The Old Folks Home

[Lynn Manes]

Lynnhill, your little 'Diva' is adorable and so lucky to have such a dedicated chicken mom. Great job healing that nasty wound. I had one of my Buff O/Welsummer mix pullets get out of their grow out pen when they were just 6 weeks old and one of the adult hens took a chunk out of her neck. There was an area as big as a quarter denuded of skin along with a skin tear. I was surprised at how fast she healed. I kept the wound sprayed with blu kote spray and kept trimming off dead skin as it dried. The wound granulated faster than any human wound would under the best of conditions and only left a small scar. She has a skin tab from the skin tear that gives her a funny little lump on the side of her neck but that helps pick her out of the flock. The incident traumatized her mentally though and she is my little drama queen now, screaming and running at the least bit of provocation. 

Beer can: 93 here yesterday with a heat index of 110 degrees. I feel sorry for my flock. Even with a fan turned on them they are standing with their wings hanging on the ground. I made trip after trip hauling them cold water and stayed in the AC myself as much as I could. I don't know about you guys but I'm ready for Fall.....but not winter, LOL.

Having trouble submitting posts this morning. Either they are taking forever or just seem to be sitting there,so should y'all get the same thing 2 or 3 times, my apologies for my impatience cause I keep hitting the doggone reply button.

 

[microchick]

Lynnhill! Happy Birthday from me, also!

May God grant you the senility to forget the people you never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones you do, and the good eyesight to tell the difference!

 

[chickadoodles]

Happy Birthday Lynn

 

[Alaskan]

Hey, Alaskan!

I need some fashion advice.  (You're probably snickering by now)
Anyway, I've booked a trip to Reykjavic, Iceland, in January and I haven't a clue what to wear...other than the fact that my standard New Mexican clothing will undoubtedly be insufficient.   Wind will probably be a factor.  I figure Alaska is perhaps similar?
What is good cold-weather gear?   And what do you recommend?   (Besides not visiting Iceland in the winter months...)


p.s.
Viewing the Northern Lights is on my bucket list and the tour package was just too good to pass up.

My favorite shopping place is sierra trading post, especially after they send me an extra coupon in my email.

Ok...clothes...

My recommendations below are if you are engaging in "normal" winter time activities of outside walk for an hour, then entering a building and visiting/eating then going back outside for another hour... etc.

If you are going to leave the hotel in the morning, and stay outside for the ENTIRE day or even longer (like camping outside) before returning to any house/hotel then clothing recommendations are "remember the michelin man, dress like him, as long as you can still flex your knees well enough to walk, you are golden"

For "normal" winter wear:

1) You need long john bottoms, and you need the fancy synthetic ones that say that they adjust their warmth to how much you need.

Nothing worse then entering a building after being outside, visiting with people, and the entire time wondering if they will be offended you strip off all of your clothes.

If you are doing a couple hour hike, or it is below zero and you will be outside for more than 20 minutes, put on a second layer of long johns. So one thin pair and one thick pair. Just realize that you will need time to go to your hotel room and strip before you go eat.

2) you need a thin sleaveless long john top either synthetic or a super fancy wool, or cashmere (super warm and breathes well). Again, if you will be outside for long periods add a second long john top, the second top can be sleaved.

3) with a good enough long johns on the bottom thick jeans are fine, but pants that are NOT cotton would be a zillion times better. A thin zip on/over rain/wind pants will be needed when going outside (especially if you have cotton pants). But those are easy to pull on and off when entering/exiting buildings. If you will stay out for long times, or if it will be under zero, then you need snow pants (but I prefer snow overalls since then there is no frozen air ingress at the waist.).

4) for your top, you have the first sleaveless long john layer, then a thin something that will tuck into your pants and NOT pull up. Then a fleece shirt with a long front zipper (to help vent when inside, and when outside can zip up and totally cover your neck), then a warm coat that totally blocks wind. NO cotton or linen AT ALL in these layers. Silk, wool, synthetic are all good.

5) Hoods in general are stupid.... They block vision and don't keep you warm. You want a tightly fitting knit cap lined with fleece or something similar. You need warm and wind blocking. A good hat is more important than a good coat. Depending on the collar of your shirts and coat, you might not need any scarf type thing. You can go "stylish" with the scarf, since its job is just to block any holes in the top of your outfit. However, again NO cotton, it needs to be silk, wool or synthetic! You can also pick just a tiny cowl or neck gaiter, or what have you. It is nice if your neck covering can double duty as a face covering. Remember that when it is really cold you MUST breathe in through your nose or you will destroy your lungs.

6) gloves, SO important. You will want thin high tech gloves, maybe ones that let you use a touch screen, and then a second pair of warmer gloves to wear over the first set.

7) shoes...those temp ratings LIE, or at least are highly misleading. Get the warmest you can stand to wear. And the warmer they are the heavier they are. I have "city boots" that have super thin hightech insulation and look more like normal boots and are super easy to run around in. For running errands even in the horrid cold (as long as I wear super high quality wool socks) they work well, and are MUCH easier to drive in. However, if I need to stand outside for an hour or more then they do NOT cut it, you can feel the frozen ground seeping in. So, for long outside times I need to wear the giant boots that are rated for like -40 (and no, we don't ever hit -40).

8) spend money on socks. I am frugal... I still buy high quality socks, you can't live without them. Wool or synthetic, super quality. I prefer the ones that are labeled mid or heavy hicking socks.

You will have loads of fun. Iceland actually doesn't get all that cold, and it tends to be have clear skies in the winter, so great for northern lights viewing.

And since we were talking sheep... They have great sheep with fancy wool.

 

[Alaskan]

We have been having a hard time cutting hay too.... it won't stop raining!!! Grass is growing like crazy but no dry weather to cut... we have had a thunderstorm almost every evening all summer...

That is the problem we are having.... I am worried that there will be no more hay this summer, and that means I will be short this winter

 

[Wisher1000]

Is there anyone out there who doesn't like surprises? Now, I understand if you don't like bad surprises like you come out of the store and SURPRISE! it's pouring down rain, or you get to your car, soaking wet, and SURPRISE! You have a flat tire. No, I'm talking the kind where you get home from the last bad day of the past bad week and SURPRISE! There's a package for you! What? I wasn't expecting any packages (scratches head.) What could it be? Hmmmm, hand written, in red ink, mailing address... It even has "Ms" in front of my name, definitely from a female. Looking for a postmark or return address my eye finds the state of origin and immediately knew from whom it was but still not WHAT it was. It could be ANYTHING! Seriously, anything. I have heard tales of packages of odd random items sent wrapped in miles of tape. I have also previously gotten lovely gifts of natures sweetness and hidden but undiscovered coins. I quickly decided that no matter what it was, it would make my weekend. Even so, there was a thought of one sweet treat that flew to my mind, and tongue, that I dared not hope for fear of disappointment. I opened to find that my hopes were realized!! It was just as I had imagined! Oh, sweet mother of goodness, I hold your nectar in my hand! But, wait, there's something else! What's this? Ah Ha!! Another surprise!! The only thing better than a surprise being just what you wanted, is a second surprise!! Oh, happy day! Thank you, for the first, I shall make use of it first thing in the morning if I can keep the boys away from it. As for the second, it is bad luck to say "thank you" for those, so I won't. I will, however, say that you were so kind for sharing and that you are awesome! You know who you are......

 

[Alaskan]

If it was honey.. It must have been from SCG, the sticky goddess!!!

e


Someone.... Make the sun shine HERE and give SCG my rain!

The kids are whiny fussy blach things... Over a month of solid rain = FULL on misery and depression

 

[ronott1]

Is there anyone out there who doesn't like surprises? Now, I understand if you don't like bad surprises like you come out of the store and SURPRISE! it's pouring down rain, or you get to your car, soaking wet, and SURPRISE! You have a flat tire. No, I'm talking the kind where you get home from the last bad day of the past bad week and SURPRISE! There's a package for you! What? I wasn't expecting any packages (scratches head.) What could it be? Hmmmm, hand written, in red ink, mailing address... It even has "Ms" in front of my name, definitely from a female. Looking for a postmark or return address my eye finds the state of origin and immediately knew from whom it was but still not WHAT it was. It could be ANYTHING! Seriously, anything. I have heard tales of packages of odd random items sent wrapped in miles of tape. I have also previously gotten lovely gifts of natures sweetness and hidden but undiscovered coins. I quickly decided that no matter what it was, it would make my weekend. Even so, there was a thought of one sweet treat that flew to my mind, and tongue, that I dared not hope for fear of disappointment. I opened to find that my hopes were realized!! It was just as I had imagined! Oh, sweet mother of goodness, I hold your nectar in my hand! But, wait, there's something else! What's this? Ah Ha!! Another surprise!! The only thing better than a surprise being just what you wanted, is a second surprise!! Oh, happy day! Thank you, for the first, I shall make use of it first thing in the morning if I can keep the boys away from it. As for the second, it is bad luck to say "thank you" for those, so I won't. I will, however, say that you were so kind for sharing and that you are awesome! You know who you are......

We need pictures!

 

[ronott1]

I am testing out my new camera--and there is a dust bathing photo contest.

I do not know how these stack up. They are hens from hatched trader joes eggs:

 

[Alaskan]

Before I read what you wrote I just looked at the photos and thought "what is wrong with Ron's Pen.... (However you spell them)"


I bet the white eggs make your dark brown eggs pop!