Washingtonians

[Stumpfarmer]

Quote:
since it is not MY animals doing this ...

Roopert is doing his crowing business this morning, nearly nonstop

Jake the lab/shep has finally quit having seizures ... I think the trick might be to throw balls for him until he's tired, then the brain signals don't take over

four of the gals left eggs this morning, so DH started to move them out to the chicken tractor -- and Jake-dog, instead of helping, sat at DH's feet waiting for the nonexistent ball to be thrown

this caused chickens to squawk and run the other way ....

does not appear that Jake's lab retriever genes nor his shepherd genes, are kicking in to "herd" ... he just ignores the chickens but they don't ignore HIM !

so I went out to help, called Jake over, and found a chunk of branch to throw for him .. then the chicks could get out to the tractor

now DH says they are all bunched up at the door of the tractor, wanting back to the run ! could be that two more pullets need to leave eggs in nest box ??

only four eggs yesterday, so may be doubles today ? the four this morning were standard size for those hens /// whoever is laying the pink eggs, lays bantam size ones ...

I haven't included the dogs in my reports simply because it would be "Ruby and/or Griz has been lying/standing/walking very, very slowly in such a way that no matter what I need to do or where I need to go I've got to ask them/tell them/yell at them to move, and this does not include the times they get behind me in a blind alley so I fall over them when I take a step back or try to turn around" over and over and over.

If the humans were more helpful I might be less grouchy about the animals. The humans, especially the ones I gave birth to or hired for help have other things more important than me in their lives, darn them for growing up and getting independant lives.

(Cranky. CRANKY. And also trying to figure out how to pay for some manditory home repair before the rains come.)

 

[Kaneke]

I found out why the chickens wanted OUT of the tractor ---

screeeeeaaam ! seems the redtail hawks are back and in full voice ....

blue jays flew in and started giving voice as well .... noisy neighborhood !

chickens were being very smart, some huddling in the middle of the (covered) run --- 8 feet wide --

others gathered around the nest box in the coop

I threw some freshly shredded paper in there, since the nesting material was pretty well packed down (mostly paper shreds with a bit of dry grass from the last lawnmower pass, a month ago)

maybe this evening I will gather my courage and strength, and see if I can learn to manage the riding lawnmower --- it's a big golf course type beast, rather like sitting on a tall vibrating throne, with side sticks, rather than the lawn-tractor-with-steering-wheel that I am used to

 

[Stumpfarmer]

Well, I found the moving sale out in South Bay- the chicken stuff was not helpful, but he had a manual mower that WORKS and has a sharpening kit for $15, so now I can cut the bits of grass which are mysteriously undelicious for sheep and chicken and possibly have fewer things to trip over, YAY!

 

[Kaneke]

Quote:
good for you !

I wasn't sure we could do it, but we managed to get our rotary push mower INTO the Yaris !!!

folded down the back seats and threaded the handle ever so carefully through the trunk and into the passenger compartment

DS said he would fix it if he got some slack time, and pay for it since he isn't HERE to do the grass cutting, at least until mid September

 

[Stumpfarmer]

Quote:
good for you !

I wasn't sure we could do it, but we managed to get our rotary push mower INTO the Yaris !!!

folded down the back seats and threaded the handle ever so carefully through the trunk and into the passenger compartment

DS said he would fix it if he got some slack time, and pay for it since he isn't HERE to do the grass cutting, at least until mid September

I just need to cut the paths and hazardous corners.

Which reminds me I need to go get it out of the trunk, and get the four plastic tubs ($2.50 apiece for 15gal deep and 12 gal squats, which I need for the edges/corners of raised beds) out of the back seat, move the sprinklers and clean up to take the elder offspring out to Macy's in search of a suit for the job hunting in Eburg. They're leaving on the 9th, which is behind a lot of my grump and crank and snark: I'm going to miss him a lot, he's a nice kid even if I'm biased.

 

[jbear]

Quote:
It was super nice and really beautiful. Great food and good company. Think the men even enjoyed the chicken talk --

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote:
It was super nice and really beautiful. Great food and good company. Think the men even enjoyed the chicken talk --

 

[Chicken Rustler]

I had a thought that might help reduce the unwanted people who come to the door with a goal of getting me to see things in a different way. It may also deter others too which is just fine. Any body who knows me knows that this is a HIGHLY trained team and will only come out for those they know are not welcome.

This is secured to the fence right next to the front gate.

Yes that is a real BEE HIVE !! Does it have bees in it? Feel brave lift the lid to see. But don't cry to me.

 

[SadieSue]

Quote:
good for you !

I wasn't sure we could do it, but we managed to get our rotary push mower INTO the Yaris !!!

folded down the back seats and threaded the handle ever so carefully through the trunk and into the passenger compartment

DS said he would fix it if he got some slack time, and pay for it since he isn't HERE to do the grass cutting, at least until mid September

I just need to cut the paths and hazardous corners.

Which reminds me I need to go get it out of the trunk, and get the four plastic tubs ($2.50 apiece for 15gal deep and 12 gal squats, which I need for the edges/corners of raised beds) out of the back seat, move the sprinklers and clean up to take the elder offspring out to Macy's in search of a suit for the job hunting in Eburg. They're leaving on the 9th, which is behind a lot of my grump and crank and snark: I'm going to miss him a lot, he's a nice kid even if I'm biased.

I completely understand. Just got back yesterday afternoon from a quick trip to Pullman to drop DD off at her first apartment. It's campus housing, but it's definitely a grown up kid apartment. She's been saying for weeks, "I can't wait to get back to school, so excited to move into my apartment and start decorating, etc." I'm fine with the remarks, I tried to raise her to be independant after all. So after my mother and I unloaded her stuff, helped her unpack, hang pictures, then took DD, her BF, and her new room mate out to dinner, we made our exit. I was a little sad to hug her goodbye but was brave, knowing she was ready to be on her own.
So yesterday after I returned from our long drive home I get a call. "I'm at Walmart picking up food and things for the apartment. The store is full of students and their parents. You need to come back and be with me! I woke up this morning freaking out. I'm not ready to be on my own. I want to move home and be with you!"

I assured her she was indeed ready to be on her own and would be fine within a couple of days. School starts on Monday and she'll be too busy to worry about home anymore. Told I her I missed her too, but admire how much she's grown the past couple of years. Then I hung up the phone and silently rejoiced - YES! She misses me after all!

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Quote:
It was super nice and really beautiful. Great food and good company. Think the men even enjoyed the chicken talk --

I agree! I was a very fun day. The men enjoyed it very much. DH said he was glad he came. He gave up kayaking to the concert at Dead Mans Island off Henderson Bay to do a "chicken thing". Pam even got to sneak a few extra chickens into her car. Her DH pretended not to see. Shes a chicken mom in training! Food was awesome. And Tequila tasting! imotherhens DH had Mascale sp? The one with the worm! Yuk!