Many Thanks to you All

We are so grateful to all of you for all of your wonderful comments. 

You must understand that we did not make this decision to move lightly.  We 

moved here thinking this would be our forever home. 

We have loved living here. 

That said... let's go on to today's pictures...

Our friend is back.  

I finally let the ducks loose... and so far, he has not decided on duck dinner. 

To say that they were excited would be putting it mildly.  I put their water fortex down in the pasture and filled it... and immediately they all tried to get in at once.  Now... mind you... they had a deep one in the henhouse the last three days. 

This is what the flat feeder looks like after the starlings are finished. 

The ground around under neath it... where I have shown you all the birds feeding, 

has been picked through down to a depth of about two inches.  The birds 

have eaten EVERY bit of seed that has fallen for months. 

The ground is now just black dirt. 

We will NOT be doing this at the new house.  I am going back to a nice 

hanging feeder (with good perches for the birds), a nyjer feeder, and a suet 

feeder. 

Oh... and a hummingbird feeder, just in case. 

I stopped today at the feed store and got another bag of wild bird seed, 

but I got the absolute cheapest they had... I went through 80 pounds in 

four days. 

Abby, my velcro Farm Assistant.  She was also so glad to be outside. 

These three are ready for some green, too. 

Are they the sweetest things?  How can you look at those faces and not like them? 

Big Mama Delilah was comfortable in the hay I had dumped out of their trough.  What more could you ask for? 

This is not a dead chicken.  This is Buffy, sleeping last night 

in the bottom of the antique nest box in the old henhouse. 

Buffy is going with us to the new house.  So is the antique nest box, which I actually bought in an antique store.  It was never popular with the hens, so it is going to be cleaned up, waxed, and go into the new house as a bookcase.  Or something. (Keith). 

She has to have her beak trimmed so often.. we just 

don't trust anyone to do it, and how can you turn your back on a chicken that is six years old and giving you a beautiful white egg every other day? 

Last night's beautiful sunset.  This is the kind of thing that has made it so worth it these last nine years. 

Photo Heavy Post

Yesterday, it was beautiful and sunny.  It was cold, but beautiful.  We did eventually get up to forty, with wind that is blowing in a storm. 

I let the goats into the yard for the first time in weeks... they get into so much... and they were glorying in it. 

Big Mama Delilah was there, don't worry.  She cracks me up when she guards the door. 

She had already gotten into a box of bread sitting in the chair waiting to give the birds. 

Grateful for their romaine lettuce, believe me.  It disappeared in seconds.  Donald was quacking softly as he watched the girls.  Drakes do not have a loud quack. 

I keep a bucket on the kitchen counter, and put leftovers into it for the two flocks. 

Yesterday, I had an egg that I had cracked when bringing it in.  

These hens went for it... gobbling up the yolk and white, and then grabbing the shell and taking off. 

Folly and Fancy, porcelain D'Uccles 

Our yard, today.  You can see the sun is gone.  We have forty degrees... but total cloud cover... and the cold is about to descend on us, bringing rain/sleet/snow over the next few days. 

The starlings are stocking up... there was another group of a hundred or so in the middle of the yard, and yet another group sucking up all the water and feed in the old henyard and henhouse. 

I am on my way to the feed store after posting this... to stock up for the next week.  We won't have a drop into the vortex again, but snow, and cold daily. 

Is this the most incredible photo or WHAT???

Friend Jill gave me permission to use it... it is a tundra swan at Wyandotte County Lake, last weekend.  MY GOSH. 

And a second, showing three swans, Canadians... and gulls.. yes, folks we have gulls in landlocked Kansas. 

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful photographs, Jill! 

Let me reiterate this one more time.  Leavenworth County takes the BEST CARE of it's roads. 

We are always plowed by going-to-work-time in the morning on snow days.  Regular maintenance is done, and if I have to call for anything, they are out there same day or following day. 

Thank you, road guys!

And to close today, on a sad note.. our massive maple tree by the porch, which we believe to be 

over a hundred years old... but becoming very brittle... has begun to crack.  We have had high winds off and on the last few weeks... and this is scary.  If that side goes, it is pointing at the house and deck. 

The crack was NOT here last week. 

We are not in extreme drought... yet... but have very dry conditions, and regularly having strong winds.  I picked up lots of branches the last few days... you can see some more on the ground... and I have more to pick up today, with the gusting winds we are having. 

But... right now... I'm running to the feed store to load in feed before the bad weather has descended... and 

to stop and get some cards for some friends... and some romaine for the duckies. 

Everyone stay warm, and my friends in the south... I am so sorry you are having to cope with the terrible weather now, too. 

And especially... friends who have had to put down an old friend at their farm these last few days... my heart goes out to you.  

Yesterday's Post and Today

I missed yesterday's post.  You see... the thermometer went all the way up to 54 degrees! 

I took advantage of it. 

These guys got out for some much-needed exercise. 

You can see they were glad to run and jump! 

Big Mama Jamma Delilah was off on her own, investigating things. 

She has become much better, though, with the little ones... and I don't worry about her near as much as before.

I decided to take the Santa collection down, and got in the "holiday" storage building... I'm ashamed to tell you that you are looking at bins of Christmas things that were not even used this year! 

The tree on the left is my prim tree, though, which has been used as a spring tree, a fall tree, and for several Christmases... one of the Christmas trees!   There are two small lofts in this building, and Chris and I aim to have everything labeled, and up in the loft when all is said and done.  I pulled four bins from here and one empty big bin from the other storage building and threw them onto the cart and took them up to the deck. 

Within the next three years, Keith and I hope to have bought a Wardcraft Homes building... 

a new home for us here at Calamity Acres.  I have never written about it, because I 

don't want to jinx it, but Keith is very wisely getting all our ducks in a row 

before we jump into the site changes, ordering the new home, etc. etc. that goes 

with the whole project.  We hope to live in this house until our new one is sited on 

a basement about fifty feet east of where this house is... then this house will be razed and removed, and

the ground landscaped.  In order to do this, we need to put in a new well and a new septic system, so there are lots of things to think about.  The hay barn will also need to be moved. 

In August, we took a one day trip to Clay Center, Kansas, to see the homes being built 

in the factory there.  Keith became convinced that they are as tight or tighter than site-built homes, and we were very impressed.  It was so interesting to see homes from the bare walls to the almost-finished stages. 

Here is the one we love, the Hanover II. 

So you see... I am trying to keep most of those Christmas decorations because at some point... we will have space for everything in our home!  

The home above is simple and good for a rural homesite such as ours... and not fancier than we need. 

And... as we remind ourselves... if it never happens... we will still be happy living here right where we are. 

After I hooked the Duck Pond Express up (oh happy day, I did not have to lug the buckets clear across the yard)... I got ready to move the feed bags I had run to purchase earlier. 

Delilah jumped right up to help me! 

She knew there was a treat awaiting her in those bags. 

Using the cart, it took me less than thirty minutes to get all the bags loaded and moved around 

to the two henhouses, and bucketed out.  I also got two bags of back yard blend for the wild birds. 

I got a bag of scratch, which I have not fed for ages... I have been feeding chopped corn. 

I noticed, however, that the ducks are ignoring a lot of the corn and so are the chickens.  I got a bag of scratch and the chickens went to town. 

And I let the henspa birds loose as I was moving the grain... and threw them a scoop of scratch... you see that Moe and some of the girls highly approved! 

Until Friday, all of this garden area was covered by snow, and the henspa flock had been in for five days, restricted to their big yard.  They were so glad to get out on Friday and Saturday. 

In the old henhouse, there is only one small window... the light you see on the left is coming from the lower pophole (there are two) and from a small vent in the east wall.  I took Gorilla tape and heavy plastic, and on Friday... I taped this window shut... I noticed last week that cold air was pouring through it, despite the plastic that had been stapled to the outside of the window.   Rinky-dink, but it's working.  I also taped the high pophole shut. 

All the dirt on the walls is from past starling invasions, and yes, yesterday they came in, though not in the hundreds, and fouled everything. 

Butch's wounds have all dried now and he is healing.  I was just worried that he had managed to hurt his only good eye. 

You can see that I took this picture this morning, when it was all cloudy again.  Our drive melted and thawed in the last two days... and in this picture it's apparent that there is just enough of a rise to the gate, coming around that bend... that we have to make a run at the gate when it's snowy or icy.  I have to trudge up... open the gate as wide as it will go.... and then make a run for it.  I have been stuck many times in the drive, and if you get off to the left here in the picture... you are doomed. 

And here is a picture of me taken by a very sleepy Keith this morning... we'll get a better one later... in my new-to-me snowsuit! 

My cousin Mary Frances (Fuh Fuh) gave it to me yesterday after we ate breakfast 

together at I Hop.  

My gosh... it is the most comfortable and warm suit!  The collar actually comes up 

quite a ways and buttons shut... and I had on my little knit cap with it... the hood is not with it, but it reaches down and zips over my boots, and is so very warm!  It was 15 degrees out this morning and I worked up a good sweat for an hour doing chores. 

I'm going to ask Keith to make a trip to Cabelas today to get me a face-mask pullover hat... and some glove warmers, and then I'll be set! 

Thanks, Mary Frances!!!

I'm trying to get around to everyone's blogs here in the last few days to read and catch up on all that's going on. 

I'm  also trying to sit down long enough to look at the seed catalogs, but I have a confession 

to make... I'm not as eager this year.  

I know there are certain things we grew last year that we did not take advantage of, and 

things we have grown that we no longer need to grow.  I am going to take a hard look at 

what I buy to plant and start from seed this year. 

Yes, the catalogs are SO enticing... but we need to hark to what we actually need and use, too. 

Have a great week, everyone, and thank you all so much 

for all your comments! 

Farm Assistant Abby, waiting patiently in the cold this morning. 

Hunkered Down

As I type this, we are having a sleet storm outside.  Keith managed to get to the feed store earlier today... and I to church at 4... but the sleet is now coming down steadily. 

We'll have to be so careful tomorrow, as we are to get

snow starting around 10 PM, on the ice base. 

We got a package in the mail yesterday, and in it, were green branches from Oregon, from 

our friends Tweedles, Georgie and Paulette. 

We are so grateful to you for bringing the smell of the Oregon forests into our little living room. 

Someone was in time out this morning. 

She finally got up and went across the pasture and made herself at home in the chicken house.  When I went out to put her back in... she came running out right to me.  She was chasing Windy again, and kept trying to mount and breed her.  Yes, Delilah is definitely a doe.  Yes, Windy is definitely a doeling. 

She not only chases her, Delilah lifts her up in the air and positions her with her head and horns, the poor little girl.  She will run in circles to try to get away. 

Sometimes, if I separate them for a while, it will calm Dee down.  She had a pile of hay and a water bucket, just out of view to the right of the gate into the goatyard. 

The one with the rime of ice building on it. 

You can see Keith is loaded for bear before going outside to go to the feed store. 

But my red geranium that was on the deck is blooming again for Christmas!  Isn't that wonderful? 

It's been in my bedroom for the fall, but is going out into the kitchen for the week. 

This was what greeted me when I got home from church tonight!  

It was so good to get safely inside with these smiling .... errr... faces! 

My family Christmas weekend is all turned around with the bad weather we are having, but

we will salvage what we can and see our relatives on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday as we can. 

I'm so glad our little Carson was born LAST weekend while the driving was safe. 

And for those of you who are interested in the paranormal... what ARE those three orbs on the Christmas tree?   I don't have any lights that size! 

And we got another package yesterday from our little friends Stella Rose, Angus McConnell, and Maggie Mae, the Three Little Pugs. 

And there goes Lil out the door with her big bone! 

Stay warm, my Friends! 

A Very Short Post Today

I guess I'm having a Blogger issue this morning, as it will not accept any picture to show you. 

I'll try to do it again a little later. 

It has begun to blow outside, and though we got up to 

42 yesterday, I believe we are stuck at 37 or less for today. 

Too early in winter for me! 

I'll try to post again this afternoon. 

It's 3:30, and blowing outside (again). 

I'm going to try to post again. 

Bam Bam (Delilah) heard us talking in the kitchen, and let us know she thought it was time for treats this afternoon.  (Bam, Bam, Bam!) 

I actually went out shortly thereafter, because when Ranger and Lilly are out, the goats don't let them near the door to come in.  Ranger especially can't get away from them when they menace him. 

The ducks bellied up to the bar again as soon as I put water in the pool this afternoon.  The temp stands at 40 right now, and the hoses got going slowly.  I'll unhook everything upon finishing chores, of course... because we are told it is going down to single digits tonight.  

My good morning gift this morning!

Angus McConnell is giving us very good advice here. 

Be thankful, all of you, my friends. 

A Goat Problem

This would be Delilah. 

SHE is the Problem. 

She is dogging the baby again. 

I'll spare you the view of her mounting. 

Goat friends, this is accompanied by her tongue dangling, and constant grunting a particular sequence over and over.  I'm afraid she'll hurt the baby, she is so much heavier.  The baby has taken to hiding under the feeder in the goat pen to get some rest. 

Tonight we are to go down to 7 degrees... very, very cold for this early in the season... and I want all of the goats to get some rest and be warm. I'll put Dee in the feed room with Butch if I have to. 

Advice? 

Yesterday's fiasco... I had a sack of cat litter out on the porch for use on ice. 

Kelly is pictured here, but I think it was Delilah that did it.  I haven't even found the sack yet!

Again, the goats will be in the pasture permanently, as soon as the babies can't fit through the gate opening into the chickenyard.  I hope that's soon. 

The pump at the henspa was frozen this morning.  It was frozen last night, too... I had to pour some hot water on it.  I'll dry it off today as much as I can so I don't have to take hot water out in the morning. 

A lot of the chickens were glad to stay inside.  This is the heated waterer in the henspa... there is none in the old henhouse.   I have to dump the water in there out overnight, so that I can refill them with warm water in the morning.  I may go ahead and get another heater base next week for that side. 

 The ducks are so grateful for fresh water this time of year. 

Because their pool is ice and slush, unusable. 

The sun is out today, but it is only 27 degrees out.  

The henspa hens and Ferdy don't care, they just want to get out for their hour every evening. 

We even had two big visitors this morning, the other was just out of camera view. 

And Michelle McMillen at Boulderneigh... this one's for you! 

I thought these "sheep hues" reminded me so very much of your beautiful Shetlands! 

These are from Design Seeds, whom I follow on Facebook. 

Stay warm tonight, everyone!