Spring has Sprung

Look at what I Found

A bloomin' onion!

I had tossed half an onion into the composty goodness of the lasagna garden a few weeks ago and found this when I pulled back the tarp the other day to spread some grass trimmings.

I re-"planted" it in the flower box where all of the rescued worms are residing. Obviously we are not great consumers of onions, so if I start to harvest them - who wants to be on the onion list?

Incredible Edible

Whenever I am out at a restaurant to eat breakfast and the server asks me how I want my eggs I often reply with great confidence, "Over Easy." And then I stammer and shake my head and correct myself after double checking with Aaron that what I actually meant to order was "Over Medium". 

For some reason my mouth must find it easier or more fun to say "over easy" than "over medium."
One day I will be bold and order them Sunny Side Up - but I probably won't eat the whites.

Back in the Saddle again

Yesterday evening I got on my road bike for the first time in 6 months.
All I could hear in my head was this song...



for the better part of 15 miles.

Just thought I would share.

Worms

I tend to do my yard work in stages (i.e - I'm lazy) so the pile of leaves and other plant matter that I had raked out of Charlie's yard a couple of weeks ago sat in the driveway and began to decompose quite nicely with all of the rain we've had recently. When I got around to picking that pile up yesterday there were probably 20 or more worms wriggling on the pavement.

(You know how sometimes after a rain shower there will be a bunch of dried up worms left on the sidewalk or other non porous surface? That grosses me out a little, but it also makes me sad. Worms cannot breathe without dirt. Or maybe more accurately, the moisture in the dirt.)

Anyway, I didn't want a bunch of crispy worms in the driveway, especially since their deaths would have been on my conscience. So for about 5 minutes I picked the worms up off the driveway -first with a stick, then with my fingers after I got over the heebie-jeebies - and placed them in a planter box full of potting soil.

Under one smaller pile I uncovered a family of four. There appeared to be 2 good sized parental units and 2 scrawny children. The mom and dad were laying as parallel lines, touching. I think I may have interrupted something, but my knowledge of worms is pretty limited. And I seem to remember some worms are asexual which means they can reproduce without a partner. But again, I am pretty new member of the Greater Knoxville Worm Rescue, I haven't had time to read all the handouts yet.

Daffodils



Steven N Meyers



I was concerned for the early bloomers at the top of the driveway. I just knew they were going to open, be pretty, and then freeze and turn brown and fall over. But, they didn't. They are still standing tall and delightfully yellow.



NatureMandalas Etsy Shop

Apparently daffodils don't bring out the most inspiration when it comes to photography - at least not with the results provided from Google Image Search. I too have an uninspired picture of the first daffodil to bloom on my camera so I decided to expand my search to Etsy. I highly recommend clicking on the caption.

A Map

 

A map of my poison ivy rash.

Maybe there are not sooo many dots on my stomach and right hip, but a rash exists none the less. 

Yesterday was the first day I didn't have a new blister pop up.

Let the healing begin.

Lasagna

My lasagna garden,  aka: pile of leaves, discarded fruit and veggie peels, hay, newspaper and chicken poop, is now "baking". Before I put the tarp over the pile I mixed up the ingredients a little bit and found an earthworm. I'll take that as a sign of good soil.

Spring Cleaning.

Last weekend I did a little cleaning in the coop.

I scraped and shoveled all of the well-used hay from the winter,

filled up the basin with fresh water,

and brought in some new hay.

I like the put the hay down as tiles to give Kathy and Eleanore a chance to make it their own. You know, give them a sense of purpose.

You can view the fresh hay dance here. It starts around second 20.



Daffodils, Lasagna and Spring Cleaning

I have some photos on my digital camera.
All I have to do is plug my camera in to the
USB port that looks like a lady bug...
and click "OK" or "Next" or something.
For some reason this task has been difficult
to get around to. But none of the topics of the
title would be fully explained without the photos.
(Or, at least would be less entertaining.)
So I am going to try to get to it.

And another thing: Nuggets!

February's Figures

I don't know how many eggs I actually got this month. I have had a few no egg days and a couple of 3 egg days. Mostly 2 egg days, though.

The important part is I still have 2 chickens and they survived yesterday's flood. Does that count as a traumatic experience? The coop is on pretty high ground...

PSA

Public Service Announcement: Poison Ivy is never dormant.

Leaves of three, Let it be.

So what do you do with a vine of brown? 

Let that be too. 

If you don't - like I didn't, and then have a plumbing project going on in the house and can't shower right away like we did - start scratching.

I know that Poison Ivy is never dormant.

I knew this before my morning routine involved calamine lotion.

But spring was in the air and I just couldn't resist getting some yard work done.

Unfortunately, I ran out of the stuff above. Hopefully the stuff below will be comparable. (I was at Target for a multi-purpose shop and this was as good as I could get.)

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

M

I created this several months ago. November, I think.

It was one of those really busy days at work.

I've been toying with the idea of painting it on our mailbox.

This is the kind of post Aaron loves.

A: "What? You have?"

I haven't actually toyed with the idea out loud.

By the way, I changed positions at work.

I am being utilized again.

It is a good feeling.

Basil

I just decided today (after eating my leftover mozzarella, tomato and basil sandwich from Brixx) that I am going to add basil to the herb garden.  With this addition, we'll have rosemary and... well that is pretty much it. Just the two of them .

I doubt I will start from seeds for this. I'll probably just buy the plant and try to keep it alive. Let's hope it goes better than the Crepe Myrtle I bought last month. (I think it was dead when I bought it. Good thing Home Depot has a return policy for plants. Just bring it back, root ball and all, with the receipt of course.)

Basil photo from foodsubs.com

To Seed or Not to Seed

Last year, when I first brought the chickens home the ground of the pen looked like this:

All right, well maybe it wasn't that nice. It looked more like this:

But now, after 5 months, it looks like this:

with a little of this strewn about:

I started to wonder  how I was going to get grass to grow in there again.

Then Aaron cleared this up for me. He said something along the lines of "Chickens don't really need grass, do they?" Short answer - Nope.

Then I said...

That's Good. One less thing, you know?

(I didn't really say that. Do you know who did?)

Pictures of the ground from here, here, here and here.

Thirsty

"I'm thirsty."

I'm Friday.

Come over Saturday.

We'll have a Sundae.

(My mom used to say this to me in response to what was probably whining.)

Kathy and Eleanore stormed the coop one day last week when they saw me coming with some water. It was one of the days of frozen-ness so they were pretty thirsty. As soon as I opened the door, there they were. They were pecking at my hand before I could even reach the jug of water to the basin. Hopefully ice won't be a problem much longer.

Cutting the Cord

...or cable.

Aaron and I weren't too thrilled with our cable bills as of late. Aaron made a call to see if there was anything we could do to get a cheaper rate. Apparently, there was only one way. "You can cancel your cable."
So cancel we did.

We decided we could go without for a little while, see how it goes, look into other companies and services...
Can you guess what we have missed the most?

None of these. It hasn't been too hard to figure out the weather. Aaron might miss having breakfast with Mike and Mike a little bit, but I prefer waking up without them. I/we get my/our Bones fix through Netflix. As for Daniel Tosh, we are probably better off without him. So what is it that gives us withdrawal symptoms?

Joe Rocketh's Flickr

That dang clock on the cable box. We had no idea how hooked/reliant we had become on the green numbers in the living room. (Maybe everybody's does this now, but I always thought it was great that we never had to reset that clock for Daylight Savings or power failures.) Somehow though, I think we will manage.

Farming in Pajamas

I believe I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that I was trying to be a runner again. I'm getting there, but the process sure is time consuming. I neglected to tend to Kathy and Eleanore at all on Monday. They were already tucked in and sleeping by the time I got to them last night - fresh out of the shower, in my p.j.'s. Eleanore wasn't too happy with me. Usually she lets me pet her when she is groggy. Not this time. Kathy could care less. She was just eager to get some water. If they would quit filling the trough of the water-er with hay the supply would last a little longer... I tried to make it up to them though. Extra cracked corn! Mmmmmn.

Date Night

Waaaaaaay back in 2010 (December maybe?) Aaron and I went out on a different kind of date. We went to give blood in the blood mobile and then out to eat sushi. Because we gave blood we were each rewarded with a t-shirt, free Petro, and a pint of Mayfield ice cream.

We made another date out of the free Petro's and coupons for free Mayfield Pints. I think Petro's is a regional chain. So if you've never heard of it or never been in one, here is a handy poster they have to let you know just what a Petro is.

I chose to have corn chips. I think I always will. 

Oh and in case you were wondering... I got a report card in the mail a few weeks after the donation. Apparently I am really good at giving blood - I got an "A+"

Gone to Carolina

Aaron, Charlie and I went to Tryon this weekend.

Kathy and Eleanore stayed home.

They had to work.

Exceprts

Midmorning

Me: Hello?  (Why do I answer like I don't know who is calling when the caller ID says "Mom"?)
Mom: Hello. Your dog is at my house.
Me: Ok....
Mom: He came alone.
Me: Oh!
Mom: And he must have had fun because he rolled in something smelly. He is laughing right now. He is really happy.
Me: I'm sure he is.

Late Afternoon

Me: Hello? (This time the caller ID says a last name - it could be one of several people)
Unknown Caller: Who is this?
Me: Lauren. Who is this? Is this Zach?
Unknown Caller: Yeaaaaah. Haley told me if I called this number I'd get... Haley! It's Aunt Lauren... She gave me the wrong number.
Me: Well, how are you?
Zach: Good. Haley is counting (something - I didn't really understand what he said here) but she's not supposed to.
Me: Oh. How is...?
Zach: Ok I'm going to use this number now. I love you bye.

Me: Love you too. Bye.
Zach: Beep Beep Beep.     Beep.   Beep.
Me: Hey, Zach! You have to
Zach: Beep          Beep.
 I hung up.

Enero's Numeros

2 

Hens

0 

Traumatic Events

4 

Cracked and Frozen

4 

1 Egg Days

1 

3 Egg Day

58 

Eggs for the month

The Missing Link(s)

A few of these posts have links in them. I tried to make that more apparent today with the color changes. If you didn't notice a link before and maybe something just didn't make sense to you... have another try. Hopefully they are out of hiding now... And if you missed this, sit back and enjoy.

They Grow Up so Fast

Yesterday when I was editing messing around with this picture of Eleanore, I realized she hardly had any comb*. She was just a wee little bird.

 

*comb -  fleshy growth atop the head of a chicken

How do you know it's really Eleanore? For a while Eleanore didn't have tail feathers due to that little thing called pecking order. Kathy has always had nice full plumage. (This is where naming your animals after people you know gets complicated.)  

So you're saying that Kathy's name used to be... Well, yes. But since the loss of Midnight Snack (I know that sounds cruel, but this is how I am coping.) Kathy and Eleanore have really bonded. 

Look at them now. Full combs, beautiful feathers. My little hens are growing up.

Animal Love

On my walk up to the coop this morning I noticed Kathy and Eleanore were hanging out on a perch in their yard. They started talking a little bit as I got closer and when I opened the access door they were on their way in to the coop to see me and wish me a good morning. That is what I like to think anyway. Maybe they are smart enough to figure out that I bring them food and water or maybe they just enjoy my company.

This scenario is probably along the same lines of how loved and adored I feel by my dog when he sets his drooling face in my lap at the same time I am eating something that entices him.

If I knew that I could buy a car and get a hug from a grateful polar bear as seen here... I'd be cruising around town in my new Nissan LEAF.

Coupins!

When I was little, one of my favorite things to do was help my mom clip coupons. She told me that I would sit and cut with one hand until it got tired, switch the scissors to the other hand (non-dominance!) and keep on going. All the while my tongue sticking out part way to aid my concentration.

When my sister was in town last weekend we went to a presentation about how to Coupon. Yep, another noun has made itself a verb.  (How is it really pronounced anyway? Is it Q-pon or Coo-pon? I say Coo, but I used to say Q.)

Melissa is really into this. She is very good at it. I didn't think I would be too interested, but I would see what it was about. Jenny from Southern Savers was the spokeswoman. She was full of money saving facts and anecdotes. It was almost as if I went to see a comedian and learned how to use coupons as a bonus.

Jenny was very convincing, although she didn't have to be. First of all, anything to make grocery shopping more bearable, like a challenge - I'm in. Secondly, I am easily persuaded. (Not always a good thing, but I am on week 2 of my 6 week trial and I think I am doing pretty well.)

Achoo

Have you ever heard a chicken sneeze?

Eleanore was so thirsty the other night that she got her head right in the stream of water as I was refilling... thus up the sinuses causing her to sneeze. I never thought about birds sneezing before that happened. It's pretty easy to recognize though.

Kathy usually perches on the edge of the basin and just waits. Sometimes I have to nudge her off so I can rinse out the "chicken soup".

Here is some sideways footage to enjoy. Just the ladies in their almost natural habitat. If anyone can tell me how to rotate a video - please do. (Sorry about flipping directions on you... something about not having a dominant hand... I'll save that for another day.)

*** I was going to add another video but this one took so long to download last night and I just realized this post hasn't posted yet so there is only one sideways video for now. The other one is rotated clockwise 180 degrees though, so maybe its better this way.

The Frozen Egg

 

 

Compliments of Aaron and his fancy, new phone.

A close-up of the grime.
This looks cleaner than I felt.

Makin' Bacon

Did I mention that we have a pig?

Not this pig:



Aaron loves this commercial. I cannot figure out why.

I came across our pig doing some Christmas shopping. Brought it home and told Aaron how cute it was but I would probably return it since we didn't really need it. But he said, "If it makes you happy, keep it."

So I did.

Are you ready to meet her?

Whoever said "Money can't buy happiness", never laid their eyes on this pig.

A Girl can Dream

Friday night I had a dream that someone was trying to give me a jersey cow.

Jersey cows are my absolute favorite.

Amazing picture from Macboozle's Flikr

 For some reason I kept turning it down.

Even as her heavy bovine head was in my lap while traveling down the road in my Mazda 3, I said "No".

(It's a pretty small car - I don't know how she got in there. Don't worry, I wasn't driving.)

I blame Billy Crystal for my love of Jersey Cows. 

"Norman... Hello..."

This is not a Jersey cow. This cow hails from Switzerland.

When else would I get to use this photo though?

Trip to Switzerland made possible by Rahel <3

An apology

Did you get it?  Earth, Wind and Fire/ Earth, Wind and Tired. I wasn't sure. I just asked my sister. She got it. But I was really tired yesterday, wasn't really running on all cylinders or whatever that phrase is. So, my apologies.

Speaking of my sister... She is here. This weekend is my birthday present from her. A husband-less, child-less visit. Is that too selfish?

Melis helped me collect the egg tonight. Yep, that is right. Egg. Somebody is slacking. Though if you saw the state of the coop, all fingers and wings should point to me. This is where I list my excuses:

• It is cold 
• It is dark
• Ummm. Ummm... 

I need to go work on more excuses. Sorry Kathy. Sorry Eleanore.
Everybody have a nice weekend.

P.S.  I put a cracked egg in the freezer. I might just put it outside. I want to peel it and see what I get. I'll keep ya posted!

Earth, Wind and Tired

EARTH
I ran in the dark Tuesday night on streets and sidewalks covered with patches of ice. I think I am going to do it again tonight. (Apparently this kind of activity is called "training".)


WIND
I got nothin'.


TIRED
Aaron was on Chicken duty for me last night. He reported the ladies made a nest in the water basin. They are crafty like that.

Last night I slept on an extendable sofa - not to be confused with a fold out couch.

Today I look like I slept on an extendable sofa last night.

Hotter Water

Kathy and Eleanore are handling the cold much better than I anticipated. They actually seem to enjoy pecking at ice that forms on the sides of the water basin. I can hear them before I even get to the coop.

Tap tap tap. Peck peck peck.

The other day they didn't stop pecking when I gave them some fresh, non-frozen, water.  Usually they look at the basin, look at me, back at the basin, back at me... until I am done refilling. Sometimes Kathy (I think) perches right on the side of the basin and waits (insists) for me to fill it up.

Since it has been so cold I have been taking hot water up to the coop to try and get a couple more mintues of drinkable liquid to the ladies.

It is kind of neat to watch chickens drink. There is no slurping. No sipping. No guzzling. It looks a lot like eating. But, I guess when you have a beak for a mouth there aren't a lot of options.

Baby, I's COLD outside.

...Cold enough that one of the eggs I collected this a.m. cracked when I brought into the house.

Unfortunately, this is not what I discovered inside. This is a resin mold that someone made as a prank.
Although, while looking for a picture of a frozen egg, I did find some neat eggs-periments to try...

Y'know... Snow

Charlie actually loves the snow...

I don't know why he looks so dissapointed...

probably because I was taking a picture of him instead of playing. 

 Watching this makes me want to get a webcam for Kathy and Eleanore even more.

The Name Game

Sorry to leave you hanging...

de aqui

Why Kathy? Why Eleanore? Actually,  it is a package deal. One could not be named Kathy without the other being named Eleanore and vice versa.

Back in the summer, when I was not as busy being held down by blankets, I participated in a couple of sprint triathlons. Word got out that I  - used to be/ sometimes am/ am trying again to be - a runner. Kathy and Eleanore, two very nice ladies in the Fleet Feet Knoxville circle, asked me to join them for an Olympic Distance Tri relay and I agreed. Kathy swam. Eleanore cycled. I suffered ran.

Relay teams get to pick a team name so the race directors can call out one name instead of three when handing out awards. I just made that up, but it seems plausible. Regardless, Eleanore registered us as "Two Hens and a Chick."


So, there you have it. The mystery is over. And now for the name game:


But first a note from Wikipedia : Playing the game with names such as Alice, Dallas, Tucker, Chuck, Buck, Huck, Bart, Art, Marty, Mitch, Rich, Richie, Maggie, Ruby, or, in British English, Danny or Annie, results in profanity or rude language.

Chickens Chickens Bo Bickens

Banana Fana Fo Fickens

Me My Mo Mickens

Chickens!

New Year, New Names

I thought somewhere I had written about names for the chickens... I can't find it. I did try to name them. I thought about naming them after queens; Elizabeth, Victoria, Latifah... On Columbus day I was a total nerd and tried to name them after the ships the Nina and the Santa Maria... Anyway, nothing really stuck. Ok, well, two names did stick - for a while at least.

In the beginning of this adventure when I had 3 chickens, there was one lady who was particularly dominant. Her name rhymed with Itch. And that fateful day I returned home to find an unexpected survivor in the driveway (as a friend pointed out it was as though she had returned from the dead) she earned a name that rhymed with Please Us. 

More often than not, they are referred to as "the ladies".

Not this year. This year they shall go by Kathy and Eleanore.