Maine

[Widget]

What a cute tractor!

I'm pretty smitten with turkeys, too. My upstairs turkeys are really stinking and are working on throwing all their shavings onto the floor on an hourly basis, but when you look into their big eyes, you can't help falling in love with them.


Those of you considering bees, take a class. I took the one from Knox-Lincoln County Beekeepers Association which was in Thomaston one night a week for 6 weeks. It was about an hour drive from me here near Augusta, but it was only once a week and worth it. There are many other classes across the state, especially down south.

I agree on the bee school. I learned a great deal at mine. And it also provides a network of other beekeepers who can help with issues if needed. Plus there are many local clubs and the state of Maine has a great state apiarist; Anthony Jadczak. http://mainebeekeepers.org/ is the state club's website. Reminds me I need to license my hive for the year. One of the few bargains at $2 for the year.

 

[MEMama3]

The ladies are home and enjoying the run. We had one escapee who panicked and squeezed back through to get with the flock, but the gap has now been addressed.

 

[ashandvine]

We lost a hen today. No predator, and no sign of disease this morning. It could have been the heat, although I'm tempted to blame my rooster. He was totally obsessed with this hen. She hatched him, and raised him alone. The rooster loves both of the buff Chanteclers, but especially this one.

You have BUFF CHANTECLERS!? Could you share a picture? I need to convince you to show at least one in the fall Windsor show. Seriously!!!

I did the old bait & switch with the Sizzles and their unhatched eggs tonight. Gotta get up early to check on everyone's progress!

How are they today?? Did the switch work??

I'm pretty smitten with turkeys, too. My upstairs turkeys are really stinking and are working on throwing all their shavings onto the floor on an hourly basis, but when you look into their big eyes, you can't help falling in love with them.

Oh you sound like Sebastian!!!! I admit that I like these little turkeys here so much. I need to let them go somewhere else. I need some room for what *I* want to do since I am paying for it. The business with the jake smashing the nest this spring really put a bad taste in SO mouth and what she hatched this time was so few. Its certainly been a mixed situation for us raising them. I had the revelation of realizing I liked them, esp the hen, and SO realized how much he likes to eat them.

 

[ashandvine]

Okay... weird recycling ideas for this week:
All those threads that come off the bags of grain are saved here. We wrap them around a paper tube and reuse for things like tying boxes shut instead of using tape and most importantly I use them to mark short rows in the garden and also to create 'trellises' for things like the tomatoes and peas to climb up when they are strung between two stakes.

Handles-- those handles off the bags? They already have perforations so they are just begging to be sewn back on something. Right now I have a few and the girls want to make little book bags for the summer.

 

[kinsey228]

Yay! Today at the Wilton swap, Wee acres farm had a Black tailed buff marans pullet!

 

[Widget]

Okay... weird recycling ideas for this week:
All those threads that come off the bags of grain are saved here. We wrap them around a paper tube and reuse for things like tying boxes shut instead of using tape and most importantly I use them to mark short rows in the garden and also to create 'trellises' for things like the tomatoes and peas to climb up when they are strung between two stakes.

Handles-- those handles off the bags? They already have perforations so they are just begging to be sewn back on something. Right now I have a few and the girls want to make little book bags for the summer.

Great idea with the threads. I certainly get enough of them with all the grain I buy. Gives me a good idea on what to do with all that baling twine I also get. I need trellises for the beans and peas.

Okay last weekend it was too wet to do much outside. This weekend it is too darn hot. Not sure my sunscreen is still working. I've had it a few years. But it still smells so hopefully it still has some affect. Not that I can stay outside in the direct sun for too long. It is 92 here. So far I have managed to just feed everyone, fill the water buckets and water the garden. I also filled the kiddie pool for the ducks and let them out to free range. That was a big hit. I also took parts from the old fence posts and put them on the new posts before I retreated to the cooler house (80 inside but I have the ceiling fans and a box fan running). Once the sun starts to go down I need to venture out and get a new pair of tin snips to cut the fence tape and some longer wood screws to attach the tape holders to the wood posts. Would prefer tensioners on the wood posts instead of what I have but I need at least ten more of those and they are about $6 ea. Figure I can just get the fence up and replace the holders with tensioners one by one.

I also made the mistake of watching the last part of 'Lassie Come Home' this afternoon. Now I really miss not having a collie as part of the household. Watching Lassie's (Pal's) mannerisms in the movie made me think of Starbuck the collie in my avatar. Although if I do ever get another collie it will be a smooth and not a rough. Keeping up with that coat of a rough takes a bit of time.

 

[buckabucka]

Ash, my Buff Chanteclers (now Chantecler) is a hatchery bird. I'm not sure she is all that special, except in m rooster's eyes!

I admit to being a slug today. I changed out all the chicken waters and did other chicken chores at a leisurely pace, even stopping for long periods to take photos of the younger birds. It was really too hot in the hoop house for working. I managed to put in 3 rows of dry beans outside. There is so much more to plant, but I've put in late gardens before with some success.

Now we are getting ready to go visit friends and have dinner. Our friend with leukemia has finished his last treatment and is thrilled with his new chance at life. I suppose he would approve of my leisurely day, taking time to slow down and enjoy things, but next fall I want food in my garden! Maybe tomorrow will be more productive.

 

[MustardTiger]

I like that way of looking at things Bucka. I too took this afternoon off to lounge and smell the roses.

Tonight it will be jerk chicken and coconut rice & peas for dinner on the bbq. Yum!

 

[Mainechick168]

I like that way of looking at things Bucka. I too took this afternoon off to lounge and smell the roses.

Tonight it will be jerk chicken and coconut rice & peas for dinner on the bbq. Yum!

Your dinner sounds very yummy, I think I might need the recipe!

We have having chili lime marinated shrimp in the grill.

It is so hot. There is a reason why I will always live in Maine....I don't enjoy temps above 85.

 

[kinsey228]

So, today I decided to go to the Wilton swap, and came home with a Black tailed buff marans, a Black copper marans, a Penedesenca, and 4 Olive eggers. They are just beautiful!