Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

Also, anyone here do Christmas lights? My husband is into those animated light shows and our house blinks to music!

I totally love the light shows. The only thing keeping me from buying the light-o-rama for my computer is the fact I live in the country. One of my favorite videos is one of the first known people to do the light shows in grandeur, Carson Williams. And he used Wizards in Winter by Trans Siberian Orchestra (I happen to own a couple CDs of their music because I love it.)
Here is a link to his original light show with this theme from 2005. Lots of other people have done other things but it's still my favorite.

I do have a couple of programmed trees out front. I bought them that way but they do make a nice show.
Queen Bee so sorry about your place being broken into. That just stinks. It seems like the holidays brings out the worst in some people.
I'm freezing today. It's warm in the house but there is a chill I can't shake. I've been wrapped in a throw since I got up. We have a spattering of snow on the ground from last night. I really need to get bundled up and go take care of birds.
This is one of those "What was I thinking days for sure."

 

[lizzyGSR]

The cold weather seems to have brought out the courage in at least one predator in this area. My husband saw coyote/dog tracks in the yard this morning. Our big guard dog has had some issues with scratching recently, and he has scratched away some of his hair. We let him inside last night because of the insanely cold temperatures. My husband went out and did chores for me this morning. When he came back in, he told me he didn't let my birds out of their run because there were canine tracks around the pen. The tracks could not have been from our dog because he has HUGE feet, and the tracks were too small to be his. SCARY!!!! I think my birds might just get to stay locked up for a few days. Since we moved in, we have yet to see any stray dogs around here, so I'm guessing the tracks are coyotes - a VERY daring coyote at that.

 

[ashncarson]

I totally love the light shows. The only thing keeping me from buying the light-o-rama for my computer is the fact I live in the country. One of my favorite videos is one of the first known people to do the light shows in grandeur, Carson Williams. And he used Wizards in Winter by Trans Siberian Orchestra (I happen to own a couple CDs of their music because I love it.)
Here is a link to his original light show with this theme from 2005. Lots of other people have done other things but it's still my favorite.

Yeah, Light-0-rama is what he has, 2 controllers as of right now! Thanks for the link, I will check it out tonight! When we get our video on You-Tube I can share it with you. I actually did 3 of the 6 songs we choose!

 

[chicken danz]

Ash, you mean you played or sung them? Sorry about the predator Lizzy. That would really worry me. My dogs were awfully busy last night. The cold must make food hard to find.
I'm waiting for my hair to dry so I can get out in the cold. Not that I'm anxious but I really need to go take care of those birds! I just hope I have running water!!

 

[JosieChick]

Just one more day like yesterday, and then one more, one more and then winter could be over. Wish.....
We got another load of honey pulled, but KKB is feeling under the weather so we didn't get as much pulled as we should have. But, I did get the brooder pen cleaned and added some leaves to the tweener and chicken pens. Thought about getting the Christmas tree out of the barn, but it was buried beneath all the other Christmas stuff. KKB has a lot of decorations, if I can just get myself back in the Christmas spirit.
Today was just cold. When I woke up this morning I noticed that we had left the shop door open and that is where the chicken feed is stored. I have them on medicated feed now (because of the foamy eye, runny nose), so they aren't happy and I was afraid that they would be having a free for all. So I ran out at 7:30, just knew the whole flock would be in there, but no, they were still in the coop where it was warm. I went ahead and fed and watered while I was out there, and then hurried back to bed.

But then things got worse...my friend in OK went out to my place to check on my hives and discovered that my trailer had been broken into. Whoever couldn't get the door opened so they broke out a window. Nothing in there worth stealing but they took the new oil heater that I had. So now I gotta figure out how to get the window replaced and hopefully they didn't mess the door up. Just always, one more thing.
Hopefully tomorrow won't bring any bad news and I will have some of that energy and get my house clean enough to be in the Christmas spirit.

Ick, I hate predators. LOVE my dogs, they can bark their fool heads off all night for all I care. How is the baby???? I think we need a pic.

The cold weather seems to have brought out the courage in at least one predator in this area. My husband saw coyote/dog tracks in the yard this morning. Our big guard dog has had some issues with scratching recently, and he has scratched away some of his hair. We let him inside last night because of the insanely cold temperatures. My husband went out and did chores for me this morning. When he came back in, he told me he didn't let my birds out of their run because there were canine tracks around the pen. The tracks could not have been from our dog because he has HUGE feet, and the tracks were too small to be his. SCARY!!!! I think my birds might just get to stay locked up for a few days. Since we moved in, we have yet to see any stray dogs around here, so I'm guessing the tracks are coyotes - a VERY daring coyote at that.

Brrrrr, you are not going to be very happy when you get out there. I had to bundle Amelia up and she looked like an eskimo baby and literally couldn't move! I don't think she was too happy with me at first but once we got outside and moving in the carrier she was fine.

Ash, you mean you played or sung them? Sorry about the predator Lizzy. That would really worry me. My dogs were awfully busy last night. The cold must make food hard to find.
I'm waiting for my hair to dry so I can get out in the cold. Not that I'm anxious but I really need to go take care of those birds! I just hope I have running water!!

So its cold out there folks, just in case your lucky butt hasn't gone outside yet! Ick. I have to go to the post office today and am not looking forward to it. The birds all seem happy despite the cold. The horses are grumpy, I am going to build them a bigger slow hay feeder with a net we just bought. Wish it would have come before it got so cold but oh well....


Amelia had her six month pics taken a few weeks ago, sorry if some of you on FB have seen this but I have to share my little cutie pie!

 

[JosieChick]

I totally forgot to say we put our Christmas tree up yesterday too!! I caved and bought one at Dillons, at least they weren't wrapped! There are needles everywhere but you just can't beat that awesome fir tree smell! LOVE it!

 

[Trish44]

I'm sorry OQB about your break in, people are so stupid. I hope KKB feels better soon & nothing else goes wrong.

I just came in from outside, brrrrr it's frigid out there. I didn't stay any longer than I had to. I let my birds out but they're not moving around much. The goats wanted out & it doesn't seem to bother them so much. I tried out my new Carhart gloves & they're really warm but kind of bulky. I ended up taking one off to open the latches on the breeder coop pop doors. I had to stand out there & break ice in several pens too. I hope those heated dog bowls get here soon!

I'm trying to psyche myself up to clean this afternoon. I started doing some things last night, but I have a lot more to do. Cleaning is just something I hate doing. I'm happy when it's done, but getting there is painful. I wish I had one of those cleaning fairies at my house.

 

[Trish44]

Oh Josie I forgot to say your little one is just a doll, I saw the pic on FB, but still enjoy seeing it here. I know, don't real Christmas trees smell heavenly! We used to go to the tree farm every year & pick out a live tree & have it cut. It was a tradition my son loved.

 

[chicken danz]

I love the smell of a real tree but can't afford to get sick from allergies to enjoy the scent. I do like putting out evergreen smelling candles and such this time of year.
Amelia is just a precious child. She is just too cute. I love the picture!
I spent about 3 hours out in the cold working.Even with all my prep I still had frozen hoses. I spent what seemed like hours dragging the darn things around. I tried taking one long one and put it in the shop but it never thawed out. So I had to rig up another one to use on that side. I had to use the heat gun to thaw the faucet handle so I could turn water on. I had unplugged the pirit hose to use the heat gun and failed to plug it back in. By the time I got through watering on the other side the pirit hose was frozen. What a pain in the butt. I picked up an egg from my Coronation sussex that was still warm from being laid and set it outside. By the time I had dispensed feed to the east set of pens and came back the egg had frozen and cracked. I can't imagine a whole week of even colder temps. Holy crap!
I did go get the Christmas tree and hauled it to the house on a wagon. It's still sitting by the front door. After all that work out there I don't have the energy to put it up.
I've got to reduce some numbers here shortly. I am feeding well over 150 pounds of feed a day. This cold weather is killing me financially.

 

[lizzyGSR]

Ick, I hate predators. LOVE my dogs, they can bark their fool heads off all night for all I care. How is the baby???? I think we need a pic.

Amelia had her six month pics taken a few weeks ago, sorry if some of you on FB have seen this but I have to share my little cutie pie!

I doubt the predator would have gotten close if our dog had been outside to do his job. I really dislike this weather. Yuck!


Amelia is absolutely adorable and what a fantastic picture!

Ok, here is one of Ethan's newborn pictures:


...and here are a couple from yesterday....