The Front Porch Swing

[OHhappychicks]

Rats! We had spring, but I was out of town so I missed it.

OK! I've had my good laugh for the day!!!

 

[OHhappychicks]

I totally get where you're coming from. Mom once insisted that we adopt this mature blue tick coonhound. He ended up being an awful dog to have around our chickens. He swallowed a couple of our broilers whole and then proceeded to throw them back up. It was pretty gross. I learned at that point that we'd have to be much more selective if we wanted to adopt another dog. We were lucky to have accidentally bred the perfect watchdog/guardian for our chickens. She's just about the perfect dog and I'm just happy she's still around.

I know you were looking at a specific mix, but if you take a look at your local shelters, there are tons of different options. PetFinder only has what they've had time to list (generally, they are the most adoptable dogs they have), but there are loads of dogs coming in each day that have the potential to be great guard dogs. Mine is a German Shepherd/Boxer mix. She's got the short hair of a boxer that is still great for repelling water from the Shepherd genes. She is big enough to look like a threat but is really a big softie. All of her siblings (there were 8 other pups) were loved by their owners because of how great their personalities were. I love Sandy so much. I have a hard time thinking about the day that I will have to replace her. I'm looking to get a puppy later this year that will learn from Sandy how to protect the flock.

He looks like such a sweetheart! I might run to the dog shelter this week, just to see what they have. It's only a couple of miles down the road from me.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Been busy past two days and of course internet comes with its share of glitches around here so slow day online. Went to the house yesterday took a few pics, not nearly as many as I should have but enough to start planning things. I dont want to get high hopes had a house grabbed from out of our hands by a greedy bank so until I got keys to the front door its still a wait. But my bil liked it. Only two close houses and both people have them as second homes so its goingto be great if it works out. Posted one photo to my album until I get a better idea then I will give folks a tour. Its very rural 20 minutes drive to the main road from Tripoli and Tajoura so if I got an emergency I need to be prepared. Planning everything ahead. Road is dirt and no lights most of road. Thats my only worry but I just need to get to know neighbors. See everyone later.

Good to hear from you! Hope it all works for you and you find the home the Lord has for you. Take care and be safe!

 

[Blooie]

Does it usually snow in May where you are? Or is this a freak storm?

It snowed the weekend of Jamie's high school graduation - May 26, 2007! It's not unusual at all to have snow into mid June in Wyoming, but not here in the Big Horn Basin so much.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Thank you, TexasLisa!

 

[lovingmyhens]

...

Does it usually snow in May where you are? Or is this a freak storm?[/quote



Yeah, that's what I'd like to know cause it's normal I need to cross that state off my places I can live.

 

[Blooie]

Quote: Here we're usually pretty safe. If you think about it, the whole country has had an unusual winter and late spring, so I think this is a fluke. If it makes you feel any better, in the 17 years we've lived here this is only the second winter we've had to use a snow shovel - the rest of the time we just sweep it off with a broom. Here in the Big Horn Basin we are surrounded by mountains, and they tend to draw most of the clouds and moisture away - sort of wringing them out before they end up over us so there's not much moisture left in them. I have the worst time when I order plants from mail order or on-line places...they tend to ship for planting on the date that their little zone map says is good for Wyoming, which is Zone 4. But we have this little micro-climate thing going on, so we are actually warmer sooner than the rest of the state. I grow plants here zoned for zone 5 and they come back quite successfully every year. Snow in May is not unheard of - by the time we got home from Billings today most of it was melted. It's like that when we get late snowfalls - snows like crazy and then in a few hours there's no sign of it.

 

[Blooie]

Funny thing happened up in Billings today. We were having lunch at Fuddruckers, which is right on one of Billings' busiest streets. I was facing the window and Ken was facing me. Suddenly I looked up from my sandwich and caught movement out of the corner of my eye. I almost choked! Strutting through the parking lot at the restaurant, was this wild turkey. She just ambled along like she owned the place. She turned a corner into a row of cars and it looked like she was trying to remember where she'd parked. I laughed so hard I was snorting - not one of my more feminine habits!



So while I was looking for this photo to share, I cropped the one of the coop in the snow this morning so you can really see the size of the flakes that were coming down.

 

[LBejaran]

Is anyone else excited for Mother's Day? 'Cause you don't need to be a mama to get excited for it!

I'm in the process of helping Dad out with Mom's gift. If you all promise not to spill my secrets, I'll tell you the story. Pull up your chairs and buckets!

Several years ago, Mom took a trip to California to visit her oldest sister, Kika. She had cancer and it was quickly becoming apparent that it wasn't going to end well. Mama was just a young teacher back then, just getting a grip on her student loans, so she didn't have much money. My other aunts and uncles were visiting Kika all the time, taking flights once every other week to visit and take care of her. Mom couldn't do that, but she made the effort to visit once.

Mom was afraid of flying. Heck, Mom was afraid of leaving the Rio Grande Valley. The idea was terrifying to her, but she got on that plane with Grandma and they were off, ready to visit one of the most influential people of her life. Mom took care of Kika for a week before returning home.

Kika was very important to Mom. She was the one who worked several jobs to make ends meet and to send her siblings to school. She wanted Mom to become something, so she made sure Mom did well in school. She made sure Mom, the youngest child in the family, went to college. Mom always said that Kika wouldn't let her quit her job at Whataburger because if she did, she'd be quitting on school and her entire future. Now, Mom has been an English teacher for 28 years and she thinks she still have at least 10 more years left on her before she has to retire. Students still come to visit her from 20 years ago, bringing along their kids to meet the woman who will have taught English to not one, but two generations of their family.

In lieu of Mother's Day, Dad found all his old video tapes. Unfortunately, the old video camera that Dad had used to record all these home videos was disposed of more than ten years ago. So I had been searching for a video camera, still-working, that we could use to view these tapes. And I finally found one!

After purchasing some software that will rip the video from the tape and put it on a DVD, I've begun to edit all the footage. The problem is that I have to hold down the play button on the camera as the entire tape plays through, allowing the computer to record everything it sees. There are 20 tapes, 10 of which have footage of Kika and Grandma, the two most influential people in Mom's life. I have to capture every moment and put it in a single video that Mom can view. The thing is, this isn't just a Mother's Day gift. This is a gift for Mom's entire family to see.

We're gonna have quite a cry-fest on Mother's Day, I'll tell you that!

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Funny thing happened up in Billings today. We were having lunch at Fuddruckers, which is right on one of Billings' busiest streets. I was facing the window and Ken was facing me. Suddenly I looked up from my sandwich and caught movement out of the corner of my eye. I almost choked! Strutting through the parking lot at the restaurant, was this wild turkey. She just ambled along like she owned the place. She turned a corner into a row of cars and it looked like she was trying to remember where she'd parked. I laughed so hard I was snorting - not one of my more feminine habits! So while I was looking for this photo to share, I cropped the one of the coop in the snow this morning so you can really see the size of the flakes that were coming down.

That turkey hen should have put a little tennis ball on her car's antenna!