Frankie and Slim

Frankie and Slim
Happy New Year

Friday, January 31, 2014

AHOY MATEY


"Aaarrrgh! "
Slim (44 pounds)  perches on my shoulder each evening to look out the window into the field.  I can only guess that she is pretending she is a pirate's parrot and I am the Cap'n as we set sail in search of booty. Once she is through keepin a weathered eye open for bilge rats or mutiny, she retires to bed and I am free to attempt to rid myself of the crick in my neck.  

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

WINGS AND THINGS

"Hey Lady, you lookin' for me?"
"I'm outta here."
I have been watching this chicken hawk swoop down on my chickens and have tried to catch his picture but Slim is faster than a speeding bullet and chases him away which is a very good thing. So far the amazing predator hasn't managed to catch one of my hens.

Wasn't it nice of Mr. Hawk to fly right up to my surveillance camera and pose for this shot? Do you think he might have been saying, "I have not yet begun to fight?" Guess I will name him John Paul Jones:)

Monday, January 27, 2014

BABY STEPS

Question Of The Week 01-27-14
I would have to say learning to jump rope.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

SUNDAY SEVEN

Inspired by Aunt Betsy, here are seven words that caused me to feel gratitude this past week.

1.Integration

2.Shelter

3. Memories

4. Worship

5. Poetry

6. Resilient

7. Results

Do you have a word or words of gratitude to share in your comment from last week?

Saturday, January 25, 2014

SO WRONG


R.I.P.  ROOSTER BONNIE  10-28-11 to 01-30-14


Mr. Gibson was the mother hen.  Her five chicks were Bonnie, Clyde, Huey, Huey, and Huey.  Turns out Bonnie and Clyde were both roosters and Huey, Huey, and Huey were all three hens.  This was in September of 2011.  The one remaining of that little family is Rooster Bonnie. I never fail to pick the wrong gender when I name my chickens too early.

Rooster Clyde lost a gallant fight in his early adolescence attempting to save the flock from a predator,  which was his job.  Rooster Bonnie is now in the chicken house infirmary suffering from a serious injury attempting to do the same thing a couple of weeks ago.

You might think the flock would be appreciative of Bonnie's efforts but they were not.  A wounded chicken is not welcome to share food and water with the rest and Bonnie has been having one heck of a time getting nourishment.  He has been in hiding behind some cages until I managed to catch him yesterday when he ventured out far enough for me to grab him and put him inside one of the cages.  

Now he is able to avoid fighting the other roosters and he has a comfy nest with his very own food and water.  

Poor Rooster Bonnie, so much for his heroes welcome. But he is good sized and was second in command to Rooster Chicklet so when he comes out healed he just might be ready to kick some major butt:) 

R.I.P.  ROOSTER BONNIE  10-28-11 to 01-30-14

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

TALLY ME BANANA

DAY ONE
DAY TWO
DAY THREE
DAY FOUR added rooster for variety
DAY FIVE added panda coffee cup from honeymoon in San Diego
I was compelled to pay $3.26 for this banana stand.  It was supposed to keep my bananas fresh longer than if I kept them in a bowl on on the counter.  They lasted the same length of time as they usually do and I finally had to freeze the remainder for baking. Maybe this will save you $3.28. Rob of  Rob and Monica OUR ADVENTURES AMONG THE DUCKS gave me this vintage commercial on Chiquita Bananas you won't want to miss.




Saturday, January 18, 2014

SOME ANIMAL PLANET TIME

Remember my grand-dog Clancy?  Here is a link to his visit when he was seven months old and my dog Slim was seven years old.

Enjoy these pictures from last night when Clancy arrived for his visit at age one year.  They say he will continue growing until he is 18 months old.  Slim kept him in his place and Clancy knows that she is the alpha dog which is pretty funny because he is more than three times her size.
"Please come and play with me Slim."
"Aw Dad, Slim won't play with me."
"It's okay Clancy.  She might play with you tomorrow.  Slim is tired because she worked all day."
"Clancy, you are like the town mouse visiting the country mouse.  Things are different here. Tomorrow you and Slim will get to run around the property all day. Remember, no chasing chickens."

Monday, January 13, 2014

BRING YOUR GOOD TIMES

Question Of The Week 01-13-14
What excitement are you looking forward to?

Sunday, January 12, 2014

HEAVENLY SECONDS

Another re-post from my first blog:
December 29, 2004
SPONTENEOUS OVERFLOW OF A POWERFUL FEELING 

HEAVENLY SECONDS

Inspiration from morning meditation, “……then are we not permitted to believe that heaven is earth renewed?”

As we approach a new year, this phrase led me to dwell on thoughts of “heaven is earth renewed” in fleeting moments.

In the midst of a world of turmoil, death, destruction and the horrors of war, we can still glimpse bits of heaven on earth.

Visions of family in front of us, stirred memories of family gone but never forgotten and heavenly split seconds looking into children's eyes reflecting their links from the past and their promise of hope for tomorrow.

Dreams bring earth’s renewal, love is renewal, growth is renewal, spirituality is renewal, happiness is renewal in every heavenly second.

I look around our primitive home and rejoice in the solid structure that surrounds us. The old braided rug that warms our feet, the wall heater that clicks announcing each new flame as temperatures drop below freezing.

Minutes of nostalgic Christmas decorations, soon to be put away, but reflecting so many heavenly moments.

I listen to my flock of chickens that survived our absence and rejoiced at our return to this “be-it-ever-so-humble” home.

Heaven is earth renewed in accusations such as, “You’re just like Ma and Pa Kettle”. Oh, aren’t we though and isn’t it grand.

Even with colds and coughs and miserable travel through solid ice, we move forward in family and heritage and tradition that lets us know our Creator embraces us and gives us these glorious heavenly bits if we choose to recognize them.

A new year leaves behind another grand Christmas as we approach many opportunities to make lemonade out of lemons. I am ready to go into a whole new year, and strongly vow to spend time watching for heaven in seconds in my heart, mind and soul.

Wednesday, January 08, 2014

CHERRY TREE SAGA

One of the highlights of our new home.
Lo and behold we actually had cherries.
Hope's favorite refuge on her visits.
The grandchildren would pick the cherries.
Pitting them was not their favorite job.
They did a good job and kept an eye on granny who got mixed up a lot.
Barely time to photograph before it was gone.
This granny was pleased to make her grandchildren happy for their labors,.
Dixie was Hope's goat and sadly lost her one kid. Chocolate Chip's memorial stone was placed under the cherry tree.
The drought last year did the first work on the generous tree and this year's freeze did the rest.
The remains of the day:(

Monday, January 06, 2014

CHAUFFEUR FOR LIFE

Question Of The Week 01-06-14



(I was inspired to make this my question of the week after reading G.B. Miller's post on his new blog Father Nature's Corner How Old Is Too Old.  If you answer my question of the week be sure and add your own age or at least your age range. 30-50, 51-70, 71-90?)

Friday, January 03, 2014

HERE WE GO AGAIN




My life long New Years traditions is to eat Black eyed peas and Ham.

Black eyed peas and ham are mandatory in this part of the country on New Years Day. Even a teaspoon full of the peas taken like medicine with nose pinched and quickly swallowed happens often. Since no company this year, I prepared an abbreviated portion of Texas Caviar with tortilla chips to dip and had a slice of ham with it. Slim begged for the ham but I had to pinch her nose to get the caviar down her:)

Why the peas? Eating black-eyed peas on the first day of the year is believed to bring good luck in the coming year a tradition that began during the Civil War. Black-eyed peas were the only food spared by Gen. William T. Sherman and his Union troops during their destructive march through the South. Union troops found the beans to be fit only for use as animal fodder. Thus, black-eyed peas helped save surviving Confederates from starvation and were thereafter regarded as a symbol of good luck.

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2014/01/01/2855555/the-story-behind-traditional-new.html#storylink=cpy

Why ham?  Pigs have long symbolized progress. A pig can't turn his head to look back without turning completely around, so it's believed that pigs are always looking to the future. They fit in perfectly with other New Year's celebrations. 

What are your New Years traditions?