Random Shots

A crazy day... we got up to 41 degrees and had a sleet shower this afternoon!

There is a fine layer of sleet on everything, but it does not appear to be "sticking". 

Crazy weather. 

Yesterday, I showed you how Buffy has been sleeping for weeks 

in the old nest box in the old henhouse. 

Last night I went out to lock up... and found her like this:

Will wonders never cease???  When Christopher and I 

went out there tonight... she was back up on the roost. 

I have not seen her roost for many months. 

Once, those roosts were full of birds... there were about 70 in that house. 

There were four little roosters just above her on the upper roost.  (they are stepped back so the birds did not poop on each other). 

This is the bare ground under the flat open feeder.  There used to be about two inches of spilled sunflower seed, etc. on the ground here, but the last three weeks have cleaned ALL that up... the birds were frantic to eat.  This is just bare shells... nothing more.  I have not even seen any grass or sunflowers trying to sprout here, there is nothing left, believe me. 

That is a very happy Buddy the Bantam Rooster having a dirt bath yesterday under the 

4 x 4 pen in the old henyard. 

And five minutes later, a red hen had taken his place. 

Today, the sun was gone, and the skies leaden all day... but the hens came right outside this morning. 

The juncos, cardinals, and mourning doves now have the opportunity to feed without 

500 starling and red-wings crowding them.  Yes, there ARE a few there, but nothing 

like before.  Once the weather improves, they are off to better climes. 

This was taken this evening. 

And for the time being, this is the new seed mix we are using... from our feed store, who 

mills all their own grain... we have dropped the higher-priced mixture I showed you a few weeks ago for this less-expensive version.  It is long on scratch grains, and black oil... no striped sunflower, or peanut pieces, or safflower.  I had to cut back somewhere, and should have done this months ago.  I fed 80 pounds 

between Friday and Monday morning. 

As I told you yesterday, we are going to get a decent feeder... with perches for the smaller birds, 

and sneak away from here lest the starling hordes follow us. 

Even when we rented in Leavenworth, we fed the wild birds, and in Illinois, on our third floor apartment balconey... I fed the wild birds! 

Here's hoping for sunny skies tomorrow!

These two (Winnie and Windy) want the sun back, too!

Almost Down for the Count

It was marginally warmer this morning...

about 23, where it stuck all day until about an hour ago, when it went to 25.  At 6:15, that's pretty late. 

We are staying here for about 3 more days, then back up into the thirties. 

As you all are suffering right along with us... my condolences!

What the kitchen is going to look like for the next few days. 

I'll tell you a funny story about the metal waterers.  I don't usually bring them in, but last night when I went to dump them, I realized they were frozen together.  I brought them into the kitchen to thaw out over night... they did.  I emptied them.  This morning, I took them out one by one as I was carrying warm water. 

By the time I was ready to fill them five minutes later... they had frozen together outside!!!!  I had to put some plastic waterers together to take care of the old henhouse birds, and bring these back inside to thaw out again.  

Whew. 

Swamplandia is now Icelandia... see all the chunks I've been breaking out of the waterers for the ducks?  I've taken them buckets 4 times a day the last two days, and three times today.  I did dump that deep waterer tonight... and left them a regular fortex.... the deep one will be filled first thing in the morning. 

Normally I would not worry about the henspa hens, their house is tight and warm... but the last two mornings I have gone in there and found the waterer empty on it's heater base. 

So much gunk had built up, and it was not balanced right.  I unplugged it (and a lucky thing, too) because the heater base was full of water that had run down into the black container on the floor.  The container itself had a ring of ice and straw in it... and I ended up taking the whole thing outside, dumping it all.... and then leaving the heater base and the black container to dry out thoroughly.  The waterer was refilled and put on some bricks to hold it above the straw until the other two pieces had dried.  You see it here, dried out and in use again. 

My little helper was with me. 

And another little helper was following us around while I waited for the light to fade. 

Windy is in heat again, and Delilah was being very nasty, trying to mount her and slobbering all over herself. 

Keith and I had to go out for a while this afternoon, so we got Dee out of the pen and left the babies in, so Windy could have some peace.  

When we put her back... the behavior started again, so I got Windy out and kept her out while I did chores.

It's tiresome, and I'm afraid Dee will hurt Windy, as she hooks and lifts her and pushes her around, all the time slobbering. 

I tried to put Windy in the feed room with Butch and our Polish girl tonight, but Windy was not happy in there, and eventually, I put her back in the pen with the other goats, and they are all now in the barn, as it's drippy out. 

The little birds are really eating at the feeders again... I filled the nyjer feeder this morning, and you can see it's down by two inches already. 

Here are some bluebirds drinking on the deck yesterday morning, two males and two females.  I promised Keith I would not feed on the deck this year, but I am keeping warm water available for the birds. 

While the goldfinches are the ones who are eating the nyjer seed. 

What is this beautiful bird?  I have forgotten!

You see we had a little sun yesterday, but none today, and today's pictures did not come out as well. 

By the time we got home from our shopping trip, the top of the waterer had frozen over.  

When I'm home, I check it frequently and put warm water in it. 

Here's another vignette in the living room.  The branches you see are not on their floral foam yet, I will get that this week... but that's the lamp I spray-painted last December to match the winter scene on the 

lamp shade, which is Christmas-y

and the bowl and pitcher are from my friend Deb of The Three Little Pugs, who sent them to me when I bid on a box in a fund raiser.  They go well with the lamp!  I'll have M and M's in the pottery bowl this week. 

Keith and I are worn out tonight from our "stroll" through a very large local mall... 30 miles from us... but we have finished our Christmas shopping except for 3 gift certificates on my part... and now all we have left to do is a bit of wrapping. 

Whew, again!  

Everyone be safe in the cold this week! 

A Visit to the Vet

The little girls had a visit to the vet this morning, and got their second CD and T shots, and a wellness check. 

Their poop was deemed worm-free! 

Dr. LaRosh and his assistent, Ryko... with Winnie.  

Ryko is a man of few words with people, but we notice he exudes confidence and gentleness with the animals. 

Both babies got a well-baby check, and a fecal float.  Well.. one fecal float. 

Winnie weighed 24.6 pounds, and Windy, 26.1 pounds. 

Keith was able to take time out from his work day to help me, so it was easy to pop them in the carrier and take them the two miles to the clinic. 

Goat friends, this concerns me.  It appears to be bloody urine, on our patio. 

Ick factor aside, bloody urine is NOT a good thing.  Is it also an indicator of a goat in heat? 

I'm thinking Delilah, from the copious amount. 

I did mention it to Kori, Dr. LaRosh's nurse, and found out that Dr. LaRosh still does outcalls for farm animals, which I did not know.  We are but two miles, and can schedule a call here if I get really concerned about Dee.  

Your opinions? 

Ryko had to go in and out of the exam room several times (okay, someone pooped on the scale)... and you can see that the little girls were very interested in what was beyond the door! 

As we were leaving a lady brought in one of the tiniest chihuahuas I have ever seen.  The poor little dog had broken it's leg this morning, she thought, in play with another chihuahua.  My heart went out to her... it was truly a teeny, tiny dog and I hope it is okay. 

Here's our beautiful girl this morning... you can see the sun has come back, and the skies are blue again. 

It was cold this morning, and is warming up to 60 today, for mild temps for a few days and then getting cold again next week.  

And it's a comfort to see the henspa flock out enjoying themselves. (and cleaning up some of the sunflower seed!) 

I wait every year to see this gorgeous tree at the foot of our hill, just beyond the Spehar's big ponds.  Isn't it just beautiful?  I fear we will have total leaf fall by this weekend,s o these scenes are soon to disappear for another year.  How grand it is to be alive! 

October Clear and Bright

My porch decorations are slowly being eaten. 

This one (Kelly) REALLY likes to munch on them.  It's funny, he leaves the corn alone. 

"What are we doing out here, Maa maa?"

"Windy, we're planting the tulips that you and Windy and Kelly mixed all together for Maa Maa". 

I planted. 

They ate. 

My other helpers were out there, too. 

The big Range. 

And the beauteous Lil. 

Today, I'll be planting the sweet autumn clematis I bought during the tour on Saturday. 

It's almost, but not quite, time to pull the zinnias out.  There are still a few flowers waiting to bloom, even on October 8th.  I would say I got my money's worth on those seeds! 

They'll flip around and grow in the full sun on the other side of the fence, in the new bed, next year. 

There is a hydrangea bush in their bed that never had a chance this year. 

I'm also thinking of taking out the caryopteris that is too close to the big buddleia. 

Grow little pumpkin, GROW!!!!

Pictures Galore

Lots of pictures today to use up some that are stacking up in the computer. 

Hmmmm.  I found this in the goat barn when I took the fresh water in about an hour ago, today. 

Hmmmm. 

I still have seen no rats, but this looks like a rat hole to me. 

It's within about six inches of the door of the goat barn. 

See that big hole in the wall, the highest? 

While I was working on the divider between the coop side and the feed room side today, 

I kept hearing a buzzing.  I was putting staples in the framework, trying to fix the fencing that divides the two spaces.  I stood up to see a wasp go in the hole. 

I hate to say it... but it's going to get wasp-freezed with the super spray. 

This whole side had become loose.  You see, the birds all walked back and forth between the two rooms at will.  I realized about a week ago that the Elvi were terrorising Butch, my one eyed pet rooster who lives in the feed room. 

I noticed he was spending a lot of time up in the window.  Last night, I put him in the nursing cage, with water and feed.  He attacked the food bowl and ate and ate. 

I realized I needed to straighten everyone out. 

So this afternoon, I cut some chicken wire, and closed off the door (out of sight to the left) and this whole section... if you look hard, you can see the new wire against the old. 

Then Butch went back down into the litter. 

Tomorrow, I'll scoop out all the old litter and dress things with fresh straw.  This litter is going onto the bed I started last week.  I can't do it while the goats are loose, because I am keeping them far away from chicken feed. 

And speaking of the goats... 

I can't have a wreath on the porch now. 

Now I understand why my fall wreath was on the floor twice. 

That's our beverage container, which we rarely use. 

Uh huh. 

Gratuitous goat cuteness, thank you, Windy. 

The Donald has an injury, and I am watching him very closely.  When he is up, I see no open, raw places on his leg or webbed foot, but he has a pronounced limp.  

And in other news, the Kaw Valley Farm Tour is two weeks away.  Last year, tour days were raw and cold and blustery, and I had the flu.  

I'm hoping to participate this year, because there are lots of new places to visit.  I always get good ideas from the farms visited. 

Still getting a last blast of flowers. 

And I love, love, love the color of these mums on the deck. 

Today, while stopping at the feed store, I asked where they had gotten their beautiful cornstalks with which they had decorated.  I have a picture... if I could find it on my phone!!!

Anyway, Keith stopped by to get a bale of straw for me to clean the big henhouse tomorrow... and there in the back of the truck was a cornstalk, a big one!  I asked him how he happened to get it, and he said the feedstore had given it to him!  

Marti must have found one extra for me!  Thanks, Marti! 

I hope to find more so I can get our deck in shape... then the goats can lay on straw bales to their hearts content.  

I leave you with a picture of early morning here today at Calamity Acres.  There was fog coming off the ponds, and it was truly a beautiful scene.  I am so blessed by God to be able to get out and take care of the animals, and enjoy each and every day. 

I am truly grateful to Him! 

The Fast Friday Post

Keith is on his way home from Baltimore... via Dallas...and I am hurrying to finish things up for him. 

It didn't help that our electricity went out for an hour this afternoon!  I don't think the chuck roast in the crockpot has thoroughly cooked. 

Here was how our storm looked last night.  In the course of one hour, while I was doing chores, it dropped from 93 degrees to 73 degrees! 

Still 93. 

Then.. I finished chores on the run... and had to have some Kentucky Fried Chicken original style.  Craving it. 

I ran to the closest one, ten miles away. 

Stupid, I know. 

73 degrees.  This was five miles away at Basehor.  Scary. 

Driving home was NOT fun.  I was stupid to go out in it. 

I sent this picture to the Kansas Native Plant Society today... It was returned by Mr. Jeff Hansen, who declared it to be American Bittersweet, and that I would have gorgeous berries once the yellow berries burst.  I don't ever remember seeing this in our fenceline before, but I love it. 

A rose, you ask? 

No... fungi from the old black walnut.  It shed a bunch of bark in the storm last night.  Isn't it gorgeous? 

What I saw when I looked out the window a couple of hours ago.  The little girls rest on each other all the time. I checked on them frequently... Kelly was to their left, under a chair, chewing his cud. 

They are in their pen now, since Keith should be home within an hour or so. 

Even the Range joined us, and he is laying near the only branch that came down, despite almost 3 inches of rain!  

Chore time calls.... 

Everyone have a great weekend! 

Shine On, Harvest Moon

Just at dusk, tonight.  It's dark now and the moon is a huge orange orb.  

It's nights like these that I wish my little sister were still with us to see how beautiful it is. 

I guess she is looking at it from the other side, though... and has beauty surrounding her. 

Today, I really overdid it in the henspa. 

This. Ticked. Me. Off. 

See that egg in the middle?  See the one by his tail?  

I GOT THEM. 

He already had one in his mouth. 

Uh huh. You're not getting that egg in the middle! 

Vanquished!

I went in there a half hour later, and he was gone.  He did get one egg, so won't starve tonight.  He needs to eat some of the mice! 

Wanna know how I did it?  

I went in and got two ladles from the kitchen.. held him back with one and scooped the eggs up with the other!  

This kept me busy in the heat this afternoon.  This is the bed Chris trimmed for me a week or so ago, and I got the landscape paper down on it, some dirt... and the straw.  I need about 60 more bags of dirt to cover that straw and paper... but there is dirt holding the paper down right now strategically.  We'll get dirt as we are able through the fall. 

The mums you see in front of you are the castoffs stepdaughter Andrea gave me... they are doing so well and by next year will be almost as big as the huge red one you see on the left. 

She did not know the colors... one is the most delicate pink... you can't see the flowers, but I hope it gets HUGE. 

My assistants were helping me and snacking, too. 

But I have to give them credit... they were holding the paper down for me. 

We were originally going to plant small fruits in this bed... raspberries and blackberries. 

But you know what, folks?  We don't eat that many. 

Rather than do all that work, I am going to put more flowers in it.  

(Not that that isn't work). 

When I got ready to come in and fix some dinner, I put the little ones back in their pen.  Kelly went in at dusk and jumped right up on his "bed".  He and Kody always went right in at dusk. 

I took the opportunity to lock the little girls up, and took the mower in and cut the grass in their pen. 

They had to come out and check out what I had done when I finished.  However... I kept an eye on them, and by the time I finished taking the picture of the moon at dusk, they had gone back in. 

The ladies of the henspa lucked out because I had so much straw.. I took half a bale over to them and they tore right into it.  I always put it in two or three piles, so the little birds and pullets can join in. 

Notice who is directing the show now? 

Ferdy, aka Ferdinand.  

He appears to have taken over. 

I put the game camera out in the pasture tonight... I noticed both big dogs picked up on something this morning as they trekked around the pasture.  We'll see in the morning what it is, I hope. 

Also... we had a warm day today, up to 93.  Tomorrow is supposed to be hot and sultry, before a cool down. 

I caught on the news just a minute as I came in that severe storms may be in order, tomorrow night into Friday morning.  

I'm scared to be alone during storms, I admit it.  So are the dogs! 

Can't wait 'til Keith gets home!