Wherein I See My Favorite Tree

Somewhere in the bedroom, I hear a sleepy Jester on the loveseat snoring. 

(my letter S won't capitalize!) 

It's the most peaceful sound, the late afternoon sun coming through the windows in the bedroom, and the gentle snoring. 

Twinkle was in here a few minutes ago, and climbed up my leg so many 

times that my leg now feels raw.  She plays all the time, until she is just so 

pooped out, that she can't. 

I have had four days in the last week when I got only 1 to 2 eggs from the 17 hens. 

They are in the middle of a heavy moult.  I am going to start fermenting some 

grain this evening in a small bucket, and serve them fermented grain for a few days 

to get some extra protein in them so they can grow some new feathers. 

I'm taking it to the Ag Hall, too. 

(note what looks like hay in the nest box) 

Two weeks ago, I ordered seven bales of straw. 

Yesterday, I opened my hay shed door, and the sun was shining down on the "straw". 

Am I wrong, or do three of those bales look suspiciously like hay?  The first one I opened 

appeared to be hay.  I don't like to use hay in my chicken house, because it's bad for the hens in a closed space.  One winter we were forced to use hay, there was a huge lack of straw.  

The feed store from whom I bought is very reputable, I should have just called and asked if they got the order wrong.  

Despite it, I will still use them. 

I prefer to use religious cards at Christmas, but I had to buy these when 

I saw them at Marshall's. 

So. Glad. When. She. Poops. Out. 

I literally can't open the door without the hoards coming to see what I'm doing. 

There's Harlequin in the old henhouse yesterday, watching me get her breakfast ready.  

Yesterday, we had our annual volunteer luncheon at the Ag Hall .  We had a wonderful potluck meal, with barbecued meats provided by the 

Ag.  

It was good to see everyone, because even though we are all there a lot, we don't get to all see each other all the time.  It was fun catching up with everyone.  Judy, on the left in the buffalo plaid, is 

the person who is keeping the ag going right now.  Marsha, in the brown striped sweater, is our volunteer coordinator.   Some of the men in this picture are there three days a week as volunteers taking care of the inside and outside, doing repairs to buildings, etc.. We could not operate without them. 

Our two youngest volunteers were modeling the reindeer headdresses for Santa's Express, which is coming up the first two weekends of December.  Local friends it is FREE.  You can see Santa and take as many pictures as you want... ride the train... do make and take crafts in the General Store, and have cookies and hot chocolate in the barn.  

We do accept donations, but YES IT IS FREE thanks to a wonderful sponsor.  Hours are 10 AM to 3 PM, both the first and second Saturdays and Sundays of December. 

These two have been coming to the Ag with their grandparents since they were crawling... what would we do without them? 

and this... THIS, is one reason I moved back. 

Every year I waited for this, it is on the dam between the two deep 

ponds at the bottom of my pasture and the Spehar's land. 

I looked for it for weeks, but did not realize a tree overgrown in my pasture was blocking the view. 

I got out of the car yesterday, and the angle at the top of the drive revealed it in all it's glory.  I 

started crying.  

It was like a huge welcome back for me. 

And now, I'm going to go out and see if there are more than two or three eggs!

And This Will Be Our New Playroom

If you have been following along with the saga of the Feral Kittens, either here or on Facebook,, you will know that ten days ago, the Raccoon Crew broke them out of the Little Red Henhouse in my old henyard. 

The game camera has proven that they are hanging around, and their litter box is still in the 

henhouse. 

However, three days ago, I saw one watching me outside the old henhouse (larger building) and 

when I stepped towards it, it literally ran UP the door, and into the henhouse through the torn screen. 

That night, I put a little food in there for them, and a water bowl. 

Because of this: 

The kittens couldn't even get near the food because of the 

wild birds.  I did get ONE large cat, the gray and white, 

coming into the henyard to check out what was going on. 

First sighting I have seen of any of the three ferals in my yard. 

The raccoons were still coming at night to check things out, though I am 

taking the food in at dark when I go shut the hens up. 

So, last night I decided to put the camera IN the old henhouse, and 

I left some food and a bowl of water for them. 

It was 101 here yesterday and heat index was about 114, at one point. 

I have water in numerous places around the yard. 

There are three of the four, I am not convinced that the fourth is still with them.  Remember, it had only been in with the others (it's siblings) for two days before they were released. 

And then, at 10:13, someone reared it's head. 

And at 10:14, it entered.  The camera was knocked over, shortly thereafter. 

NOTHING is raccoon proof. 

Well, maybe the henspa, so far. 

So tonight, there will be NO food left, there is Kitten Chow there in a bowl today. 

Fresh water, there and on the porch of the little red house. 

I also put the continuous feeder IN the little red henhouse, where it used to be... thinking that 

might make the birds go elsewhere instead of into the dark henhouse pophole. 

I'll pull both feeders tonight. 

So, this is also happening: 

This is Tim Vaughan, of Stranger Creek Fence Company.  We live in Stranger Township. 

Tim is fixing the support posts for the pasture gate, which were left broken off at the ground by our tenant ON BOTH SIDES, which I had not realized.  The gate was propped so that it appeared that it was okay.  As you can see behind him, Tim is re-doing the braces on both sides, and will hang the gate on a wheel so I can open and close it easily.  He is also welding the front gate's wheel so that I can open it easily... the wheel slipped down.  He is also measuring the front deck to bid for power-washing and then a water-seal finish.  

Tim is also a bull rider, and won the Leavenworth Fair bull-riding last year. 

I put a post  on "Next Door Stranger Creek"
 and was given Tim's contact info, and I'm glad to know him.  He is going to be helping clear some of the other fence lines. 

As of this morning after church, when I stopped by to do chores... the fence line behind him was completely cleared. 

You all know how scared I am of strong chemicals... but sometimes I have to use them. 

The kitchen floor is in, and Mike the Contractor stayed late and did a first 

sanding of the mud.  YAYYY. 

And this... this makes me inordinately happy, to see happy hens wandering around in the yard and eating bugs.  

I can't tell you how much. 

The Screamer (Cornish) confronts Emily (Production Red) . 

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)