The Front Porch Swing

[LBejaran]

Are you SURE that would be better than flowers and candy?

You are a very thoughtful person Laura. Which reminds me, I think I should send my younger daughter an email to remind her that Sunday is Mother's Day. I'm guessing it is not high on her mind. Never has been and she has finals this week and next so she is extra preoccupied.

How much of your ethnic background is Spanish? And from Spain or Mexico, Central, South America? 3 of my grandparents were born in Spain, 2 centuries ago, of course it WAS very close to the end of that century.

My wife's paternal grandfather was born in 1861. Yes, 1861, 101 years before she was born. He was 65 when my FIL was born.

Every time we get Mom a "proper" gift, she isn't happy with it. I used to get her a couple bags of dirt, several beautiful pots and some beautiful plants that she normally wouldn't buy for herself. It's getting a bit old though and then something happened.

Mama has been grilling me about what I'm getting her for Mother's Day. In years past, she has always managed to yank Mother's Day spoilers from me, but this year I held my ground and now she is frustrated with me. I told her that it was special and important for me not to tell her anything. Then she said she was tired of getting gifts and I just told her it wasn't an actual gift. I don't know what the big deal is, but I guess some people just don't like surprises. Oh well, she'll love this one. She just doesn't know it yet.

Well, Mom was born in Mexico, as were her parents. Dad was born in the US, but his parents were born in Mexico. For Mom, her ancestry stretches back to Spain. Dad's family line stretches back to Portugal. Japanese people had once gone to Portugal and you can see that in some members of my family. My older brother and sister, Tony and Olivia, were actually called Asian in high school. Tony was once told on picture day to go up to the front with the photographer and when he tried to ask why, the teacher said they were photographing the foreign exchange students. That happened all the time, haha!

I can't say that I remember much more, but I know we have a fairly rich family history. My uncle got a blood test done that gave a more in-depth family history. If I recall correctly, there is even some Irish in our blood. Can't recall for sure, though.

 

[LindaB220]

Hey there,

I'm new and only joining, posting because the following post came up while I was searching for info on clockboards. Having a hard time finding what I'm looking for except for the person who posted the drawing and mentioned not having a clockboard. I used to use one when I was illustrating for a living. I'm kind of shocked I'm not finding anything.

If there's mandatory, obligatory chicken content…

We've got 16 new(ish) chickens in the backyard as of last month. A mountain lion ate all 13 of the laying hens we used to have back there about 2 or 3 months ago.

m

Glad to have you on the porch. Sorry about your chickens. Darn mountain lions. I can't imagine it. Where are you from? I'm NW La. the deep south. ha. Please come back and visit. We're good folks. Talk a LOT. But that's ok.

 

[guitarrgirl]

I'm from San Diego, CA. We do get sightings often enough to be wary in the scrub brush. I live in a large community. However, it is very close to unincorporated, and wild areas. The one that got our chickens was just a cub, but hungry enough to kill all the chickens and only eat 2 or 3 of them.

 

[guitarrgirl]

Thanks for the links. I'm familiar with their use. My setup includes a Mayline parallel bar on a large tabletop that comes apart, plus a smaller, portable Mayline parallel bar.

?**

Here are a series of pix of clock board drawings.  They are also called perspective drawing boards

Clock board drawings link

Amazon source

You can Do the same with a good sized drafting board and some adhesive backed pins or dowels....

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

I'm from San Diego, CA. We do get sightings often enough to be wary in the scrub brush. I live in a large community. However, it is very close to unincorporated, and wild areas. The one that got our chickens was just a cub, but hungry enough to kill all the chickens and only eat 2 or 3 of them.

Hey I answered your question about the clock board.... I am in San Diego too. I lost my chckens to predators last summer.... My place is in Jacumba but I live down here in Santee for the time being.

Mountain lions travel between communities here because so much of San diego is built on the Mesas and the valleys between are left unchanged.

deb

 

[RoseMarie1]

The Li'l School House is coming right along!! We tried to reuse things we already had leftover here, but hubby is a bit of a perfectionist so we had to pick up some lumber for the frame and floor. Siding will be some leftover weathered wood from our barn with a white fiberglass roof (also leftover) to let in more light. 4'x4' and will be around 6' at the peak. Roof will go on Wednesday, with the siding done this weekend. Once I get in and paint the floor, I can move this rowdy gang outta here. I am pretty excited about this!!!! No more brooding chickies in the house!!

I LOVE IT! GOOD JOB! Can't wait to see it when ya get it finished! Do keep us posted with pix!!

 

[Triple Willow]

They show everything EXCEPT the actual layer hens and how they are housed?

 

[Oldmomma]

Morning neighbors! Blooie, that story was a hoot. Blew a few mouthfuls of saltines reading it. Glad it wasnt my tea. Reminded me of the year my aunt Donna put a bit of cowpie together in a candy box leftover from the holidays. Gave it too my daddy before Christmas but told him it needed yo be kept in the freezer til they came over christmas day. She shaped piecescand put them in paper cups. Daddy opened the box and wasnt much on sweets but loved haystacks. Daddy bout took a bite before my aunt had to stop him. It was the joke of the year.
I remembered when daddy retired from the Navy in 75, they threw him a roast party. Remember some men bringing in a big heavy box for daddy to open. We lived in Mira Mesa back when it was first built. We waited a year to see the house built and spent a year or so getting that blame soil to sprout grass. We had clay and boulders everywhere in that yard. Well daddy opened that box and inside was ROCKS, to remind him of all his hard work. Then they brought in another box acting again like it was so heavy, daddy said what now clay? They told him no this was for his hunting trips. Opened the box and it was a large replica cannon with balls! Yep they said he wouldnt miss one with that.
It reminds me of those old Roasts that Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin and a bunch of oldtime comedy folks use to do back inthe early 70s.
My aunt passed away last month but she was always the family clown.
laundry calling!

 

[bruceha2000]

If there's mandatory, obligatory chicken content…

We've got 16 new(ish) chickens in the backyard as of last month. A mountain lion ate all 13 of the laying hens we used to have back there about 2 or 3 months ago.

There is no requirement to talk chicken on the porch as you will find out if you come back

Though naturally they come into the conversation with frequency since that is the tie that binds us.

Sorry to hear about your layers. I had 1 die in March, no reason, just died and one taken by a predator while they were all out foraging. Still have 10, would be really hard if they all went in one go.

The last mountain lion (called Catamounts) here was killed in the late 1800s. That is sad though I have to admit I am glad I don't have to predator proof against them! Chicken wire is worthless against most predators, 1/2" hardware cloth good against most but a mountain lion could just about walk through it!

You can put your location (San Diego I see in a later post) in your profile so if you have 'farming' questions or answers at some later time, people won't have to ask to know if their advice applies to you or yours to them, when climate is important.

I found out a few years later that the "ol' Milk Duds for deer (or elk) poop trick" is a prank from forever ago. I'd darn sure never heard of it before it happened to Cathy and me.

What did they use for this trick pre 1926?? I have to admit, you had me on the hook well past the chocolate and caramel flavors. I was waiting for Uncle Lloyd to tell you what those flavors told you about the freshness of the scat and which way to go to find the deer that 'laid' them! Yeah, I'm gullible.

Well, Mom was born in Mexico, as were her parents. Dad was born in the US, but his parents were born in Mexico. For Mom, her ancestry stretches back to Spain. Dad's family line stretches back to Portugal. Japanese people had once gone to Portugal and you can see that in some members of my family. My older brother and sister, Tony and Olivia, were actually called Asian in high school. Tony was once told on picture day to go up to the front with the photographer and when he tried to ask why, the teacher said they were photographing the foreign exchange students. That happened all the time, haha!

So weird that such a small % of Asian genetics could be so prominent! Though my daughters have 2 friends that are full brothers, a year apart in age. The older one is described by some as looking somewhat Inuit, the other is as northern European white as one can get. So, go figure, genetics is genetics.

They show everything EXCEPT the actual layer hens and how they are housed?

Looks JUST like my setup! Except I inspect for dirt first and only wash those that need it.

Well, that is because eggs come from the grocery store, the chicks are just for Easter gifts! I guess they forgot to mention that.

And WE all know why they didn't show the layers 'at work'. Chicks are cute, the factory is MOST impressive. Don't want to show the 'dirty' side of the operation and ruin the 'story'.

I'm pretty sure that is all faked up though. I mean, ALL the eggs are white and they are ALL the same size???
This is what REAL eggs from happy chickens look like:

 

[TexasLisa]

Hey there,

I'm new and only joining, posting because the following post came up while I was searching for info on clockboards. Having a hard time finding what I'm looking for except for the person who posted the drawing and mentioned not having a clockboard. I used to use one when I was illustrating for a living. I'm kind of shocked I'm not finding anything.

If there's mandatory, obligatory chicken content…

We've got 16 new(ish) chickens in the backyard as of last month. A mountain lion ate all 13 of the laying hens we used to have back there about 2 or 3 months ago.

m

Welcome to The Porch! Please come and rest yourself when you can. We talk chickens, family,etc.

So sorry about the loss of your chickens.

Thank you, Miss Lisa. I found out a few years later that the "ol' Milk Duds for deer (or elk) poop trick" is a prank from forever ago. I'd darn sure never heard of it before it happened to Cathy and me. Lloyd's gone now, and so's my dad. But this memory is one of my favorites.....and a lot of the lessons I learned that trip are still with me every time I haul my hunting gear out to the truck.

I had never heard of tying thread on the end of your barrel. That is a good idea!!

Lisa