You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy!!

I may live in town, but I like my critters   I have had chickens for 50 years  and I missed them.  I have a nice garden shed, with windows, new roof,  cement floor, nicest chicken coop I ever had!

Pigeons are not cuddly and prefer to be left alone. So I sold them and got some chickens. Hens greet me as they come running for scraps and treats.....so I could say I got them for my granddaughter Nessie, but I got them for me too.  I use 9 raw eggs a day in my feeding tube slurries, so I have 12 Buff Orpington 3 month old pullets

I know better, but they have a heat lamp= our crazy winter...35 degree days and now -9, they are more comfortable and less feed goes to staying warm.  They still peep a bit and lay under the heat lamp. They haven't discovered the roost yet.

But by Spring they will look like this and fill the basket with big brown eggs!

My city allows 3 hens by permit. So I asked my neighbor if he would be OK with chickens...they will be confined.  he said fine by him. So I am unpermitted and have slightly more than 3 hens! No loud roosters though, The soiled bedding makes excellent mulch and fertilizer, last year my roses bloomed all summer!

We have about 2 inches of snow on the ground, most days its been warm, most of the winter has been one big "Spring is coming" tease.  I have a busy Spring planned, I will bring in a pickup load of shrubs/perrennials from the farm, my white board fence to put up around the back yard, garden arbors to make, some trees to plant...plans and more plans...and 7 nursery catalogues with pages marked!

Warm winter days I have walked down town, got a few items in my back pack,,,its a 2 mile round trip  so I am staying fit.  Family is close. My mom lives 6 blocks south of me, and my street is the way down town. So she comes by, picks me up and we go shopping, rummage sales and to the Y to exercise.  My mom is 76 and she started going to the Y at age 50 she is a very young and healthy 76!

So life is good.  I miss the country and sheep some, but the change was for the better. My limited vision won't allow me to drive, so  I felt isolated out on the farm. Living on the edge of town suits me.

Appreciate what you have

Till next time
Jerry

A Christmas Memory

 

 

My great uncle, "Uncle Ed" would recite this poem at every Christmas program at the Otter Tail Nursing Home. He memorized it in grade school and when in his 80s, he would stand, fiddle with his cane, near blind and recite it in a clear crisp voice. A bit of a ham, when he was done he would recite another poem but that's for another time, this one is my favorite.

Little Breeches by John Hays

I don't go much on religion,
I never ain't had no show;
But I've got a middlin' tight grip, sir,
On the handful o' things I know.
I don't pan out on the prophets
And free-will, and that sort of thing,
But I b'lieve in God and the angels,
Ever sence one night last spring.

I come into town with some turnips,
And my little Gabe come along,
No four-year-old in the county
Could beat him for pretty and strong,
Peart and chipper and sassy,
Always ready to swear and fight,
And I'd larnt him to chaw terbacker
Jest to keep his milk-teeth white.

The snow come down like a blanket
As I passed by Taggart's store;
I went in for a jug of molasses
And left the team at the door.
They scared at something and started,
I heard one little squall,
And hell-to-split over the prairie
Went team, Little Breeches, and all.

Hell-to-split over the prairie!
I was almost froze with skeer;
But we rousted up some torches,
And sarched for 'em far and near.
At last we struck hosses and wagon,
Snowed under a soft white mound,
Upsot, dead beat, but of little Gabe
No hide nor hair was found.

And here all hope soured on me,
Of my fellow-critter's aid,
I jest flopped down on my marrow-bones,
Crotch-deep in the snow, and prayed.
By this, the torches was played out,
And me and Isrul Parr
Went off for some wood to a sheepfold
That he said was somewhar thar.

We found it at last, and a little shed
Where they shut up the lambs at night.
We looked in and seen them huddled thar,
So warm and sleepy and white;
And thar sot Little Breeches and chirped,
As peart as ever you see,
"I want a chaw of terbacker,
And that's what's the matter of me."

How did he git thar? Angels.
He could never have walked in that storm;
They jest scooped down and toted him
To whar it was safe and warm.
And I think that saving a little child,
And fotching him to his own,
Is a derned sight better business
Than loafing around the Throne.

The Best Christmas to you all

Jerry

The Best of the holidays to you!!

This winter is sure a surprise....48 degrees yesterday! As you can see from the picture we can have Christmas without the white stuff. I have settled into town life. I can and have walked downtown to browse, shop and go to the Public Library..Large print books..I loved to read and have started up again. I read a bit each day till my eyes are tired.... The last two have been murder mysteries. I like a book to grab my attention, so I can't put it down. The other day--- induced by the warm weather I got out the nursery books...........what to plant where. I have a pickup load of perennials and shrubs to bring in from the farm.......but buying a few too......Definitely getting a couple Vanilla Strawberry  Hydrangea shrubs for the front yard

I will stop, as the list could go on and on

Jerry

Decorating for Christmas

With a very meager box of Christmas decorations and no real room for a tree, I set around with what I had. An old large tree top angel with lights, 2 strings of mini lights and a red/green embroidered stocking. At the Dollar Store I bought some silver and red glittery balls 3/$1, silver garland. I had some red and silver glittery butterflies and two battery operated butterfly candles from LTD........

I chose my pony wall between the kitchen and living room to I set up the angel, strung out the mini lights...........as I am winding the silver garland through the lights - I thought- I hope these lights work--I keep on with the silver garland- having a little faith. I took white thread and suspended the butterflies..in different poses and heights from the ceiling, the 2 butterfly candles I set by the angel. I personally think it looks rather grand!

Patient and care free holiday decorating to you all

Jerry

Today In the Mail ~~

They arrived Express Mail from Florida in one day! American Fantail Pair 
A Powder Silver cock

And a Silver hen that carries Powder....

so they will produce several Powder Silvers........

Later I will add the Ash Red gene and get Powder Creams....

Not unlike breeding Shetland sheep......gather the genes and produce all colors!

Till later
Jerry

Have a Great Thanksgiving!!

Cous Sue is picking me up. I will be enjoying the day with my cousins, aunt and uncle! 28 of us talking, laughing and eating.
Aunt and Uncle 50th wedding anniversary with their family,,,,,,,,my cousins with families...

I am bringing my scalloped corn....not for the calorie counters, 3 can cream corn, 3 cans whole kernel corn, one pack of saltines crushed, 1 stick melted butter, 5 beaten eggs,  1/2 pound cubed Velvetta....I bake it in the corck pot cassarole for 3 hours... when done put it in the crock pot base on lower to keep it warm....its always empty by the end of the day!

Enjoy the day   I am thankful for family!

Jerry

All moved In !!

I have been here 11 days. I am all unpacked and everything is out.  Pictures are all hung and my chicken figurines are everywhere.  Its home. Its cozy, handy and I don't put on some many miles......my farm house was way too large for just me!  My dau Jess and her husband Dave are enjoying the big house and their 2 large dogs have room to roam. Now they are the land owners and I have a smaller yard to take care of, it all works.

I have been to concerts, plays.......and for the first time since I had to stop working I have a calendar planner! Concerts, birthdays, special events to mark down.........I carry it with me!  I have a camera bag with a long shoulder strap......my verison of a  "man purse".  Kleenex, check book, coin purse, cell phone, covered plastic cup to spit in Remember I can't swallow my salvia--- easy on the farm Spit anywhere - Now at a concert one must have a better solution! I was wearing cargo pants with lots of pockets, all that stuff in there, the pants got heavy!

My garden shed, now has two south windows. Its housing 3 pair of pigeons, 4 Silkie hens and Nessie's pet rabbit.  Oh 2 more pair of pigeons are coming in the mail. Pigeons like sheep you can't have just a few! They are such beauties. My four pair Of Old German Owls will have young is all most every color pattern!

Oh there is a fifth pair ---American Fantails.  I used to raise a lot of these. So I got a pair Powder Blue check cock and a Lavender hen  They will produce pastel colors

Winter is trying to start but so far.....40 degree days prevail  I still have to break down 40 or so cardboard boxes stored in the garage, so they can be put on the curb. At a late rummage sale I got a solid old holding table---8 foot long It will become tool bench for the garage.  I need to get it organized so I can find everything.

In my spare time I am browsing through old nursery catalogues  getting ideas. I am putting up my white fence from the farm, incorporating a walk through garden arbor.....with climbing arctic kiwi  yep hardy into zone 3

I found yellow shrub roses just like my Grandma used to have  I will plant some on the back of the lot...I can see them when I am outisde and standing at the kitchen sink window..then all the shrubs I am bringing in from the farm.........making my own garden of eden.........cooing pigoens...........flowers/shrubs blooming everywhere
You get the idea

Jerry