Showing posts with label blog fun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog fun. Show all posts

Thursday, August 6, 2009

The Babies (Chicks) Grew Up!

Sometime in the Spring the
urge to head to Roots Livestock
Auction and buy some chicks came
over both Warren and Myself.

We were down to four layers.
While they keep us pretty well
stocked with eggs we had a whole
second side of the coop available
for some new babies.

So...we went and found six silkies.
Remember these?






Well, like any good parent I went out
and took more pictures the other day.
It is harder now, since they have to
stay in the coop. Thankfully this side
of the coop has an access door on the top.




Normally, I use this door to give
them grass and dandelions.
Oh, they love that.
The hens learned long ago that humans mean
good things. These guys are still learning
that because usually if I am out the dogs
are with me and there is no love lost on
the dogs from the silkies.





If you are thinking they are still
pretty small, you are right. They are
Bantams. Just the right size for our
little coop.

Notes on raising chickens:

1. They need lots and lots of clean water.

2. Keeping food in the feeder makes you popular.

3. Chickens are pretty smart. They will find a
way to get your attention if they need something.
We get such a kick out of this little hen.



She is the "spokesperson" for the rest of the hens.
If they are out of food or water she "tells" us.

4. It is possible to choose favorites out of the henhouse.
Meet Mabel...



She is definitely a star.
I can see her from my kitchen window and
watch the wind ruffle her feathers.

5. Don't forget to provide grit if your hens are
not freerangers. This is necessary for strong egg
shells. Ours must get plenty of grit because they
make very hard shells.

6. While I wish our hens could free range, there are
way too many predators in our neighborhood. We are
also pretty close to two roads. I won't put our hens
at those kind of risks. Predators are a very serious
risk to chickens and eggs. Last week our neighbors had
three black snakes in the coop...at the same time!
Scary!

7. Regarding their safety and as it relates to the coop,
it is very necessary to bury the fence all the way around
the coop. Foxes will dig to get in if they can.

8. For some reason, when I give them greens they have
to take it and shake it good. I find it amusing.



Coming up tomorrow...
I'll be "Hooked on Something".
You'll have to come back to see
what that might be.
It is a very fun party hosted
by Julia at Hooked on Houses.
You would enjoy playing along,
I'll bet. This link takes you to
last week's party so you can get
ideas...or just see what it is all
about.

Sending you wishes
for a very happy day!

Photobucket

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

The Wind!

It has been a long, long
time since I just screamed...
really screamed in public.

It happened yesterday, though.

We had been bowling...while dismal
by the scores, it was fun for the
company....here Grandpa Bob was doing
a little instruction for someone...
I don't remember who.



Mrs. Rabe and I got on one of my very favorite subjects...theology. Maybe that had something to do with my low score that game. A bit distracted.

Anyway, just before we left the bowling alley, The Rabes informed us that Taco Bell was giving away free tacos from 2-6pm. We were within that window of time...so that sounded fun. Off we went for our free tacos.

Now, the wind had risen to such a fright that we were dodging pieces of limbs, trash cans and all other sorts of things on the roads...but we were not to be deterred.

Once there, Mikey wisely stayed in the car...Jonathan, Chelsea and I marched in and got our freebies...however, I had to order something else to go along with it...I just can't look THAT cheap! Jonathan would be happy to eat it...we got everything "to go" and headed back to the car...

The wind gusted alarmingly!

It was insane.

I am no small person but it took me backwards.

You know how it is when the wind is so strong in
your face that you can't catch your breath?
That was this wind yesterday.

I opened the car door but just as I was about to
get in it slammed shut catching me in the shoulder.

This would have been when I screamed.

It didn't really hurt but was so surprising.

After two tries, I finally got into the car.

We laughed so hard!

There is something freeing about just letting
your guard down and being your own self.
Screaming with surprise.

I am glad for that wind yesterday...it is one more
memory before these kids are all grown and out
on their own.

After we got home I was letting the dogs out and
watched the trees bend with the wind.

They were just swaying to and fro.

Makes me glad for their strong roots.

It amazes me that something we cannot see can be
so powerful...very impressive! The roar and the
feel of it on our skin lets us know it is there
and yet it is invisible to the eye. Just its
effects are shown.

Hmmm...makes me think of God.

We cannot see Him.

But we know He is there.

His effects are in everything.

Sometimes He roars...but more often He is quiet
and gentle as a soft breeze on a summer's evening.

Sometimes it is good to scream with glee in His
presence.

Sometimes I just want to snuggle up and worship
Him in quiet.

God.

The wind.

Both...real...

Both...powerful...

I am thankful for the reminders in
nature that declare the power of God!

Have a joyful day!

Becky K.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Jen's Pottery Den

Today Shelley and I took
Jonathan and Chelsea to
Jen's Pottery Den.

This is the same place the
kids and I went at the beginning
of the school year and made their
early civilization projects for
history.

Last evening I was showing these
projects to Shelley and it occurred
to me how much fun it would be to
go back and actually do a project
ourselves. I wasn't even really
planning on taking the kids.

Wouldn't you know they wanted to go!

Mikey had to be at work before we could
possibly be back or he would have gone too.

He was a bit disappointed, I think!

We got there and chose our projects:

Jonathan saw the potential in this penguin...

Chelsea loved the personality she could give this puppy!

Shelley decided to make her kitty a food bowl:

I was informed that this vase was "me"...I went with it.
Shelley knows me pretty well.

We worked diligently on our projects...


Then I asked permission to take some pictures for the blog.
Jen, the owner of this business, is so sweet!
She is one of the most enthusiastic people
I have ever met.
So encouraging!
She agreed that it would be fine to
introduce all of you to her wonderful
"Den".
Some of the pottery options to choose from.

Chelsea and Jen...

I'll have to take pictures of the finished products.
They had to remain at the Pottery Den to be fired.
I'll be picking them up sometime toward the end of
next week.

While we were there and discussing the blog,
Shelley said that she wanted to go to "that
little town that you featured on the blog."

Lititz! This is a link to the second post I did about Lititz. The first store featured was Shelley's favorite.

So after an enjoyable lunch at Hoss's,
near the Lancaster Airport we were off
to Historic Lititz.

We spent two hours poking around the neat
little shops and had cold drinks
in the Cafe looking out over the busy
street and sidewalk.

There is now one more person who will
look forward to returning to Lititz.

There is something magical about this
sweet town.

We then had to make our way home rather
quickly to prepare for small group Bible
Study here tonight. It was a nice group
that showed up and a very nice time was had
learning, singing, praising and praying
together!

Have a great Saturday...I will be off to some yard
sales and other adventures. More pictures
later...

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

A Sweet Giveaway


Martie over at Hitting the High Notes is hosting a giveaway for her 100th post. It is a nice one.

I love reading Martie's blog and hope you enjoy it too. She has such a gentle spirit and a lovely way of sharing from her daily life and things she enjoys with her family.
Please mention me or Hospitality Lane if you enter...thanks!