Another Cat Post...

We have these two black cats. I call them One and Two because you can't tell them apart. One of them will let you pet him and the other won't - that is about the only difference. I've noticed lately that when I go down to the chicken coop, they follow and hop up on the roof to check out a) the goings on in the run (which is the fenced in area the chickens hang in) and b)the goings on in the coop. When I took these pictures a couple of days ago, only one of the duo was there, but usually they hop up there together and stare at you. It is kind of freaky because they are so similar.


As usual I am taking pictures while my Lovin' Husband works. Here we ( and I use the term "we" loosely here people) are getting the composted (old) chicken poop OUT of the coop to put IN our garden. It is full of goodness for our growing and hungry plants. See the composted poop? There is straw in there, too. We put straw in there for the chickies to be comfy in and they reward us by pooping in it and breaking it down. We then (not often enough) remove straw and poop. Free fertilizer. Well, I guess not free, but REALLY cheap.

I post of the cats often enough to explain why I like them so much, I suppose. We had one cat show up and now have quite a few. They keep the voles (mousey rodent types) pretty much gone from the chicken coop, the moles and rabbits out of the garden, and even help with keeping the birds out, too. They do earn their keep. I find them interesting and Adam finds them a pain in his butt until he remembers why he will get to eat broccoli in June. Then he cusses and feeds them. I in turn love on them as much as they will let me. Very self sufficient, the kitties.

They watch the chickens, I watch them, and Adam tolerates us all...

See ya on the flip side...

M

Things Upon Which I Ponder...

My sweet Lovin' Husband has not of yet come around to my way of thinking where goats are concerned. As of right now when we need to clear land, we do it ourselves. We have these groups of the wickedest thorn trees. I don't know what they are properly called, but we call them The Thorn Trees From Hell. The bottom picture was supposed to be first, so go ahead. Scroll down to the bottom and take a good look at our nemisis.

Are you back from your visit to the bottom of the page? Ok, now I find a bird's nest IN The Thorn Tree From Hell. (See photo below.) Does the little birdie KNOW that the wicked thorns are there? Does it know that the Tree From Hell will protect it's little eggie-pies or did it just get lucky? Take a look at that thorn below. That is an old one. The new growth puts out about 2 to 3 inch long maroon thorns that look like they belong in a Sci Fi movie.

So, these are some of the things upon which I ponder. Does the bird know that the tree keeps predators away? Or did it unknowingly find a comfy little home with one heck of a security system?

And just for giggles, can you find the nest in The Thorn Tree From Hell? Please disregard the old, yucky chicken coop in the back. We are replacing it with a better coop for our 31 babies as soon as the Good Lord sends us a couple of days of sunshine in a row.

Find something strange to ponder upon today. It is kind of a stress releaver - at least until I remember that we still have to get rid of those very Thorn Trees From Hell....

They kind of scare me. I've decided that I'll let Adam take care of those...

They Share...

The first thing people ever say when they walk into our backyard and notice all the animals is, "Do they all just get along? Dogs, Cats, and Chickens??" Then they shake their heads and stare. Adam and I are used to it and do our best to assure people that the chickens are not food or sport for the four legged critters. The cats grew up patroling the coop (for a couple of weeks, the birds are enjoying some yard time and we're all ok with that - we had a lone chicken that needed reintegrating anyway). Occaisionally one of the dogs will remember that they are INDEED a dog and that dogs should chase chickens, but we do our best to reinforce to the dogs that if they eat (ahem, PLAY WITH) the chickens, then there will be no chicken eggs to find and eat. Ever heard the phrase "egg suckin' dog"? They love eggs - it is the weirdest thing. They share... we didn't teach them to - they just did it. Chickens love cat food. Who knew? What I do know is that a bag of cat food is a LOT more expensive than a bag of chicken food. (Note to Husband: we gotta do somethin' about the chickens, baby. I'll help. Really...)

Also, note violet down there by the *pond*. This is a big deal for poor, delicate V. You do not know how much courage that dog has summoned to be sitting where she is. She is not quite the brave country dog. More like a fragile broken thing that is finally recovering and becoming her true self. Good for you, V. (I know that I am talking to a dog on the computer. I know that she can't hear me or even if she could, she wouldn't completely understand, ok? Just cut me a little slack here...)

See, the chickens need a new coop and run*. Their old one is ok, but we have the materials to make them a better one that I can get into to feed/water/health check/collect eggs and not hurt myself (my back ain't so hot). Adam does most of the coop and pen work with the birds because of that right now, but I'd really like to dote on (spoil) them myself.

It has been too cold and muddy to build one or fix the run they escaped from, so right now we have chicken au naturale. We like it when they free range, but then they eat our garden (and our not so cheap garlic fertilizer -I'm not completely over that yet and it happened last year). We settle for feeding them all of the garden scraps (tomatoes - they LOVE tomatoes) we can.

** a run is where the chickens hang outside during the day - the bigger the better the happier the chicken - and we like happy chickens around here)**

Sometimes though, I wonder. Am I going to wake up one day to a big pile of fur and feathers in my backyard??

I think sometimes they wonder the same thing...

Happy New Year!

Happy Day

Today is a good day. After church, I have no obligations, no appointments, no meetings - the only thing I have to do is come home and cook lunch. Now, I do have plans for my day. I'm going to clean the music studio, clean the kitchen, and gently nudge the lovin' husband in the direction of the piles of flooring that need to be laid in the front room, but that is it. I'm going to gather chicken eggs (if their are any to gather) and pull multiplier onions out of my garden so that we may eat them with supper tonight.

A Good Day....