Friyay!

I just this moment realized I have not posted since Monday, it seems like the week 

flew by. 

Spring is springing even more. 

We have had a chain of lovely days this week, except for rain on Wednesday.  That was okay, because 

we need it. 

Tuesday afternoon, I got five Cinnamon Queens from a young man here in 

Leavenworth County.  They are 18 months old, but still laying, and in good shape. 

There is a sample of their eggs, from this morning.  Nice. 

My plan is to open the door of the feed room tonight, and let them mingle with the flock after 

I have shut the pophole door.  

Tomorrow, they can go out into the free world (and I'll pray I don't have to chase them around with a

net in the evening).  They came from a big pen, so the grass will flip them out. 

Tractor Supply is having a sale this week. 

I am stockpiling potting soil. 

I have two things to say about it.  At TSC I can literally pull up alongside the pile and 

load my bags.  I do not have to get a cart and lug that cart across a store.  

I am going back for 8 more tomorrow, while it's still on sale. 

See that large green planter to the right, you can just barely see it.  It takes two bags of potting soil, and part of a third to fill it. 

I have two more close to that size, and about 20 in smaller and medium sizes. 

So, Dennis Patton, the Johnson County Extension Agent, wrote a good article in the Kansas City Star last week, talking about the differences between potting mix and garden soil. 

I have always used garden soil in my pots... well... 98% of the time. 

Potting soil is lighter and formulated to provide nourishment for those plants 

in the pots that need good root systems to support them.  There IS a difference, 

and you see, I am now a believer. 

I have 13 bags, I am going to get at least 8 more tomorrow. 

Ferdie was a great help, as you can see. 

I'm working towards a long-term goal of having another hen house 

up and running next year... and having a bunch of brown leghorn powerhouse egg layers in it. 

I have a lot to do before then. 

Like this, only twice as much. 

In all the years we have been here, since 2005... this huge old 100 year old walnut has stood by the barn.  Its' base is shifting, causing the bark to come loose... and you see, its' arms are being truncated by the wind.  It is VERY tall.  There are no walnuts any more, and frankly, it is a danger.  So, this week, I had a tree company from Lawrence come to give me advice on it, the huge maple near the house,  three trees on the bank that have dangerous deadfall in them... and the many young trees that have grown up in the fenceline of the old henyard.  

The bid was surprisingly manageable, and lower than Keith and I had feared in the past, so... I am going to get it all done.  The company should be calling me to schedule soon... I'll take lots of pictures.  I'm leaving the chickens in their yard that day, because equipment will be going back and forth across the yard.  It is cheaper to get it all done at once, by the way. 

They will grind up everything, leaving me mulch, except for the two walnuts.  That is not good mulch. 

(the other walnut is on the bank by the road, and a dangerous limb is hanging from it.) 

This is a garage that sits near the shop/barn.  For years, we just backed the mower into it, and stuck gardening stuff in it.  You see it was full of trash.  

This is it after an hour's hard work this afternoon.  I am going to also get rid of the 

stuff you see sitting along the wall, minus a few partial bags of mulch.  See the lightbulb

hanging there in the back?  It did not come on when I pulled the string, however, I have NO idea if Keith ever replaced that bulb.  There is also a good plug next to the window at the back, that needs

screen put back in it.  

So... the east end is completely open, but the rest of the building is in good shape. 

Power is at the barn/shop right behind it.  

Remember, these two buildings went with the original house on the property, which sat just east of them.   I have already made arrangements to have them painted this spring. 

This building was used by us as a stable one winter, for Beau, our Shetland pony, and 

his little mini-mare companion, Lily. 

Why not a hen house?  The wall could be closed in....with a window for ventilation... the power restored.... a pen built out in front of it... less than putting up another building, or a radical overhaul on the old henhouse where the cats live. 

So, I'm thinking. 

I had Jester boy's portrait done this week, as I had Lilly's done two weeks ago. 

Gianna Alvarez is the artist, she is at #LittlePawPaints on Instagram.  She does a 

great job. 

I'm looking for two good frames to get these hung. 

Speaking of Jester, he has an infection right now, and has been in some 

discomfort this week.  We visited the vet today, and he is on a seven day regimen of 

antibiotics to get him all straightened out.  That will be good, as I have had to get up 

in the middle of the night, sometimes several times, to get him outside fast. 

Our beautiful moon last night. 

I caught this blue boy just right this afternoon!

A Very Full Friday

Well, lots to talk about tonight. 

I got eight of my twelve new hens home, and am very, very satisfied with them! 

Here are pictures of them.  For tonight, four are in with Butch, Reddy, and Fancy and April in the feed room, and four are in with the little henhouse bunch.

As you can see, they are lovely hens.  I know they probably should have been isolated, but I know where they came from.  The browns are Cinnamon Queens, the others are mixes.

Here is a Cinnamon Queen I put in the little henyard.  I'm going to move ALL little birds out of there... the big roosters are just too hard on them.  As none of these big birds will be allowed to set, I think it will be better, and get the little birds somewhere safe.  It will be hard on the ones who are used to being inside all the time, but, I think, better for them.

Here are the other three in that henyard, the middle hen with her head down is an Ameracauna, so I was glad to get another green-egger.

The hen on the left looks a little older, but that's okay... three eggs a week from each will make me happy.

Do you believe these onions?

And the lettuce that we already need to thin out???

And Keith in the hoop house tonight where he has built a bench where new bin planters are going to go.  He got this idea from Mother Earth News this week... I'll explain more this weekend.

But here is the really, really FREAKY thing!

Here is the real proof the heavens have gone crazy... a tomato is blooming on MARCH 30th!

Never, ever, have I seen this.  What on earth can it mean????

I'll be trying to linkup with Farmchick's Friday Night Photos, either tonight or tomorrow... sometimes Mr. Linky goes up late!