Chocolate And Chickens

CHOCOLATE COSMOS

12:00 PM

Was at the local hardware store today and of course, had to ramble through the plant section. Guess what I found.... CHOCOLATE COSMOS! ...

12:00 PM

Was at the local hardware store today and of course, had to ramble through the plant section.

Guess what I found.... CHOCOLATE COSMOS!

Was rather amazed at the deep colour (much darker than my phone/camera conveys) and the scent?

Oh yes.

Chocolate.

Intense chocolate.

You should be so proud of me as I did not purchase ten, six, or even just one of these incredible plants. Did have to wipe just a touch of drool from my chin.... the scent was .... wonderful. I may have to make some brownies this afternoon.

I am straining to have some restraint in regards to purchasing plants, as I plan on uprooting and re-arranging the flowers gardens this fall. My Great Plan was started by a fabulous yard sale find this summer of a garden 'moon gate'.

The plan is to acquire 2 purple clematis, to plant on either side. Decisions, decisions... do I chose a spring, summer or fall blooming type? The plan also involves setting in a walkway: My Beloved has his eye on some stunningly gorgeous blueish stepping stones.

Currently, my flower gardens are rather free-flowing, with a vigorous growth of 4 o'clocks, zinnias, columbine, foxglove, various sages, alyssum, dianthus, California poppies, hollyhocks, lupine, irises, daffodils and a few other pretties that I have forgotten he names of. There is no real form or design. I prefer to label it a 'Cottage Garden', hoping the nice name justifies the rather jumbled, but glorious mess.

Truth be told, Nature has created a colour palette that allows every colour to compliment any others. Who dares think that they can compete with Nature? I hope to settle for some form and function in design, taking a rather classic and practical approach of 'talls to the back, shorts to the front' idea.

One does need to keep in mind what blooms when, and who needs more shade, who needs more sun. Still, the choices boggle the mind. My kind of fun!

When the egg is bigger than the chicken.....

5:57 PM

Poor Princess! She is a 1st year layer, a lovely black with red speckled chest, and a gentle personality. Found her yesterday, hiding i...

5:57 PM

Poor Princess! She is a 1st year layer, a lovely black with red speckled chest, and a gentle personality. Found her yesterday, hiding in a corner, quiet, tail tucked under and looking as sad (as a chicken can look).
This is a worry, as I've seen this before, on other girls in the past. And they didn't make it. I suspected she was egg bound.
Basically, this is when an egg gets 'stuck'. Did you know that when hens lay eggs, the broader end of the egg emerges first? (how unfair is that?) And, if for any reason, the egg cannot come out.... well, that is egg bound.
Its bad in many ways, as chickens (and other birds, I imagine) have only one exit opening.
Think of THAT the next time you go to crack an egg!
So, not only they have the pain of a reluctant egg, but, well, everything else backs up as well. I grabbed my trusty STOREY'S GUIDE to RAISING CHICKENS once again, to find the same answer.... one that I am most hesitant to even try.
It involves a lubricant, such as Crisco or KY2 jelly.
The conversation at home went sort of like this: "Honey? (and a brief description of what was needed)"
"You want me to do WHAT?"
"I can't so it. I'll hold her though"
"Why me?? Why not you?"
"You're so good with your hands. Please?"
"Your fingers are smaller"
And back and forth it went.
THANK HEAVENS today I found Princess sitting happily in the nesting box...

9:43 AM

As I work full time, weekends are a mishmash of chores, fun and visiting with dear friends. My latest conundrum is... the compost pile. ...

9:43 AM

As I work full time, weekends are a mishmash of chores, fun and visiting with dear friends. My latest conundrum is... the compost pile.
We currently have an even dozen hens (my 'girls'), and the coop is cleaned twice a week. Unlike the fact that my rule on washing the house windows once a year, whether they need it or not, the coop has to be kept clean. I use straw for bedding, and this creates a problem: what to do with all this used straw?
Chicken manure is 'hot' and should not be applied directly to any plants, so it needs to be composted. I had a system going, where the used straw went into a large 'bin' created out of 4 old wood pallets, held together in a standing cube by some rope and bungee cords. This worked fairly well, as you just added the used straw to the top. The sheer weight compressed everything, and, along with garden refuse and autumn leaves, turned into lovely, rich 'good' dirt... but it took about 2 years to do so.
My Beloved is a good man, but was convinced that there is a better, faster way. Down came the pallets and now I have a huge (Huge) pile under a tarp.
That I am supposed to turn weekly.
Have you ever tried to 'turn' with a large pile of straw? This is not working out for me and frankly, I want my pallet system back.
This is the give and take of marriage though. If you are lucky enough to marry your best friend, you figure out quickly that they are not perfect. Who is? We will figure out the compost issue, but in the meantime, I have to go, as My Beloved just made us breakfast.
Give and take: such is life.

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