Catching Up on the Month

Whew

What a month so far. 

I traveled to Milwaukee, saw Ringo Starr and his band (again) and 

had my 50th high school reunion, and yes, I said FIFTIETH. 

Over the weekend, I found my mother's pictures from her 50th... why do those 

people seem so much older than we do? 

Here are some of the happy St. Peter's Cathedral graduates from the 

class of 1964!  We took some pictures on Friday because one of us
(Ted Kokoruda, left) was not able to make Saturday's get together. 

There were two women missing from this picture, I got a picture of them 

and Ted a little later.  We look pretty good (that's your blogger in the green). 

The men look older, sorry, guys! 

The following night, we met at a venue in the Crossroads, in KCMO.  It was  a

great dinner and another chance to visit with everyone.  Ted, if you are reading this... I will send you copies of the grade school picture and of the big class picture. 

I remember my mom was so apprehensive about going, and had herself 

really worked up... I took her over to the reunion venue that day in 1980 something... and 

she had a BLAST, in fact, called me to say "she had a ride home" in a happy voice.  I've never forgotten that.   My mom was widowed twice, so this was a big deal for her. 

I went with the idea of just having a good time and seeing old friends, and 

that was accomplished!

Now, back to farm business!

I hit a milestone in the last two weeks... in fact, last Tuesday. 

A year ago last Tuesday was this: 

If it had not been for my grandsons Jacob, Nathan and Christopher, I would have

never gotten the move done, we worked all summer.  

Then, on the 12th, Two Men and a Truck came and moved the last big stuff for us, 

and about 20 boxes.  Chris and I literally fell asleep on the front porch while they were 

moving the things in. 

Now, that ugly Hughesnet satellite is gone, and the deck is full of flowers again. 

Likewise the old refrigerator on the porch.... tho in looking back, I should have moved it 

to the barn for egg storage.   Hindsight, you know. 

A year later, to the day. 

Would never have dreamed sheep would be here, or that I would like them so much. 

Despite the fact that we got lots of rain two weeks ago, they are working away at the large bale that their owner brought for them.  He has bought four more, from what I understand.  That's good, 

because we only got one cutting on most fields this year, and hay is already at 85.00 to 125.00 for a large round. 

My four Black Stars and six Gold Comets are growing into beautiful young birds. 

None has started laying yet, and in fact, the molt is starting.  I am getting barely 

ten eggs a day out of almost 40 hens.  

I also have a purebred cochin girl this size... but cochins are not prolific egg 

layers. 

I'll try to get a picture of the two young roosters, who are expending great energy running back and forth after the pullets and hens. 

My boy Jes can be pretty intent.  As I said on Instagram, 

I have not had even ONE full sandwich in the last ten years, before 

Jes it was the four pugs. 

I had a bacon sandwich that day, by the way. 

These are ornamental peppers in a bed at the 

National Agricultural Center . 

I took it Saturday morning when I went to work the front desk. 

These were in a bed in Topeka, when I took my sister in law there on Thursday. 

I am so doing this next year.  I have also thought of a way to keep these guys off the deck: 

Sheep did this. 

Yes, these guys.  I did not get the camera out in time to get their guilty looks. 

An hour later, the four dark ducks were up there picking through everything. 

Now... look at the picture of the spilled washtub and you will see some sweet potato tubers.  I cleaned them off.... and was going to cook them to see what they were like, and was told they were 

poisonous.  Well, guess what... after throwing them away.... I found they are NOT, and can 

be eaten.  They just aren't bred for flavor like the garden varieties.  I have another washtub of 

vines, and am going to try one out of it.  I had been afraid to even put them in the compost heap so the sheep would not touch them, but now am no longer afraid. 

One of the dark ducks is now laying, but she is dropping her eggs at random spots in the yard. 

Yesterday's egg was pounced upon by the chickens, who broke it and ran around with it. 

You can see they are much bigger than the chicken eggs, and I'll use them for 

baking.  I wish she would pick a spot that I could check daily. 

Ramona, this one's for you! 

I have quit feeding any wet cat food for the time being, 

because of this.  The pasture feeder is being 

emptied nightly, too, and the raccoon getting it is a big boar, so I am 

leaving him alone. 

The time and date on this cam is correct... and Spooky and Harlequin got there 

early enough last night that they were able to eat.  Not ten minutes later came the 

first of the raccoons, and in all, there were about 8 of them. 

Spooky also made it to the front deck of the Hen Spa (where they are, here) to 

eat the little bit I put out there, so I know they got fed. 

The pasture feeder camera was NOT TURNED ON.  My bad.  All the 

food was gone, though..

Gray tabby checked WAY too late... that was early this morning...

I hope he got some in the pasture...

This guy got there too late, too, and peed to show his displeasure. 

Butterfly goodness at the Ag. 

I want to wish a happy birthday to my oldest son, Jim, too... who turned 

the BIG FIFTY on Saturday! 

And...We're Off!

Those darn kittens!

Four days ago, the raccoons came in the night, and tore the hasp and hook holding the 

door to the little coop out, went in, rousted out the four kittens, and ate everything in sight, fouling the water like they usually do.  

There were the first three in the coop after they took up residence. 

Kitten Four was a curtain climber from the get-go. 

Lucky, because two nights later, the raccoons burst in. 

I got out there to find the door open, the rocks moved, and the hasp torn from the door.  I looked around... there were no kitten bodies or blood spots... so.... I crossed my fingers. 

I took the big feeder out of the coop, and cleaned the porch up a little and put it on the porch. 

I cleaned the fouled water out, and put the water on the porch, too, and propped the door open with the stones.  I left the litter box in the coop. 

I put the camera on the little free standing coop next to the red coop. 

It was a grow-out coop I used for babies. 

And... BOO... we see you!

I am happy to report that the kittens are coming in and out of the coop all day and evening. They are using their new, much larger litter box. 

Here is the new scheme: 

I leave the large water fountain and the large feeder on the porch of the coop 

during the day.  At night, when I go to lock the birds up, I remove it and actually take the food into the house.  I do leave the water fountain. 

I put a new bag of food into the fountain this morning.  As you can see, the water is befouled by the raccoons, but they only dropped by twice last night.  The kittens met them coming and going. 

That whole feeder goes to the kitchen at night. 

I cleaned the fountain out. 

So far, the raccoons have not come during the day. 

So, kittens are not the only thing that has been going on this last week. 

That's my right hand this morning. 

Last week was Wyandotte County Fair week, and I have battle scars from feeding birds. 

Such as these.  You see, the poultry superintendent does not provide cups for every cage, (and yes, the kids are supposed to bring them)  and some birds have to eat on their nasty bedding.  Yes, I'm pointing fingers.  In four days, I fed all cages and watered them, at 8:30 in the morning.  I saw only two sets of 4H kids.... they are not made to take care of their own birds.  I donated feed.  I physically fed and watered 8 times.  I am  not complaining, I am BLAMING.  I went back at 3 or 4 and fed and watered again.  I grew up in Wyandotte County, and loved this fair, but it has changed, and not for the better.  

At the Leavenworth County fair, (week after next) the poultry super requires the kids to come daily, feed and water their own birds, check cages frequently, and clean their cages.  They are not allowed to collect premiums or trophies until the cages are cleaned at the end of the show.  It is done strictly, and there are ALWAYS kids in the barn, going around checking.  

But what about the parents who work?  

The parents and kids are told "You will find a way to the fair".  

It is enforced.  It teaches responsibility. 

I got several excuses: 

They are showing horses too, they are at the horse barn. 

That does not mean you leave your chickens to starve and suffer in 100 degree heat. 

The parents work 

Ditto. 

I talked to several rabbit mothers (the poultry shares with the rabbits) and saw them every single morning, bringing their kids to take care of their rabbits.  I only saw a few groups of kids come in to check their birds.  When I know a water cup was full at 9, and come back at three and it is completely dry, I know no one has checked.  

However, there was a bright ray: 

The three birds entered by the kids from Camp Grow at the Ag Hall

won Grand Champion Open Hen, and two blues.  

I could not get a good picture of Princess, Speckles, and Brownie. 

At the end of fair, they came home with me, and now the coop at the Ag Hall is home to 24 new beauties: 

They are gorgeous Cochin babies from Stromberg's Hatchery, in buff, splash, partridge, black and blue. 

They now have the run of the coop at the Ag. 

While the big girls are living with me. 

Last Sunday night. 

Worth every penny I spent on the tickets.  If they have not come to your town yet, 

get tickets!

If I could convey my happiness at this point, I would. 

I was this happy. 

Lilly turns 12 this month.  We know she was about six to eight weeks old 

when we adopted her in September.  She is hurting more now, limps sometimes, and is having trouble getting in and out of the car, even using the steps.  I am praying she hangs on for the move, she loves her home in the country. 

I can't say enough good about this little guy, who loves his little bear. 

I am watching him, our dreadful hot weather is so very hard on him. 

My new kitchen counters will be this. 

I am looking at lighting now. 

I am going a little more sophisticated in my old age. 

Have a good week, everyone!

( I have hardly had the big cameras out lately.  I'll be more 

assiduous when I get closer to the move!)

(late August)

My Hair is Full of Chicken Feed

Seriously. 

My hair is full of chicken feed. 

This is why: 

Camp Grow, from The National Agricultural Center, entered ten chickens in 

the Wyandotte County Fair this weekend.  I went over to feed them 

yesterday and today.... and the cages are located UNDER the tables. 

Everything is dropping on our chickens, see the poop on this pullet's wing? 

UGH. 

My hair became full of chicken feed, thrown down by the birds above, as I fed and watered. 

I just reached up to scratch my head and discovered I was full of chicken feed! 

So, here is what the kids earned: 

A Reserve Grand Champion in Open for the black brahma pullet entered, 

and seven second place winners in other open classes.  Oddly, this fair has 

blue ribbons for second, or so I was told this morning.  I'll confirm that tomorrow. 

It was still a wonderful first showing. 

They asked me to remove the ribbons, as the chickens were dirtying them. 

I was asked to remove the two roosters taken to the fair, because they were tearing up their pullets (they are really cockerels at this point) but this Columbian Delaware (he is a BIG boy) is becoming ... um... mature.  So, I brought them back to the coop at the Ag Hall, and he celebrated immediately, if you know what I mean. 

He won a ribbon, too. 

The Ag Hall doesn't open until 1 on Sundays, so I had time to walk around and take some pictures in the quiet morning. 

The duck is still here.  I thought for sure it was a drake last week, though it is not colored like one.  I thought I saw a curly tail.  Now I am convinced it's a female, and it seems content to pal around with the geese. 

The cupola on the schoolhouse looked so nice against the blue sky. 

And yes, the lilies are still blooming. 

This common buckeye rested for a while in the garden. 

It almost hurts to look at the liatris in the sunlight! 

This is zinnia "Zahara Red"... I'm growing this next year, it is low to the ground and gorgeous. 

And I would love to have a grass border like this! 

Here are some of my own containers.  The big round one is the mums, one of the plants is trying to bloom, and I am still pinching back. 

The straw bales.  I am going to have to have at least eight next year.  I thinned the 

tomatoes out last night (the branches not bearing) and I don't know if you can tell, 

but there is a cucumber plant climbing up the tomatoes, and there is a watermelon on the right reaching for the sun.  There are baby cukes and decent-sized tomatoes everywhere... Keith and I each had one ripe cherry tomato yesterday, but there are table "maters" coming on and should be ripe soon, now that the sun can get to them. 

I took this while I was pruning. 

I have to be very careful of the trough, it does not drain well, so I water sparingly. 

I need to make some holes in it. 

I'll be up early in the morning to go feed at the fair grounds again... they are only about 3 miles from our house.  Then off to a doctor's appointment in Leavenworth, and back here to get some work done in my own yard! 

Everyone have a peaceful evening. 

Finally Friday

There are some weeks around here that I feel like I have 

still worked a full week.  This was one of them. 

We had a good week with Jax and Paiton, but I am getting OLD when I can't cope with two little kids day after day.  They are live wires, and I have trouble keeping up with them! 

School starts for them on Monday. 

We have been going out very early to the old place, 

because I am locking up the chickens now. 

So, I get up early, let them out, and then am going out late, about 

7:40, to lock them up.  Usually they are on the roost when I get there, or

just about ready to go in.  When they see me with the net in my hand, 

in they go. 

I am seeing surprise lillies (lycoris squamigera) everywhere along the road. 

Not seeing many animals along the road because of this... 

this is not smoke, it's DUST.  UGH.  It's getting 

everywhere in the car, and I can't keep the car clean. 

Mr. Heron was fishing in the pond this morning, again. 

And the mockingbird visited at the Ag Hall this afternoon. 

There were also Monarch butterflies but every time I went out 

to get their pictures... they were flitting around. 

There WERE other butterflies working the flowers. 

The late summer flowers are gorgeous still. 

(Celosia) 

Salvia 

The gomphrena is almost hard to look at in the sun. 

I also saw one of the biggest worms I have ever seen!   I removed him to a garden area. 

I'm glad the weekend is here!