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.

It's done

The chicken run is done.

The little meaties will now be outside, grazing.

They will love it.

I know, 'cause I've been feeding them grass and weeds.

And they gobble it up.

So to have a pasture.....

they will be very happy.

And I am happy to have this job done.

Will post pictures tomorrow....

A Couple Things

1. Huge storm last night.  It seemed to be right over my house.  So, no blogging, ‘cause my computer was shut off.


2. Went riding yesterday, FINALLY.  Feel much better about life.


3.  My horse is awesome.  I love him.


4. I have been working on a chicken run all week, and have yet to get it finished.  I will today, if I have to work till midnight.


5. Part of the reason I haven’t gotten anything done is because every day I’ve run my daughter to a dance workshop, and it’s right in the middle of the day!!

6. My kids are eating the first tomato out of our garden on their rice cakes today.  It is divine.


7. My three year old has been running around naked all morning,
except for her bright yellow crocs.
She always wears those.


8. My house has been invaded by flies.


9. I like my hens.


10. I am SO happy that soccer is almost over for the kids.
Having a month where I don’t have to run them anywhere will be awesome.


11.  We had a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit last night.


12. I won.  Beat them like a dirty rug.


13. Lest you think that’s unfair,
it was “Family” Trivial Pursuit, so they had kids questions,
I had adult questions.

14. I like winning.





15. Now I really should go dress my daughter.

Emotional Day

The floodgates opened,

and out it poured.

Cried most of the day.

As I was putting up a chicken run, for the meaties.

As I was driving into town.

As I was making lunch.

As I was doing dishes.

It was like a dam broke...

and came pouring out my eyes.

Been going through some hard stuff lately.

Like, seriously hard.

Heartbreaking,

suffocating in hurt,

drowning in sorrow.

hard.

But yet I love.

And yet I hope.

" My Hope is in You Lord,

My Rock and my Redeemer."

Momma went OUT!

Totally wasn’t planned in advance.


But, up popped an opportunity,
(well, not really.  It was from my Brother-in-law)

to go see “As You Like It”

at the Stratford Festival Theatah.

(I can’t say “TheatER”.  It must be Theatah with a corny British accent.)




Have I ever mentioned that the World Renowned Stratford Festival Theatah is in my backyard?

Basically?




No?





Well, it is.





Oh, and did I mention the tickets were free?



No?




Well, they were.






Can’t pass up that opportunity.







So, the kids went to spend the evening with their Dad,

and I went to see some Shakespeare!











The Theatah

The grounds

More ground
Well, not so much ground, as cement and flowers.

The Mother

The Mother’s friend

Sister and Brother-in-law

Sister

And me.

I was there as well.




So, a Ladies Night Out!!





Just kidding, Mike.







But not really;p







Before the play started,
we sat on the balcony and sipped wine.




Like real people.





Here’s the balcony entrance.

Here’s the grounds from the balcony.

Here’s some ladies standing directly below me.

They didn’t know I was looking down on them from above.


And that I was totally tempted to hock a big lugie……


but I didn’t.



Because I’m an adult now.

Or trying to be one, anyway.

Then these guys appeared,
to warn us with their trumpets that the play was about to start.

The Bard himself.
Or, at least a bronze likeness.

And this is all I got from inside,
because the Usher caught me
and I was soundly chastened.

*EDITED TO ADD*

Oooops.

Seems I've been a bad, BAD girl!







I was not supposed to have a picture of the inside of the Stratford Theater.


Infringing on copyright laws and such.



And I have to say, the speed with which they responded to this is astounding!

Morning after!



Aaron, you are awesome at your job.






I didn't know that the insides were copyrighted.




Really.




I honestly thought that there were no cameras allowed because it would bother the actors.



That's why we weren't allowed to chew hard candy!!


Made sense it would carry over into photography.


So, I'm a rebel,

without a clue.



I REALLY have to start paying more attention to things.





Sorry, Stratford Festival Theater,

for Infringing.







Oh,




and I didn't say the play was boring.




I said PARTS were boring.


I enjoyed the play.



It just wasn't as spectacular as other productions have been.




See below.







The play was 3 hours long,
and most of it was good.


But some of it was boring.


Seems to me it could have been trimmed a little.



And I LOVE Shakespeare.



And I enjoyed this play,
but it was the worst I’ve seen there.



The company and fellowship were better than the play.





And getting to be something other than "Mom",



If only for a little while.



It was nice to just be "Heather."







Although,


reality set in pretty fast as I carried the kids in,

tottering up the stairs in my strappy heels with my three year old in my arms.




Then, I stripped off the heels,


threw on my huge barn boots

and went out to check my chickens.
In my cute little skirt and fancy top.




The chickens looked at me askance.




I told them to mind their own business.















Off to bed!