Buddy's hair cut

Friday I brought Buddy into the house for a wool clip........probably the most unholy clip for a Angora rabbit, but I was more concerned for his welfare that the clip. Ever so carefully I cut off the wool...not wanting to nick his skin.  He enjoyed it, At first he liked to hid his head, later he was licking my jeans and hand!
I should have taken a before picture, But here is Buddy and his pile of Lilac wool. After seeing him after the picture I took more of his back side.

Just as I was sweeping up the mess, the furnace blower started...I will be finding wool fuzz for weeks! Ack it was fun!  Hmm maybe he needs a girl friend.........??

Jerry

Great party

Last night was a joint birthday party for my Uncle Ralph and Auntie Ione. Auntie was 70 and Ralph will be 75 soon. Their five kids organized it. Big Crowd...the advantage of living their whole lives in one spot. They have been married 53 years.  They are like my second parents as we cousins all grew up together.

Ralph, their niece (my cousin) Joan and Auntie

Yesterday morning Nessie got up at 4:50 AM [Gramps likes to sleep until itd st rlsdt light out, shhh 7- 7:30] So at the pary Nessie fill asleep by 8  SO I visited, listened tot he live music and held Nessie...not a hardship at all!

This morning Nessie took the camera and took some great pictures,

Jerry

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