Michigan

[RaZ]

Beer break!

I just came in for a cold one. The one I opened got too warm to drink while I was busy raking the run and moving some of the fencing around. There is now fresh scratching in the compost pile and lush green grass for the chickens to forage in.

I still need to move a face cord of wood and spread a half yard of topsoil.

I was talking to Patty (who lives behind me), she remarked about how beautiful the silver laced Wyandottes are. They sure are pretty birds now that they have their big girl feathers. I still think one is a roo.

I'll have to take some pictures. And I know that some of you want more duck photos.

 

[Juise]

We went to the West Olive Nursery memorial days sale yesterday, it is always hard. Always want to get more than we can justify spending on plants. We didn't end up getting the apple trees we planned on, I'm still a little confused as to why, but maybe we will hit it up again this coming weekend. I want those apple trees!

We did get a few blueberry bushes, (they didn't have pink lemonade, I still want some of those!) grape vines, butterfly bushes, and azaleas. The azaleas are on sale for $3! Those were all things we've been wanting, and we resisted adding anything extra to that.

I got most the rest of the mulch moved over the weekend, the second coat of paint on the walls of the shed that I had a first coat on, some weeding done, the coop shoveled out, and some indoor chores done as well. Mostly I shoveled mulch. I really, really hate to say this right now, but I think I am going to need more.

We worked out some half-butted plans for the childrens' garden we have been talking about, I wish I had a sizable chunk of change to just drop on that in plants and paths, etc. I think it will be cool anyway. It is going to be a years long project that we add to as we can, but I am fine with that, it doesn't feel incomplete as much as it feels like a living piece of artwork, ever changing and growing.

Speaking of which, does anyone know a climber that is a good symbiotic companion for sunflowers? I would like to have something else climb the walls of their sunflower house, but I believe (I am pretty foggy here,) that sunflowers are one that puts something into the soil that makes it very difficult for other plants to grow.

 

[NovaAman]

My sister is back in the hospital. This time she needs a shunt put in to drain fluid off. She has a build up over the liver that is pushing up against the diaphragm, so, she ended up rushed to ER last night because the diaphragm was spasming. SO, now she's having a third procedure done for a routine gall bladder surgery. What a freaking crock. I told her to talk to a lawyer.

I am going to keep going with my regimen. Seems to be working. Seems to be a hell of a lot safe.

Oh... and its the willow bark that is causing the capillary bruising. Its a natural blood thinner, aspirin... Well anyway, you know how you take to much aspirin, you can bruise from a finger flick... same thing. SO, laying off the tea for a moment, well I just won't steep as long.

 

[NovaAman]

In answer to your novel the other day Juise, some chickens are more timid. Just keep watch on her that she isn't getting to picked on. If she does, you may need to confine her a buddy together for a bit till she's a bit older. I have 3 that Skeeter hatched out in January, and they are very timid, stick to the coop a lot. Don't come up for treats, but will skirt the outside of the flock wanting them, but not coming for them. So, I very carefully bring treats to them, cuz they run from me too, but they always stick together.

In answer to your sunflower queary... Not a clue.

 

[Juise]

Uck, hope she starts the road to recovery soon, Nova.

Aside from that one attack over scratch, I haven't seen her picked on by anyone. Maru is the one who got her when she was unlucky enough to be between Maru and where I threw the scratch, but Maru charges all the littles every opportunity she gets, it seems. She roosts with them fine, though. None of the other big girls seem to care about the little ones. None of the timid chicken's flock mates pick on her at all, she just doesn't go with them, and putters around the coop all by herself. She is actually the least timid of her little flock of me picking her up, and she actually seems to enjoy being carried around and scratched, which is kind of neat because none of our other chickens have ever enjoyed that. I can pick them up, no problem, but I don't think they actually like it.

The other thing I was asking about in the post was the illness thing, any thoughts there?

My little rooster started crowing this morning for the first time, boy is it funny! Now the girls are crowing nonstop. I mean the small human ones.

P.S. does anyone know if you should bolt rhubarb?

 

[RaZ]

Speaking of which, does anyone know a climber that is a good symbiotic companion for sunflowers? I would like to have something else climb the walls of their sunflower house, but I believe (I am pretty foggy here,) that sunflowers are one that puts something into the soil that makes it very difficult for other plants to grow.

If you want to be whimsical, plant some moonflowers with the sunflowers.
I don't know off hand what might be symbiotic with sunflowers, but you could put the other vines in pots. I like to do that in some of my gardens.

 

[Juise]

Poor little Müttsy, I have no idea what we are going to do with him. I can't convince DH that we should keep him.

 

[Juise]

Quote:

If you want to be whimsical, plant some moonflowers with the sunflowers.
I don't know off hand what might be symbiotic with sunflowers, but you could put the other vines in pots. I like to do that in some of my gardens.

Thanks, RaZ, I have some moonflower seeds somewhere... I will have to find them. I didn't know they could grow with sunflowers, that would be pretty. Pots might be kind of tricky, unless maybe I dig them in. I suppose I could do that, though. It's the kids' fort, and they go through the "walls" as much as the doorway, so pots would otherwise probably be knocked over.

 

[NovaAman]

No clue on the illness...

I have a few customers who dig in the pots as well. Most have said they like to keep whatever they plant in those pots confined to those pots, but do not like the pots sticking up to much since it detracts from the over all effect they are trying to produce. What ever. I used to have pots mixed in with my landscaping at the first home I owned. Now I'd be afraid to plant anything the kids could destroy. They are destruct-o-butt-heads.

 

[RaZ]

Quote:

Thanks, RaZ, I have some moonflower seeds somewhere... I will have to find them. I didn't know they could grow with sunflowers, that would be pretty. Pots might be kind of tricky, unless maybe I dig them in. I suppose I could do that, though. It's the kids' fort, and they go through the "walls" as much as the doorway, so pots would otherwise probably be knocked over.

Maybe you don't want moonflowers. I just read the tag on mine and it says "harmful of eaten".
Since your monsters go through the walls, they just might eat the flowers too.

Don't get me wrong, I love children....sauteed in butter and served over rice.

With a nice chianti...