I gave up thinking about cattle panels and went to Tractor Supply for 2 rolls of 50ft welded vinyl fencing. I put it up on Friday 1/7 by myself, and then turned the chickens into the garden. They loved the oat grass! I threw some scratch in the rest of the lot and they were tilling away at it.
They were really easy to get back to the yard - I just called "Here chicken!!" and they came running like plantation ladies holding up their petticoats. They spent all day Saturday and today playing in the dirt for me.
Ideally, I will still get some cattle panels on payday so that I can confine them to the actual gardening part of the plot, rather than under the cedar trees and in the briars. They are very good about going back to their house to lay their eggs though (10 yesterday, 11 today!).
I am trying to plan out my garden, but I still plan to let Mr. Old Neighbor use some of it if he wants, so I need to find out where he wants to plant. I think I will plant a row of bought tomato plants and , away from them , a row of tomatoes that I grow (hahaha) from seed. If they both make I'll have enough to learn canning and if only one does then I'll at least not be a total loss. If neither make I will cry. :)
I also plan to experiment with the soil for the tomatoes. I have heard a) put a Tbs epsom salt and Tbs lime in each hole as you transplant and also b) put a handful of crushed oyster shell and stir into the soil with each transplant.
Buford, my old Lab, is 14 1/2 years old. He is doing ok for the most part, but his old hips and knees are getting so weak that he just collapses sometimes. If I keep him on a regular schedule of his pain meds he does ok as far as not having a lot of pain, and he eats great. I hate seeing him just waste away. He is pretty much deaf now, and it is hard for me to remember to be patient with him. I do love that old dog.
Skye is 28yrs old and will be 29 on April 14 this year. She has done ok through the winter so far, but I am very concerned about her heaves this summer. Last year she had a lot of trouble even on 2 different meds (pills and liquid). :(
In other exciting news, my knee is been especially painful today. Last night it kept waking me up aching. Today it is taking my breath away with every step. I go see the ortho doc on Friday and it can't get here soon enough.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
As I expected
Just as I expected, the "blog" fell by the wayside for far too long. So some short updates, maybe photos another day.
- On December 11 My friend Kim and I processed 7 of the Cornish x chickens. Wow. We were pathetic! Her boyfriend was supposed to come and "do the deed" but he was called in to work. SO Friend and her son did the hatchet work, then I worked with the little daughter to pluck. We plucked one, Kim and her son plucked 1 and we skinned the rest. We were exhausted and couldn't stand the thought of having 14 to do the next week!
- December 12 - met friends to eat and exchange gifts and I was given a WHEELBARROW!!! Woot!
- December 18 we processed the remaining 14 chickens. We had a much better system in place, basically a small tent city due to the forecasted rain that never came. Kim and her son would dispatch 3 at a time, then after a bleedout time we each skinned and parted one up. We made great time and the chickens all averaged at least 4.5-5lbs dressed.
- December 21 I spent in the orthopedic docs office with my knee. Prescribed anti-inflammatory and 4 sessions of physical therapy, then return in January to see if I need an MRI. Boo
- December 23 I was supposed to have a filling replaced at the dentist. I have never ever had trouble at the dentist , it just doesn't bother me. Well, this time I freaked out. I had even taken a xanax before going in, but I still ended up leaving and rescheduling. *sigh* dork
I go back later this month and hopefully it will be better.
- Christmas Eve my youngest nephew, T12, helped me with 2 truckloads of oak leaves and compost. We unloaded it all over the garden plot and still had enough to start 2 separate small compost piles.
I also went to the late service at church. I love the Christmas Eve service. I love the feeling during and after - even when I am sitting in the parking lot alone.
- Christmas Day was great! Family came over. It was cold and drizzling rain so we played with the Wii, even my mom got in on the action. I was given a pitchfork, pvc fence pipes and some new crocs! The rest was just details. :)
- New Year's Eve found me at Kim's house for homemade pizza (YUM) and board games to welcome in the new year.
So here I am at the 3rd day of 2011. I have so many things running through my mind that I hope to accomplish!
I have started planning my garden and am working on ordering heirloom seeds. I'll buy some started plants as well, to increase my chances of success! I want to buy cattle panels and put up in the garden so my chickens can go in and do some tiller / fertilizer / pesticide work for me.
And I want to learn to make bread, pasta and pies, as well as learning to can veggies instead of just sugary fruit preserves. (providing I actually HAVE veggies to can). I go to "the fat doctor" (nutritionist) on February 4.
I still have Buddy the foster horse and he is still full of trouble (found him in the feed stall 2x in less than 24hrs!).
Buford is doing well, considering he is 14 1/2 yrs old and has some kidney failure.
My layer hens are fun and still laying about 10 eggs per day.
I'll try to do better. No promises.
- On December 11 My friend Kim and I processed 7 of the Cornish x chickens. Wow. We were pathetic! Her boyfriend was supposed to come and "do the deed" but he was called in to work. SO Friend and her son did the hatchet work, then I worked with the little daughter to pluck. We plucked one, Kim and her son plucked 1 and we skinned the rest. We were exhausted and couldn't stand the thought of having 14 to do the next week!
- December 12 - met friends to eat and exchange gifts and I was given a WHEELBARROW!!! Woot!
- December 18 we processed the remaining 14 chickens. We had a much better system in place, basically a small tent city due to the forecasted rain that never came. Kim and her son would dispatch 3 at a time, then after a bleedout time we each skinned and parted one up. We made great time and the chickens all averaged at least 4.5-5lbs dressed.
- December 21 I spent in the orthopedic docs office with my knee. Prescribed anti-inflammatory and 4 sessions of physical therapy, then return in January to see if I need an MRI. Boo
- December 23 I was supposed to have a filling replaced at the dentist. I have never ever had trouble at the dentist , it just doesn't bother me. Well, this time I freaked out. I had even taken a xanax before going in, but I still ended up leaving and rescheduling. *sigh* dork
I go back later this month and hopefully it will be better.
- Christmas Eve my youngest nephew, T12, helped me with 2 truckloads of oak leaves and compost. We unloaded it all over the garden plot and still had enough to start 2 separate small compost piles.
I also went to the late service at church. I love the Christmas Eve service. I love the feeling during and after - even when I am sitting in the parking lot alone.
- Christmas Day was great! Family came over. It was cold and drizzling rain so we played with the Wii, even my mom got in on the action. I was given a pitchfork, pvc fence pipes and some new crocs! The rest was just details. :)
- New Year's Eve found me at Kim's house for homemade pizza (YUM) and board games to welcome in the new year.
So here I am at the 3rd day of 2011. I have so many things running through my mind that I hope to accomplish!
I have started planning my garden and am working on ordering heirloom seeds. I'll buy some started plants as well, to increase my chances of success! I want to buy cattle panels and put up in the garden so my chickens can go in and do some tiller / fertilizer / pesticide work for me.
And I want to learn to make bread, pasta and pies, as well as learning to can veggies instead of just sugary fruit preserves. (providing I actually HAVE veggies to can). I go to "the fat doctor" (nutritionist) on February 4.
I still have Buddy the foster horse and he is still full of trouble (found him in the feed stall 2x in less than 24hrs!).
Buford is doing well, considering he is 14 1/2 yrs old and has some kidney failure.
My layer hens are fun and still laying about 10 eggs per day.
I'll try to do better. No promises.
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