Maine

[Mainechick168]

Wow! It was a cold day for a hike. We used to hike more in the winter, - I guess we feel old! I know a guy that hikes up Tumbledown with his skates, so he can skate on the little pond up there. Was it frozen?
I did get out today, cutting boughs for some teachers that want to make wreaths. I kept running back inside to get warm. The wind on the mountain must have been brutal. We once hiked Little Jackson in this weather, and turned back just short of the summit due to cold wind.
One of my chickens left a pile of worms on the poop board today.

. I just wormed them in late July, with SCG's help. I'm not that thrilled about doing it again, but it clearly must be time. Even though I don't think it happens very often, I keep imagining cracking open an egg with a worm in it! That might put me over the edge.

The pond was frozen...and it was freezing- every now and then the wind would stop and the sun would shine on me and that was lovely, but most of the time I just needed to keep moving to stay warm. We have done the hike in the winter with snowshoes too.

 

[ashandvine]

I don't have the hubby who builds for me. I keep hoping but... remember when I was so excited that he was building nest boxes? Yes, well, they are not done. That day was it. It used to be I would go out and build for myself. No problem (I've worked construction and landscaping jobs and still have some tools) but with the little one and the cold its really not working out. With that said: I don't know what I could trade or pay (other than future chickens or geese or ducks right now) but if someone wants to come help me or build two little cow panel hoop houses for some geese for me I would be thrilled!

I am happy to have found a cut your own tree farm nearby (Fredrick's in Monmouth) that will even allow bf to bring his chainsaw-- his stipulation not mine. I am trying to convince him to make the kids use the bow saw so they actually have to take turns and work for their tree. It isn't free after all and it is alive, so the work of getting it seems like a lesson opportunity to me. Nothing in life is free or easy... except the air.

Looks like I am going to try to piece together pens for some cockerels/roosters. I have decided that for the moment that might be easier than getting these breeding pens built (see above for why).

 

[ejcimd]

I think that's one of the best things your man can say to you!

I could not agree more! Clearly we are some very lucky ladies...

 

[hoppy]

yes you are, I on the other hand, have to DIY or DWO (that's do without) like ash.
I shopped like crazy today online of course, now I need to get to work on some stained glass.

I could not agree more! Clearly we are some very lucky ladies...

 

[buckabucka]

Oh, the pond looks great, Kelly! I really hate the cold, but I am a sucker for good outdoor skating. It happens so seldom, and there is nothing like gliding across a lake or pond, especially if it is smooth and clear. I only learned to skate very recently, so I'm lousy at it, but it is fun.

Ashandvine, that must be frustrating to know how to build, but be tied down. I can't really build anything. DH never wants to build nest boxes and things like that. The last time, I drew up a detailed plan of how I thought one could be built, and then asked him to show me what wood I could use. Then I had to ask which tool to cut it with, and soon, he was saying,"here, let me cut that", and the nest box was done. I didn't really learn anything, but I was thrilled to have the box.

I had to laugh at the chainsaw story. I think the only reason we have hoop houses and a hoop coop here, is DH figured out he'd have to buy a tractor to move them around!

 

[Widget]

I too have to be self reliant. Of course most of the things I try to build end up looking like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree. But they usually serve the purpose. And the animals don't seem to care.

Of course sometimes things go a bit haywire. Such as my truck this weekend. I went out Saturday morning to go shopping. The truck wouldn't start. It tried to turn over but just wouldn't stay running. This was at 7 am. I had to wait until 9 to call the dealership. At first they were going to send the one mechanic on duty over to take a look. Then they decided it would be easier to tow it to the shop. By 1030 it was at the shop. At 11 I got a call saying it might be the fuel pump but they couldn't do much until Monday. The salesman who sold it to me then asked if I needed a vehicle until mine was fixed. I said yes. Then he asked if I had a way to get to the dealership. Nope. So he ended up closing up shop (he was by himself), putting a note on the door and drove to my house to pick me up so I could have a car. Granted I'm only about 8 miles away but he went above and beyond. I ended up with a 2006 Nissan Sentra. Okay car but I am so used to a bigger vehicle and I also needed hay. One bale fit in the trunk but I wasn't complaining.

Today I got a call that they figured out the issue. When I called I was told it was something simple. The new radio I had installed was tripping the alarm system so the truck kept getting a signal to not start. On one hand it was great news. Nothing wrong with the truck just a stupid owner trick. It would have been one thing if this was the first radio I had ever installed on my own. But it wasn't. I installed one in both my Saturn and Silverado. Both GM vehicles. Yet this GMC is a bit more temperamental. They took out the radio and gave me a number for a mobile service they use to install them. I will call tomorrow and set up an appointment. Cost of my stupidity: $0. That's right: $0. They didn't charge me anything to diagnose and 'fix' the problem. And they put in about 1/4 tank of gas while checking out the fuel pump. There is no way this didn't take at least two or three hours of labor.

Moral of the story: Some things are worth paying an expert to do instead of doing it yourself. And if you are in the market for a used vehicle go to Ossipee Trail Motors.

 

[buckabucka]

Good story, Widget. Glad it worked out.

I tried to make my own cheez-its once. I even used a little sewing tracing wheel to create the perforated lines between the crackers. I'm definitely leaving that project for the experts at "Sunshine". They tasted okay, but $2 is a good price for crackers after all.

 

[hoppy]

got my 2nd marans egg today

but I still have to look at the americauna I got at the last swap 3 weeks ago that I was told "she's laying every day" hasn't laid for me at all and she's not molting so it's not that.

silkies are going great guns but that's only because I don't want to hatch just yet, got a new roo and waiting for the girls to be clear before I introduce him. maybe I should just put him in and count 2 weeks before I start collecting their eggs.
patience is not something I have much of.

 

[ashandvine]

Bucka I am very happy to empower women in anyway I can. I will show folks how to do chicken things if I know them and other things I think we all need to know like;

canning
gutting/skinning
bleeding a furnace line to restart it
changing a tire
patching large holes in sheetrock
hanging sheetrock
framing a basic wall
fixing a toilet/sink
driving stick shift
using a chop saw

That last one is a favorite of mine. The chop saw is my FAVORITE tool. Basic tool use is on the list too I guess. I am sure there are probably other things like how to replace a button and what not but those are on the important list. How to identify north and how to feed yourself in the Maine woods at any time of year are in there too but they take time to learn.

You know Hoppy, I am not much help right now but I like the idea of starting a chicks with tools club that helps each other with chicken related business. I could really use the help myself. There are these lovely geese and a pair of Midget White Turkeys coming to live with me... well, maybe not the geese if I can't get a shelter built. I figure the easiest thing outside putting up a tent for them is to have one of those cow panel houses built and covered with tarp or canvas. Its what they are living in right now where they are. They would be used to it. BUT, as said above, building much of anything is difficult or impossible right now and in order to get the geese (who are free) I would need to have a house for them. I think the woman (80 yo woman who has owned them their whole lives) will keep them for a while but she would like them gone before snow for their sake. That won't happen. They aren't the fancy breeds I had hoped to work with but I love geese and their price is right.

Going to try out some saltdough to see how difficult it is. I am depressed today despite the sudden arrival of eggs in the coops again. I am very glad. I had to buy a doz last week and just hate doing that.

 

[hoppy]

did I say how unmotivated i was today? no? see, I wasn't even motivated enough to say that...

deadline coming, must pull myself up and get moving with it. maybe tonight.
maybe not