Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Shadrach]

My relaxing g day off with DH has been shot to hell, so I’m just going to take what I can get.

You’re right Bob! I should be thankful that they deigned to let DH know about it at all. It’s so much more fun to wake up to terrified squawks, the sound of snapping wood, and the oh so gentle rocking of the trailer as my power array is used as an expensive chins scratcher. Because that has never happened before.

And sorry to dump like this, I am so grateful for everyone here, your support and kindness keep me hanging on when it goes like this. And it just eats away at me to be so damn helpless.

I can't quite see you as being helpless Kris.

 

[Kris5902]

Mrs BY Bob grew up in Hazleton, PA (55 miles by car from Bethlehem). In an Italian Catholic family. "Gravy" was tomato based red stuff that was put on pasta. "Gravy" was also the stuff made from pan drippings. It was used interchangeably. Where as "sauce" only referred to tomato based red stuff put on pasta.

She's not here for me to confirm right now, but using "gravy" to refer to the red stuff put on pasta feels to me to be generational. It may be that based upon when your family came over from the old country and how insular with the Italian immigrant community they had been, that could be reflected in how long "gravy" has persisted in describing the red pasta stuff.

This has totally cheered me up so much this morning! Just had to explain to DH what I was laughing so much about. I started with the Rug/throw, doonas/duvet, quilt/comforter, what about blankets? Discussion... and we are now segueing into “tomato based red stuff put on pasta” vs pan dripping gravy! Bob, your descriptions of gravy and pasta sauce are just amazing!

 

[BY Bob]

Really !? Lemmie see...

That worked

 

[BY Bob]

it’s more or less a moot point now, because they have already trampled all over it, but to maintain the warranty on our septic system it needs to be fenced off from livestock. I’m going to fence in the area around my house fairly liberally. Just an acre or two.

Smart decision.

 

[Kris5902]

I can't quite see you as being helpless Kris.

More just completely powerless in my position here on the farm. And when our Bull innocently just wants a snack or a good scritch, I can’t be angry at him for his actions. I can be angry at the people who decide it won’t be a problem to turn them out in amongst my super lightweight chicken housing (despite having been told that they aren’t compatible).

Honestly it wasn’t a problem for almost two years, it wasn’t until I stopped managing the cattle and their feeding stopped that they got hungry enough to attempt to raid my chicken tractors. When it comes to farm operations I have no say, my opinions are ignored, and that’s what leaves me feeling helpless to defend my birds. Joke is, there wasn’t even any real grazing in this area until I ran my chickens in it heavily. Topping it off is the people moving him and the cows into basically my front yard are terrified of our bull. Never trust a male animal, they are violent... all sorts of nonsense. Yes, you need to be aware of them. He’s 2000 lbs of powerful animal, but he’s not out to get anyone. Breaks my heart, I had them basically trained to come to call, but now they are all hand shy and when they are moved it usually involves large sticks. I can’t groom them or give them butt scritches anymore. They don’t let the cattle down near the house area, but are quite willing to put them at my doorstep. Makes walking a bucket or bag of feed anywhere dangerous, because the cows are thin and hungry.

 

[BY Bob]

This has totally cheered me up so much this morning! Just had to explain to DH what I was laughing so much about. I started with the Rug/throw, doonas/duvet, quilt/comforter, what about blankets? Discussion... and we are now segueing into “tomato based red stuff put on pasta” vs pan dripping gravy! Bob, your descriptions of gravy and pasta sauce are just amazing!

It is really hard to describe tomatoe sauce without using the term sauce. I was really struggling there.

 

[Kris5902]

I think you did an amazing job at it!

 

[Shadrach]

I feel the same way, Bob.
In fact, I don’t think I could raise meat birds, because even though I eat chicken, I could never eat MY chicken.

Not meant as critical, but the only chicken I will eat is a chicken that lived here.
I don't eat much chicken I might add.

 

[Shadrach]

Well, keep in mind that this year’s is an election like no other!
Hopefully, it is not likely to be repeated!

I wouldn't be counting on that. I hoped much the same in the UK and it all slid from bad to worse.

 

[Shadrach]

This reminds me of the “gravy” vs “sauce” debate.
Growing up in my world (Bethlehem, PA), in a Catholic-ITALIAN family, GRAVY was the brown to off-white (various shades) dressing that we made from pan drippings, butter, corn-starch or flour.
SAUCE was the dressing we put on pasta mostly, and was made from tomatoes and various spices, and may or may not include ground meat.
You will hear people hotly argue that the tomato preparation is gravy, and it is not!

Quite right.