Eva’s Friends

[Callender Girl]

Not only did you post -- as usual -- some great photos, your words painted a vibrant. detailed picture of your world. Thanks for sharing. And, yes, you will be walking away from that place and your current life.

But, you are also walking toward a future with opportunities and possibilities that you can't yet imagine. Sometimes, I look back at various phases of my life and can barely believe I really experienced them. The young version of me had no idea how much life would put in front of me.

Currently, my life is dominated by spring projects -- if only the weather would settle down. It was 66 on Monday, and it snowed a bit yesterday morning. By mid-afternoon, it was 42 and sunny, so nearly all the snow disappeared.

I got an email this morning reminding me that my gosling order will ship later this month. I'm nervous about picking them up at the post office; I've never had birds shipped before and hope they do well with the trip.

Expanding the goose run and adding a bigger shelter needs to happen soon. Years ago, a storm blew the metal roofing off the barn, and I've used a salvaged chunk to roof a chicken coop. I saw an online video that used metal roofing, instead of plywood, to side a goose house. Maybe I'll try that, although the heavy-duty roofing is really hard to cut.

I hope Gussie appreciates all I'm doing for her and that she has a positive reaction to goslings. Aside from when she was in a brooder at the farm store, she's never been around another goose, except Golly.

I think loneliness is getting the best of her. Now, Gussie not only doesn't struggle when I have to pick her up (when she pretends she can't hear me calling her!), she stands beside me and appears to enjoy having me stroke her back. She and Golly often preened each other, and I think she misses the physical closeness.

Raising baby birds in the house is a hassle, but if they are indoors, I will be able to interact more with them. I think the reason my Iowa Blue hens and I never bonded is because they were raised by their mom, not me. I need the geese -- especially the Embden, who will be the largest -- to bond with me. Dealing with an unruly goose can be painful; more than once, Golly smacked me in the face with a wing.

Loved the 1942 JCPenney booklet! BTW, I spent a few years working at Penney's in the fine jewelry department. Many of those stores have closed, including the one where I worked. They were once a mainstay of small Midwestern towns.

 

[Evadig]

Well, I've gone and done it. I packed my whole room so there's nothing but a few clothes, my sewing (I still want to make another dress), and my diary. You wouldn't believe how much random useful junk I found lying around, stashed in drawers and dust-covered boxes under the bed. I'm glad I got that finished so I don't have to scramble later.

I also finally finished the basement, for what is, in fact, the last time. Every random packable object has either been thrown away, donated, or boxed up. All that's left is my dad's tools, which are still strewn throughout "his side" because he's still working on the house.

Finnegan is gone. I guess I forgot to tell y'all. I've been working with a rescue to rehome him so he went down to PetSmart for a couple hours last Saturday and again yesterday, but stayed overnight. Today a family adopted him. It was the young boy's birthday...I hope it works out. Finn is not exactly what I would consider a great birthday present. Anyway, his future is out of my hands now and I wish him the best. My sister cried pretty bad. He was a good cat.

I rearranged Con's living area. I learned cats are apparently red-green colorblind, so I color-coded her space in blue and peach. I'm going to try to get some yellow to replace the peach, since apparently cats can see blue and yellow the best? I figure that since she's going blind I should make life as easy as possible. I also put a nightlight so she can see better in the dark. Do you think that's a good idea?

Everyone's asking me what I'm going to do in the military and I am kind of frustrated because I really do not know. I cannot make up my mind. I know I have time to figure it out but it's driving me nuts that I'm this undecided.

Not only did you post -- as usual -- some great photos, your words painted a vibrant. detailed picture of your world. Thanks for sharing.

You're welcome, I'm glad you liked it!

And, yes, you will be walking away from that place and your current life.

But, you are also walking toward a future with opportunities and possibilities that you can't yet imagine.

You know, I don't think on the bright side enough. And I really do not feel like I am dying anymore. It's true that part's going, but I wasn't happy with it anyway. So I'm excited for the new life again.

Currently, my life is dominated by spring projects -- if only the weather would settle down. It was 66 on Monday, and it snowed a bit yesterday morning. By mid-afternoon, it was 42 and sunny, so nearly all the snow disappeared.

Yikes. It's been about 50 - 60 highs for the last week, but mornings are 30+ and it's quite the difference.

I got an email this morning reminding me that my gosling order will ship later this month. I'm nervous about picking them up at the post office; I've never had birds shipped before and hope they do well with the trip.

How exciting! What kind did you end up getting? I know your experience could be totally different but it might help a bit to know I've had birds shipped three times (twice from across the country) and they all did just fine.

I hope Gussie appreciates all I'm doing for her and that she has a positive reaction to goslings. Aside from when she was in a brooder at the farm store, she's never been around another goose, except Golly.

I think loneliness is getting the best of her. Now, Gussie not only doesn't struggle when I have to pick her up (when she pretends she can't hear me calling her!), she stands beside me and appears to enjoy having me stroke her back. She and Golly often preened each other, and I think she misses the physical closeness.

Poor Gussie, I hope so. Sounds like our Matilda turkey after Helen was killed.

Dealing with an unruly goose can be painful; more than once, Golly smacked me in the face with a wing.

Ouch! When I had geese, my biggest gander, George, gave me a fat lip once. I never let him get that close again.

Loved the 1942 JCPenney booklet! BTW, I spent a few years working at Penney's in the fine jewelry department. Many of those stores have closed, including the one where I worked. They were once a mainstay of small Midwestern towns.

That's unfortunate; I'm sure when they closed, many jobs went with them. We have two near us that are still open, but they're barely hanging on.

Sunset

Neighbor's cows

Cheese!

You said cheese...where is it?!

Brianna

Starry night

Babysat this fine gentleman at the dog park while the owner played on his phone

South Potomac - a few miles east it will meet the north branch to become the Potomac River

Looking at Petersburg from Fort Mulligan, an impregnable earthenwork fort built by Colonel James Mulligan in 1862. It guarded the railroads. In 1864 the fort was abandoned upon General Early's approach. After wasting a lot of ammunition shelling the fort, Early stormed it only to find it was empty. He was probably mad, don't you think!

Colonel Mulligan was captured in 1863 and died a prisoner of war in Winchester, VA.

A cannon from the fort

Constance on her bed - yes, she has a whole twin bed for her use

 

[Callender Girl]

I'm glad you're feeling better about your "new life." As always, I am hoping for the very best for you.

Sounds like Finnegan is off to a good new life, too. Hope it works out for everyone. It's great that a group helped you rehome him. When I tried to rehome the three strays two years ago, I had no success at all with groups -- they were too full, didn't return calls, didn't rescue cats from adjoining counties; it was frustrating, and that's why I still have three cats in my basement. At least, they are great mousers and keep rodents out of the upstairs.

Con is lucky that you are making thoughtful provisions for her. I don't know if a nightlight will help, but it can't hurt, right?

My sister was visiting this week and, like always, I enlisted her help with projects on my to-do list. Sometimes, I wonder that she agrees to come back -- we are always exhausted and never get to the end of the list!

Our biggest project was buying, assembling and filling some heavy duty metal shelves in the garage addition. Over the years, the addition has filled with odds and ends to the point that it was impossible to walk through. Vertical storage of lumber, filled totes, extra dog crates and kennels, along with assorted other stuff is just the first step.

Like you, we found lots of "useful junk," as well as plenty of stuff that needs to be donated or tossed out.

I made a fun discovery when we moved the living room furniture to replace a worn rug with one I'd gotten at an auction. I knew the previous owner was a doctor who had good taste and a big bank account. When we completely unrolled the rug, I spotted an attached tag; the rug is Egyptian and is hand-loomed. I just bought it because it was the right size and colors. Now that I know how nice it is, I almost (almost!) hate to walk on it! And, I sure don't want muddy footed dogs tromping on it.

We also took steps toward preparing for goslings, adding two more 10-foot chain link panels to expand Gussie's run. Carolyn went back home before we were able to build a new goose shelter. Of course, the little ones aren't here yet and won't need it for weeks after their arrival.

I ordered three goslings -- an African, an Embden and a Toulouse to arrive the week of March 30. I opened a Chewy.com account this week because no one in this area sells gosling feed. I started Gussie and Golly on chick feed and added niacin, but I think this will be easier for me and probably better for the youngsters. It's a floating feed from Mazuri.

Thanks for sharing that you've had birds shipped; it's reassuring me a bit. Although I will still be nervous (that's my nature!) until they arrive safe and sound.

An unseasonable 84 degrees is predicted for today, so I am planning to do a lot of outdoor work. Many of my perennials are starting to peek through the ground. I just hope they're not too early. Iowa has had its share of April and, occasionally, May snow storms through the years.

Hope you have a good weekend ahead of you!