We weathered the storms again today and went to Tulsa to see mother. She enjoyed hearing the email reports on her grandson Mike’s wedding. As much as mother, Ron and I would have loved to see the wedding, we were all equal in our relief not having to pack and schedule and travel, etc.
Mother seemed so very content and satisfied with her current situation. She is enjoying the people who assist in her care and make her comfortable each day. I was happy with the fast response we had when we need assistance getting mother situated in her bed so she could watch church on television and sip the good hot coffee we brought her.
Mother was surprised to hear about how much rain we have been having. She loved the fact that she was high and dry and didn't have to worry about chasing chickens. Tomorrow we must go to our place in Kansas and we truly dread what we will find. We’re hearing reports that everything in the area is under water.
Speaking of chickens, we have discovered another one of the predators. Yesterday Ron and I actually witnessed the attack of a hawk on one of our Polish chickens. It was horrible but it was a spectacle to behold. Now we have pinpointed snakes and hawks for terrorizing the flock. Each predator is getting larger than the last. Whew, I dread the next one.
It looks like Beulah Dean has only the one chick, Leslie. She still is sitting on 10 unhatched eggs and tomorrow I will have to remove them from the nest. She will have spent almost 55 days on a nest to come away with one little chick. At least she has this neat little baby to show for her fine efforts.
We had a delightful, but brief, visit from my son Friday night. He managed to get here for me to feed him a nice meal, spend the night, eat a hearty breakfast, and then head back to tend to his dad’s medical needs. Parents may divorce each other, but their children can’t divorce their parents…..bless their hearts.
Frankie and Slim
Happy New Year
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
FAMILY EXPANSION
Today Mike and Leslie married. The wedding ceremony should have just ended as I am writing this. They have been in my heart all day. Our family now is expanded by one.
This morning Beulah Dean finally hatched a chick after staying on a nest for 51 days. I entered the hen house and heard the chick peeping before I saw it. Once I saw the little blonde critter, there was no other appropriate name for her but Leslie.
Today our family has two Leslies! Welcome girls. (Of course one might turn out to be a rooster.)
This morning Beulah Dean finally hatched a chick after staying on a nest for 51 days. I entered the hen house and heard the chick peeping before I saw it. Once I saw the little blonde critter, there was no other appropriate name for her but Leslie.
Today our family has two Leslies! Welcome girls. (Of course one might turn out to be a rooster.)
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
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Tuesday, June 26, 2007
HAPPY 14TH
Today is Kit and Chelle's 14th Wedding Anniversary. Fourteen years ago today my youngest child, my precious daughter, walked down the aisle with an exceptional young man. Both of these young people were outstanding as individuals and as a team they can accomplish anything! Happy Anniversary!!!
This Friday my sister's youngest child, her son Mike, will marry Leslie. I wish them the same perfect happiness that Chelle and Kit have found.
This Friday my sister's youngest child, her son Mike, will marry Leslie. I wish them the same perfect happiness that Chelle and Kit have found.
ANOTHER DUE DATE APPROACHES
Beulah Dean is due to hatch thirteen eggs on Friday or Saturday. These will mark 21 days of her setting on this second group of eggs after remaining on the first nest for 30 days. (She stayed on the first nest until the eggs started exploding.)
If this is another unsuccessful hatch, I don’t know what we’ll do. I don’t know if she will start another nest or if she will finally give up. We should have candled these eggs after 14 days to see if they are even fertilized but we did not. I could not bring myself to take any eggs off the nest for fear of traumatizing Beulah Dean.
This time I have managed to keep the other hens from getting into the nest and breaking the eggs or laying other eggs to confuse the count.
Tiger Lily is also on a few eggs that remained after the black snake helped himself. Her hatch is not due until July 7th.
I am so hopeful for a good hatch from both of theses hens because these will be the last offspring of roosters Boss Hog, Moe and Mouzon. The eggs should have all been fertilized before the roosters ended their time at NOL-NOC Estates.
If this is another unsuccessful hatch, I don’t know what we’ll do. I don’t know if she will start another nest or if she will finally give up. We should have candled these eggs after 14 days to see if they are even fertilized but we did not. I could not bring myself to take any eggs off the nest for fear of traumatizing Beulah Dean.
This time I have managed to keep the other hens from getting into the nest and breaking the eggs or laying other eggs to confuse the count.
Tiger Lily is also on a few eggs that remained after the black snake helped himself. Her hatch is not due until July 7th.
I am so hopeful for a good hatch from both of theses hens because these will be the last offspring of roosters Boss Hog, Moe and Mouzon. The eggs should have all been fertilized before the roosters ended their time at NOL-NOC Estates.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
MICHAEL'S HARD WORK
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Grandson Michael did our planting when he was here the last week of May. Last night Ron saw the first little yellow squash starting.
It is barely one inch long. Isn't it cute!
MAGIC CABINET
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This nice little cabinet hides my ironing board. I love it. Ron bought it for me at an auction several years ago. He went all the way up to $25.00! For us that's a major purchase.
Friday, June 22, 2007
HOW-TO HELP NEEDED
All of our phones are listed in the nationwide do-not-call registry. We have not been receiving unsolicited sales calls -- until now. Suddenly we are getting phone calls from "unknown" callers. These calls are recordings with sales pitches and or fake credit calls wanting us to punch numbers. We hang up on all or do not answer. We check the numbers in google and come up with nothing.
Does anyone know where to report these numbers? The tattle-tale in me wants to get someone in trouble.
Does anyone know where to report these numbers? The tattle-tale in me wants to get someone in trouble.
DAY-OLD-DELIGHTS
If you can manage to hit Wal-Mart before 10:00 a.m. you will be in time for the treasures of the day-old-bread racks. Each Wal-Mart hides their day-old shelf in a different place and always it is away from the bakery. Usually it will be back by the dairy products.
Early arrival yields the best treats. We're not just talking bread here. We're talking cakes and pies, cup cakes as well as bread and croisants. We always buy more than we can eat, so we pick our favorites, if they are on the rack, and we freeze them. Our family can always count on donuts or cream horns and other delights when they visit.
Children grow up with special memories of visiting their grandparents. Most recall the smell of fresh cookies baking or bread right out of the oven. Our grandchildren will grow up and exclaim with loving wonder, "Awe, the sweet sound of Wal-Mart plastic containers cracking open in the morning!"
Early arrival yields the best treats. We're not just talking bread here. We're talking cakes and pies, cup cakes as well as bread and croisants. We always buy more than we can eat, so we pick our favorites, if they are on the rack, and we freeze them. Our family can always count on donuts or cream horns and other delights when they visit.
Children grow up with special memories of visiting their grandparents. Most recall the smell of fresh cookies baking or bread right out of the oven. Our grandchildren will grow up and exclaim with loving wonder, "Awe, the sweet sound of Wal-Mart plastic containers cracking open in the morning!"
Thursday, June 21, 2007
GRANDCHILDREN GRADUATION
Aren't they both beautiful! WhooHoo! We're sure proud!
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FOUR GENERATIONS
Christy, Mother, Elenore and Cloelle. Mother meets this great granddaughter for the first time.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
QUOTE FOR THE WEEK
"Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule - and both commonly succeed, and are right." - H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
Thank you brother dear for emailing me this great quote.
Thank you brother dear for emailing me this great quote.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
ONE PREDATOR DOWN ? TO GO
Ron just left with the fellows to go pick up his latest tractor acquisition. I waved goodbye and went to collect eggs. Tiger Lily was off her nest. That surprised me for her to leave this soon so I went to check it out.
SNAKE! SNAKE! BIG BLACK SNAKE!
I took my cell phone out of my pocket and called Ron. No answer. Since they had just left, I was sure they were in the valley out of service area. Why was I calling him anyway? He would only assure me that I could handle it. Besides our neighbor in Kansas used to call Ron every time she saw a snake and he would go take care of it. Usually he would bring it home and turn it loose on our place. I know black snakes are harmlesss and they actually help, unless you have chickens and eggs. That is a time to have to kill them.
Tiger Lily would want me to save her future chicks. Thus the snake battle was on. I went for a shovel and back to the barn. The snake had scooted closer to the nest and I could not see it's head. I spotted a fat midsection and struck with all my might. I heard a crunch/squish. I lifted the shovel expecting to see two halves of a snake. Instead it was gone! GONE! I whirled around making sure it wasn't doubling back for me and I hightailed it out of the barn. Tiger Lily has several eggs left, so maybe the snake will crawl off and die and my hen can return to her nest.
I don't look forward to my next trip to the barn. For now, I think I'll have some wine and a movie to calm my nerves. (Any excuse is a good excuse.)
SNAKE! SNAKE! BIG BLACK SNAKE!
I took my cell phone out of my pocket and called Ron. No answer. Since they had just left, I was sure they were in the valley out of service area. Why was I calling him anyway? He would only assure me that I could handle it. Besides our neighbor in Kansas used to call Ron every time she saw a snake and he would go take care of it. Usually he would bring it home and turn it loose on our place. I know black snakes are harmlesss and they actually help, unless you have chickens and eggs. That is a time to have to kill them.
Tiger Lily would want me to save her future chicks. Thus the snake battle was on. I went for a shovel and back to the barn. The snake had scooted closer to the nest and I could not see it's head. I spotted a fat midsection and struck with all my might. I heard a crunch/squish. I lifted the shovel expecting to see two halves of a snake. Instead it was gone! GONE! I whirled around making sure it wasn't doubling back for me and I hightailed it out of the barn. Tiger Lily has several eggs left, so maybe the snake will crawl off and die and my hen can return to her nest.
I don't look forward to my next trip to the barn. For now, I think I'll have some wine and a movie to calm my nerves. (Any excuse is a good excuse.)
ELVIS SAGA
Tiger Lily hatched two eggs on May 6th. Remember the pictures of the chicks peeking out from under their mama? They both seemed to be doing fine until it was time for Tiger Lily to resume her life as an independent hen. She could not shake her chicks. Soon the tiny yellow one disappeared. We assume the unknown predator got it. That left Elvis.
Grandson Mike named Elvis because this chick peeps and shakes frantically all the time. Elvis is on a constant search for mama Tiger Lily. When mama returned to her roosting spot, I could see Elvis either nestled under her or sitting on top of her. I kid you not, Elvis would perch on mama's back for the night.
Ron found Elvis once in the driveway during one of our downpours. Ron picked the soggy Elvis up and placed the chick in the hen house. Elvis soon dried off and was out and about the next day trying to keep up with mama again.
Three days ago Tiger Lily became broody and is sitting on a nest. This severed the tie for Elvis. We could hear him chirping and peeping and yelling all day. That is until yesterday. All was quiet. Elvis was missing from the chicken count last night. I believed the loud guy was done in. However, Elvis has returned today out of no where and is not yelling for his mother. Elvis has grown up and more importantly, Elvis lives!
Grandson Mike named Elvis because this chick peeps and shakes frantically all the time. Elvis is on a constant search for mama Tiger Lily. When mama returned to her roosting spot, I could see Elvis either nestled under her or sitting on top of her. I kid you not, Elvis would perch on mama's back for the night.
Ron found Elvis once in the driveway during one of our downpours. Ron picked the soggy Elvis up and placed the chick in the hen house. Elvis soon dried off and was out and about the next day trying to keep up with mama again.
Three days ago Tiger Lily became broody and is sitting on a nest. This severed the tie for Elvis. We could hear him chirping and peeping and yelling all day. That is until yesterday. All was quiet. Elvis was missing from the chicken count last night. I believed the loud guy was done in. However, Elvis has returned today out of no where and is not yelling for his mother. Elvis has grown up and more importantly, Elvis lives!
Sunday, June 17, 2007
MORE ROOSTER TALES
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The new roosters won't come out of the hen house. Pictures will be better when I can take them outside. Other Brother Darrell is a bit soggy and will look better when he drys out. He did get out in the rain for a bit this morning and encountered Slim, so I guess he told Darrell there was a huge monster outside and they had better stay inside.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
DARRELL AND DARRELL
Yesterday we brought temptation to the hens in the form of two studly young roosters. I have named these handsome young men Darrell and Darrell. (Anyone remember, "I'm Larry and this is my brother Darrell and my other brother Darrell." ?)
The boys are in a cage until tonight when we will turn them out in the hen house. Meanwhile the girls keep gathering around the cage and looking the guys over. I believe they approve.
It was nice to awaken this morning to the sound of roosters crowing. We welcome Darrell and Darrell to the family. I will post pictures tomorrow when the guys are out of the cage.
The boys are in a cage until tonight when we will turn them out in the hen house. Meanwhile the girls keep gathering around the cage and looking the guys over. I believe they approve.
It was nice to awaken this morning to the sound of roosters crowing. We welcome Darrell and Darrell to the family. I will post pictures tomorrow when the guys are out of the cage.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
WHAT IS ROYAL?
Put ten people in a room with differing opinions of Queen Elizabeth of England and have them watch the movie The Queen. At the end of the movie each will believe that it depicted their opinion. I'm going to have to give this movie five stars on my Netflix. The Queen remains a mystery.
This was my British lady week. I also watched Notes On A Scandal. Dame Judith Dench is my all time favorite actress but she portrayed this part so well, I may be frightened of her for some time.
This was my British lady week. I also watched Notes On A Scandal. Dame Judith Dench is my all time favorite actress but she portrayed this part so well, I may be frightened of her for some time.
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