Michigan

[chickflick]

Quote:
Sorry for not answering this sooner but old people get distracted easily and then forget. My sons all called me Dad. My oldest son was born in Germany, when I was stationed there in the Army. Because of that he has always had an interest in all things German. When his daughter (my first grandchild) was born he asked if I would mind if when she started talking she called me the German name for Gramps "Opa". When my stepsons married and had children they asked if it would be okay if their children called me Opa as well. Now why was your father Buppa?

My parents are German and we always called our dad "Buppa". I just had one grandma in the states and we called her Oma, of course. Buppa is just a German word for dad. You were stationed in Germany, but are not German, right? With you being called Opa, I thought you were German. That's ok, we can't all be German. lol

 

[Opa]

I makes me a little sad that I didn't remember that, however, it's been 41 years since I was last in Germany. Always wanted to return but time has a way of getting away from you. Seems like only a short while ago I was a young man and now I look like my avatar. Scary! Just watched the American Music Awards and I don't think I liked one song. I guess that's another indicator of age.

 

[cristy17]

Good morning to all!! Sounds like everyone from Michigan is from below the bridge. Well, I live in the Upper Peninsula -- Menominee to be exact. I have a true barnyard mix -- 2 leghorns, several Dutch Bantams, 2 americunas, several ???, a Magpie, a cayuga, 2 cats, 3 dogs, and 3 adopted horses as well as the family. Enough to keep my hands full. Hope to hear more from people in the area.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

From the UP here live in Gladstone, that is the Escanaba area. Was up your way yesterday getting coop building material. Plywood $10 a sheet, insulation $3.5 a sheet and 2 x4 x 8 $2 a piece. I got enough to build my 16 x 7 foot coop. Roof and side posts are already up just need to get the walls, doors, windows up. Man I am eggcited.


Opa am really sorry that your feeling so down about your little hen. Sorry ya lost her but like everyone said that is an accident, that doesn't make ya feel better at all I am sure, hugs. Hang in there.

 

[cristy17]

Glad to hear from some of Yuppers! Jean, I hope you get your coop up so your chickies don't lose their tailfeathers in all the snow up that way. Bro-in-law lives in Esky and said you got quite a bit over the last week. Hope to hear from more Yuppers.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Oh They are not going to freeze LOL. They are in individual coops that are insulated right now. I just want a coop I can walk into. They are so toasty in those waist high coops they are like bugs in a rug. For the new coop all we have to do is the walls, the roof is already there.

I got over 18 inches from Thursday night to Friday afternoon. I am all ready for winter to be over LOL.

 

[Opa]

I just got a reminder of what is was I didn't like about last winter. Snow! Just got done shoveling 4 inches of wet heavy snow to make a path out to my birds. Sixty five yards 3 foot wide doesn't sound like much but it is still snowing so I will have to do it again later. The hard reality is that this is just the beginning and we still have maybe five more months to look forward to. This grumbling is coming from a former winter enthusiast who loved to ski, snow shoe, icefish, hunt or just walk around marveling at the beauty of nature. Now that I am over the mountain, so to speak, I have all of the assorted aliments and afflictions that make cold weather a pain. Literally! Oh well, enough grumbling. How is everyone and their chickens doing now that winter is here. I made all the necessary changes in feed and watering equipment, so I think the girls are going to fare quite well. Looked in the mirror the morning,

[/img] scary. Since I haven't shaved in a week, both top and the bottom of my head are starting to match. It's amazing the things I will wear or the way I allow or even strive to look like that I wouldn't have even considered back in the day.

[/img]

 

[Daycare Mom]

I agree that the snow was wet and heavy to shovel, but it was perfect for building snowmen! The kids and I made 2 out in the front yard. It was very fun. Now that we made our snow people it can melt away until Christmas then we can have one week of snow and then I am done. Bring on spring!

 

[ChickaD]

opa, your avatar never fails to make me chuckle! One thing I like about getting older is I can decide a bit easier which standards to loosen up on...you know, the really important values are a constant, but I can let the little things go, without apology!

 

[Opa]

ChickaD, my avatar is funny, a reality, but funny none the less; and you are right, there are some things about getting older that are nice. Like not caring you sees you in bib overalls or unshaven. If I'm clean and don't smell then fashion or appearance is no big deal. Things that I would have worried about years ago are no big thing. And I came to realize who and what is important to me.
When I retired from the fire department 17 years ago I decided that the best way to have a good life was to lighten up on everything. One goal I set for myself was to make a conscience effort to be the nicest person that people would meet. The more I worked at being as nice as I could be, the more I found people responding to me.
Now I get up each morning, check my pulse, and say to myself "Well the hardest task is done, everything for the rest of the day is easy".