The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[speckledhen]

I did get a Brother back in 2002. I think it was a 900. It was top of the line under the one that embroidered. I picked it up on Ebay for 1/2 of what it costed new and also got the lady to throw in the attachments. I love that machine. It cuts the thread with a button. It threads the needle (Yes!!!). I also learned to quilt without the foot for free form shapes where you move the material as it stiches. The auto tension does work. My friend bought a Pfaff at the time and I still think the Brother beat that. It was $1,000 machine I got slightly used for $600.

Sounds great, Karen. I think Brother does make a good machine for a better price than the cadillacs of that world.

I remember that quilt, you posted a picture of it, it was very pretty. You are right about my mom, she has never sold a quilt, just gives them away, and I think those lucky enough to get one have appreciated the quality of her work, even if they do not completely understand the amount of effort put into it.

I hope they did appreciate them! I know all too well what goes into them. I hate to think of someone using one of those masterpieces as a dog's bed. That would be so hurtful. People sometimes simply have no idea. It's not just the fabric, but the thought that goes into an original design if a pattern isn't used, the combination of colors and prints, the precision of the piecing and the intricacy of the stitching, the actual pain we can go through to complete one of those beauties.

This was one of the last bed quilts I pieced (and quilted, of course) entirely by hand many years ago. Sold it on BYC for way less than it was worth. The diagonal rows are less than 2" apart. Has a flannel backing. Guy bought it for his daughter's bedroom.



Getting back to Atlas, Ida has a chick due to hatch this Sunday, under my broody D'Anver hen, Aimee. There are two other eggs I put under Aimee when I got them (no one laid for a few days or I would have had them in there with the first one) five days later. If Ida's chick hatches, I'll put the other two eggs in the bator and finish them up and give them back to Aimee. She is very likely to accept them, knowing her personality.

 

[speckledhen]

Atlas is a daddy again, with Ida. A fat and sassy chick hatched late last night on Day 21 under my D'Anver hen, Aimee. There are two more eggs I put under her a few days afterward as insurance in case Ida's didn't hatch; those are on Day 18. I may just remove them to the incubator and give the chicks to Aimee when they hatch in a couple of days. She's taken chicks as far out as two weeks when a broody died suddenly and she had her own two-week-olds so I am confident that she will accept the other two just fine (also Atlas's). Aimee is very laid back like that, a super mama. She is currently in Zane's cage because Carly will be in the bantam coop with her little ones soon. Carly will defend her chicks and peck at ones that are not hers, whereas Aimee will threaten but won't fight for her chicks against Carly or the other hens. Carly's three are Belgian D'Anvers since she was just too small to sit on more than one LF egg. Pictures will come before the end of the day of the newest child of Atlas and big Ida.


ETA: Adding photos of the newest son of Atlas (seems like a cockerel to me). AND, Atlas now has a new gal, Miss Drama Queen Lizzie. She is 16 1/2 weeks old now, red in the face.

 

[1muttsfan]

Teenagers are a pain

 

[speckledhen]

Teenagers are a pain

You said a mouthful.

 

[holm25]

Oh my it all looks great!! How is the pasture going?? I hope all is well there. This thread has encouraged me to start breeding quality birds so I have started breeding B/B/S Cochins and am selling my hatchery birds I bred.

 

[speckledhen]

It's rained and rained until two days ago. No further pasture work, but I think he'll get back on it this week sometime. Had to wait for it to dry out a bit so his equipment wouldn't sink.

 

[holm25]

That stinks. I hope he can get back out there and get it finished!! We have been working on our pastures to and its hard when its so hot out.

 

[speckledhen]

That stinks. I hope he can get back out there and get it finished!! We have been working on our pastures to and its hard when its so hot out.

I think this county got about 10+ inches of rain over the three days prior to the last two days of dry (though humid) weather. Takes a bit for that mud to firm up, but I think it's ready now, just very hot.

 

[holm25]

We have only got maybe an inch. But it got to 40 degrees the other night and everthing is firming up nicely.

 

[speckledhen]

We have only got maybe an inch. But it got to 40 degrees the other night and everthing is firming up nicely.

Still no rain today, yea! Maybe he'll come tomorrow to continue the pasture work. He doesn't have much more to go before it's ready for seeding. Should look really nice.