BYC Café

[Mtn Margie]

Good morning! The offending chippy has been dispatched. I have never had a problem before, but I do know that rodents will kill and eat protein when they need it and there are so many rodents this year......, you would think they could just stick to hunting each other, but noooooo, so now I will be proactive on the little beasts. And for good measure, I will be double fencing the chick enclosure as well. Who'da thought!
Coffee up cow kiddos, its gonna rain again.
DH also got the bottom of the cold frame done so now I can plant the poor squash and tomatoes that have been drooling over their new home. We will see what happens.

 

[prostar]

Nice.

My tomato is inexplicably dying. It makes me sad I usually have such luck with them. It was doing so well then all of a sudden...blech! No signs of bugs or other evil critters. Almost wondering if something is borking up the roots.

Girls (and maybe not a girl...) got a chance to have a nice leg stretch yesterday. Checked out all the stalls in the "mare motel".

Kinda wish we had some lush pasturage for them but this is SoCal...there's some weeds and stuff...sigh.

 

[prostar]

Good side bad side story.

Good side...I finally got the little bugger who's been digging into my run and eating my chicken feed!

Bad side...I now have dead squirrel stuck between chicken wire and wood if the coop. Crap.

AND I JUST HAD ANOTHER ONE RUN BY. buggers.

I can just see the bugs on the bugger too. Ugh. Will need to get some stuff for the coop for sure after this!!!

 

[krista74]

'Morning all

I see you are all busy waging war on chipmunks and squirrels at the moment. I'm not sure if they are two names for the same animal or not (?) as we don't have either one of those here in Australia. We also don't have rabies and I heard on the grapevine that some squirrels do carry that, so I'm quietly glad we don't have them here! We do have all the other bitey-type animals though - spiders, snakes, crocs etc. It's a wonder any of us make it through childhood, lol. I guess that just shows how tough I am!

Things are settling down here nicely. 'Normal life' has resumed - albeit in a slightly different career capacity for hubby. We got our final payment from the farm ok, which should hopefully cover our taxes etc, and we will start life with a clean slate. By 'clean slate' I mean no debt, but no money in the bank either. We are literally flying by the seat of our pants money-wise but hey, some people can't even afford food, so who am I to complain? It won't stop me wishing for a quiet lotto win though - and so help me God, if it ever happens, I'm coming over there to see you guys and celebrate! I will also be buying my own house instead of renting, and a brand new flock of chickens! (She says, as she spends the money she does not yet have!)

Speaking of chickens, I have visitation rights to mine since I gave them to my brother when we moved. I went out to see them the other day - the first time since they left. They didn't remember me! Normally they would come a-running, but nope - they eyed me and wandered off across the paddock!

There was good and bad things happening there. Good things: They have LOADS of room to roam, and free range all day. They are fed well. Their run is secure at night. They have recovered from their moult and everyone looks GREAT. The bad: There are only 4 nesting boxes. And 40 hens. Need I say more? They are laying eggs in garden beds, in sheds, everywhere. It makes me a little sad that they came from a place where they had one box each, and now they have 4 amongst 40. Hubby says "They will be ok, they'll just lay anywhere." Roost space was also very tight - in my eyes, simply not enough for all of them. They did complain some were sleeping in the nests, and all of their eggs are dirty. My hens NEVER laid dirty eggs! They all seem healthy and happy, but it's not ideal. Still, I guess I have to let go of their reigns - they are not mine anymore.

Vent over!

I hope you are all well and happy. Things are busy now I'm back to work and I've had to increase my hours to make ends meet. Still, life is generally good at the new place.

- Krista x

 

[prostar]

Welcome back krista! Well flying by the seat of your pants keeps things interesting that's for sure. At least you're not in the red. Good thing for sure.

 

[sourland]

Welco9me back, Krista.

 

[MissWiggles]

Reading the chippy stories with interest. I have a bunch here, and like watching them run around the yard. The only bad thing they do is get in my bird feeder. But they are pretty cute here. My cat stares at them through the sliding door, she would gladly catch and decapitate them if I let her out.

After the baby bird left the nest above the garage door, we took the nest down. It took exactly two days for mom to rebuild, and now she is "sitting" again. I think we are going to leave it until fall...

DH and I walked down to the local bait shop/ice cream shop. It is owned by my aunt's sister and her husband (who is in Canada fishing with my dad and other family members). It was the first time we had been in there. She also makes pies and cheesecakes for sale at the shop. And there is a guest baker that comes I from time to time to make cinnamon rolls. I was asked if I would like to be a guest baker too! I will have to think about it...

And finally, it looks like the basement will be going in in the next couple of weeks...

Krista, nice to see things are settling down in your world.

 

[drumstick diva]

Krista

 

[3goodeggs]

Hey Krista! Welcome back. I hope you quickly adjust to your new normal. It took me awhile to settle into a different way of thinking more than living.
We spend our imaginary lottery winnings about the same way! And I'm bringing brownies. I think I would like travel, I have never done it. We are headed to upstate NY to take the boy to college at the end of the summer, and I have barely ever been out of the state. Granted it takes a bit to get out of our state, but still. I know what to expect here.
I am looking forward to seeing other parts of my country though.

MissWiggles, We have these wrens that insist on building in our barn. It has to be the fourth nest this year. They used to be really timid and we would look away or turn our backs so they could care for their eggs/chicks but now, they stand there and scream at us to leave their barn. It is getting a tad annoying. cheeky.

all the animals at that place have attitudes. Except my chickens, and my bees. They are pretty chill.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Howdy Krista! Hey guess what? It is supposed to rain again. There is a goshawk that starts screaming and dive-bombing from 100 yards away around her nest. I have yet to bother her! More planting on the agenda and arnica salve starting. I also need to make some more "Boo Boo Goo" as it is referred to in this family, which is kinda funny to hear your 22 year old son call it that when he is putting some in his fire fighting bag.

So, MW, I had to wrap my head around your, "my aunt's sister and hubby" description and think of all of the different possibilities...

Made me drink more coffee!