Washingtonians

[SadieSue]

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I found the Wilton paste gels that come in a multitude of colors at a craft store - I think maybe JoAnn's Fabrics? Then it was just a cup of water, a Tablespoon of vinegar and just a small scoop of the gel, like maybe 1/4 tsp? Stir, stir, stir. If it didn't look strong enough, I added a little more. It was fun to experiment with the egg colors - the Marans eggs turned out looking like gemstones when combined with cooler colors, and then just turned up a notch in warmth when we used the orange or red on them. Of course, the longer you leave the egg in, the more saturated with color it becomes, like the deep amethyst color of the dark purple towards the lower right. Some were left in for 10 minutes, 20 minutes once the girls saw just how vibrant the eggs would be if they were really patient with them. My youngest niece who is 14, chose to be very creative with hers - she was dipping, then painting and wiping the color with paper towels for more watercolor on silk effects. I really enjoy how none of the eggs are exactly alike!
If my nieces hadn't been nice enough to indulge their crazy aunt, I totally would have done this all by myself since DD is away at college.
Have fun!

 

[Sudsy Chick]

So, on a happier note, I just got home from my parent's house where we gathered to dye 3 dozen of my chickens' eggs with my teenaged nieces. I love those girls, especially for teenagers - they're all pretty special. (I have a sweet nephew too but he missed out because he was at a sleepover). We dyed BCM eggs, Ameraucana and Araucana eggs, the Salmon Faverolles and Light Sussex. I had picked up some of the Wilton paste gels that someone elsewhere in the forum had suggested using and I am thrilled with how they turned out! The combination of colors from the natural hues of the eggs with the intensity of the Wilton dyes were so much fun to play with! We decided they were pretty enough as they were and not to decorate them with anything else or put anyone's names on them. There are enough we'll just let folks pick out their own after Easter dinner on Sunday.
Just had to share - the colors made me so happy!

Love these!!! They are so pretty!
I got some beautiful WHITE eggs from Ron to color!

I'm excited to try some natural dyes I've read about...red onion peel or beets for pink, yellow onion peel/saffron for yellow, etc. Will be fun!

 

[Sudsy Chick]

Today's Funny :





Chick-en SAND-wich

awesome!

 

[hallerlake]

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Or a hardware cloth apron on the ground on your side of the fence.

 

[SadieSue]

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I've been reading about using all natural ingredients to dye your eggs - what fun! I hope we get to see photos!

 

[Breshcandra]

Number 2 has hatched in the incubator and I heard peeping from one of the eggs the broodys been sitting on.

 

[Breshcandra]

So, on a happier note, I just got home from my parent's house where we gathered to dye 3 dozen of my chickens' eggs with my teenaged nieces. I love those girls, especially for teenagers - they're all pretty special. (I have a sweet nephew too but he missed out because he was at a sleepover). We dyed BCM eggs, Ameraucana and Araucana eggs, the Salmon Faverolles and Light Sussex. I had picked up some of the Wilton paste gels that someone elsewhere in the forum had suggested using and I am thrilled with how they turned out! The combination of colors from the natural hues of the eggs with the intensity of the Wilton dyes were so much fun to play with! We decided they were pretty enough as they were and not to decorate them with anything else or put anyone's names on them. There are enough we'll just let folks pick out their own after Easter dinner on Sunday.
Just had to share - the colors made me so happy!

They look good. I think I will boil up a dozen and have Anna dye them.

 

[Breshcandra]

I always wondered how it happened and now I know. I have finally become the cranky old woman in the neighborhood.

All I want is peace and solitude in my own backyard, but I have had to resort to taking my dogs out in the backyard to do their business on a leash. They no longer have free access since the neighbors behind us NEVER bring their dogs in the house or do anything to control them when they charge our wire fence and snap and growl and bark at my dogs. The only supervision they have is the 5 year old girl who is out there constantly asking me question after question after question after - well you get the point.

Yes, I understand the neighbors have every right to own dogs. But as if the untrained lab puppy and "rescued" pit bull/dalmation weren't enough - (I'm not impressed by your boastful "rescuing" of the dog, BTW. I'd be much more impressed if you actually ever spent TIME with it), now they have another new room mate and surprise! The room mate has a Doberman. So my irresponsible neighbors officially have a pack of unsupervised dogs that come running to charge our fence every time DH or I take the dogs out to go potty or even if we want to toss the ball for our Golden Retriever. And now to make it even more awesome, the dogs are digging all along the fence line on their side of our fence. Even cuter, the little girl is helping them. I just chewed her out. And I also told her to keep her hands off of the fence because I'm tired of seeing her grab onto it and rock it back and forth all the time to weaken it. I've asked her nicely several times.

The doberman starts barking about 6 AM. No one in the house ever shushes it, or even brings it in the house. It has it's own lawn chair in the back yard.

And I'm sorry you guys - I like kids - I even had one I was particularly fond of, but this poor bored little girl is out there asking endless questions every time I'm working in the coop, feeding, watering, no matter what. "What are you holding in your hand? What do chickens eat? Can I pet your chickens? Where are their eggs? Can you make a sound like a chicken?- *I* can. Can I feed your chickens some carrots? How do you know our dogs names? They don't know yours. Why can't your chickens come out? What is that stuff your giving your chickens? Do your chickens have names?" All very normal, natural questions and believe me, every one gets answered, but - Sometimes I just want to be left alone...

A buddy of ours is going to come help us extend the fence so it's a couple of feet taller, help secure the bottom, whatever else we can do but we're limited. It follows a very uneven line of trees and there's no way anything more substantial could be built without a great deal of $$ and without losing a couple of important feet of what is already a shallow yard. DH isn't budging on that issue. I asked about the possibility of electrifying the fence and he looked at me shocked - "you can't do that! What about that little girl!" My girlfriend responded, "well, she'd only touch it once".

So yes, it's official. Now I'm the scary, cranky old lady in the neighborhood. Pretty soon the kids will come up with a name, like "Old Lady Galagan" or "The West End Witch" and start throwing rocks at my window. And this is how it happens...
Sorry you guys. I'm just venting. I'd really love to have my peaceful retreat of a backyard back.

Dogs don't like the feel of wood when they dig so you could bury some old timber and it should stop them. We had to do that once cause our dogs were digging under the gate and getting out. We buried a rail way tie and they never dug there again. Of course they then went under the fence where the ground was mostly bog and its hard to dig in soggy ground. Had to tie them together for a couple of months to break them of that one.

 

[KMoran]

Morning peeps.... I hope everyone is doing well... Been very busy here with the kids home on spring break. I hope everyone gets to take advantage of the sunshine this weekend and enjoy all those bunny hops and egg hunts. Lots of spring cleaning to get done here. My yard is a MESS. Gotta do a dump run on Monday so I better get to it. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

 

[SadieSue]

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I have tried talking to the guy with the pitbull/dalmation mix about training their dogs but he indicated they neither had the time or the money to train them. When the Doberman moved in last week he thought it was funny that when the dog wanted his ball he would jump up onto the table and stand with all 4 legs on the table to get it. Most folks I know with well behaved dogs don't let that happen in their home.
Since they are never in their yard with the child or dogs, I may just have to pop around the block and knock on their front door - with a gift of fresh eggs in hand - and continue our conversation. We'll also work on our fence and ask them to keep the little girl and dogs away from there and see if that helps.
What's that saying - "Good fences make good neighbors?"

Thank you for all the suggestions everyone - we will keep trying to get the situation under control in the most positive way possible!