and calling finally he went out and followed her around.  Both chatting to each other.  I think he was saying its time to get into bed and she was saying I would like to find one more bug.  THey are settled in for the night now still chatting to each other.

BAY TREE

My bay tree is showing a lot of new growth.  I used it so much during the winter for soup and stews.  I think I will repot it soon.

Had to get hay today so leaving you with a picture from the farm.  Hope you have a wonderful evening and many thanks for reading my blog.    Carole

LILACS-MORE DANDELIONS-HAZE AND MRS. BROWN FINALLY OUTSIDE

GREETINGS

Its hot and humid today. One of the apple trees needed more sunlight so  I trimmed back the forsythia and cut it up and gathered the branches to use as kindling next winter.  Lil had apple peels for the sheep.  She loves feeding them.

LILACS

Lilac’s have always been my favorite flower.  I adore the smell and love their shape.  In most places I have lived I have had a lilac bush.  Last year I planted 3 young plants which are growing well and this year I dug up some and planted them on Elliott’s resting place. I have several very old bushes in the back of the house and they are doubles  I picked a bouquet and put it in my diningroom.

I am so busy during the day I forget they are there and then walking by then gives me an immediate sense happiness.  Too bad the season is so short.

MORE DANDELIONS

I picked more dandelions yesterday and they are now dry.  I am sure I have enough for a couple of batches of soap.

HAZEL AND MRS.BROWN.

Yesterday Charlie, Tyler and my daughter Betty helped me get some of the side chicken area ready for the inside hens.  I will be so glad to get them out of the house it has been a long winter.The large tree which fell during a spring wind storm fell on the chicken yard and blueberry bushes in the side yard.  The clean up goes on.The netting and fencing are secure so this morning Hazel and Mrs. Brown went out.

 They are happy and had a great time eating bugs and taking sun, dust baths.  I hope to get the others out tomorrow.  I am not sure about Eddie thought.  I tried to put the no crow collar on his today with no success will try again tomorrow.

He checks out their sleeping quarters

Then she does

I guess it will do

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many thanks for reading my blog today, I hope you had a wonderful day  Carole