Not My Planned Second Post

Okay, I'm having to remind myself of why I want chickens and ducks. 

The henspa yard, this afternoon.  I sit in that chair when I fill the pool.  It's disgusting.  The smell is disgusting.  I really am thinking of moving the ducks to the other side, to the old henhouse yard.  They can have access to the pasture, and it won't be as bad.  They will be able to get their greens on their own. 

This mess is about 80% their fault, but the rest is from the rains. 

Some of the hens don't even want to be down in it. 

I'm thinking of dropping the cover for the summer, so the whole thing has a chance to dry out well. 

Ugh. 

Here's the Missouri River at Leavenworth Landing Park, where Lewis and Clark landed once upon a time. 

The Mighty Mo is in flood stage, can you tell? 

Keith took this this morning. 

There is usually another ten feet of bank in front of the fence. 

My original plan for today was to show you all something neat I found yesterday when I went to the post.  I stopped to take pictures.  I had noticed it a few weeks ago when Keith drove us to Home Depot in Leavenworth... and I had never noticed it before.  I stopped there on purpose yesterday. 

Instead, I'm going to do that tomorrow, and show you what I found when I went in the big henhouse to do chores. 

ARGHHHHH!  I didn't get the egg in her middle, but I DID get a third one in the cage, and yes, I stuck my hand in there. 

Here's her buddy... he went to the top of the cage to try to get out when I came in.  (This is the nursing cage, up on stilts) 

I'm sure he dropped back down and ate that other egg.  I got the third one, don't ask me how. 

These are NOT Mr. T... these are the other two snakes that have been mating all week. 

If it just didn't flipping smell so bad in there with the muck from last night... but now it's humid and within minutes, I was perspiring like you wouldn't believe. 

I shoveled out two shovels full of muck, and said 

"That's it for today"

Everyone has water and food... and I'll still feed the babies their bottles about 8 PM, but that's IT for me, except for locking everyone up.   UGH. 

I know we needed rain, but UGH. 

Supposedly we have 3 days of sun and 80 degree temps coming before the next storm, 

thank heavens! 

Tomorrow I'll show you the Little Church in the Wildwood I found.  

Date Night

Because I'm retired, I don't get out a whole lot anymore, and we have infrequent date nights.  Over the weekend, Keith asked me to go to dinner at the golf club he has joined and we picked tonight, which is buffet night.  

So, Keith took a picture of me as I was getting ready to go out and get the eggs and try to coerce everyone into coming in early, as we had to drive to Lawrence 

I was going to fix this picture up so you couldn't see the mess, but frankly, that's what our kitchen is like in winter.  I DID put some of the Homer buckets outside today, because it got up to 50 degrees, and I figure the water won't freeze tonight. 

You see why I have those boots on?  Slick muck. 

These little guys were smart, and were far above the muck of the little henyard. 

I showered and changed, and threw the boots back on to run out and set up the video cam for the pasture.  Pretty stylish, huh? 

The sky was beautiful on our way to Lawrence, and we enjoyed our prime rib buffet so very much. 

You know I have been researching new menus for us since I retired, and Keith told me yesterday how much he appreciates all the good meals we have been having... but gosh, it sure was nice to go out and eat this evening, and we enjoyed chocolate cheesecake and apple pie for dessert!  YUM.  

More videos tomorrow, we hope... if we did the camera right tonight.  Mr. Opossum was there when we pulled down the drive, but we'll have to check the camera in the morning to see what else has come around. 

A Soggy Day in Tongie Town

And a very soggy day it was.... we actually had tornado warnings over in the next county where I work, and spent over an hour in our official storm area of the building, waiting for the all clear.  Rain moved in and out in sheets this afternoon, and needless to say, the yard is water-logged.  We did need rain... but whew!

A soggy bird feeding station

Soggy llamas.

Even now it's blowing and howling outside, though they say we will have sun tomorrow. 

I sunk in the stinking MUCK behind the little henhouse tonight, so did rudimentary chores and came INSIDE like a sane person. 

Someone at work asked me yesterday "Do you really do an hour of chores every night when you go home?"... she has a professional manicure and I am sure has never seen a chicken close up.... and I answered "yes".  Her reply was "Oh my gosh, why do you do it?".... tonight is one of those nights you have to ask yourself WHY INDEED????"