Washingtonians

[hallerlake]

Quote:
Mom made fabulous fruit wines; mostly blackberry, but some cherry and strawberry as well. We opened them up thirty years later thinking they'd be vinegar, but they were lovely, like madeira or sherry.

 

[hallerlake]

The snow is melting, especially where I walked in the yard. The chickens are happily picking at the grass they haven't seen in days. We didn't have much wind here, but we're down in a hollow.

 

[Breshcandra]

Snow is melting slowely here. can't get out of my little community cause it very deep slush. Just watched a car get stuck in the slush. It took them a good half hour before they got out.

 

[renart]

5:13 PM >> 4 guests viewing this forum, Come on in!

Don't be shy! CR isn't here at the moment!

 

[Totalcolour]

Ok, goofy stuff going on with BYC, every time I try to quote someone, it gives me a Random Person. So, Random Person, could you kindly go away for a little bit? Thanks!

Wanted to say Hi to PiterPatterPalce - long time no see. Glad you are ok, even if you are busy. Beats the alternatives

 

[Totalcolour]

Mom made fabulous fruit wines; mostly blackberry, but some cherry and strawberry as well. We opened them up thirty years later thinking they'd be vinegar, but they were lovely, like madeira or sherry.

Yea, some fruit wines can last as long or even longer than grape wines. My mom made wines too, but she didn't drink them, only imbibed when she was racking (she didn't drink) so we always knew when she'd been doing the wine bit, she didn't handle alcohol at all! (She was very funny after just one glass)

Haven't made cherry, because I was thinking it would be hard to pit them, but i may give it a try this year. There's something so very seductive about cherries - oooh, maybe a cherry mead

That's the ticket! (Said with a very British accent!)

 

[cmsdvm]

I want people's thoughts on this too.

Showing is always a worry. The 1 and 2 day shows like Chehalis and Monroe and Stevenson are mostly attended by serious fanciers who keep their birds parasite free and in good health. The fairs, where the birds are stuck there for 5 days with people poking at them and other people's backyard birds next door are a bigger worry. The only time I've had sick stressed birds or brought parasites home was from a county fair. That is why many serious fanciers never exhibit there. (Indianapolis was a huge show and fun, fun, fun, but my birds clearly were not at their best after 5 days of travel.) I guess it depends on whether one is serious about breeding top birds. If you want to breed good birds, you need to exhibit. I always think my birds are unstoppable in the yard, then I compare them to other people's exhibits and realize there are a few faults I could work on. I'm always skeptical of anyone who claims they have show quality anything- and doesn't show themselves. On the forums we certainly hear from lots of writers who sound like they have the poultry world by the tail and the best birds around but, lo and behold, they never have time to make a show....
So, I guess the answer is, if your birds are just your pets and layers, ( and goodness knows there's nothing wrong with that!) you are probably wise to avoid shows and fairs, but, if you really want to be involved in bettering the breed, you can't do it without exhibiting against competition from time to time.
(And, yes, there are precautions we take- like putting on Frontline, and giving vitamins, and isolating birds after they arrive home.)

 

[renart]

So, I guess the answer is, if your birds are just your pets and layers, ( and goodness knows there's nothing wrong with that!) you are probably wise to avoid shows and fairs, but, if you really want to be involved in bettering the breed, you can't do it without exhibiting against competition from time to time.
(And, yes, there are precautions we take- like putting on Frontline, and giving vitamins, and isolating birds after they arrive home.)

Thanks for the reply, I imagined something to that affect, but, was not for certain.

 

[RedReiner]

finally it warmed up in here. power on last night at 5 pm. still have about 6 inches of snow and my horse barns are flooding from the melt off. we did not completely freeze thanks to Mr Heater and I did have tv and some internet thanks to the generator. there are indoor safe heaters, I will post a link to the one I have. it has a low oxygen sensor on it and will auto shutoff should any fumes build up, it kept my kitchen/dining room at 62 degrees on medium setting. 69 on high. the rest of the house, living room and dog room were upper 50's as I have no way to close those off. I do hook mine to a 5 gallon propane tank instead of the little bottles, you can get it with a hose for a big can. so happy we bought this thing!

http://www.mrheater.com/product.aspx?catid=41&id=116

 

[RedReiner]

the chickens refuse to step on the snow, its melted away from their doorway and they go out the door and stop, should another push one there is a whole lot of flapping and scrambling to avoid the snow...apparently its the same as molten lava and they will die if a toe touches it lol