~ Retired and Starting My Future In The Foothills ~

Call me or text me later. If you put them in the Hospital Coop (providing it's currently empty), we'll come get them tomorrow.

Gregory Peck and Not Riley #1 were finally quartered and put in the freezer today after resting in the fridge for 72 hours after processing. The rest of the Minions and any other roos you are sick of will be dispatched soonly.

Lewis even put the barnevelder rooster in freezer camp... he's really tired of these young cockerels being so aggressive in their "amore" with the ladies to the point that the girls are getting injured.

I am excited to start cooking these little meanies.
 
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When I first joined BYC in late 2009, I swear I saw a recipe for "Mean Rooster & Dumplings" but now I can't find it. At the time, I thought it was a real hoot, but now I want to actually find that recipe to try it. Well, have "somebody" <*glancing in HH's direction*> prepare that specific recipe and let ME try it.

I look a little sketchy today. During the night, Smudge monopolized half of my pillow. He stretched, and - as is typical of sleepy cats - flexed his front paws. On my face. Right next to my left eye. Flex, expose claws, curl paws with wicked scimitars dragged across my face.... Oh, it was a memorable way to wake up, lemme tell ya! I 'bout thought he'd torn my eyelid.

Smudge's leisurely stretch was abruptly curtailed as I erupted upwards from supine to Flailing Amongst The Dogs And Blankets. Smudge launched himself from the bed to Get Out Of Dodge. Dooley dutifully barked at the doorway into the bedroom without knowing what was wrong. Zorro grumpily found a new position and went back to sleep while I checked my visage in the bathroom mirror.

My turning on the light triggered Carl's crowing out in the coop. Which began the Crow Fest.

I dunno if Simba was already awake or not, but I did hear him rattle his hutch on the other side of the guest room doorinto the bathroom.

The scratch is very tender. I slathered Neosporin on it, repeating the application after my morning shower a couple of hours later.

Thanks, Smudge. He hasn't a clue what he did wrong. After all, he was probably asleep when he stretched and Mom screeched like a banshee for no apparent reason, scaring everybody except Zorro out of their wits.
 
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I needed a key holder. I found one that grabbed my eye and it arrived today. This is it, still in its protective plastic. (I took the pictures in my car right outside of the UPS Store where I have my mail delivered.)

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And here is the important label on the item.

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Ain't it purdy?

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This finish is called "copper pebble" - I could have had it made in matte black, black pebble, white,or flat copper.

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None whatsoever.
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My "yard" cat, Licorice also disappeared within two or three days of her arrival up here, back in late July. I think the reason why Smudge is still here is because he is more House Cat than Indoor/outdoor cat. He goes out but never stays out longer than 15, 20 minutes. He prefers to ise a litter box, too, although he will potty outside if it hasn't rained lately. He is NOT a wanderer. Both neighbors on either side of my property (and John) warned me "cats tend to disappear up here."

It's a good thing John put a cut-off valve in the water line to the coop, because I had to shut it off yesterday. The auto-fill fountain decided it wasn't going to auto-stop filling the bowl. At first it was just a trickle, but after i tinkered with it, it became a small waterfall. Ducks and geese didn't mind, but I did! The pine shavings sucked that water into a third of the floor space.

So I called him last night to put a task on his list: add a valve to that particular fitting, so I can shut IT off but still have running water in the coop to fill the other waterers and clean up feeders when necessary. He said, "Good idea- I should have done that in the first place. Poor chickens, they aren't going to die of thirst, are they?"

Nah. There are the kiddie pools and stock tank and the other waterers scattered around. They don't NEED water in the coop; many folks don't provide water in their coops, only outside.

He said he'd also fix the auto-fountain and proceeded to tell me how it works "just like the valves in car tires." He'll be by on Saturday, or maybe Friday, if he finishes organizing his work van "early enough." He's building a new shelf for the heavy duty saw and its bench, adding a drawer for small tools underneath it.

I suggested Saturday, even though I know I don't have to be there when he does outside work.
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It's my three day weekend! And it's New Year's Eve, as well. I suspect I will be snuggled and warm and cozy whilst watching the delayed broadcast of the Ball dropping in Times Square tonight.

John arrived about 10, 10:30-ish; I wasn't out of my nightshirt yet, so I opened the door slightly as he opened the door of his van, to tell him, "Lemme get dressed, I'll be right out."

First I asked him to show me his newly-arranged and outfitted work van, with the bench and drawer and all that stuff. One of his most endearing qualities is how he explains things and their purposes. I love to learn. I didn't know that air compressors collect water inside them from condensation. He's added a long tube and valve to drain it without having to lift it out of the van. And demonstrated its use. (I was struggling to remember the word "condensation" and only came up with "smooshes all the water out of the air," so that's why he explained the situation. Perhaps if I didn't ask questions or make idiotic statements, he wouldn't take the time to edumacate me.)

The valve has been added to the water line for the auto-fill poultry fountain. "This is a great idea; I should have thought of this when I put this together," he said. He also repaired the auto-fill valve, and yes, it IS just like the valves in tires. Just handles water instead of air. Interesting. I learned there's a difference between "Teflon tape" and "plumber's tape." He used the former in re-installing the auto-fill fixture and laughed when an opportunity came to use the latter in securing the PVC tube feeder which keeps falling over. He also relocated one of the bucket nest boxes about a foot lower than it was originally attached to the coop wall.

John didn't think I needed REAL cameras for my security system; just nail a fake one with a blinking (battery operated) red light on it to one of the trees near a front gate. I suppose that would suffice if I didn't want to actually SEE what was going on when I'm not here. Delayed, of course, as I don't have the equipment to put a live, Internet feed up. Not yet, she said, meaningfully.


We talked about what projects are on the horizon: a new roof and a deck off the guest bedroom. The former needs to be accomplished later in the year when there is a FOR SURE two week window of no rain, and the latter can be built "any time," he said. But he'll come over some time "next year"
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to take measurements and spec out the materials cost for just the roof. "That's if there's no repairs which need to be made underneath it." And for the deck, he confirmed I wanted a single, not double, French door in the spot currently occupied by the window over the day bed. "Not that other window?" "No, that's the bathroom window and the toilet is right there." He looked at the wall again and mused, "Yes, I suppose you don't want to have to jump over the toilet to go out on your deck...."

"No charge for today," he said. Well, of course not; he's already closed out his 2011 business records and delivered 'em to his tax lady!

After he departed, I put up two of the four "Video Surveillance" signs, one each by two of the drive gates. The girlfriend of the son of the complainant drove by from his house to hers as I was securing the second sign. (She owns the smallest piece of property on the road and mostly lives at her boyfriend's house.) She's the one I gave the free carton of eggs to, some months ago, with my residence phone number on it. A photo copy of it was used as evidence against me in the hearing.

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Actually, I smiled and waved.

Got a cabbage to hang for Tether Cabbage, tossed out some wilting snow pea pods, and tore up three Romaine lettuce bunches for the crew. Hosed down the coop wall because I am going to finish painting it tomorrow. Then I hosed off two pet carriers which have been used as roosting spots (ICK!) inside the coop, so I can store them - nice and clean! - in the new shed. Also leveled out the ground under the two tier bird bath/fountain in the side yard. I'm not going to put the solar fountain in it until I figure out a way to protect the cord from the geese. They've already destroyed the cable and hoses for the cascading solar fountain on the porch.

The Cayuga clan discovered the treats and for the first time ever, some of the girls decided they wanted in on the Tether Cabbage fun.

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This evening I'm unpacking the security camera system and reading the manual.
 

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