Consolidated Kansas

[JosieChick]

Howdy! Long time no see! How are your geese?

Always fun to drop in and see what the local chit chat is! Hi everyone....

I have heard fabulous things about LG. They make HE washers and dryers and that is what we are going to get if this new house works out. A friend of ours had a LG front loader a few years ago (they have 5 kids) and she recommended the top load HE washer from LG. It got better reviews and needed repair less often so I think we are gonna go with that.

I hear you on the reviews. A year or so ago I had to replace my washer. The reviews on the front loaders were so varied that I didn't know which way to go. It seemed like the reviewers who had had them only a little while loved them, and the people who had had them for a longer period were having problems. My repairman said that you either got a good one or not and that it didn't seem to make much difference what model you bought. He recommended buying one from a store with in-house repair service. I ended up buying an HE top loader. It was expensive, but I love it so far. It gets the clothes so dry on spin that they dry in the dryer in much less time. The only time it gets unbalanced is when I put the quilt I use for the dogs (on the sofa) in it by itself. It doesn't walk around when it gets off balance, it just shuts down, and you have to change the cycle to rinse and spin when it stalls. The upside is that it doesn't stall until the final rinse/spin anyway so you don't waste time. I also like the idea of not having to lean over to transfer stuff out of it to the dryer. It is a Maytag (and I swore I would NEVER buy another Maytag appliance after my refrigerator, dishwasher, and stove debacle (that's a whole different story).

I don't think they make high efficiency dryers (at least they didn't when mine shot craps about the same time as the washer). You can do better, but not much. I dry what I can on the line -- towels, jeans, sheets, quilts- when the weather cooperates.

We have front loaders now and that is the only thing I don't like is bending over!
Danz, I'm on my second set of front loaders. The first set lasted 10 years, it was Frigidaire. The new set is LG, it's been over a year and have had no problems at all. That may not sound so impressive until you consider how much laundry I'm doing. I agree with what you are saying about bending over, when I start washing every blanket in the house at the end of winter or kids get sick and I am on the laundry constantly my knees start hurting from squatting down over and over. We are getting ready to move my washer and dryer to my bathroom for convenience reasons but in the process we are putting it up on a huge step and I won't have to bend down anymore. Kinda good and kinda bad, I'm afraid I'll lose the ability to squat down like that if I don't have to. I appreciate being able to wash more, but it seems that I can wash loads bigger than what the dryer can handle in the same time frame as it takes to wash the next load. I tend to take out at least a few bigger pieces even then and take them to the clothes line to keep the process moving faster. That's so sweet about your son wanting your robe, it made me tear up. You're funny about shaving, who sees our legs anyway? Oh, I went out to catch chickens for someone in my shorts and boots, that had to be a sight to see.

HEchicken, what is paleo?

maidenwolf, have you harvested chicory? You will LOVE etsy maidenwolf, it's all handmade/homemade, craft, vintage. I love it because everything handmade on there was made with care and just beautiful things that are special and unique. How old is Beast? He has a baby face.

medawinks, my dd puts egg in her hair. Bath fizzies are easy to make for gifts.

Sharol, I'm done with Maytag as of the last few years and I've been done with GE. I won't so much as buy a GE lightbulb and I cringe when someone gets a test done at the hospital and they use GE equipment. GE turns my stomach, can you tell?

OMGosh Kansas Prairie, I didn't check to see how fast the wind is but it's horrendous. I can hear stuff hitting the house, the big swing blew over already the other swings have are now all wrapped around and tangled.

I haven't even set foot outside yet today, I have been cooking all day though. I'm looking for another cracker recipe, something sweetish with honey. It's supposed to get cold tonigh. We're having chicken and noodles, homemade noodles. There must be a fine line in when to process the chickens, the ones we did last month were tender these last two have been slightly tough.

Hope you have a beautiful evening Tweety.

Hi Marty. It seems we've had all kinds of fun topics going on here lately.

Oh my, I need to re-do a door, but have been putting it off. Sounds like you were working hard. Sheesh! The wind today was insane!!

Bummer!
Today, my Dh went on a run out on the highway. But when he got home, his cell phone was not on him. So we went back to look for it and long story short, I found it on the side of the highway and it had been run over! We got it home and he got it to turn on, but the screen is all cracked in a million places and the battery is bent up-- it's a mess. It won't really turn on, it just lights up making you think it might want to work. The bad thing is.... this isn't actually our phone! It's my DH's Boeing issued mobile phone. Sigh. Of course, they won't hassle him, they'll just issue him a new one, but it just stinks that it happened.

Woohoo!! Those are going to be some awesome babies. I still can't get over that gorgeous Porto boy you have too!! Lucky girl with all those gorgeous silkies!
Then, I was so excited this morning, my little black pullet laid her first little pullet egg!! It's so tiny and adorable!! I put it next to a "regular" Silkie egg from one of my older girls for comparison.

Anyway, looks like i can start breeding Blacks when I'm ready to hatch again!

Thank you so much for all the maternity clothes!! I am in love with these jeans, so nice to not get squeezed to death when I sit down or bend over! Love, love, love that diaper from you. Will have to get a few more before baby is here. My father in law about died at that diaper! The girls at DH's work loved it! It is so soft.

It was so much fun to see all your birds and your place. You guys have such a nice set up out there!

It is so cold out and the temperature is still falling. I really am not ready for this but am welcoming an excuse not to be outside working.
I was pretty happy this morning. I had all the birds but 5 penned. Usually the yard is full. And out of those I knew where 4 of them were sleeping. 2 more of those will be penned up tonight If we get home early enought to do it. I have a group sectioned off where i have birds housed that I am trying to teach a new place to roost at night. They aren't going to be running around outside for a while. I also have few "wild" chickens that sleep in the barn but they must have stayed in. I'm still hoping to put up a temp pen to catch them in so I can sell them for meat.
I'm impatiently waiting for some eggs to hatch. They should have been done by now. I need to move some chicks out to the brooder to make room for those that hatch. This is a small group of Brahmas and Bredas and it doesn't look like I am going to get hardly any out of it.
I just won some more Olandsk eggs. I wasn't going to hatch any thing else but in talking to a gal she told me she had an auction up for some with no exposure. I won them and although expensive, it sure beats paying a $100 a bird.
I was just reading about Jerusalem artichokes. I'm not sure if all the sunflowers growing around here are sunflowers or J artichoke plants. So I am thinking I will go dig some roots and see when it is nicer weather.. I found all kinds of recipes using them. I think it would be awesome to use some of these weeds for food.

Ugh, its miserable out!!! Bummer about the brahma eggs. Looks like I have three pair of brahmas, two pairs of buff laced and one pair of gold laced. Not sure how I will divide them up this spring but I just love them.

Howdy Everyone!

I know long time no post. I have been up to my eyeballs in busy. I hope everyone is getting along ok and enjoying the much needed rain.

My girls are doing well. I did my Australorp three weeks ago to an owl. Last week one of my hens started sneezing so I pulled her from the flock and started antibiotic. I don't have any VetRX, but I am trying to get some. Now, two days ago two more hens started sneezing and have clear "buggers". I figured my coop was a little too vented so I got those vents plugged up. I have some electrolyte in their water to help boost their immune systems. Today they seem to be doing better. The are all eating like horses and out an about the yard. The bird in the garage is off of the antibiotic and onto the electrolyte, but is still coughing a little. Her demeanor is still great. Should I be overly concerned? Is there anything else I can do? Suggestions appreciated.

I was just wondering about you the other day! Haven't heard from you in a while and I wondered how your gang was doing. So sorry about your hen, the aerial predators have been terrible this fall.



It is sooooo cold! Of course I have a gal coming out to trim the horses feet today in this lovely weather. I am sure I will be freezing my tail off out there holding them. I had a scare last night. I am consolidating birds so they can share warmth and unfrozen water and I put my mille fleur bantam cochin hen was missing. I was about in tears after searching high and low for her for 45 minutes. I went out this morning assuming she had been eaten and there she was, soaking wet and cold but fine!! Phew! She is the foundation of my mille fleur cochin pen and a very valuable asset never mind my little pet! I have no idea where she was hiding but I am glad she is back.

We got a round bale of hay moved out to the horses redneck style yesterday!! Used the new car's tow hitch and tow ropes and hauled it out there. We had several idea failures before we found something that worked but we finally got it done!

Well must get off my butt and get something done. Need to go find my coveralls for the horses! Poor ponies are so cold and wet this morning!

 

[pikeman94]

Howdy Danz!

Out of the five I got from you, 1 was a girl. Of course she is one of the hens that has been sneezing. I will get the VetRX on order. I am heading off to TSC now to get some pine shavings and other items. I will see if they have anything in stock that might come close. If not, it is off to the web. I will keep you posted. Related to my lone Cuckoo, she will be at egg laying age this week! I can't wait to see how dark the egg will be!!!

Hi Josie!

 

[chicken danz]

Good to see you here too Josie. I've been wondering about you. I know you have such a full plate but I sure miss your input. DH made the geese another house yesterday. I haven't even been out to look at it yet. I think he made it so the south side would be open and I carried a half bale of straw out there for him to put in it. I guess I might as well take the old one down completely now.
I was so busy with my own projects up past dark I didn't even look at what he was doing.
Any news on your new house yet??? Did you make an offer?
Needless to say I am still trying to muster up enough warmth to go out and feed and water everyone. DH opened the pens this morning so they could run.
It sure is a lot more work when I have to make sure everyone is in and the doors all shut. I'm just afraid that now since the chickens are all shut up the owl is going to start going for the ducks next.
Rob I was thinking TSC was carrying vetRX now but not sure. I know I saw it at Orchlen's.
I've got tons of other Maran's right now. Still young and lots of chicks. Some of them came from the darkest eggs ever. I will probably do some culling later and lots of hatching next spring. In the process I hope to have a dedicated pen just for the cuckoos. I just keep working and planning and maybe someday it will happen. Some of my hens are getting older so I need to be breeding for some new stock anyway.

 

[JosieChick]

Good to see you here too Josie. I've been wondering about you. I know you have such a full plate but I sure miss your input. DH made the geese another house yesterday. I haven't even been out to look at it yet. I think he made it so the south side would be open and I carried a half bale of straw out there for him to put in it. I guess I might as well take the old one down completely now.
I was so busy with my own projects up past dark I didn't even look at what he was doing.
Any news on your new house yet??? Did you make an offer?
Needless to say I am still trying to muster up enough warmth to go out and feed and water everyone. DH opened the pens this morning so they could run.
It sure is a lot more work when I have to make sure everyone is in and the doors all shut. I'm just afraid that now since the chickens are all shut up the owl is going to start going for the ducks next.
Rob I was thinking TSC was carrying vetRX now but not sure. I know I saw it at Orchlen's.
I've got tons of other Maran's right now. Still young and lots of chicks. Some of them came from the darkest eggs ever. I will probably do some culling later and lots of hatching next spring. In the process I hope to have a dedicated pen just for the cuckoos. I just keep working and planning and maybe someday it will happen. Some of my hens are getting older so I need to be breeding for some new stock anyway.

We have been super busy trying to get through boxes of stuff and start to get organized. I go back and forth between excitement about moving to just being flat overwhelmed! My DH made the turkeys a new shelter the other day. Isn't it nice when they do stuff and you don't even have to bug them? I had to move the two turkeys because the big bronze tom grabbed a rooster the other day and I thought he was gonna kill him. That poor roo still isn't quite right!

It is so stinkin cold out I just can't get my behind in gear to go out and catch the horses. Ugh. Wish we had one more warm day today...

We are hopefully putting an offer in on the house the beginning of this week so cross your fingers!

 

[tweetysvoice]

We are hopefully putting an offer in on the house the beginning of this week so cross your fingers!

Fingers crossed for ya girlie!!!!

 

[chicken danz]

Best of luck with your negotiating, Josie.
I went out to feed finally and I froze myself up I think. It was even snowing while I was out there. Not heavy, but just the same snowing. I had to dump a bunch of wet feed. Even with it in covered areas it got wet. How come it can't just rain straight down so things don't get soaked? I think the dirt is so hard from no rain that it isn't sinking in either. There is water everywhere.
I get depressed when I really look at all this and actually see how much I still have to get done. My mind is always working and planning but that doesn't help the budget or time any.
I was looking at the LG washer at home depot on special buys right now. It sure would be tempting to just bite the bullet and buy one. I hate my washer. I guess if I thought I might get a little money out of the washer I have now I might be more apt to consider it. I keep thinking there will be a great special for Black Friday which is ridiculous cause there is no way on earth I would get out in those crowds!!!
I bought a food sealer earlier today on line. Found a special price and I am sure it isn't the greatest kind but I have to start somewhere. I use so many freezer bags it would be nice to have things sealed up really nicely. My son buys off brand bags in rolls and saves a lot of money that way. He does a lot of meat smoking and does huge amounts at one time so they bag them in small portions to eat later.

 

[sharol]

THe Sears Black Friday sale is posted at http://bfads.net/Sears-Black-Friday now. You can take a look at the list. I know that a couple of years ago they had some really good deals on washers and dryers. If you go to the site, and then you click on categories and pick appliances, you will get a limited list. It looks like their HE top loader is on sale and maybe some others.

Best of luck with your negotiating, Josie.
I went out to feed finally and I froze myself up I think. It was even snowing while I was out there. Not heavy, but just the same snowing. I had to dump a bunch of wet feed. Even with it in covered areas it got wet. How come it can't just rain straight down so things don't get soaked? I think the dirt is so hard from no rain that it isn't sinking in either. There is water everywhere.
I get depressed when I really look at all this and actually see how much I still have to get done. My mind is always working and planning but that doesn't help the budget or time any.
I was looking at the LG washer at home depot on special buys right now. It sure would be tempting to just bite the bullet and buy one. I hate my washer. I guess if I thought I might get a little money out of the washer I have now I might be more apt to consider it. I keep thinking there will be a great special for Black Friday which is ridiculous cause there is no way on earth I would get out in those crowds!!!
I bought a food sealer earlier today on line. Found a special price and I am sure it isn't the greatest kind but I have to start somewhere. I use so many freezer bags it would be nice to have things sealed up really nicely. My son buys off brand bags in rolls and saves a lot of money that way. He does a lot of meat smoking and does huge amounts at one time so they bag them in small portions to eat later.

 

[chicken danz]

Thanks Sharol, that is an excellent resource. I did look at many of the other stores prices. I am thinking if I am going to spend that much money I want one with a BIG capacity. That is my major complaint about this one. Just not big enough. I usually won't buy anything in the way of a washer that is made by GE, Hotpoint, or Kenmore. They are all manufactured at the same place. I had used GE and Hotpoint washers since the 70's and loved them. Then I had 3 washers in a row that the transmission went out on. Not only is is the cost of a new washer to repair but every time it ended up coating my clothing in oil. I swore never again. I have lots of other things made by them but I won't do their washers.
I learned from that site the LG top loader I was looking at is $100 cheaper for black Friday. At any rate I'm going to keep checking back on that site for what the update.

 

[sharol]

My ex-husband bought the black friday special washer/dryer combo special a few years back (in Emporia) and it took a LOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGG time to come in -- a couple of months if I remember correctly. They didn't limit the special to the number in the store, and so the demand seriously exceeded the supply. Just FYI. I think I would go really early wherever I decided to buy.

Thanks Sharol, that is an excellent resource. I did look at many of the other stores prices. I am thinking if I am going to spend that much money I want one with a BIG capacity. That is my major complaint about this one. Just not big enough. I usually won't buy anything in the way of a washer that is made by GE, Hotpoint, or Kenmore. They are all manufactured at the same place. I had used GE and Hotpoint washers since the 70's and loved them. Then I had 3 washers in a row that the transmission went out on. Not only is is the cost of a new washer to repair but every time it ended up coating my clothing in oil. I swore never again. I have lots of other things made by them but I won't do their washers.
I learned from that site the LG top loader I was looking at is $100 cheaper for black Friday. At any rate I'm going to keep checking back on that site for what the update.

 

[chicken danz]

So did you get the Kenmore kind? I am open to learning stuff cause this could be an improvement over what they had before. I bought my refrigerator, freezers, and my stove all from Sears when I bought this house. I bought my dishwasher from Lowes cause it was on sale.
I'm still not convinced I'd get up and go fight crowds regardless of specials. And it's not like I have to have one right now. I washed bedding today and every time I do it reminds me how much I hate this washer.
We do a ton of laundry for two people. I use a lot of things like old towels and bedding for the chickens and the dogs. And I use microfiber cloths for half of the stuff I used to use paper for. But I hate to spend all day doing it in a tiny little wash tub. I had purchased super large capacity washers before but DH went and bought this one and it's just awful. It has lasted well other than I had to replace the agitator because the fins broke off.
BTW are you still working full time? We never did get to meet for coffee in Emporia.