BAD BOY BOSS

I told Kass to watch out for Boss Hog. She was alert the first day and was able to thwart his attempts to attack her. She fed him marshmallows and seemed to win his confidence. The second day she let down her guard and WHAM, out of no where he flogged her. His big old spurs went into her ankle and we had to get out all the medicine to begin medical assistance. Perhaps he was such a bad boy because he's a new father and was protecting the additions to his family. I think I'm going to have to put out BEWARE THE ROOSTER signs.

I cannot report on the baby chicks because the broody hen is guarding them with her life. Hopefully we have more than two today but I have read that it is best to leave her alone. Maybe I'll be able to count them later today or tomorrow.

Roger and Kass have returned home, but we felt confident that Kass would heal from her wounds satisfactorily. How terrible is it to have company and send them off wounded from your chickens? Oh woe. At least it wasn't Roger. He's headed for enough pain with upcoming knee replacement surgery on the 25th. We'll be holding him in our thoughts and prayers.

NEWS FLASH!!!!!

It has begun. Chicks are hatching. This morning I checked to find two already here and peeping away. We named one Kass and the other Roger since they are here for the debut. Ron thinks we might end up with eight chicks even though she is sitting on 13 eggs. This is so very exciting! Stay tuned.

MURDERING TIME

It is that time of year again. The cold weather brings out the hungry, wild predators and they stalk my chickens. Last night I went down to close the chickens in their house, only to find the remains of the day. The living chickens were packed tightly in the house and I could not get an accurate count, but it appeared that two chickens were missing, though only one chicken body was on the ground. It is a sad event for me to find a murdered chicken. I have been so proud about my cautious care and attention to the 30 chickens, only to learn that the predators will prevail if determined enough.

This morning in the light of day Inspector Ron will join me in the pen to investigate and see if any tracks were left that will identify the assailant. I guess my only job will be to make the chalk outline of the deceased chicken, try to identify the body and count the survivors. I make light only because it truly pains me so.

On a happier note, we are expecting a blessed event as any day now the broody hen should begin hatching her chicken children. The cycle proceeds as new birth follows death.

JOY BOY FROM ILLINOIS

Ron is my hero man born in Illinois
His family said he will never deploy.
Then the doctor showed up
Said he’s alive - pick him up
Til the day he can say Ship Ahoy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RON.
I love you so much my dear!

$1.99

We had a wonderful trip to Archie yesterday. Chelle fed us a delicious lasagna while Ron watched Kit repair his trailer and Mike and Hope entertained us all. It was a good start on Ron's birthday celebrating.

On the way home we stopped in Nevada, MO for gas and paid $1.99 per gal. for unleaded. Yipee.

My Friend Boss Hog

Last night I walked with my chickens. I had learned at one of the reunions we attended that chickens like marshmallows. I remembered to try some out on my chickens. We walked and I threw down bits of marsmalllow. They all liked them, but Boss Hog loved them! He stayed right with me after the others wandered off and he was quite the gentleman and he smiled and enticed me to throw him more. We have overcome a hurdle.

Back In Time

This week while visiting with mother, she went back in time. She talked about the first parsonage they lived in. We were talking about our "commodities" and she mentioned the parsonages furnished with the cast-off pieces of furniture from church members. Mother hated that. I never knew. She said she always wanted brand new. She said her father was proud of her that she managed to accept her lifestyle graciously and had mentioned that her older sister would never have been able to live that way.

Mother also told me about their chickens. The received 100 baby chicks. She kept them on the porch until they were big enough to move to the garage. She said dad was never interested in the chickens until they were big enough to become food. He would kill them and mother would clean and cook them. She said they sure ate a lot of fried chicken.

OF COURSE

Greetings Ann --

Here is your horoscope for Saturday, November 5:

Don't worry about trusting the person you love. They may seem erratic, but if
they say they'll keep their word, no matter what, you won't have to worry about
it. They'll do exactly what they've promised.

POLITICALLY HOMELESS

My sister and I talked on the phone yesterday. We expressed our frustration and disgust with all of the current political upheaval. Probably we are both moderates. We have things that appeal to us from both parties and things that disgust up about both parties. We are women concerned with our families and those things that impact us day-to-day. Suddenly our concentration is broken by the leaders of our country taking our time and spending our money on whatever new scandal they can dig up to be the headline of the day. My sister said, "I feel homeless". I knew just what she meant. We can do nothing but bow to the opinions of lifetime politicians who have no interest in anything but their own squabbles and agendas and the American people might as well bend over and kiss their asses goodbye. If you feel politically homeless, please feel free to comment.

Gemini Ann

Greetings Gemini Ann --

Here is your horoscope for Tuesday, October 25:

A sibling who's always been entertaining has taken their love of the theatrical
to a whole new level, and like it or not, you're involved in this particular
escapade. You're not tickled, but you will feel the need to see it through to
the end.

So, is this Print or Elenore? Let me know asap :-)

BON-JOE

Chelle, Kit, Mike and Hope visited us yesterday. They brought us two lovely couches for our new house. It was a wonderful day and we all went to the cafe for lunch. Hope was wearing a cute poncho that she calls a bon-joe.

It looks like we will be expecting a blessed event around November 13th or 14th. We have a broody hen and she is sitting on about five eggs. She won't leave the nest, so we're going to let her sit and see if we get some chicks. Isn't this exciting!

We are enjoying our evening rides and saw another 10 or 15 deer last night.

Happy birthdays today to Melissa, Rhonda and One "L" Michele :-) Three beautiful women!

Deer Hunting

Finally success! We usually spot numerous deer on our evening drives. This year has been totally uneventful until now. Tonight we were about to give up and go home when Ron spotted one in a field. Upon closer examination, we saw a couple of fawns nearby. Further down the road we saw two more. We then turned into a field and shined the lights and saw one walking across the edge of the woods. Happy to know we still had deer around, we drove home. As we entered the city limits, a good sized buck crossed the road in front of us. There is just something exciting about spotting deer. I don't take my camera anymore, because we have better luck if I don't have the camera with me.

I Am Sally?

Thanks for the quiz Jessi.
You are Sally!


Which Peanuts Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

First Cold

It was cool this morning. Actually it was probably our first really cold morning. The older chickens ran out of the hen house. The teenagers and the babies remained huddled in a corner inside the house. I did not think they were going to venture out. Finally they did. I realized this was the first cold day of their lives.

I am suffering the Big Blackie Blues. She is a rebel chicken and will not stay on our property when I let the chickens out in the evening. I open the pen and all the chickens run toward the front of the house. I take a shortcut behind the house and get to the front first and shoo them back toward our property. They all turn except for Big Blackie. She has even taken to tricking me in order to get into the neighbor's yard. The other evening she mingled with the Australorps and as they neared the property line, Big Blackie made a sudden break for the forbidden land. What's the problem with this? The neighbor's rotweiller is the problem. Now all the chickens have to stay in the pen until we figure out a cure for BB.

Plus, we have a new dilemma with our neighbors. They have moved a boarder in with them. It turns out to be a young man who stole some items from us a few years ago and created all kinds of disturbances in the community. He stands in the middle of the street with the rotweiller and glares at us. Not a good feeling.

35 Thirty-Five Three Five 35

Happy 35th Birthday to Tandy today.
His family protector in every way.
He brought light through the fog.
Today he shows up on my blog
Praying that wishes could somehow draw pay.

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANDY.
WE LOVE YOU!

TUESDAY ANNIVERSARY

Report on a nice Tuesday Anniversary.

Elenore came for a visit and brought broasted chicken.

I talked to Hope on the phone and heard about the
Reindeer she talkd to at Wal-Mart.

Tonight we transferred our chuch membership back
to BA Tulsa.

I talked to Tandy and wished him an early Happy
Birthday. (Watch for his limerick tomorrow.)

Tonight Ron and I laughed enjoying Boston Legal together.

It was a very good day.

WONDERFUL FOUR DAYS

I have returned from a wonderful four day trip to Tulsa. It was wonderful visiting with mother each day and having lunch with her on Thursday.

It was wonderful being with Tandy and the children and hearing about their latest ecapades. Beth was quick to report that she had all A's and one B on her report cards. Tandy remains in good spirits despite his concern over employment. We all have to believe that everything will turn out for the good. I reminded Tandy that he is the one who always tells us that our family is blessed.

Sunday morning I attended Boston Avenue Church. As I drove down 18th street toward Boston Avenue I yelled out loud, "I see the church", something that Tandy, Chelle and I did each Sunday as we peered through the trees to see who would be first to spot the church tower.

Thursday evening we drove to Broken Arrow and attended Beth's school play. My pictures did not turn out very well, but you can make out a little for the ones I posted. It is rare that we get to see their school activities, so this was an extra special treat for me.

Here is the proud papa and her brothers as they prepare to attend Beth's play. 

This was as close as we could get to a picture of Beth. Can you tell how intent she is on her part? Can you tell how beautiful she is? 

Here is Beth in her school play. The white arrow points to Beth.