The Front Porch Swing

[lovingmyhens]

Reminds me of when I was a kid, my older brother always told me not to be afraid of the dark cause if any one grabbed me and carried me off they would drop me under the  first light.  What the heck did he mean by that?

Rude!!!

 

[RoseMarie1]

I'm watching my toes! and everything else!!!!! Maybe I should get a helmet as well... hmm...

I wonder if this was God's way of saying, it could always be worse...... I really try not to complain, but it seems like I have done a lot of complaining this week, and very little praising.... SO.......

PRAISE GOD that I was able to make it home to my wonderful husband and kids this evening. Praise God that my kids only have the sniffles or stomach bugs, and are healthy otherwise. Praise God that I have an amazing husband that loves me and supports our family. Praise God that I am able to stay home while my kids are little. Praise God for all the daily blessings that he bestows upon me. Praise God, for every little smile, hug, giggle, kiss and everything else from my kids! Praise God for my parents, my In-Laws, and the rest of my family. Praise God for my friends in my life. Praise God, for every breath that he gives me!

WHOA Lindaz I'm glad you stopped!!!!

 

[Triple Willow]

Evening ya'll. I guess I spoke too soon the other evening when I said the power was still on - wasn't long after that that a transformer blew out near my home and we lost power... For 42 hours. The power was restored around 3 PM today (TDubya, how did you know we were without power? Lol) Good thing I filled the tub and a few jugs of water !

It was one of the nastiest storms I have seen in quite some time. We received wind gusts of 76 mph and around 24" of snow... Some drifts were 7 ft tall, roadways blocked off that even the government highway plow trucks couldn't handle. A wind gust measured by a oceanic buoy in the Bay of Fundy measured a wind gust of 118 mph... That's a lot more than I care to see. The last time I seen a storm like this was back in February 2004 when we received about 40" of snow. Although my property, home and outbuildings did not sustain any damage, some places did and I am praying for them, and I ask you do the same.

As for those that asked about my breed of chickens, just some old hatchery stock that includes RIR's, Black Sex Links and BR's... Oh, and of course Rodney, who is a BA rooster ! They're definitely tough ! The chickens were hunkered down in their coop to ride out the storm. It blustered so hard that there was 5 inches of snow that blew in around the middle roost through the tiniest crack.. I went out yesterday morning to the girls eating it Guess they thought they would clean it up so I wouldn't have too

Thank you all so very much for your prayers and concern. The Lord certainly was keeping His mighty hand of protection upon us and He heard your prayers. You're all wonderful and I am so blessed to have each and everyone of you in my life. God Bless you all

Looks like I left out "if" but I figured there was a good chance your power went out. lol I'm glad it didn't stay out long and so glad you and yours made it through the storm. You guys must be some tough ones when it comes to cold weather. Take care and I hope you see spring soon!

 

[Beekissed]

Shew, I really need some peace for my heart! I took the van to get it inspected as soon as Hubby got home. I had already set out hot dogs for supper, and it wasn't going to take me long to get that done. Well, on my way back home, I decided to stop at a little gas station and grill to pick up some chili since I had forgotten to get any at the store. After I left there, and turned off the main highway onto the road before ours, I got to the bottom of the hill, and there was a really bad wreck..... There were a couple of first responders/ volunteer firefighters on the scene and they were just getting into their turnout gear...... The vehicle was either a truck or large SUV, and had crossed center line, hit a tree that caused it to flip, and was about 7 car lengths from where it went off the road.... IT WAS REALLY BAD!!!

The vehicle was flipped over, and there was a man hanging upside down on the outside of the car.
I was stopped beside one of the first responders who was getting his gear on, and I asked him what I needed to do to get out of the way.... He told me to either go around it, or turn around, but I needed to move so they could get the fire trucks and ambulances in there.

I have a friend that works at the hospital, and gets all the 911 call information. She said that there was 1 DOA, and they air lifted one to the major hospital an hour away, and that there were kids in the vehicle. She said that the call came in at 5:52.... my receipt for the chili says 5:55. If I hadn't stopped, I probably would have been involved in the wreck, and they would have hit me head on.
God was definitely watching out for me. I just pray that those hurt are ok, and that the family is comforted with the loss.

That has happened to us before and so now when we are delayed for some reason or something is canceled that we were looking forward to, we know it is part of a bigger picture and God has our best interest at the forefront, so we sit back and chill out. Life is just so much better when you can look at the big picture!

Prayed for this family and also thanked the Lord for keeping you from harm, dear Lindz.

Lindz, I don't know how many times I have been delayed and just missed being involved in a serious situation. God was definitely looking over you. Your job here is not done. Prayers for the families involved.

Same here!

Dang Lindz, you are getting it from every side. Sounds like to me you have peed somebody off. You must be doing something right. Don't worry sis, praying a hedge of protection around you and yours!

**PRAYER BOMB NEEDED FOR LINDZ**

Prayed!

I'm watching my toes! and everything else!!!!! Maybe I should get a helmet as well... hmm...

I wonder if this was God's way of saying, it could always be worse...... I really try not to complain, but it seems like I have done a lot of complaining this week, and very little praising.... SO.......

PRAISE GOD that I was able to make it home to my wonderful husband and kids this evening. Praise God that my kids only have the sniffles or stomach bugs, and are healthy otherwise. Praise God that I have an amazing husband that loves me and supports our family. Praise God that I am able to stay home while my kids are little. Praise God for all the daily blessings that he bestows upon me. Praise God, for every little smile, hug, giggle, kiss and everything else from my kids! Praise God for my parents, my In-Laws, and the rest of my family. Praise God for my friends in my life. Praise God, for every breath that he gives me!

Amen and amen! I think God just handed you a gift today...valuable insight and perspective on your life. I wish others were so astute as you to see it and actually respond to it by thanking the Lord for all things.

I think it's easy to look at the negative in today's world and so many people complain constantly, so it's easy to sing the same refrain, but years ago I was shown by the Holy Spirit just what a thankful attitude can do for a person, so I make it a daily mission of mine to wake up in thankfulness~even for pain~to the Lord each day...and just walk through my day thanking Him for the wonderful life He has provided for me. I've been shown how important it is to be thankful for all things....just think of how God feels when we complain about the weather or our lives when there are people dying in mudslides, whole cities and islands swept away in tsunamis, droughts, devastating flooding, dying in plane crashes, etc, while we sit in safety and complain about the snow, cold or rain. .

1 Thess. 5:18~ Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Phil. 4: 6 ~ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Psalms 107:1~ Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

I challenge everyone to commit to thanking God before you get out of bed each morning and thanking Him throughout the day for everything we normally take for granted~eye sight, mobility, hearing, smell, water, daylight, shelter, safety, food, plumbing, hot showers, refrigerators, stoves, etc.~and I guarantee by the end of the week you will feel more joyful and more at peace in your life and you will want to continue this praise each day, if for nothing more than it's a wonderful form of worship that brings you closer to the Father.

Bee, couldn't find the poultry nipples today in Cody. Not a happy camper - came home to an empty waterer again. But I went to Amazon and ordered some. It's just that by the time they get here the chicks will be checked into Motel Chix and probably complaining about the room service. Did get rid of the newspapers and went with straight litter, but the dirt I haven't come up with. What we have is still soggy and nasty wet. I didn't get home from Cody until 4:30 so I had two choices - dig up some dirt and find a place to spread it out to dry, or get the priming started. I opted to work on the coop on the theory that I've survived this long - the sooner I get that coop done the sooner I get my house and sanity back. So the coop won. I got one entire wall done before it got too cold, and I was starving. Planned on pig cheeks, mashed taters and scalloped corn tonight. I ate leftover pizza.

I smiled at him and said, "There are some disabilities that can't be seen with the naked eye, and there are some disabilities that don't seem to exist until the unfortunate disabled person opens his mouth. Would you like to borrow my placard?" So as much as I hate to, I'll add him to the prayer list too. Think I'll pray that he never needs a disabled placard, but that if he ever does, his paperwork gets lost in the DMV for a few weeks. Is that so wrong? Okay, you're right. I'll leave that part out.

Blooie, I think you did very well! I also commend you for praying for him...not everyone would or could do that after such an episode.

You'll want those poultry nipples for water delivery in Motel Chix too if you can....they will save you so much time, work, worry and mess than typical chicken waterers. Go ahead and use the wet soil...it will dry out quickly spread out in the brooder like that and you are only adding a thin layer anyway. That kind of moisture will do them good and they will soon incorporate it into the bedding and it will dry out quickly.

 

[Regin]

We have two new little miracles. Two chicks jumped out of the shell a day and a half early today. and another one has pipped. The rest of the hatch is a different breed and they were all due tomorrow night.

 

[Beekissed]

We have two new little miracles. Two chicks jumped out of the shell a day and a half early today. and another one has pipped. The rest of the hatch is a different breed and they were all due tomorrow night.

Congrats!!! Good luck on the rest of your hatch!

 

[LBejaran]

Wow, what a busy day everyone has been having! I'm glad everyone is okay and I've really enjoyed reading all these fun stories!

I'm particularly frustrated with myself today. I got out of work a little late today (we were very busy) and totally forgot that I promised Mom I'd go with her to get my clothes for my cousin's quinceanera. I'm not fond of her at all because she slams her heritage but still wants to cash in by having a special 15th birthday (money tree included, that selfish brat).

But I digress.

I told Mom I would go but I really needed to get chicken and dog feed, so we headed to TSC and picked everything up. Well, picking out my clothes took a couple hours (driving out of town and back included), so we didn't get home until 10. I had to say hi to Dad and take care of some things, so by the time I got a chance to check on the chicks, it was too late.

The water had dried out of the waterer and one of my last little bantam chicks had died. It is so frustrating when you do all you can to protect your chicks -be it from predators, accidents, each other, etc- but you can't protect them from negligence. I should have called Tony to check on them for me but I was so distracted at work and the store that I forgot.

I have decided that, since my hours take away some time that I would otherwise spend on the chicks, I am going to invest in a bigger waterer. It'll be worth the investment if I have that piece of mind I don't have with the current 1 gallon waterers I have.

By the way, has anyone noticed that Nutrena NatureWise feed smells really...sweet? I noticed something similar with that brand of chick starter (it is a pleasant yellow color and it isn't powdery at all) and am wondering if it's higher quality (or if maybe the TSC guys are just being particularly careful unpacking it, haha).

 

[Beekissed]

Probably molasses. They add it to livestock feed to make it more palatable and also as a calorie and iron source. You might want to consider a bucket fitted out with poultry nipples and then you will always have a clean, adequate amount of water available to chicks and larger birds alike. They are extremely cheap, easy to screw into a bucket and they last a long, long time.

http://www.amazon.com/Threaded-Poultry-Nipples-Sanitary-Chickens/dp/B00846NTRI





This one below has the red nipples on the bottom of the bucket for the smaller chicks and a poultry cup nipple on the side of the bucket for the older birds.

 

[LBejaran]

Probably molasses. They add it to livestock feed to make it more palatable and also as a calorie and iron source. You might want to consider a bucket fitted out with poultry nipples and then you will always have a clean, adequate amount of water available to chicks and larger birds alike. They are extremely cheap, easy to screw into a bucket and they last a long, long time. http://www.amazon.com/Threaded-Poultry-Nipples-Sanitary-Chickens/dp/B00846NTRI This one below has the red nipples on the bottom of the bucket for the smaller chicks and a poultry cup nipple on the side of the bucket for the older birds.

I'm thinking of using the poultry nipples when the chicks get a bit older and don't need the heat lamps anymore. I have a spot that I hang my lamps from and I don't want to risk them getting wet. I won't make THAT mistake again... In the meantime, my issue is with not having enough water available. Since I've put the ducklings in with them, water goes much faster. The waterers work fine (and they are easy for me to fill) but those ducklings drink it up like it's the last drink they'll have for days. Plus, I don't necessarily want the chicks to get too used to using the nipples. I have all my chickens adapted to drinking from buckets (and a kiddie pool) and these little guys are gonna have to fit right in with the rest of the flock. That would make sense! It seems weird that they'd put it in chicken feed, but I guess it's probable. The chickens liked it and it absorbed water faster when I soaked it, so we'll see how this works out. I prefer it to the Purina pellets, anyhow.

 

[Beekissed]

No worries..the chicks can transition very quickly from nipples to open waterers and back again. They learn quick and well when little, but not so easy to train older birds to the nipples if they have never used them.

I've got my current nipple bucket hanging right next to the heat lamp in my chick brooder...can't really get any water on the lamp when it's contained in a bucket, so no worries that either.

After finding out about these nipples I'll never raise chicks any other way...it's just so nice having clean, large volumes of water, dry bedding, etc. instead of tipped over waterers, dirty water, wet bedding, etc. that one constantly has to worry about or clean up. Wished I had known about them years ago!