Biddies & "Babes"

It has been awhile since I gave you an update on the biddies hatched out by Big Mama last month. They are growing like weeds and have become very active, scratching in the litter, turning over their feeder so they can scratch some more, exercising their wings with flights to the top edge of the box to perch on it, rough-housing in the small area they call home, did I day scratching like crazy and eating like there is no tomorrow. I do not remember my first chicks being this active at only 4 weeks. They seem larger in size too. I guess home grown is always a good thing. Or it maybe the genes from their father, Fred. He is a very tall and stately rooster and sorry I still do not have a picture of him to show.

Checking out the scenery from the laundry basket while housekeeping was cleaning up their room and delivering room service of Chicken chow and fresh water. With this rate of growth their living quarters will be outgrown real soon. We are beginning to see the evidence that we may have a young rooster in the making. As one of the gang is demonstrating some rooster like qualities. We had hoped that out of the hatching we would get one roo, that would take after their father, Fred. Looks like we might get what we wished for after all. Here's hoping the rest are pullets.

We finally settled on the name Rusty for our rooster. He is doing a great job of protecting the "ladies". Sending them scooting to hide in cover with just one call every time he sees a hawk flying nearby. So good in fact that he has felt threatened twice by our 2 1/2 year old granddaughter to the point of going after her. Both times she was traumatized by his behavior, with the last time leaving marks on her face. She loves the "girls" and has always felt safe around them. Petting them frequently before the "bad chicken" came to stay. Now she if fearful of being out in the yard. So we have decided to keep him penned up when she is here and let him free-range with his ladies when she is not. Yesterday was the first day of his confinement sentence and he expressed his displeasure by crowing none stop. Oh, what a racked he made. I was fearful the neighbors would complain about the noise. But the safety of a specific little redhead is more important to us.

Last Saturday we made a trip to a town about a 2 hour drive from our home to buy some more pullets. We wanted to add to our flock of layers and had hoped to get some Silver Laced Wyandottes that were about 20 weeks. Unable to reach their owner that day, we instead purchased 5 Black Sex-links from an individual that lived in the same area. We came home with 6 as the man wanted to make sure that we had what we wanted and gave us one for just in case. While at his place we noticed he had goats as well. His doe had just given birth to 2 doelings back in January and we discussed buying them from him when they are weaned. It was a nice trip and a good connection for livestock for our future homestead.

The new "Babes" were placed in a pen by themselves for their quarantine time. They were not used to being handled, or having lots of open spaces and have been afraid of us for the most part so far. But I am hopeful that given time and some extra loving and feed they will come to see us as someone they can trust. Right now Rusty has not given them much notice, but I am sure when the new Babes enter his harem of ladies he will take notice real quickly. They are between 16-20 weeks old, so it should not be long before they are laying as well.

Our customer base for eggs seems to be growing each week. Which is a good thing considering the number of eggs we will soon have available. Just yesterday we were gifted with 12 beautiful brown eggs from our soon to be 1 year old hens. Another sure sign that Spring is not too far off.

Deborah

Is Spring around the Corner?

Could it be that Spring is right around the corner? We have enjoyed warmer temperatures this week up to mid-high 60"s. An increase in activity is seen all over the place. The Canadian Geese are heard first with their soft cooing then seen as we scan the skies for the familiar V formation. As they push ever northward on their trip back up to their breeding grounds. A sure sign that Spring is not too far away. Who's gonna argue with Geese about the return of Spring? Our own familiar pair has been back on our lake for about 2-3 weeks now and have taken up the old habit of coming up in the yard. Begging for a free handout and giving our granddaughter a real treat each day. They respond to my personal call and I can't help but believe that it is the same pair that nests near our house each year. Many years ago a pair showed up one day and became very tame around us. The male had a missing foot and walked around on a stump. We named him Peg, because as he waddled around he looked just like a pirate would on a peg-leg. His mate was a devoted mother and hatched out several broods over the years. Proud parents they were, and as soon as the babies would hatch out, they were sure to bring them up to the house for us to see and comment on. With each passing year they became more tame and their offspring would come up and visit as well. The last year we saw Peg and his lady, they had aged a lot and Peg lost many a battle that spring and summer with the younger males seeking the refuge on our lake that they had enjoyed. It was apparent that their kids still came to visit as they too would respond to my call and would come near to eat the feed we scattered on the water for them. We now regularly seen this pair on the lake and they too come when called or whenever they get the notion for takeout. Even coming all the way around to the back porch for a handout. I hope they are able to hatch out a brood for themselves this year and continue the cycle that Peg and his lady started.

The warming trend we have been having has triggered growth in some other areas that speak of a Spring on the horizon. Little tuffs of green are being seen on the apple trees and jumping up out of the ground all over the yard. Yellow blossoms are forming on the forsythia, a sure sign in my book that most of the winter like weather is behind us. As soon as they get a little more growth I will cut a few branches to force into full bloom for our table pleasure.

But the surest of signs that winter is not over and a cold freeze is still due is when our plum tree puts out it's blooms. It never fails that we will have a slight warming trend with the plum tree responding to the urge to push forth it's blossoms. Only to have a freeze mid-stream that kills most of the them right off the limbs. Which leaves us with only a few hopefuls for fruit each year. Maybe we will be able to escape a late freeze this year and see a bumper crop of plums for a change.

My most favorite sign and one that coincides with my birthday each year are the daffodils and jonquils that give the sunniest color to our yard. I have a mixture of several, some purchased, and some shared from my Mom's yard. It is such a joy to cut two or three for a vase of sunshine for my kitchen window each Spring.





Opps! I guess I gave away one off the list of my Spring Favorites too early. You will just have to wait for the rest. Have you started thinking about Spring yet? What signs of it's forthcoming do you see? Start making your "Spring Favorite's" list and we will compare notes next month. It is only 5 weeks away according to the calendar on my desk.



Hopeful Spring is really just around the corner,

Deborah

Piddle & Purpose

The art of piddling is a pleasureable pursuit that few individuals engage in. I for one love to piddle around the house and yard. Floating from one activity into the next with no outline to follow, other than getting some small task done and enjoying the mindless process the activity gives to me. Yesterday was one of those piddle days for me. Having the day to myself gave me the opportunity to pursue those pleasures that most days are void of the time for. Reading is a pleasure that I try to find time for on a daily basis, but often have to settle for a few pages here and there. Not today, I sat for many hours this morning pouring over some magazines that had been waiting on me to open their covers. Inspiration abounded from their pages and helped to fuel the quiet peaceful moments shared with a endless cup of hot tea. By mid day I decided that I better get dressed in something other than my p.j.'s and enjoy the beautiful day outside also.

A cool breeze drifted across the yard as I joined the "girls" outside, enough to cause me to slip on a light jacket. One that was easily shed a few moments later though as I piddled around the hen house, fluffing nesting material, gathering eggs, filling feeders & waters and the necessary scooping out of soiled shavings. Tossing additional clean shavings over their play yard really freshened up the place, inside and out. Refreshed and energized with the physical activity along with the fresh air led to a walk up our long drive to retrieve the mail. Then a late lunch and time spent on the front porch just sitting brought rest to the body and soul. Rocking quietly as the birds sang out a song for Spring's arrival, was a serenade that went great with the crocheting that I was working on. No agenda for the day leaves it wide open for the things that nourish the mind and the heart. Something I believe we should all make time for on a regular basis. Our lives can become so filled with many things to be done, that we often forget about the purpose of just being.

Taking advantage of "down time" when it comes available is part of our purpose I believe. It is very hard to serve others and be who we were designed to be if we ignore this type of blessing in our lives. Yes, piddling may be a lost art, but I for one am doing my best to keep it alive and I believe I am the more richer because of it.

Have you piddled lately?

Deborah

Cold Chill

The house is uncomfortably cool this frosty morning. Night time temps dropping down into the 14* range the past two nights has served to put a heavy chill in the air. The folks up in the North East are seeing deeper drops in their weather coupled with snow. To them 14* lows would probably been welcomed. Just a physical reminder that we are still in the heart of winter. A season generally to be spent in less activity, a time set aside for rest, renewal of energies & restoration from the busy season preceding and following this quieter time of the year. Especially true for those living on a farm life where all the crops are in, new livestock births are yet to be, outside chores are fewer than in other seasons. Every thing; animals, plants and man mindful of the coming Spring and the flourishes of activity and growth that it brings.

Applicable to every person who walks this earth, but this is often not the case for most of mankind. This season set aside for quiet pursuits for the most part goes by with hardly a notice. Except for a complaint here and there about the weather. Each day blurs into the next in a repetitive activity that varies very little. When society lost it's connection with the land, turning from being "farmers" to industrial workers, something important slipped from our view. . . . . . . mindfulness of the seasons and our need for them.

God gave mankind a charge in the "garden" to see over it, use it, enjoy it and I believe to learn from it. Throughout history man has been seen running away from the very thing he was called to do. With each mechanical invention we have lost a piece of what it means to be connected to something bigger than the labor involved. Now very few people get their hands dirty, much less get satisfaction from it. A missed opportunity to be in touch with the rich blessings available in being in step with the seasons and the One who created them. The worst part is they don't even realize what they have lost. I believe that we, each one is born with the capacity to not only understand but to relate to this basic concept. I am more at peace within my person with each step I take towards nurturing that which God placed within me. I have lots to learn as it is not generally a concept handed down through lifestyle teaching any more. There are always exceptions to the rule and I hope to be gleaming from the experiences of others.

The simplistic acts of growing crops, raising livestock, noticing weather details and seasonally changes, will lead to a greater dependency on God I believe. There is no way around it, for our success or failure hinges on His active involvement. A grateful spirit is born out of a dependency on someone else to provide what you can not supply. I am looking forward with anticipation for the day we can set up our farm in the rural countryside. Away from the distractions of city life, the noise, traffic and the hustle bustle of the always busy, but ultimately getting less in return for the effort. Not that we haven't enjoyed some of the benefits of urban gardening already. Having a small garden, fruiting vines, bushes & trees, raising a few chickens, harvesting honey, growing flowers for beauty and feeding the birds of land and water for pleasure have ALL served as a learning ground for us. I only wish I could convince others of the benefits of doing something likewise. I wonder how many dinning rooms across America houses a box of baby chicks in them? Much less in our county, like ours does. They bring a wonder to the eyes at the miracle of growth and a melodious music as we listen to their song of life. Having them there feels as natural to me as the warm wrap around my shoulders this morning.

Which is a real need as we are without the added heat from our fireplace gas logs. The fire from 2 days ago removed that convenience from us. Dependent on a flip of a button, has left us without the necessary tools to return to the "old" ways of heating a home ~ wood. Which is not in short supply around here. Being right outside our doors standing tall and also stacked in neat little rows out back. We are learning a lesson first hand about relying on something that may be a quicker way to heat but may not be the best choice. I am sure there are many more lessons similar to be learned "down on the farm".

I want to walk side by side with the Creator of the garden, this side of heaven and beyond. What sweet fellowship to be anticipated, experienced and remembered.

Deborah