When It Rains....

We want to thank everyone for the outpouring of 

sympathy we have gotten at the loss of my brother, Mike. 

I feel a little better about writing about him today. 

Here is a link to a short piece in the news about him on Tuesday. 

I saw this on Facebook last night...

That's the Wyandotte County, Kansas, courthouse, and 

the flags there are flying at half-mast, ordered by the governor, himself, for Mike. 

The caption under this read "Mike's Flags", and that's how I will always think of it. 

My brother, though a lawyer and politician by trade, was also a very simple man 

who gloried in his family and his home life.  He was married to the same woman, Robin, for 

over 50 years... and he thought nothing of giving time and money when it came to family, he was very generous.  We'll miss him very much. 

We were predicted to have a spate of very warm days this week, but they did not materialize. 

We did have one day... Tuesday, in the 60's, but today it is in the forties, blowing hard, and raining. 

We do need the moisture. 

For the first time, I found the ducks in Fort Apache, that I made clear back in October for them to shelter in under the now-unused little red henhouse. 

Tuesday afternoon, when it was so nice out, I decided I had better tackle the henspa.  I had been throwing litter in there (straw) for the last two months, and not raking any out, as I usually do. 

The smell was getting... overpowering. 

Anyway, I started raking and realized I needed to open all the windows and doors. 

I uncovered, under the roosts, several layers sodden with urine and feces, and it about drove me out of the county.  I feel sorry for the poor birds.  It's one of the bad things about a deep litter system. 

I raked everything outside, I didn't even try to get it to the compost bin. 

I raked it off the deck, onto the ground of the henspa yard.  I knew they would tear through it. 

Reddy, the red chicken with the white tail behind the waterer, killed about seven mice as I was 

working, she was after another one here. 

I had to listen to their squeals the whole time... I made her drop one or two, but gave up. 

It was NOT pleasant. 

Ferdie, surveying his domain.  He and the henspa big girls were so glad to be out running around. 

Lots of cardinals in the yard that night. 

Sunrise on Wednesday the 19th.  God reminds us of Him daily. 

Five nice eggs from the old henhouse girls yesterday, the green from Chatterbox the 

Ameracauna, and the white from Buffy the Polish.  The other three from red hens. 

I got two beautiful duck eggs, too. 

Here is Mama Hen and two of her "babies".  They literally try to push underneath her, and she accomodates them. 

They all vie to get under her. 

Well... it's 43 out right now, and we have had a thunderstorm, and then rain and snow all in one day. 

The snow has stopped now, but it is still windy and miserable, so I guess this is as good a time as any to go out and start chores! 

Stay Warm!