Sunday, April 27, 2008
the turkeys are getting lots of company!
So Doug stopped by yesterday to visit the turkeys. They are certainly getting spoiled. By the time he left, Doug had to agree with me--they are pretty awesome creatures. They are getting big, too. Maybe when it gets warm again, (will it get warm again?) we can move them to the barn. They are definitely needing some more room. Let's hope they'll be ready to go by next week.....
Saturday, April 26, 2008
winter in spring
It's snowing at the moment. Hmmm. Not really much else one can say about snow at the end of April, other than Hmmmm...
But I've got some peas in, both bush and pole, some onions, and I transplanted some flowers--moving some stuff around that didn't work too well last year. We'll see how it goes. Still more than can be done as far as that goes, and, of course, I need to start working some of the ground. That has to wait till the ground is drier, though. Very exciting. Plus I've got 250 tomatoes and peppers started in the house. Just found out a local restaurant is looking for locally produced veggies. Considering it's a Mexican restaurant, I'm thinking I'll be able to sell them some of those tomatoes and peppers! Cool! Lots of hot peppers, too!
Let's see, Lizzy has 7 eggs in the barn. I'm hoping she'll start sitting soon. I feel bad because she really wants to travel in the yard, and I don't want her making her nest outside of a fenced in area. Too dangerous. And she was working on making one by the old homestead the other day. Shucks. Once she starts sitting, she can come and go as she pleases, i think.
Waddlesworth, Station and the ducks are in their summer home. She is happily sitting on her nest of about 5 eggs. We'll see how that goes.
The little chicks can come and go outside the chicken coop, but they're still afraid to. I might have to lower the door. I build a ladder of sorts for them to go in and out and it's a bit steep. When it gets warmer I might kick them out. They'll love the bugs.
Newspaper Dan stopped over last night. He found a tick already! Yikes. Those birds need to get out there and start eating!!
Here are some great pictures of him with a turkey love, and also a little chick who is missing part of her beak. Not sure what happened, but she is sure loving the attention!
But I've got some peas in, both bush and pole, some onions, and I transplanted some flowers--moving some stuff around that didn't work too well last year. We'll see how it goes. Still more than can be done as far as that goes, and, of course, I need to start working some of the ground. That has to wait till the ground is drier, though. Very exciting. Plus I've got 250 tomatoes and peppers started in the house. Just found out a local restaurant is looking for locally produced veggies. Considering it's a Mexican restaurant, I'm thinking I'll be able to sell them some of those tomatoes and peppers! Cool! Lots of hot peppers, too!
Let's see, Lizzy has 7 eggs in the barn. I'm hoping she'll start sitting soon. I feel bad because she really wants to travel in the yard, and I don't want her making her nest outside of a fenced in area. Too dangerous. And she was working on making one by the old homestead the other day. Shucks. Once she starts sitting, she can come and go as she pleases, i think.
Waddlesworth, Station and the ducks are in their summer home. She is happily sitting on her nest of about 5 eggs. We'll see how that goes.
The little chicks can come and go outside the chicken coop, but they're still afraid to. I might have to lower the door. I build a ladder of sorts for them to go in and out and it's a bit steep. When it gets warmer I might kick them out. They'll love the bugs.
Newspaper Dan stopped over last night. He found a tick already! Yikes. Those birds need to get out there and start eating!!
Here are some great pictures of him with a turkey love, and also a little chick who is missing part of her beak. Not sure what happened, but she is sure loving the attention!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
blizzard and then summer....
all in the same week. You just have to love life in the Keweenaw!!
Last Friday we had a blizzard with 14.5 inches of snow, and yesterday and today the temperature is almost hitting 70 degrees! Woohoo!!! Life is good.
The snow is leaving, Lizzy laid her first egg (after the male turkeys demolished Waddlesworth's nest of 6 goose eggs), and everyone is pretty damn happy to have it so warm.
Lots of work to do this weekend--move the geese and ducks, keep cleaning out barns, cleaning up the yard, planting stuff outside--already, peas, lettuce and spinach. Cool, eh?--tomatoes inside, clean the house, and then write, write, write.
Yep, Neely's got a busy weekend. But it is supposed to be sunny the whole time, and how can I not have energy? Plus, I'm drinking lots of carrot and veggie juice. That always helps.
Oh, only one week of school left for me, so after that, I'll try to do more biking into town. That will take care of triathlon training, save on gas, and then give me the normal work out time to work on my writing or on projects.
Cool! Yay for summer!!
Last Friday we had a blizzard with 14.5 inches of snow, and yesterday and today the temperature is almost hitting 70 degrees! Woohoo!!! Life is good.
The snow is leaving, Lizzy laid her first egg (after the male turkeys demolished Waddlesworth's nest of 6 goose eggs), and everyone is pretty damn happy to have it so warm.
Lots of work to do this weekend--move the geese and ducks, keep cleaning out barns, cleaning up the yard, planting stuff outside--already, peas, lettuce and spinach. Cool, eh?--tomatoes inside, clean the house, and then write, write, write.
Yep, Neely's got a busy weekend. But it is supposed to be sunny the whole time, and how can I not have energy? Plus, I'm drinking lots of carrot and veggie juice. That always helps.
Oh, only one week of school left for me, so after that, I'll try to do more biking into town. That will take care of triathlon training, save on gas, and then give me the normal work out time to work on my writing or on projects.
Cool! Yay for summer!!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
it might be the middle of april...
but we are still getting the snow. It's kind of hard to complain about it when it is so beautiful! Did I mention the garlic are coming up? Now they are covered with snow again. Well, hopefully they'll still make it!
The little chicks are doing great in the chicken coop, and our turkeys seem to be doing well. One jumped out of the cage this am but seems to be ok. Stinkers.
The little chicks are doing great in the chicken coop, and our turkeys seem to be doing well. One jumped out of the cage this am but seems to be ok. Stinkers.
Monday, April 7, 2008
chick brooder
So here's a kinda lousy picture of the chick brooder I built on Saturday. I can't say that it is a really sturdy deal, but it works. I just built the frame, put a big pc of foam insulation on top of it, and then have heat lamps underneath. Hopefully, by the time the chicks figure out that they can jump on top of it, they won't need the lamps anymore. The first night most of them slept outside it, but last night, they were all snuggled underneath. I'm so happy they seem healthy. They are growing more already--maybe they are like fish--will grow as much as they have space for. It's an interesting concept, isn't it? In that case, why aren't humans getting smaller??
The farm in April: I pulled away some of the manure from the window planters and see that the garlic is starting to grow! Yay!!! I can't wait to see how quickly it grows. Also planted a mess of peppers inside yesterday. Lots of different varieties. Very exciting!!
The farm in April: I pulled away some of the manure from the window planters and see that the garlic is starting to grow! Yay!!! I can't wait to see how quickly it grows. Also planted a mess of peppers inside yesterday. Lots of different varieties. Very exciting!!
more spring-ness
Yay!!! A flower! It is as miraculous as Eckhart Tolle says flowers are. Pretty shocking, actually, after seeing nothing but snow and then a bit of dirty ground. Shady seems pretty happy to be getting his feet dirty!!
The Mr. Turkeys doing their usual strutting. What a riot they are. And they move in such unison. They must practice for absolutely hours!!
The Mr. Turkeys making sure Rio is doing a good job cleaning out one of the chick cages. I was able to move most of the chicks to the little chicken coop on Saturday. What a freaking job that was! But so far everyone is alive and well. They like the space after being in the house for 4 weeks. And I'm just thrilled they aren't in the house anymore!!!
Station and Waddlesworth, also doing their stuff. Waddlesworth has 3 eggs so far, and sits on them at night. We'll see what happens! I love to eat her eggs, but I think she is going to get really depressed if she can't be a mother this year. Someone out there in need of a watchdog? Geese for sale!! And if you get them when they are small, they will totally love you!
The Mr. Turkeys doing their usual strutting. What a riot they are. And they move in such unison. They must practice for absolutely hours!!
The Mr. Turkeys making sure Rio is doing a good job cleaning out one of the chick cages. I was able to move most of the chicks to the little chicken coop on Saturday. What a freaking job that was! But so far everyone is alive and well. They like the space after being in the house for 4 weeks. And I'm just thrilled they aren't in the house anymore!!!
Station and Waddlesworth, also doing their stuff. Waddlesworth has 3 eggs so far, and sits on them at night. We'll see what happens! I love to eat her eggs, but I think she is going to get really depressed if she can't be a mother this year. Someone out there in need of a watchdog? Geese for sale!! And if you get them when they are small, they will totally love you!
chicks and turkeys and melting snow!
So, it is getting to be spring time. Of course, the bare ground in some of these pictures might disappear under snow again if we get the snowstorm they are predicting for tomorrow. At least we missed the 22 inches that Marquette got last week. Woohoo, and a big one at that!!
The snow barometer one day, and then the next. It does go fast when it decides to go, doesn't it?
Rio and a little chick:
The turkeys came in Thursday morning. Man, they are so cute. Everyone looked like they were in pretty good shape, and they ate and drank right away. Unfortunately, we lost one on Friday night, and then another yesterday. No idea why, really. They seemed fine one minute, and the next, bam, they were gone.
It's hard enough when they're so cute, but I also can't help thinking that at $10 a pc., that's even more of a loss. Of course, Cinnamon and Paco ate a dozen of Lizzie's almost hatched eggs last summer, and that was quite the loss, too. But this time, we got to see them first. Always makes it harder.
Hopefully Lizzy will want to sit again this year. I'll keep her protected for sure. Try to, at least!
The snow barometer one day, and then the next. It does go fast when it decides to go, doesn't it?
Rio and a little chick:
The turkeys came in Thursday morning. Man, they are so cute. Everyone looked like they were in pretty good shape, and they ate and drank right away. Unfortunately, we lost one on Friday night, and then another yesterday. No idea why, really. They seemed fine one minute, and the next, bam, they were gone.
It's hard enough when they're so cute, but I also can't help thinking that at $10 a pc., that's even more of a loss. Of course, Cinnamon and Paco ate a dozen of Lizzie's almost hatched eggs last summer, and that was quite the loss, too. But this time, we got to see them first. Always makes it harder.
Hopefully Lizzy will want to sit again this year. I'll keep her protected for sure. Try to, at least!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
