Random Ranting Ramblings

Random opinion #1.

Just because there is an inch of snow on the road,

does not mean you have to drive 30 km./hour.

Please people.

You give me a serious case of road rage.

I'm all for slowing down when the roads are crappy, believe me.

But an inch of snow?

And perfect visibility?

C'mon people!

This is Canada!

That's good driving conditions I'm describing.

Random opinion #2

I will never again raise Special Dual Purpose birds for meat.

Takes twice as long for birds half the size.

Oh, they were healthier.

No lame birds, they were actually very active.

No heart attacks.

But I had them for 18 weeks,

they were never without food or water,

EVER

I ran a light all night so they would eat continually,

they had an outside pen,

they were always clean and dry,

and I ended up with on average 5 lb. birds.

Actually, I still have one.

The sorriest rooster that ever was.

He was the smallest, wiry-est (is that a word?) bird ever.

Scared of everything, and extremely agile.

The kids nicknamed him the "Ninja" rooster.

Somehow we missed him on slaughter day.

And he's still here.

Just a little bigger than the hens,

still scared of everything,

still a Ninja.

He's made it this far I don't have the heart to kill him.

Even though I do not want to propagate his genetics.

Random opinion #3

My dog is bringing home dead pigs.

And different mystery parts of dead pigs.

This is bad, because:

#1, it's gross

#2, the farmer's been known to shoot dogs

But he leaves them at the end of the lane, not in the kill bin, just on the ground, and nothing is around.  No house, barns are far enough away, and there is a pile of tender tasty morsels for the taking.

But, the Libertarian in me says he has every right to shoot my dog if said dog is trespassing on his property.

The the dog Mom is me says,

"Put your damn dead stock in the kill bin!!!!"

It's a moral conundrum for me.

Random opinion #4

I have to stop sleeping.

It's the only way I can figure that will let me get everything done I want to get done.

I get up at 6am.

I'm going (working) by 7:30.

I stop for a half hour at lunch,

and go again till 9 or 10 pm.

With a break to cook and eat supper.

But cooking isn't really a break.

And I can't get enough done!!

So, me and sleep?

We're done.

I've had enough of sleeps seductive wiles.....

Random opinion #5

I just don't understand some people.

The tenants in my house before me chose to do the decor in black and grey.

All trim and doors black

(They even took a black magic marker and coloured in the gold on the ceiling fan.... I kid you not.)

All walls a gun metal grey.

(Is it grey or gray? It bugs me I don't know this.)

It was like living in a prison.

And, the black paint they used was latex.

And they painted over white enamel.

So it's peeling, flaking black paint.

Which means I can't just paint over black paint......

I have to scrape it all off first. 

And this takes hours.

And this irritates me to no end.

Random opinion #6

I love having my horse here.

Just sayin'.

Random opinion #7

Having drain pipes that drain outside instead of into your basement is pure awesomeness.

So is having a dryer that doesn't take 2 1/2 hrs to dry a load of clothes.

So are dishwashers.

So is hot water.

Random opinion #8

I like Christmas lights.

The End.

Dream come true

 One of the very cool changes that has happened is this one.

It was a lot of work, 

but it has been a dream of mine forever.

And it has happened.

 My very own horse is now living with me at my very own house.

See the Chicken Shack?

Well, it no longer houses just chickens.

It's been remodeled.

It now sports a hay/feed storage area,

and a 12x10 stall.

For my boy.

I don't have any pictures, but yes.

Everything fits.

It is a miracle of planning and utilizing space,

but it works.

He was upset at first,

since we split up the firm friendship of Pax and Kara.

But he has settled in nicely,

and is now King.

Best of all, I get to see him every day.

And groom him.

And feed him.

And bring him carrots.

And ride him.

He's been here a week and 2 days, and I've ridden him more since he got here 

than I did in the 2 preceding months.

See the fence?

I did that.

I had help with running the post hole digger,

but everything else I did.

My boys helped too.

And let me tell you,

never think that a wire fence is easier than board.

'Cause it isn't.

I had no idea what I was getting into,

and the young man at Brussels Livestock thought I was crazy, doing it myself.

But he was very helpful, explained everything, told me what I needed,

even demonstrated how to do things with real wire and posts.

And here's where I felt misled.

He was showing me how to wrap the wire around corner posts, and he just whipped that wire around, and then snapped it off.

  With his bare hands.

I thought, "Well, it can't be that hard to work with."

Ha.

HAhahaha.

I had to use bolt cutters to cut this wire, which I had to purchase after mutilating my tin snips.

And wrapping the wire around itself?

Difficult as well, especially as tight as he could do it.

And fencing wrecked my work gloves.

There is no thumb left on my right hand one.

This makes me very sad, because I have small hands, but not fine, or really very feminine.... more towards the sturdy aspect... and it's hard to find gloves that fit well.

And these did.

And so, this event was tinged with sadness....

Anyway,

I was humbled.

I think I'm pretty tough,

but this is one of the hardest jobs I have done.

I think in part because I didn't really know what I was doing.

But, I finished it.

It doesn't look as nice as the ones the installers do,

but I like it.

Especially because of what's inside it....

So many things to tell you all!!

 I have a computer.

Finally.

And the fact that I do, means something even better.

I'll tell you what that is soon.

Today, I'm going to share what I've been busy at this week.

I have redone my upstairs.

Well, it's not finished yet, but it's getting there.

You see, I have a very small bedroom.

It fits my bed, up against the wall, and there is enough room to change.

And that is it.

No room for a dresser, or anything but a small side table.

Now, my house has four bedrooms.

Two larger ones, and two small ones.

The girls and I had the small ones, the boys had one large one and the other large one was originally meant to be the playroom. 

 But basically it ended up being a toy storage area, and the "dog room" (where the dogs bed was.)

And the thing is, it wasn't storing many toys. 

A while back I got sick of the mess in there, and went in and threw out all the toys that weren't played with regularly.

It was a lot.

So it was a wasted room. 

The dogs didn't appreciate it.

But, I kicked the dogs out, fixed it up, and moved the girls in.

The plan is that I will knock the wall out between my room and the girls room, and have a bigger bedroom.

I am so looking forward to it.

The dog room was in very rough shape.

I didn't take any before pics, because I never think that far ahead.

But I do have some after pics.

It still needs some quarter round, but you get the gist...

Emma's clothes are in the white cabinet...

Dance medals, and toy shelf

Ava's clothes in the dresser, their dresses hanging above it.

And they sleep in the same bed.

Their choice.

All the kids toys are now in their rooms...

which is really where they played before.

Except in the winter, when they bring the toys downstairs to play in front of the woodstove.

I've reorganized the boys room too.

Changed some stuff, so they can play mini sticks in there.

Instead of my living room.

Lego in a living room is okay...

boys whacking a ball around with mini hockey sticks, 

not so much.

Might post pics of their room tomorrow, if any one is interested.

It's a testosterone filled room.

And that's it!!

Except for some landscape pics.

Winter wheat around my house this year:

See ya, my peeps.

It's good to be back.

Because I'm Cold

And to let you know I'm still alive.

I am.

Alive.

But cold.

Hoping to start blogging regularly again soon.

These pics were taken with a crappy point and shoot camera.

They were taken on our trip to Maine, in 2007.

Enjoy the images of a season gone forever.

Or at least another 8 months.

In Canada, anyway.

Struck by Lightning

Well, my house was.

And I was leaning on the metal doorframe, watching the storm.

and got an almighty shock.

But, the saddest worst part?

It killed my computer.

It is dead, dead, dead.

And it was turned off!!

And I had a special power cord to prevent this!

But it all didn't work.

So, that's why I haven't blogged.

No computer :(

As soon as I get the situation rectified,

I'll be back at it.

Children of the Beans

Note: No beans were harmed during the course of this adventure.

 

 

 

 

Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens

Anybody remember that song?


It was Eric Nagler,
On the Elephant Show, with Sharon, Lois and Bram.


I loved that show.







Okay.





Pictures!




Of chickens.

Lot’s of chickens.








Here they are, in their coop.
You can see the little door to their run.
It took them a long time to get brave enough to venture out…
We had to throw a couple out there.
But now they are getting the hang of it.


As you can see, I use river sand as bedding.
And I LOVE it.
It keeps them dry, and clean.
And provides grit.

These are my cleaning tools.
Every day, I scoop out the poops,
takes me about ten minutes.

I sift through all the sand,
and gather all the poop.

Then I rake it, to keep it nice and loose.

When it’s really hot, the chicks dig down
and find the nice cool sand underneath.

Once a week I sprinkle DE on the floor.
Keeps the mites away.

Chickens at the feed trough.
I’m going to be adding another feeder this week.

They are changing over from chick starter to this special blend of feed.
No corn or wheat in it.
Our allergies to corn is so bad,
that eating store bought chicken usually makes our stomach hurt.
Cause those chickens are fed corn.
So, hopefully this will work.

These guys are a Special Dual Purpose breed, not the fast growing White Rocks.  They will take 15 weeks to be butcher ready, instead of the 8 weeks for White Rocks.

But they are a healthier bird, and I’m guessing the meat will be better.

I have 80 of them, and only lost those 3 that were killed by something.
I plan to keep 40 for me, and sell the other 40.

And here is their run.
Yes, I used snow fence.
Because it was free.

You can see that there is lot’s of trees in the run.
To provide shade, and cover from hawks and such.

Happy boys.

If you look closely, you can see the back fence between the trees.

Chicken heaven, no?

They’re gonna be yummy…..

See my stylin’ boots?
They’re camo.


I’m the “Stealth” Farmer.

Even though I’m going to eat them,
I like them.

And I really enjoy caring for them.
Of all the jobs I have to do,
being out in the barn is my favourite.

And here is the ladies quarters.
I only have to scoop their poop once a week.

Their bed.

Their door

Their side

Their poop.

The front of the Shack.

And here are the Ladies.

They have certain spots for certain times of the day.

It’s a giant circuit of the yard.

These were taken right at midday.
At this time they hang out under the giant pines.

It’s nice and cool.

Can you see them?

Freddy.
He has a rock in his mouth.
He is always hopeful that he can get someone to throw it for him.

Cyrus.
He’s not dead, just hot.

Pretty Thelma.

Beautiful Agnes

And adorable Ava.

 Here's the Song.



I couldn't find Eric Nagler's version.