Monday DayLook: August 8, 2011

Looking out from my back porch... the sun is going down and the sunset over the tops of the trees is beautiful.

I am thankful for...good and faith-filled friends and family.

I am reading… the latest ‘Countryside & Small Stock Journal.’  I learn so much with each issue.  Cool ideas this time were a solar stock tank, midget white turkeys, depression, and oven canning.

I am praying for... my Godchildren and pregnant friends.

I am hearing...the TV.

I am wearing… jean capris and a t-shirt.

From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)… it’s all about laundry, lately.

From the School Room... I certainly didn’t think about much last week – aside from discussing different programs and ideas with Michelle.

From the Kitchen... cut up the remainder of the cherries and froze them in 2 and 4 cup packs for future use.

From the Garden…  needed to start watering the beans and peas.  I did cut the ends off the vining cantaloupe and watermelon in hopes that the fruit already set will mature before a major frost.

From the FarmYard…  merging the Ameraucanas with the Barred Rocks and Buff Orpingtons didn’t work this time.  The Ameraucanas are about 6 weeks younger, thus much smaller in size.  They are also very flighty.  In the morning, 10 had flown over the chicken wire back into their old pen.  The remaining 5 huddled in the corner.  If they left that spot, the Barred Rock rooster would come and peck them.  Pecking order is an interesting thing.  Our next step will be to create on outside enclosure for the Ameraucanas adjacent to the older pullets/cockerels so they become more accustomed to seeing each other before attempting a second merge.  The younger chicks also need to get a little bigger.

A successful moment… the chicken butchering last week went great!  33 chickens in the freezer (less 5 for my MIL, 10 for my mom, and 5 for a friend).

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday: Eye appt for Suzie, TKD for all the kids.  Oh, yea!  Eric is gone ALL week.

Tuesday: Church meeting in the evening.

Wednesday: First day of football practice for Dash and equipment sizing and disbursement.  Afternoon ortho appt for Dash – second to the last one!!

Thursday:   Run up north to pick up Zeke who has been staying with my parents while they visit my sister.  The kids and I plan to help with a 4-H table/display at the local Farmer’s Market this evening.

Friday:  Eric flies into Fargo and then will drive home today.  Set up for the annual FMCHE book sale.

Saturday/Sunday:   College friends over on Saturday afternoon to see a mutual friend who lives in Germany while her husband is stationed there for the military.  We plan to MAKE Sunday a day of rest for this family.

A picture memory...

First attempt at merging the younger flocks:

Above is the Barred Rock rooster.  His tail feathers are starting to elongate, as are his neck feathers.  He’s just really pretty … and he’s definitely the dominant cockerel, now that the broilers have been harvested.  Below are a few of the Buff Orpington pullets surrounding a Barred Rock.  We let a bunch of weeds grow.  The chickens ate the lower leaves, providing a nice shady area all day for the youngsters.

Eric transferring an Ameraucana pullet to Graham.  They were let loose in the ‘big chick’ outside yard.  It was probably shocking to them.  I didn’t realize how big the Barreds and Buffs were until put next to the Ameraucanas!  The older chickens are easily twice as big.

Showing of the coloring of a few of the Ameraucana pullets.