Surviving Minnesota!

[memphis]

We are starting to open up things. But geez! They opened a mall & people were clustered together waiting for the doors to open. Not many masks either. Inside no one seemed to be social distancing. And mothers day led to several family parties. Do people think things are back to normal since things are starting to open? And the traffic is pretty much back to normal craziness.

 

[CindyinSD]

I know I am not.

Dam straight.

 

[memphis]

We even had a few interstate shootings & car hijackings! Yep....Memphis is getting back to normal!!

 

[CindyinSD]

We are starting to open up things. But geez! They opened a mall & people were clustered together waiting for the doors to open. Not many masks either. Inside no one seemed to be social distancing. And mothers day led to several family parties. Do people think things are back to normal since things are starting to open? And the traffic is pretty much back to normal craziness.

We all have to make our own choices. IME, people seem to respect your space if you're wearing a mask. Since DH and I are older, we choose not to get in the middle of situations like that. Other people feel differently. If they get sick and develop antibodies, then I guess that's one less person who's gonna get the same bug in future and pass it on to me.

One thing did really irritate me the other day, though. DH finally got up his nerve to go to Cabalas to get something he really wanted. He got up early to make the drive into town to take advantage of their special seniors, etc. hour and ended up standing behind two very demanding, needy (young) customers who had no idea what they were doing. If a store advertises special hours, then they ought to keep them. If a non-qualifying person sees a sign explaining this, they ought to come back later. If the merchant is not getting enough commerce to justify restricting access for one hour twice a week, then they ought not keep advertising that they're doing it.

 

[R2elk]

We all have to make our own choices. IME, people seem to respect your space if you're wearing a mask.

I don't even have to wear a mask. People have always had a natural tendency to give me a wide berth.

 

[memphis]

Hmmm...why is that R2elk?? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

Hmmm...why is that R2elk?? Inquiring minds want to know.

Because he does not wear deodorant.

 

[Justin17]

The quarantine is more about giving the hospitals time to get ready to handle the surge in Covid cases. Theoretically the surge is going to happen regardless of when we reopen, so were just delaying the inevitable. Its just giving time for the hospitals to get ready and get stocked up on supplies to handle everything so it doesn't all hit at once and overwhelm the system.

That being said, I am building my 3rd chicken coop. I have heard having them on the ground better insulates them and is not as cold as raising them. Seems logical. Thoughts? Iv'e only had chickens for a year so still learning.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Hi All!

It's c-c-cold outside. It's bright blue skies but cold. I dug out the coat again. Jimminy.

Jerry just come north with DW. You're going to have to get some wifi going though I think to keep her connected to the grand kids and such. Life is pretty normal up here for the most part. I don't go to Brainerd. And I bought enough bags of feed for my birds in March that I'm still good to go until another Grand Rapids run. Since free ranging they are on less and less feed. Even the big eating Marans seem content out there finding bugs and frogs. They've backed way off.
Grocery store is open, DG is open. Not much need to go anywhere else. Park Rapids Walmart is a safer county for COVID...if she wants to run over there.

Still packing up the parents' house. Room by Room. We're getting there. June 26 we'll be closed. Got some time. But time goes like the wind.

Kids are working at their fishing resort. (We are lucky as a family to be able to still work) and fishing last weekend. They went up to Red Lake and had a great time. 40+ fish boated and they brought home a limit. Fun day with their Dad and Grandpa. DS went up again Sunday and the bite wasn't as good.

I'm taking this weekend off from Mom & Dad's house and going to attend to my own. As I bring things home from their house to melt into my own home of things it seems I have developed a bottle neck of sorts. No where to put anything. No thrift store to donate to....they're locked up solid and accepting no donations. I will probably have to store the giveaways in our shed of stuff...somewhere....

I want to garden. And I want to chicken. That is all....

 

[lmatvey]

That being said, I am building my 3rd chicken coop. I have heard having them on the ground better insulates them and is not as cold as raising them. Seems logical. Thoughts? Iv'e only had chickens for a year so still learning.

I have found the quantity of frozen ground under the coop, Similar to the quantity of cold air. six Feet of rock hard frozen cold ground, doesn’t want to be above freezing. I have a 10.5ft x14ft on the ground coop that keeps all the poultry in the winter, the only heat I run is a heated waterer and 1-2 heat lamps. It is insulated, with 4” insulation.
I thought the reason people elevated coops, was for varmint protection?