Been Out of the Loop

Things always seem to come at you in multiples, especially when they bring disruption to your life. It appears that often life will not bring just one difficulty at a time. Not that having one thing always makes it any easier to handle. Have just one thing go wrong or break down and suddenly others issues need to be dealt with at that same moment. Pleasures on the other hand make better company when they show up together. Multiplying the joy that they bring to the party. But that was not the case around here for the past couple of weeks. WHEW! I wasn't sure we were ever going to see daylight there for a few days. Physical illness is never welcomed and a sure pain when it attaches it's self to more than one family member at a time. But I am glad to state we survived the bug that came calling uninvited. Sickness can be hard to handle anytime but when there are other issues going on at the same time it can make for some long difficult days. If this is as bad as it gets around here, we can't complain considering what other families are having to deal with. It is all a matter of your perspective, whether to grumble or give thanks. We are giving thanks!

A lot has happened on the home front and I wish I could have written the details down as they happened. Looking back we tend to forget the little details that gives the everyday occurrences character. And now my camera is acting up, just another item on the "difficult" list around here, so pictures can't even be posted to help tell the story. Arrrrgh!

(Good news I finally won the battle and convinced it to share it's pictures)

We were unsure for about a day whether we had another broody hen in the making. One of the R.I.R.'s found Big Mama's nest empty while she was out getting a bite and decided to take up the cause so to speak. Needless to say Big Mama was not happy upon her return to find a free-loader in her place. She quickly attempted to reclaim what was hers, by even sitting on top of the hen. After much shuffling I managed to move her off of the offending foe. Who by my thoughts was just being a good nanny to the unhatched eggs by keeping them warm in her absence. Especially since it was during one of the coldest spells we've had so far this year. Separation finally occurred with Big Mama getting her nest back and the wayward nanny being placed in another box with a warm egg to watch over.

From the look on her face she still wanted what was down below and decided to find a place on her own, more suitable to her liking. Restlessness finally settled down after I gave her more than one egg to hover over. All was at peace in the hen house once more.

But the itch only lasted till bed time when she decided it was warmer sleeping with her room mates and left the nest she had coveted earlier in the day. She is such a pretty little hen and may make a wonderful mother one day after she gets a little more mature.

Birth announcements did not get sent out even though Big Mama hatched out her babies right on schedule. Four little fuzz balls out of 6 eggs hatched on Friday, January 16. I feel that was a pretty good percentage for a first time mother hen and midwife (me). We did call "Fred" (the father) and his owner to let him know the good news. Right now they are solid black with a light colored spot on the top of their heads. We are hoping that they will take after their father and look like Plymouth Barred Rocks.

The first arrived about lunchtime with two more siblings being found snug under Big Mama next time we checked on them late that afternoon. Bringing them to the house to keep warm and fed, we left the other 3 eggs under her for the night. Thinking that she would not miss the little rolly-pollies taken from her. I guess she had to show us a thing or two, for low and behold the next morning as Lon opened up the pen for the ladies to get out. There she sat with another chick peeping out from under her, almost 16 hours after the hatching of the first one. From all that I have read this not normal, they should have all hatched within an hour of each other. I am beginning to realize that nothing is ever "normal" on a farm.

It has been only a week and already they are outgrowing the aquarium we are using as a brooder to start them in. Little feathers are emerging on their wings and show some black with white markings, so we may get out wish after all. Regardless of what they look like, we are planning on keeping them.The smallest of baby tail feathers are showing up as well. All four are scrambling over each other, jumping up at imaginary stuff in the air, eating and messing up their quarters on a steady basis. Active babies = healthy babies.

Now the challenge is to find them a larger dormitory for the remainder of their preschool weeks of learning and growing. Which is a tiring chore for one so young. Catching a nap every chance you get is a good thing, no matter where you find it!

We have not come up with a suitable name for our rooster yet. He is doing a wonderful job of watching over the girls and comes running anytime one of them sends out a distress call. His tail feathers are slowly coming back in and his coat is looking shinier and healthier every day. Although his crowing leaves something to be desired. It is not from the lack of trying, as he exercises it throughout the day. Causing us to smile each time we hear him. We don't know if it will improve or not and have considered calling him "Rusty" because of it. As he matures it may change in quality and we do not want to saddle him with a name that would no longer fit him.

Our search for more land has not left our thoughts as we have traveled back roads and highways all over the surrounding rural area within about a hour + ride from our home. It seems there are a lot of other people doing the same kind of thinking and looking, making available property kinda sparse. We do have our eye on one in a neighboring state that has potential and a piece closer to home, but that already has a contract on it. It would be great to have it but at this point in time we will just have to wait and see if it is the one the Lord wants us to have. Reading and research continues as we try to learn all that we can before trying things first hand. Though there are somethings you just have to jump right into the midst and start. I think my husband may even be willing to let me have a milk cow, if we can find the right place to support one. YAH, fresh milk, butter, cheese and cream with out any interference from mankind. I can see a great wholesome breakfast on the way ~ free-range eggs, pancakes with homemade butter and jams, raw honey in a cup of hot tea and a quite morning sunrise to savor it all. YUM YUM!

It will soon be time to start planting our Spring garden and the decision at hand is, how much do we want to plant here. If I could choose, I would love to start a large garden come Spring on our dream place. Looking through the seed catalogues leaves me with a list longer than we have space for right now. I may have to start one here and save a few seeds in case we get the chance to obtain a new garden spot in the future. For now it is quite cold and dreary looking outside, not suitable for tender young sprouts. Though to start some seeds indoors would give me a jump on getting an earlier harvest on some sturdy veggies and calm the itch I have to be back out scratching in the dirt.

Looking for pleasures this winter,

Deborah