Childhood Wishes and Poultry Dreams

Every once in a while I will have a dream involving my chickens. But instead of just having 2 chickens in a coop where they are, I either have uncontrollable numbers of hens and chicks all over the place, running and hopping around in filth, escaping from a poorly constructed cage or other forms of poultry including ducks, turkeys... and still just running amuck. I think there may have even been a crocodile once.

In these dreams I am completely overwhelmed and feel terrible about the living conditions and dissapointed in my care taking ability.

During my waking hours I really don't feel stressed about keeping chickens. They are rather low maintenance and I feel like I do an ok job.  They are however, a bit of a reality check. If the area we lived in was zoned for other types of livestock (and Aaron was unable to talk sense into me) I could see myself as borderline animal hoarder. Not as extreme as scenarios on the news. But I think it would get out of hand pretty quickly.

Maybe all kids do this, but whenever I was at a zoo or an aquarium, I was convinced that I could take care of an otter or a dolphin and that Grandma Churchill's pool was an acceptable and comfortable place for it to live.

Today I see an animal to adopt and have similar thoughts - minus the pool. Those pigmy goats would love it in our back yard! A miniature cow! How can we live without one?! Oh, a cat. Every farm (even a pretend one) needs a cat...

Alas, that is all a lot more poop than I want to deal with.

Birthday Girl

My grandmother, Gramma Bitter, had a birthday Saturday. And 82 others before that one. She and I share the winter birthday party conundrum (i.e. the weather is terrible and nobody can make it). She is a smart lady though, so she doesn't let any weather stop her. Nope, sometimes she gathers her friends and family and celebrates 6 months earlier (or later I suppose).

Here is a condensed time line of the some of the things that have happened during her lifetime. And this doesn't even include what happened to her, with her, close to her - like marriage, children, grandchildren, teaching, crafting, learning how to swim, vacations, adventures, choir, community band, painting, NY, FL, NC...

1929 - Great Depression begins, Museum of Modern Art opens, 1st class stamp $0.02
1938 - Invention of the Ball Point Pen and First Xerox copy
1939 - World War 2 begins
1940 - First McDonald's opens
1947 - Invention of the Microwave oven, Chuck Yeager breaks sound barrier
1949 - Debut of cable television
1950 - Charles Shulz starts Peanuts, first class stamp $0.03
1957 - Sputnik launched
1958 - First class stamp up to $0.04, Elvis joins the Army
1959 - Alaska and Hawaii join the United States
1960 - Listening to Patsy Kline & John Coltrane, Reading To Kill a Mockingbird
1964 - US Surgeon General affirms cigarette smoking causes cancer
1967 - PBS is created
1969 - First walk on the moon
1970 - Floppy disk introduced
1974 - Nixon resigns from presidency
1975 - Saturday Night Live premieres
1977 - Star Wars hits theatres, Elvis dies, first woman priest ordained
1979 - Three Mile Island meltdown scare, First class stamp up to $0.15
1981 - MTV goes on air
1986 - Oprah! airs
1988 - CD's out sell vinyl records
1989 - First class stamp $0.25
1990 - Cold War ends, Persian Gulf War begins
1992 - World Wide Web available to the public
1996 - Another cloning milestone; Dolly the Sheep
1999 - First class stamp $0.33, Y2K scare
2001 - Terrorists attack United States
2004 - Gay marriage legalized in Massachusetts, Martha Stewart goes to prison
2006 - Pluto is demoted from "planet" to "dwarf planet"
2009 - First class stamp $0.44
2010 - BP Oil Spill

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

My chickens are really messy

It is like they were raised in a barn or something.

Actually, they aren't that messy. (Nevermind if they were to step foot/talon into the house right now - oh, the judgements that shall be passed.) But keeping their water-er clean, whatever form it may be in; basin or fountain, is a bit of a chore - especially when it is 30 degrees and dark.

Unfortunately that isn't even much of an excuse seeing as how the temperature hasn't been that low for many days this winter. At least the first 29 days of it. However, I have heard several times in the last couple of days that the last winter this area has seen a similar weather pattern was in 1993.

Oooooh.

Now, if you ain't from 'round here you probably wouldn't know about the blizzard of '93. Apparently it was a doozie. I was not yet a southerner in '93. Though I do know that Connecticut had a pretty mild winter that year.

Where was I going with this?

Birds. Dirty. Right...
I guess I will spend some time in the coop this weekend trying to "design" a watering hole that I won't have to scoop clumps of damp hay out of. And while I am there, might as well figure out what can be done to blizzard-proof. Just in case...

Much ado about Egg Cartons

Remember how I mentioned that I liked to use reusable bags, and how reusable bags are reusable and thus, shouldn't need so many of them?

Same concept goes for egg cartons. Since our dealings with carton-less eggs began, people have been ever-so kindly donating cartons. Perhaps for a fill-up or maybe just to be friendly. Regardless, there is no shortage on cartons at the Myers household.

We have several kinds:
Styrofoam - not a fan, will probably just throw those away
Carboard - as long as they stay clean, they can go through many cycles
The tri-fold clear plastic ones - pretty durable and easy to clean if need be

So today I did some research with my pal Google. I said, "Google, just what can I do with all of these cartons?"
Actually I didn't say anything. I typed a couple of phrases; repurpose egg cartons, egg carton crafts.

There were caterpillars and flowers and strings of lights. My favorite idea was a seed starter. 

... should come in handy at springtime!

Livin' on the Edge

(Aerosmith anyone? Ha. I was going to put a link in here to the music video, but I just previewed it - Steven Tyler is all naked, half painted and holding his *junk*.)

Saturday night I let one particular 2 year old play with my phone - turned off of course - and have been sans cellular ever since. I didn't realize it was missing until mid morning on Sunday. I haven't missed it too much.

It is almost thrilling. What if something happens in the 22 miles it takes to get to work and/or home?! Guess I'll just have to wing it. What if Aaron needs me to pick something up while I am at the store?! We'll just have to wait and see. Yeah, I'm crazy like that.

At one point yesterday I recieved some information that I thought would be nice to share with Aaron. Had my smellular been on me I probably would have sent him a text message about it or called. I told myself to "Remember to tell Aaron when you get home". 

"I wonder if he remembered that I was going to go to the gym after work. I was a little wishy washy at lunch. He might start to panic that I am not home yet..." Like I said, crazy.

Anyway, when I get home, I have no idea what I was going to tell him. I remember that I was purposely trying to remember something, but what. was. it?  2 hours might have gone by until it came to me.
(The heater is broken in the pool and won't get fixed for a couple of weeks. The water is at 78 degrees.) Nothing really vital, but it made me realize how much I rely on forms of instant communication.

Oh and hey! Good news! I knew exactly where I parked my car :)

Rusty

Just thought you should know what he looked like. 

Handsome

Orange

Cat

Ain't No Sunshine

Sometimes I start to feel like I may never see the sun again after a few overcast and rainy days. I know that is really improbable, but it feels that way.

I think the last time I saw blue sky was early Saturday morning. By Saturday afternoon it was raining.

Bleh.

I want to turn on all the lights in the house and burn candles in every room to attempt tp recreate the brightness. The flourescent bulbs at work aren't a very good substitute either.

I can't wait for the next day I step out of the door and my eyes hurt while they adjust to sunlight again. It's an odd feeling, but I love it.

...


Sadly, we have lost another furry friend in our extended family of pets; my mom's cat, Rusty.

There just ain't no sunshine.

Explanations and Exclamations

Explanation:

Eleanore is molting. That is why the plumage hasn't been looking its finest. Also, that is why the egg production is down.

Exclamation:

Eleanore charged me at the door and jumped out of the coop last night!

Explanation:

She was really thirsty and there was a basin of rain water outside the coop.

Exclamation:

Ha! I caught her on my first attempt!

Exclamation:

But when I went to put her back in Kathy started to storm the door!

Explanation:

Kathy was thirsty and there was a basin of rain water outside the coop. And, she is a follower, so if Eleanore did it...

Exclamation:

Then they both ran at me at the same time! But I was an impedence!

Explanation:

I am a terrible person and I let them go without water for a period of time.

Exclamation:

I'm sorry! It won't happen again!

Resolutions

I usually don't make resolutions at the dawn of a new year. If they are that important to make, they are too important to wait. Or if you can wait, maybe it isn't necessary to make the change.

About a month ago I decided that it was too easy for me to pass judgement on other people in the first 2 seconds I notice them. So I have been trying to cut down on snap judgements. Along the same lines of being too quick to judge I have decided to stop seeking things that irritate me.

What? Who does that?

Me. On Facebook. So I'm not going to do it anymore. Facebook that is, not just the stalking. I've never really liked the premise of it anyway. I could go on and on here but I won't. (You are welcome.)

So, there is that - being a better person, more open minded, less irritated by things I actually do have control over.

This next resolution I make on a fairly frequent basis. It sticks for a couple of days and then *POOF* I am wandering around a parking lot looking for my car because I have no idea where I parked.

Just yesterday, after yet again renewing my vow to pay attention and make note of where I am parked this happened:

I get to they gym early.
I park right outside the front door noticing how lucky I am that the parking lot is empty.
I think to myself - "This should be a breeze to remember! I never park in the front row."
After an hour or so in the gym, I am walking out carrying a conversation and overshoot the first row and a couple of spaces.

Anybody else resolving to make any changes or to stick with some oldies but goodies?

Tired and Feathered

Have I been lazy...  ever since last Thursday afternoon when I performed my "I'm on vacaaaaaaaaaaaaaaation" dance. It has been mucho enjoyable.

Speaking of lazy... the Egg Count for December: 33. Given the mild weather, I don't know what to attribute the low number to.

Yesterday, for the first time since buying eggs from the grocery store, we were on E. Completely out.
Aaron chalked it up to "egg spurts", aka times when we eat a lot of eggs as opposed to times when we don't eat a lot of eggs. But then we both laughed about egg spurts. Eggspurts. Experts. Ha haha ha. (It actually took me a minute to catch on though.)

So, anyway, not a lot of eggs. But feathers? Yes. It looks like Kathy and Eleanore have been having pillow fights. The hay is peppered with feathers.  I am going to have to do some research about this. To me it doesn't seem like December/January is the best time to run around scantily clad. 

Here is Kathy, looking sleek.

Eleanore's neck doesn't look like it belongs on her body.

The Christmas Letter

X

The End.

Just kidding. But read here why that is acceptable...

Kathy and Eleanore put their Christmas letter together in record time this year. It took a little while for me to decipher all of the words because their penmanship is pure chicken scratch.




Dear Friends and Followers,

2011 was a busy year for us. It seems like all we did was work, work, work. Day after day it seems like we have nothing to show for it. But, as we reflect on the year as a whole we realize what blessings we are truly thankful for.

It may not be the barn of our dreams but we have food (most of the time), clean water (usually) and a roof over our heads. Every couple of months we get new bedding. You know how ladies like to redecorate. Also, we made a couple of other upgrades; the sun on demand and a new water feature!

More importantly, we have our health and we hope all of you do too.

Merry Christmas.

love,
Kathy and Eleanore

First Impressions

Though it may not seem fair, first impressions have a lot of impact. For example:

My first thought - Who would put their hen in a sweater?

My second thought - Oof, she isn't too pretty.

And then I read...

Homes for Hens

Does a coddled hen catch your eye? It is a curious sight. But it also represents a serious issue. Year-and-a-half-old hens in British battery farms—known as factory farms in the U.S.—are deemed expendable, despite having several years to live and many eggs to give. These images show how folks are opening their hearts and homes to these refugee birds.

I’ve always gravitated toward offbeat subjects and people. So when I learned about rescue hens, I could imagine a great visual story about a quirkily important cause. What’s more, unlike some animal-rights activists, the battery-hen advocates I’ve met in London and southern England are refreshingly open-minded, working with the farms to adopt hens and reform the system.

Next year European laws will ban conventional battery cages. Some of England’s 11.1 million battery hens will move to bigger digs. Many will need to be “re-homed.” I hope the humor and humaneness in these photographs raise awareness of the situation. —Ed Thompson

My Barn

I spotted this barn back in September when Aaron and I were in Augusta for the half IronMan. I wrote down the contact information on a business card and told myself that if I still thought about it and pined for it for a few months, then I could get it.

Of course, this photo doesn't do it justice. You can come come on over to the house and see it in person. (Just call first so I can pretend that my house is always that clean when you get there.)

I'm not real sure what the draw was for me. I was walking through a shop called Gallery on the Row while the athletes were out doing something athletic. I first came across a print of a dog on a people bed, comfortably snoozing in messed up sheets. It looked enough like spoiled Charlie on our bed to give to Aaron as an "I'm proud of you for accomplishing this incredible race and staying dedicated to all of the training associated with it - even though I sometimes complain about it" gift.

Anyway, I was headed to the counter to pay after a bit of perusing and it just got me. Something in me stirred. I'm pretty sure I let out a quiet "Oooh".  Everything about it, the matting, the frame. It was just so appealing. Even the price wasn't bad. But, alas, I am cheap and practical and made a lot of excuses not to buy it right then and there.

About a week ago I was thinking about it and decided to see if I could find that business card. I did. And quickly - which surprised me. I sent an e-mail to the gallery and to the artist (Sandra Whittaker) to tell them that I was interested in this framed piece, or a print if this one wasn't available. Sandra got back to me and let me know that it is an original painting and if I was interested she would put a SOLD sign on it so no one else could buy it. Sandra and I exchanged the necessary information and on Tuesday after work, as soon as I could get the bubble wrap and cardboard arranged haphazardly on the floor, hung up my Red Barn in Winter.

That "New" Math

I just realized that in my happy birthday post to my dad, I said that he was going to be 2x my age and I was going to his 1/2 his age.

I was incorrect.

I am not 30 this year.
I am 29. (as of the 12th)

Oops.

Hey Family - Did any of you notice?

It's Electric!

When I got home from work yesterday evening I started preparing for angle bracket installation. I grabbed some screws, a power screw driver, the angle bracket, the 3 way power splitter, and the new water fountain; then headed up the coop on foot.

Kathy and Eleanore had already put themselves to  bed in the nesting box. They were so peaceful before I so rudely turned on the lamp.

The first screw went in easily. The second screw, not so much. I am really glad no one was there to pass judgement on my creative use of the screwdriver. After the bottom screw was finally seated, I figured the hard part was behind me. Now all I had to was plug it in.

Before I left the house I toyed with the idea of wearing Aaron's headlamp/Charlie's headlight - but decided against it due to the amount of fur. I would be fine though,  the sun had not set all the way yet. And, I had the lamp anyway. Worst case, I would walk back to the lit house in the semi-dark.

What I failed to remember was that in order to plug the splitter into the timer into the really long extension cord which in turn I would plug the fountain into, I would have to disconnect power to the lamp.

I am standing in the doorway with my feet on the ground.

The chickens are over near the feeder clucking and pecking.

I unplug the lamp.

Dark.

The clucking gets louder.

The splitter is in my hand, but backwards and I can't find the holes.

I hear a dog. Or maybe a coyote. Not close, but close enough.

I fumble for the prongs on the back of the timer and the extension cord receptacle.

Light.

I re-organize the parts in my hands and study the spacing.

I unplug the extension cord.

Dark.

The chickens are noisy. I still hear that animal/those animals.

I wonder where the chickens are now. Are they heading for the door?

More fumbling.

I get the timer plugged into the splitter and the splitter into the extension cord.

Light.

The timer is in the middle spot.

#&%@ !

Dark.

More fumbling as I move it over a spot.

Light.

I plug in the fountain.

At this point I am relieved as I have light, two chickens, and the technology to keep water from freezing.

I have one little snafu (I just looked this up to see how to spell it - had no idea it was an acronym - I'll just keep going as if I were ignorant to that fact) though. I have the extension cord coming in from the left side of the door - the hinged side. And the only suitable place for the fountain was on the back wall (right side of the door). I will have to do some cable management before the fountain is electrified so that Kathy and Eleanore are not tempted to perch on a power line between the nesting box and water.

Fried Chicken?

Big $pender

I haven't made it to Home Depot yet, but while picking up the "groceries" for my gals I came across a heated water fountain. It is a little bit large - 3 gallons! - so I hope the bracket can handle it. 

Oh and about a week ago, I bought a barn. It arrived yesterday.

Pictures soon!


(Ew gross:Maybe not Fruit Flies)

Hanging it up

In an effort to maintain to cleanliness of the drinking water in the coop, I have finally purchased an angle bracket. It is my hope that this angle bracket, once installed, will suspend the full water fountain with ease.

Here is a picture of the feeder for reference. It looks pretty similar.

You might be asking yourself why I don't just hang the water up on the perch like I did the food. The answer - I don't always step up into the coop to feed and water the chickens. I just lean in from my door. (i.e. I am lazy.)  Also, when the temperature gets below freezing I have to change the water more frequently. It is difficult, when you have a beak, to drink ice.

This afternoon I will be doing some shopping for Kathy and Eleanore. First stop will be to the grocery store (Tractor Supply), and then onto Home Depot for a new bedroom suite (fresh hay).

Shoo fly, don't bother me!

Time flies like an arrow.

Fruit flies like a banana.

Aaron and I have engaged ourselves in a new activity when we get home from work. Fly swatting.

We have had the exterminators come "fix" the problem a couple of weeks ago. Since then we have taken the matter into our own hands. Each night we decrease the population by at least 90% and each day come home to a new swarm.

"I feel like I need to go to church. I have done a lot of killing lately."

"You'd think one of the survivors would go spread the word that their friends are dying."

We are pretty sure they are coming in through the sink drain. I'm not sure how they get into the pipes that lead to the sink drain, but I would like to figure it out.

Hey, Walgreens... I do too!

And at $3.99 each I could make a killing!

Just two things.

1.  53 eggs for November.

2.  How is it December already?