Surviving Minnesota!

[Bogtown Chick]

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Oh! And I did freeze the ice in the bucket and add a candle. EVERYONE loved it! Now that I am home I am going to do more for this place. So very festive - SO THANK YOU for that idea! Now I am going to mix their treat that was posted and smell the house up with that.



I hope to have time tomorrow to follow along - it only took me an hour to catch up tonight.

So glad you liked your Ice Bucket art Ivie! And that it got rave reviews! They are fun and it's such a neat and easy trick to do.

You will love doing the flock block and giving it to your chickies! Makes two round cake pans. So you'll get 2 blocks out of it. And such a nice thing to do.
The original recipe has marigold petals in it (candula) and it actually makes for more orangey yolks and other health benefits. I saved a few petals from last year's flower garden but not sure I have enough....I think I'll plant more marigolds next year for sure.

Also want to say @Cluckies that I think the difference in my birds' "condition" has to do with the nylon panty hose powder puffer you offered up suggestion on. THANK YOU!!!

 

[jerryse]

I tell you what Kloppers. That cleaning out of coop business is a biggy for me. And I will design a coop (next time) that has a "push out" feature. All litter can be pushed out into a wheel barrow or whatever. Mine is such a PITA to clean out. One thing also I've done is instead of bandana over the nose and mouth I do the regular filtering masks. What a difference that has made for me...and I should have done it sooner. As I'm typing I'm thinking I should try to do something about it with the current coop. I should have this fall done some nest box changes...but I didn't get to it. Will maybe do that first. But the "pushout almost seems easier to tackle. Will weigh out priorities.

Ralph...I forgot to mention congrats on house sale to you. A shot in the arm for sure.

I would love to come to Togo...you can show me bigfoot prints and bullhead fishing spots.

Bullheads ? Didn't think anyone up their ate those .

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Bullheads ? Didn't think anyone up their ate those .

LOL. @jerryse . here on this quirky Minnesota thread it's code for Walleyes.

hahaha.

 

[Cluckies]

Oh Ralphie, I feel so bad for your DIL and her family. Prayers offered up for sure. So young... such a terrible thing.

Bogtown - Glad you didn't see any creepy crawlies on poor Tootsie, i'm with you on keeping an eye on him for awhile! I love the nylon powder puff with the poultry dust in it, I haven't seen a creepy crawly, yet, but everytime I fully clean out the coop i take that and puff around all the edges, corners, roost, nesting box edges, then give the girls a puffing (behind neck, belly, under wings, and bum). Like I said, if they start all shaking their heads every few seconds I puff them just for good measure.
I agree, I also use the dust masks when I clean the coop at all (basically every day), then the twice a year clean out, helps alot! I have lung issues to debris ever since a bout with pneumonia and then bronchitis a few years ago (all within a year). (I use the mask while powder puffing the powder as well

)

Ralphie, congrats on the house selling. woot!

KlopKlop, hope yours sells quickly, can't wait for all the picks of the new build! how exciting!

Good to see everyone else here

! Always exciting to see what the new year will bring!

 

[lvie]

Well Good Morning. Been taking my time moving around this a.m. Why? I am USUALLY an 'up' person and look forward to each new year. 2016 isn't doing that for me. Overwhelming. So I am going to think of all the good that happened this last year. It is good that I had another birthday - still above ground. That tells you my starting point in attitude. Gonna count my blessings!

My first post to read was yours Ralphie. Breaks my heart! I can only say that my faith tells me that there is a grand plan for each of us and your DIL father is right there in that plan. I don't understand it. Who does? You cannot see him however I think you hesitate to leave for Togo because we, as a peoples, tend to want to hang tight for those we have endearment to. My thoughts and prayers go with you and your loved ones.

I keep writing things to you and keep erasing them. LOL. I guess I need to move and shake. That will help. Keep us posted Ralphie.

 

[KlopKlop]

Well, i ended up sucking it up and going out. IT ended poorly. I got my tractor going and got about 10 feet out of the shed before it blew a hydraulic hose and shot fluid everywhere! I left it sit to cool down and then pushed around some snow with my truck to make it easier to drive the bedding to the compost. THere was one drift that was just to big yet so i ended up having to get out my snowblower and carve a tractors width through it.

Time to roll up my cinnamon roll dough! it smells good!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I think I would still do Togo Ralphie. Other Grandpa would want you to do that. It is your kids' business to make arrangements although I understand being there to support or watch grandkids while they are busy...so not sure where you and Judy lie in that. But the business of life goes on and he sounds like the kind of man who would not want you to put things on hold for him.

Although if you are needing to do up Belly Button Turkeys then I see your reasoning and debating for staying at home too.

I myself need to tear down Christmas and clean house. I'll do a half day at work and head home so I have a nice clean house to veg out in tomorrow.

That Sadie Mae has seemed to settle down another click. I love it when you can sense the maturity and wheels turning in their heads. Like she's actually using her brain now. Oh I think she might be a good dog yet. Love my Labradors.

 

[KlopKlop]

Well, i ended up sucking it up and going out. IT ended poorly. I got my tractor going and got about 10 feet out of the shed before it blew a hydraulic hose and shot fluid everywhere! I left it sit to cool down and then pushed around some snow with my truck to make it easier to drive the bedding to the compost. THere was one drift that was just to big yet so i ended up having to get out my snowblower and carve a tractors width through it.

Time to roll up my cinnamon roll dough! it smells good!

Tada! They dont look quite as pretty in a tin, but this way the neighbors dont have to worry about getting a pan back to us. nom nom nom nom. must.... resist... baking... now....

 

[Rhetts]

No big new year party plans here. We may stay home or we might go to SIL just down the road for snacks and ring in the new year. We'll see.

Ralphie-sorry to hear your news on Grandpa. Tough, tough, tough.

I wear a mask to clean the coop also. Glad to hear others do too.

We actually did eat bullheads growing up. My Great Grandma just loved having them for supper. Perhaps that just shows how poor we were living high on bullheads.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

When the walleyes aren't biting...bullheads arent...so bad.... LOL.