Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[dkvart1]

Hi folks, hope all are well. I read through a number of posts, but can't remember 1/2 of what I read... having a hard time concentrating.

Been a tough couple of days here. On Friday morning at 8:02 our beloved dog of 7 years unexpectedly passed away. It had been cool and he enjoyed his morning walk and showed no indication of what was to come. He refused his breakfast, which wasn't unusual and went to nap by the open patio door. I saw his legs stiffen slightly then relax and by the time I crossed the room to him, he was gone. It has broken our hearts and left his little buddy, Murphy totally lost.

Our upcoming move at the end of the month isn't quite as exciting at the moment as it once was.

I'm sure as the move date approaches some of that excitement will return. We still haven't set the actual date, we close on the 16th, but figure it will be closer to the 4th of June (the holiday isn't a time I want to travel from FL to WI) before we get moved in.

 

[Terri O]

Happy May everyone! Man I had almost 2 hours worth of reading just to get up to speed! Now what do I remember....Not much!

Great idea on the pussy willow tree Hurley. I was going to suggest getting a cutting from the bush at your Mom's and starting a related tree. BUt I guess you solved the problem buying a bush! The brambles that you have in the ditch are most definitely Black raspberries aka black caps. They make a very delicious jam...but it is best if you use a "Squeezo" to get the seeds out! I like to mix them with he mulberries for their juice. Oh yeah, Jim if you want a mulberry tree I can hunt up a seedling for you and bring it along. Our farm is FULL of them. The birds plant them the same way your blackberries got planted! I sure wish I could grow blackberries here...it is just a little too warm in the spring I think I read. Something about when they set their flowers then they get nipped and dont produce fruit. I cant remember, all I know is that I got some plants and they grow but never set any fruit!
THat is cool that you can sell your duck eggs! I sure wish I could find a market for all the goose eggs I pick up before I give up and let them set! Speaking of that...this is what I found yesterday while doing chores: You can click to make them bigger.

THen I was walking around and found some cool stuff growing that I didnt see last time I showed you spring flowers:

Arent they cool? It is a little patch of Fawn Lilies mixed with Dutchmen's Breeches. They didnt come up last year so I was really happy to see them! Also the May apples are starting:


Just to the right of them the Jack in the Pulpit are starting to poke up too! I am so excited...just love the wildflowers. Just a couple more signs of spring for you....

And a very famous one....

Hey Jim...you can see the huge Mulberry tree on the left side of the laundry pic...yup, I have to hang out now cause when the berries are on--the clothes get purple spots

Good that your dog came back David...one of mine got out while I was at work the other day (ripped part of the screening on the kennel) and killed all but 5 of the chicks outside! Dam^ dog! My daughter went home for lunch and found her out and all the chicks just laying dead in the dooryard! SO I guess I wont have to worry too much about too many chickens outside now

Oh yeah, since it was so nice out there yesterday I worked on the coop some more...all I can say is that next time I am using PLANS to build a coop! This one is all out of salvaged materials though (except for a few pieces of hardware) THis is the window side:

And here is the door side:

I have to cut the rest of the siding and sand down the bottom of the window a bit so it opens easier and install the roosts and nest boxes. Then on a day when it's not so windy I will put the galvanized tin on the roof! THen it will be DONE! Just in time because those chickens need to get out of my basement! THey are perfectly happy though...I am actually thinking of opening the two back doors and the chicken room door and letting them outside that way...I wonder if they would find their way back in like the big girls? Maybe I will have a try....
Hurley I just love the image of you and Tyler in his bibs going to get mulch! Way cute! I hope you find what you are looking for. I am not so sure about haveing to have 2 cherry trees though. My friend up the road has only one and it gets TONS of cherries on it. I only had one too but it was so darn tall I couldnt ever get any picked off of it. Man you would thing I would know the answer after taking all those gardening classes! Actually, I think you should go with Jim's plan and get a dozen....never can have too many cherries; and they do make a fine wine, and pie, and jelly and are just really darn good on ice cream! Hmmm--maybe we can go togehter and get a deal on a couple dozen trees?

GUess I better get out of here and get something done...I moved the "baby" pigeons to another cage and want to start a loft for them so they can fly free. THe new babies are now hatched so I wanted to give the parents more room. I have abandoned the idea of making a pigeon loft in the ceiling of the coop. I am going to turn the ceiling of my tack room into a pigeon loft instead. Since I really dont keep any tack in there--too damp, I might as well let them stay there. OK lots to do! Have a fantastic day! Terri O

(PS) I hope you dont have to turn Buster into soup DrH...but I hear the mean ones make an especially good one! Great on the loss of the water BTW!

ETA: Sorry to hear about your dog DV...that is tough when you dont have any idea...
ALso to BL4--hugs to you and your friend's hubby! Sounds like her passing will leave a large hole in several people's lives.

 

[ParkfieldFarm]

We've got PEEPERS! Nothing rocking yet, but I can hear 'em! YAAAAAYYYYY!!!

 

[babylady4]

Well thanks for letting me vent. Dk, so sorry about your dog, I am dreading that very event....

I made my BIL some soap and decided to turn out the ducks. Booted Jules off the nest and candled.... we have 8 babies developing!!!!!

She is sitting on 10 eggs, but I think the other two ducks squeaked more eggs in under her so in a few days I will check them again and see what they are doing.... I will be completely shocked if fertility is 100%!!!! Go Checkers!

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
Sorry to hear that, it is never easy when we have to say good bye to a friend

 

[Hens and Roos]

Quote:
Sorry to hear about your friend passing

to you and her husband.

 

[Raiquee]

Hey everyone! Stopping in.

I may be visiting a bit more. I got the baby blues VERY badly with this baby.

With hubby gone 10+ hours a day, I need someone to talk too! Yes, Yes I got my sons...but one DOESN'T listen to me, and one doesn't understand!!! I feel really bad though cause after a rough day Hubby comes home and usually finds me in tears. He thinks it's his fault, but it's not. He asks what set me off, and really I can't pinpoint anything! I just cry! It's pretty lame. I try and busy myself with doing stuff around the house...but there is also only so much you can do.

I am a bit worried as my seeds haven't poked up from the garden yet, and I planted them a week ago...at the least the arugula should have germinated. I am thinking though that it has been rather cool this week (50s) and they are waiting for a sunny day. We shall see. I got lights over my tomato starts I think just in the nick of time, as they were starting to get leggy, but now they are starting to show their first set of true leaves!

My squash fell over, but that's okay, I will replant those. I was really worried about the toms, as they only send you like...40 in a packet and I planted almost all of them!!

I am seriously going to save seeds this year...I am not gonna pay for a lousy 30 tomato seeds again, unless it's something I don't have! Even so, I think I'd rather swap with someone on this forum.

I am also throwing it out the universe that I want a pressure canner. Please, oh please, universe....deliver!! I want to can some soups, stock and green beans this year. We shall see if the universe loves me. (Oh, while I am asking, a cow would be super fantastic too

...milk is almost as expensive as gas!!!)

TerriO) I would love some mulberry saplings if you have extras!! DH loves mulberries, and I could pot em up and take em to the new house when we leave...Only issue is I don't know how i'd get em for you! If they are small enough maybe you could mail them? Eh, that is if you even have any!!

 

[otonoh]

afternoon all,

Jeez is it ever cold outside, was supposed to get up to 45, but now I see high of 39. It was snowing here this morning. Barely warm enough for it to melt.
I worked on the run for about 7 hours, my 12 year old helped the best he could.
I ran out of hardware cloth and wood so I am done for the day but this is what I got done. Decided to cover 3/4 of the runs roof with metal roofing. The harware clth is 1/4 inch and i have it buried all around the run . I will have an extended summer run made out of plain garden fencing for when I am home.

the side with sloped roof

the front with screen door covered with hardware cloth

It is 9'x 5' by 9'high

the chicks are still doing ok, next weekend finish the one side and roof. Maybe it is actually nice both days I can side it too.

David

 

[Hurley]

Hmm, typed out this long message, but don't see that it posted...if it shows up, ignore this one! Weird.

Anyway, the gist of it was that the first load of mulch is under the trees, heading back into town for another round. Thomas is going to be my helper this run.

Gorgeous day out today, if you discount the 70 mph winds bringing the sand storm off the field to the west.

Ah well, I grew up in Iowa, wind doesn't much faze me. LOL!

 

[raimnel]

good COLD Lord's day to you. I sang for church today and the Lord wanted to hear our wonderful voices,cause he caused the sound system to turn off in the middle of our song. lol we just kept going like nothing was wrong. lol also got a call from the paino player at 8 am this morning saying she has a cold and not coming to church.

lucky we were prepared.
Raiquee

breathe, sounds like you got postpardom depression. nothing to shurg off. pm me if you want my number to talk. before you know it those youngin' will be all growed up. my baby is 3, I like 3!

to you that have lost friends be it furry or human

someone asked if mulberry was a tree or bush.... you know what popped in my head?..... Here we go 'round the mulberry BUSH, the mulberry BUSH, the mulberry BUSH...... lol guess it can be either huh?! lol

hurley, I hate when you spend ALL that time typing and BAM you got nothing. then all you type is WHATEVER.

I got a hen (silkie) that stays right around by the house. she had/has a sore on her head from the stupid roos, I keep checking it over and washing it out. she's healing. she is a people chicken. IF one wanted to, this would be the best chicken to put a "diaper" on and let in the house. alas I got dogs. wonder if I could trust her? that would be very cute, 2 dogs and a chicken curled up infront of the fire place. lol

debating on whether or not to get a mini zebu (cow)?? gotta think long and hard on that one. also do alot of research. Raiquee a zebu is a thought for you guys too. told they give about a galLON (lol) of milk a day not like a big cow that give WAY to much milk for 1 family

ANYWAYs I gotta go. see ya later

ETA - DON'T get a touch screen monitor, My mom has one and it keeps "clicking" on things even thought my fingers are NO WHERE near it. :sigh: