Lots of Stuff

It took me over two hours to post Abby's blog tonight... or to load it. The problem may be with Hughesnet, because I have run a full scan on the computer and found no Trojans. 

Tomorrow, I tackle Hughenet Customer Service. 

Wish me luck! 

And now, a word about Trojans.  

I have slowed up on Pinterest, I realized it was taking too much of my time, and frankly, there was so MUCH, it was hard to look at.  I try to look at the background of each pin before pinning, because several times, I have found pins that read that Pinterest warned you not to pin it. 

I also saw a picture on there Friday that dismayed me... it was a soft pornographic picture, that's all I can say about it, of a voluptuous young woman offering herself, undressed from the waist up... and the caption left no doubt as to what the poster intended.   I was glad to see that it was gone a few hours later.  

But the worse thing was, while checking the computer yesterday for why it was so slow, I checked my virus protection.  There, in the log, was a trojan that was stopped.  It was linked to a site posted on Pinterest called Franklin Castle, which was an old mansion down south.  I love old houses, and had followed the pin and read about it.  It tried to get me.  

Beware, people, that's all I am saying.  My virus protection caught it and quarantined it, and I disposed of it.  

Just be aware that they are out there on Pinterest, too. 

Now, today amongst all kinds of things, I worked on these: 

Yes, that's tomato "Gypsy" from Baker Creek, touching the light fixture.  The lights are up on small pieces of wood, not hung, and I have to keep raising them with more ... wood. 

Oh, we need that greenhouse.

I transplanted today, but of course, forgot to take pictures. 

I bought light fixture number four, got the bulbs in it, and it will not come on.  I am either missing something (there is no chain) or it is supposed to come on automatically when plugged in.  I am waiting for Keith to come home this evening to look at it and clue me in.  

I transplanted the Gypsy seedlings into larger Jiffy cups.  Each had good root systems started, because I used larger flats to start them.  Next year, we will have room to spread out in the greenhouse. 

The snows of February and early March kept us from starting it, but it will be up soon enough, though  

first off, we are putting a front on the three sided barn, in case two little goats find their ways here. 

That should start tomorrow. 

Keith took Abby to the vet today, to have her eyes checked, and her pedicure.  She had lost a pound and a third... this is a MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT for her and for her momma! 

We are getting much more excercise, and eating lots of green beans as filler.  

We have also switched to a dry food. 

She does have to have drops now three times a day for her eyes, which are showing a sign of dryness.  Pugs often have this malady. 

Another view of the tomato plants. 

Those are perennial flowers behind them, I am starting some from seed as an experiment.  So far, so good. They are slow to start... and will be under light for a while, but what satisfaction to grow my own instead of paying 12.00 a plant for them. 

I had some other pictures, but I have tried for over an hour to add one... it loads and then erases itself, over and over and over... I am giving up for the night, I have a headache and it's making it worse. 

I'll try to show you the rest tomorrow. 

That's it for another discouraging posting evening from Calamity Acres.  

Five Facts Friday

I've been meaning to do this for a few weeks, but I'm joining Nancy at A Rural Journal for 

Five Facts Friday (not a linky party). 

Five Facts about me: 

1.  My name is Mary Ann, and I'm addicted to PINTEREST. 

Whether it's "My Style", "Good Eats", "Pet Pics", "History", or one of my other categories, I try to fit some pinning in every day.  Not only have I found wonderful recipes there... I am getting great ideas for the garden, and history lessons daily. 

2.  I love to read. 

I read this book on my Kindle for Ipad on Tuesday night, and it changed the way I think about my chickens forever, seriously. 

The Accidental Farmers, by Tim Young

There would be a picture here except it would not save from it's Amazon Listing. 

Tim and Liz Young gave up a high-figure corporate lifestyle six years ago, bought a farm in Georgia, and set to farming to make their living.  It's worth the read, warts and all.  

3.  I got pooped on today by one of my favorite chickens. 

Look just above my left eye, on your right. 

Thank you, Folly... it's like biting the hand that feeds you. 

Had to wash my hair a second time. 

4.  I laugh at things like this: 

(from Pinterest, of course) 

Sorry for that unfortunate word in the title, but these are PUGS... and the author must have one. 

5.  I'm nuts about my husband, though that may not be fashionable. 

He helps me do things like this: 

So that this can happen: 

Happy, happy birds. 

And now, if you have time, go watch a lovely short video of a quite remarkable Fell pony stallion at Stacy Kimmel's blog... 

http://www.behindthebitblog.com/2013/03/pony-agility-this-is-adorable.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BehindTheBit+%28Behind+the+Bit%29

No, I still can't embed.  Should I have linked? 

82 degrees outside right now in Leavenworth County, and that's it for a hot day at Calamity Acres! 

Tuesday Tidbits

I didn't get too far towards planting more seeds today, but I'll get to that in the morning.  I used to get worried when I had a lot to do, about how I could fit it all in, etc.... I don't do that anymore, and that's one of the luxuries of being retired. 

This picture cracks me up.  Moe, this little rooster, is protecting Fluffernut, the little brown bantam from the little henhouse born last summer.  Moe came from the little flock in the pasture pen, the one that we had to move so quickly in November, before we were really finished with the new henhouse.  I never meant for those three little roosters to move.  Now they are all settled in, and this little guy has turned out to be a nice little rooster. 

He let everyone know that they had better not bother him. 

It's nice, because the old bantam roosters in the old henhouse all have one little hen who is their companion, too.  

Today, I started a new blog for someone.  Please go HERE to see it.  We follow many pug blogs, and I had intended long before Christmas for Abby and Gertie to have their own, so now, Abs has her own. 

I love Pinterest, there, I've said it.  I LOVE IT.  I love history, and I have spent hours looking at wonderful old pictures recently... I found a site last night that has such good ones... and I've found lots of good recipes. I usually check each of them out before pinning, too... and here's one I tested today. 

Here is the caption under it: 

"For anyone that may not know, the BEST way to make hard-boiled eggs is in the OVEN! Place the eggs in a muffin tray so they do not move around, turn the oven to 325 degrees, pop in for about 25-30 minutes and remove! Not only are they tastier, but they also are much easier to peel!" Mind blowing.

Sorry, it pasted like that.  

The point is, I have never, or rarely ever, made hard-boiled eggs right.  Keith usually has to do it for me. 

These were RIGHT.  

I made deviled eggs, which I love! 

I would add to the instructions that I DID put mine in cold water after they came out. 

I also pinned this... go ahead and laugh

I WORE THIS STUFF. 

Right now, we are under threat of rain or snow, which is bizarre.  It is VERY windy again, and sunny, with big clouds moving around. 

Crazy. Weather. 

I did get quite a bit done in the garden, trimming plants, and tomorrow I'll trim the three buddleias. (Thanks for the tips!) 

I got the new henhouse half-cleaned out, too, the bit under the roosts, and all that is on the pea bed, and will be covered with good new dirt for this weekend's planting of peas.  

I have a BUNCH of seeds to go through tomorrow morning, and decide what seeds are going to go onto the light table next. 

That's it for a blustery day at Calamity Acres! 

Gardening Thoughts

I have been doing a lot of thinking about gardening this week, and checked some books out of the library to get some suggestions.  I sat here last night and looked on Pinterest, too... my goodness, I almost didn't get to bed! 

Hasn't the world changed?  Gardening lore used to come down through word of mouth, parents to children, books... and now we look online and find pretty pictures (and many times, instructions attached) for inspiration.  

So, here are some things I pinned last night: 

I pinned a bunch of greenhouses, almost all "DIY".  I think this one is darling, it's homemade.  

Here is another I really liked. 

We did something like this when we planted our herbs last year.  They throve in the hot hoophouse, and all crowded together.  I am going to plant similarly this year... and may even use our big watertank, like this one, since it is too deep for ponies and goats. 

I saw many, many pins with materials used from pallets.  This was one... I thought it was a good idea, and I'm going to use it.  Kathy next door still has access to pallets, and I'll have her cut some pieces for me to use this way.  

This was one of my favorites... a swing made from an old chair, legs removed. I LOVE this idea, and it would be easy to do.  When we moved here, there was an ancient swing hanging from the maple tree by the deck.  We finally had to take it down, it was so fragile.  I would love to have something like this to hang from the maple. 

Another container planting idea... wine boxes.  It would sure help those who aren't able to bend over, and could be elevated simply, as you see here.  There are so many miniature varieties of vegetables and flowers that there would be a lot to plant. 

One word for this planter: 

GORGEOUS! 

Two years ago, I bought hanging baskets at the end of June at the nursery.  They were reduced from 45.00 apiece to about 15.00 apiece, and served us well until fall.  They are still here, the moss still on the baskets.  This idea above says take that moss out, and put simple burlap in, then put your planting medium in it.  I bought burlap potato sacks from the same nursery and have a supply of them, and I know what I'm going to do with those two planters I held onto! 

Same idea, burlap in buckets.  We are here to tell you, though, that this really does not work all that well.  They have to be watered steadily, and I think their growth is cramped.  We won't use buckets this year, though we WILL use the big whiskey tubs I had tomatoes in last year.  (And frankly, the burlap is window-dressing, here) 

And, my favorite gardening pin of the night: 

We still have the huge log, the trunk of the tree that went over in our mini-tornado wind-shear incident two years ago almost.  Troy and Kathy wanted to cut it up at one point, but haven't, and now I think this would be a GREAT use of it!  It is in a sunny place, and oh, my, how it would make that part of the yard shine! 

(sorry it's blurry, the original photo was very small) 

Michelle mentioned in the comments last night that she thought "our" owl might be a barn owl.  I went back to look at the owls of Kansas, and found this: 

As you see, the barn owl has a very pale, almost white face, and a white underbelly. 

The barred owl, on the other hand... 

"Our" owl: 

I vote barred.  Maybe I can find an ornithologist and send the picture to them.  I did that with several snakes, at the Kansas Snake Burrow, and had them identified. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing these gardening pictures, and maybe get some ideas from them.  I pinned until late, I was enjoying looking at all the great ideas so much! 

More Bits and Pieces

Lots of things to talk about... and to explain why there was no post last night.

Our modem has been getting hot, and then stops sending and receiving.  Yes, we still have Hughesnet... and they can't "diagnose" our problem unless we call them at the minute it overheats.  We are unplugging it at night now when we go to bed and during the day, while we are at work.  Anyway, we could not get it to boot back up last night, so I gave up finally and hit the hay.

Here is something that my friend Theresa gave me the other day when we went to lunch.  Theresa is a former co-worker and dear friend, who has been so very kind to me.  I was absolutely floored at this gift, because it showed so much forethought and effort.  It truly is an example of Theresa's thoughtfulness.

Yes, that's a lovely little locket with our Hannah's picture in it!  I can't believe it!

Theresa asked me for a picture of Hannah in early February, but never told me why.  This kindness just amazed me, and I was so happy to wear this locket on "jeans day" at work yesterday.  It makes me feel good to have Hannah near my heart again.

Now, about Pinterest.... I have really been enjoying "pinning" things I found around the web and on other blogs to Pinterest.  However, Saturday night... while blog-hopping... I read a piece on a blog... and no, I stupidly did not make it a favorite, so will have to go find it again...written by the blogger, who was also an attorney.  She had read that there were artists and photographers protesting their work being posted on Pinterest sites.  She did some research, and found that the Pinterest agreement states that Pinterest will be "defended" by the individual posting the content in case of a dispute, in other words... US.  Pinterest did what they did to protect themselves. She likened it to the dispute over content with Napster, and reminded everyone that a twelve-year old girl was even sued.  She was taking her Pinterest boards down... even though she loved it.  I have not pinned a lot, but was really getting into it.  I'm going to take some time this weekend, however, taking down my boards.

It has been in the low 80's these last three days here.

As you can see from this picture, the chickens are loving it!

And WE (Daddy, cover your ears up there in heaven!) have had to turn on the AIR CONDITIONING in MARCH.  Our house was very humid, and we have pugs, who suffer so in the heat.  I have to ask what July will be like.

Saturday is the first of the two bi-annual poultry auctions in Gardner, Kansas.  I am going at 6:30 AM, so I can get there, get parked, and look at all the cages offered (usually over a thousand in the spring) to try to find some hens to bring home.  My plan is to be out of there by noon. I hope to find 6 to 10 nice standard hens, if possible, who can lay for another year or two.  I have been commissioned to find some Bourbon red turkeys for a friend, so will try to do that.  By auction time, the birds have been there for a day and a night (since they are checked in on Friday)... they are all stressed out, especially the gamebirds, and it no longer fascinates me to see them all.  I take along a bucket of feed and some water jugs and go through and try to at least give some of the ducks some water.  Keith will be here at home, ready to open the cages, which are normally made so that they require some force to open.  I would LOVE to find some adult porcelains or millies, but so would everyone else.  The only other thing I really want is a couple of OEG hens for my little Speedy.

Speaking of roosters, I am thinking the big boys in the little henhouse may have to go after all, the Rock and the Welsummer.  They are beating the small hens up, and I'm beginning to think they are going to have to make the ride down to Roxanne's, so she can sell them to her friends.  There is a crossbred in there from last spring (who has still never crowed) who will have to go, too... leaving only Handsome, the partridge cochin. 

We talk occasionally about doing our own butchering, but two years ago Keith became very ill from eating uncooked chicken... and almost died.  It put us off chicken, so we don't eat it very often.  Roxanne's friends regularly butcher their own birds, and we made the decision that we don't want them to come here to get the birds.  They can have a good life at Roxanne's until they are chosen.  I wish we could keep everyone, but we can't, even though I love roosters.

Gratuitous picture of Bessie, who eats in the bathroom where the pugs can't get her.  She lays in the door and barks when she's ready for dinner!

See the destruction the cats did to the doorpost? More about those posts later!

One last word about my little sister.

She is coming home tomorrow, after being in the hospital for 19 days.  She will have palliative care for as long as it takes, but she is at peace and is not in terrible pain right now.  I was able to spend some time with her this afternoon, for which I was very grateful.  We are so different, she and I.  She would cry if she got manure anywhere near when we were kids at our grandmother's, and she has never kept pets the way I have.  She doesn't understand, really, how you can get so attached to a dog or cat.  She laughs when I talk about the chickens and the llamas.  But we are still sisters and love each other, and I would give anything for her not to be so ill.