Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

I hope today finds everyone well and happy.

Especially my sister, Nancy.

She had some surgery Friday morning.

Mom says it went well.

Hopefully she'll be back in the saddle again soon.

Nancy and her new horse, Diego

I got to take Andy for a short ride on Saturday.

I'm loving this "semi-retired" stuff! 

We got LOTS accomplished.

Fed the animals, then Rod left to get Pop Pop and pick up an older

flat bed trailer from the shop.

I took Andy out and was just coming down the road as they were getting home.

Headed over to town to get the week's groceries.

Needed to go to both WalMart and Aldi's.

Then back to put it all away and bake some bacon for Pop's BLT he requested.

After lunch Rod took Dad back up to Cocoa while he helped Scott

move the old blue box van to the new warehouse.

And I went outside and clipped Andy.

Talk about covered in hair!

I'm not sure who was furrier - him or me!

Kyle got there just as I was starting so he sat on Andy's stall wall

and visited while I clipped.

Then we headed next door to do his evening chores.

Sadly, we ran over one of the chickens moving a coop.

(The coops are falling apart and the chickens don't cooperate very well...)

She was, surprisingly, not dead!

Thought she was!

But nope, just broken.

Broken leg for sure, possibly broken or dislocated wing.

So we brought her home and stuck her in Rocky's old coop.

(Rocky is the Barred Rock we accidentally ran over last year...)

Just put her on the ground, gave her some water, and wished her luck.

Fed our horses, bunnies and chickens,

let the bunnies out to run around in the coop,

gathered eggs - we are up to 18!

Then I made some steak and corn on the cob for dinner.

This morning when I went out to feed, I checked on the broken chicken.

She was gone.

I was a little concerned, cuz that means we have a predator getting in the pasture at night.

But when I looked a little closer, she was up in a nest box!

(She is a black chicken and it's dark up there...)

So I guess she's not TOO broken.

But the other chickens weren't very happy to not have access to their favorite nest box.

So after going next door with Kyle and moving all the coops again

and feeding his chickens and pigs,

we came home and moved her to the middle coop where she can be alone.

She'll either get better or not.

But you gotta give her a chance.

Her name is Broken Chicken.

Anyhow... here's to new beginnings!

Happy Easter Everybody!

Muscle Memory

Way back in 1987, when we found out we were pregnant for the first time,

we bought an '88 Isuzu Trooper.

I drove it exclusively for about 8 years.

Until it started having some transmission issues.

Then I switched to a Chevy Astrovan.  (Automatic transmission)

And then to my black truck.  (automatic transmisson)

A couple of years ago, Kyle and Rod rebuilt the transmission (etc)

and Kyle has been driving the Trooper ever since.

Earlier this week, Kyle needed to use Rod's truck to pull his trailer.

So Kyle took Rod's big white truck.

Rod needs a truck at work, so he took my big black truck.

And I drove Kyle's Trooper.

It was FUN!

I always loved that truck.

I drove it Monday and Tuesday.

Today, I left the office to get some lunch.

I climbed in my big black truck.

But my mind was on whether or not I really wanted an egg salad sandwich.

Turned the key, started the motor, and my left foot pushed in the clutch.

All by itself.

Except my truck is an automatic.

Except for 2 days this week, I haven't driven a manual in about 12+ years.

It's so strange how your body remembers stuff.

*****************************************************

Unrelated stuff:

I had a couple of people ask questions about the bunnies.

They are adorable.

Cute.

Cuddly.

They have names.

They will not be pets.

They are breeders.

They will be making babies.

You know what they say...  They breed like rabbits!

Their babies will be heading to "freezer camp" every 8 - 10 weeks or so.

We are working towards more and more self-sufficiency.

*************************************************************

I checked my records today.

We sold our first dozen eggs to the CSA next door on 2/27.

Today, 3/28, we sold 6 dozen!

So far we have sold $106.00 worth of eggs.

In a month!

And now that the girls are starting to lay, that number should go up.

Lay girls, Lay!

Easter Bunny (s)

Last year for Easter we got new baby chicks.

So this year we got Easter Bunnies!

Four little California rabbits.

1 Buck

3 Does

(Penny is quite curious!)

(All the red chickens are named Penny... makes it easier!)

Since they all look nearly identical,

we marked their heads with colored Sharpies.

The little guy on the right with the blue stripe is Bob, the buck.

In front of him in red is Lucille (Ball).

Under Lucille's head is green Mabel.

And hiding under Bob's chin is

Orange Ethel.

She is going to be a pistol.

Tonight they are in a dog crate in the chicken coop.

It's supposed to be chilly tonight.

This weekend we will build them their permanent hutches.

Relaaaax, ha!

We had a nice day.

But we didn't go riding.

Friday evening Kyle and I went to pick up 25 bales of peanut hay for the neighbors.

(He works for them...)

But right after we got there, it started to rain.

The truck was an hour late.

And by the time they got there, it was POURING.

So they cancelled until the next morning.

But Kyle couldn't go.

He was working at our local feed store.

An "audition".

They are hiring and narrowed down their applicants and then

assigned them each a day to come in and see how it goes.

It's a pretty physical job.

They just started selling those 110 pound 3-string bales.

Kyle only weighs 116 pounds!

Rod spent an hour adding an extension on the chicken yard gate.

A couple of my chickens have discovered they can jump up

on the nest boxes

and then hop up onto the gate

and out into the yard.

Where there are DOGS!

Silly birds.

Now there is a 3 foot extension on top of the gate

and they can't get out.

At least that way.

Then Rod and I loaded up his truck and Kyle's trailer and headed to get the hay.

They were late again.

(They have to drive down from Ocala - about 3 hours...)

Rod took a nice nap while we waited.

But slammed his hand in his truck door trying to hang a towel for shade.

OUCH!

(He's ok now though.)

Got our hay and back to the barn to unload.

Those are some heavy bales!  Good and solid.

Unfortunately, a little more than half-way through, 

a couple from the ward called and said they were at our front gate.

They buy our eggs when I have any I can spare.

They got a dozen and enjoyed checking out the new coop and fermented feed.

By the time I got back, Rod was just finishing up.

So we went around and fed all their chickens.

And gathered their eggs.

I'm pretty sure they didn't gather them the day before.

Out of 100 chickens, we got 86 eggs.

This morning, we got 12.  (so far...)

(He bought his chickens the same time, from the same guy, but his are older than mine!)

After all that, it was 12:30!

So we headed into town to grab a bite to eat

and stop at the feed store to check on Kyle.

(And bring him a bottle of ice cold water.)

And then back to the house to take a nap.

(Rod fell asleep on the couch - I swept and washed the floors.)

By that time, Kyle was home from work.

He was one tired puppy!

And we still needed to go back next door to gather more eggs

and move all 5 of his coops.

One of them has a big hole in the chicken wire.

All the chickens were out wandering around.

So we had to fix the hole (put new wire up)

and then catch the silly chickens and put them away.

And then we took Kyle to IHOP to get a blueberry pancake.

And to bed.

So... no riding, but we spent the entire day together 

and really enjoyed it!

Weeeeeeeeekend

I'm so excited!

I get to be home this weekend.

And its spring.

And Rod and I are going riding.

And maybe out to dinner.

And to church!

I wonder if I will have to introduce myself.....

Enjoy your weeeekend!

Retirement

So.

Yesterday I retired from teaching.

Well, semi-retired.

I still plan to substitute teach.

My school held a surprise retirement party for me!

So sweet!

I never heard from the other instructor about the trainee.

My boss agreed that she killed him and she was in hiding...

So we need a teacher for Boynton.
(And possibly a replacement for her too... lol)

The folks down there suggested we change to a Saturday/Sunday schedule.

And offered it to me.
At least I'm only teaching one class.
It lasts for 2 weekends, but leaves me 2 weekends free each week.
The 4-day school was getting to be too much for me.
For the 3rd month in a row, immediately after finishing class
I developed a cold sore on my mouth.
My body is trying to tell me it's too much.

So I'm not retired any more.

That has to be some sort of record!

Monday

My hotel, which I love, decided to switch back to wired internet

instead of wifi.

And I didn't want to sit at the desk last night.

So I'm at work, showing videos about retirement plans

and updating my blog.

(grin)

I haven't heard from the other instructor.

So either the trainee did well, 

or so badly she killed him

and she is now in hiding.

LOL

Meanwhile, today is my LAST day of teaching.

I'm not sure who is more excited.

Me, or my students.

4 days of 10-hour day insurance class takes a pretty big toll on folks.

So they are REALLY looking forward to taking the test at 4:30

and getting out of here.

(Especially since Spring has Sprung and it is GORGEOUS outside!)

Every break they make a mad dash to the great outdoors.

I Tried.....

I tried!

As soon as I was done with school tonight I dashed to the local WalMart.

That's where I get my Synthroid.

I knew I could get them to pull up my prescription and 

give me 4 pills to tide me over.

As I walked up,

they closed up.

They close at 7 on Saturdays.

Sigh.

But at least they had one bottle of Turmeric.

Our WalMart has been out for MONTHS!

So that was good.

On the way back, I decided to stop at Mimi's Cafe.

I had a DELICIOUS bowl of Tomato Basil Soup.

YUM!

And a deliciously light Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry.

It was really tasty!

Meanwhile.....

The instructor who is working with my replacement for Boynton Beach

texted me this morning.

Wanting to know if I watched him teach last weekend.

I told her no... all I had him do was watch me, 

do all the Admin stuff,

and then I assigned him a couple of chapters to read, study, and be prepared to teach this weekend.

He is a Community College Math teacher.

I guess he decided that if he could teach math,

he could certainly teach insurance.

As a professional teacher, he should be able to wing it.

She is pretty sure he never even OPENED the book over the week.

So, on my suggestion, she humbled him a little.

Told him (at break) that he was done for the day.

She took over teaching.

(it is SO hard to watch "your" students struggling with a less-than-stellar instructor...)

Then she assigned him a specific topic to prepare for tomorrow.

And then told him to be ready to teach for 5 hours

next Saturday and next Sunday.

Or be prepared to find another job.

(She is tough as nails - I don't know if I could do that.  But she can!)

I'm anxious to hear from her tomorrow to see how it went.

I hope he understands the importance of "upping his game"!

Way To Go, Bozo!

I'm out of town for the weekend.

This is my final class in Orlando.

It's a 4-day school.

And I just realized I forgot my pills.

I have no Synthroid.

No alfalfa.

No D3.

The rest, I can survive without.

I was going to do a 4-day bootcamp.

But I'm going to hold off on that.

I want to protect my adrenals.

I'll jump back on my pills when I get home on Monday night.

And start a bootcamp on Wednesday.

In the meantime, I'll eat well.

Drink a ton of water.

And be fine.

Silly girl.

Happy Birthday Nancy!

Hard to believe it's been another year already.

Last year around this time I was out visiting Nancy and the rest of the Tucson clan.

I WISH I was out there again this year.

That was a GREAT vacation.

Exactly what the doctor ordered.

But this year we are waiting and getting together in August

to celebrate Mom and Dad's 60th wedding anniversary.

And TODAY we are celebrating Nancy's birthday.

I sure hope she is having a great day.

I thought about her all day long.

But the company's new "NO INTERNET" policy is a pain in the neck.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANCY!

Howdy!

I haven't been around much lately.

Not much to report.

Tonight Kyle and I went to the woods and got some wood ash from the wild fire.

It's good for the chickens to use in their dirt bath.

It kills lice / mites.

Not that they have any.

But an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

I have all the girls staying in the big coop now.

*We call it the condo.

But I'm still letting them lay eggs in Rocky's little coop.

I had it all closed up yesterday.

And nobody laid anything.

(Well, the little girls laid a couple tiny new eggs in the condo)

I opened the coop and two of the black girls dashed in their and laid eggs.

But nobody else.

So today I left it open for them.

I usually take my eggs next door to sell on Wednesday evenings.

But Rod sold a dozen to a Sister from church.

So I only had a dozen and a half to sell today.

I should get another half dozen tomorrow.

Rod will take them over after he gathers them around noon.

I have a Trails and Greenways meeting tomorrow at 6:00.

And then I need to drive over to Orlando.

I'm teaching my final class this weekend.

I'm kind of looking forward to taking a break.

Easter

So.

Do you suppose it's too early for Easter?

How about Easter Egg Coloring?

Tonight I went to Friday's for dinner.

It was different.

I usually eat at Red Lobster's.

But they had a LONG wait and I wanted to get dinner over with.

After dinner I went to Target to get some Cadbury Caramel Eggs for my students.

(ahem)

And some hair dye to get rid of the "snow on the mountain".

(ahem)

Colored my hair.

Then climbed in the shower and rinsed.

And rinsed.

And rinsed.

I hate to mess up their pretty white towels.

When I was pretty sure I had all the color out and it was safe to open my eyes....

I discovered I was standing in ankle deep water in the tub.

It was the color of licorice.

Yah.

The tub is purple.

I'm pretty sure some Clorox Soft Scrub will take care of it.

But I feel badly some lady is going to have to clean that on her Sunday.

Oops!!!!!

On a better note.

Rod worked on the coop condo today.

He doubled the roosts so there is enough space for all 52 girls.

And put dividers in the nest boxes with nest pads so we don't need hay or shavings.

Keeps the eggs cleaner.

The nest boxes are sloped, so the eggs will roll to the back.

Again keeping them cleaner and away from little pecking beaks.

He also put in a new "stoop" in front of the coop.

The girls picked that spot for their daily dirty baths.

They push all the dirt out from under the concrete stepping stones.

Which means we are always slipping, sliding and nearly falling.

Now they are confined in a nice wooden frame.

So the girls can take their baths.

And we can enter/exit the coop safely.

The girls scoped it out today.

It passed inspection with flying colors!

Now if they just start laying eggs in there,

we will ALL be happy!

L A Z Y

I'm laying in bed.

Taking lots of D3 and Oil of Oregano.

Watching tv.

Enjoying my nearly last weekend living in a hotel.

But missing my family.

I'm feeling much better this morning.

Between the D and OoO

and some Cold Calm (homeopathic stuff I got at Walgreens)

I'm nearly better.

Taking no chances though.

Decided to NOT workout.

Starve a fever,

Feed a cold.

So as soon as I'm done watching Pioneer Woman make food

I'm heading to IHop for a yummy brunch.

And then it's back to school.

Since I wasn't feeling well last night, I was subdued.

And my students feed off my energy.

So they were basically dead.

I'm going to have to ramp it UP today.

Tomorrow we get to 

SPRING FORWARD.

(Not you Arizonians...)

Which means I'll get to get up at what FEELS like 5:30.

I guess my body wanted to preview that.

Cuz I woke up at 5:40 and couldn't get back to sleep

until I turned on the news and they bored me back to sleep.

SO looking forward to having some light evening hours though.

I complain about the dark, early mornings.

But the extra hours in the evening makes it all worth it.

Enjoy your Saturday everybody!

Last Day

Today I head over to Boynton Beach for my final weekend.

It is bitter sweet.

I'll miss these folks.

But I have a cold and I just want to stay in bed.

It isn't a very bad cold.

I'm megadosing on D3 and Oil of Oregano.

But I am rarely sick.

And a pansy.

So, there's that.

Meanwhile the new girls are integrating with the flock.

Lots of " pecking order" going on.  They'llget it figured out.

Happy Thursday

I'm trying something new.

Blogging from my phone.

We'll see.

It sems to work.  

But its a pain.

But I felt bad I DIDN'Tcheck in last night.

I am typing blind.  

It wont scroll up.  

So if this makes no sense...

OOPS!!!!!

Anyhow.

Yesterday Rod got us 25 more new chickens.

They are about 20 weeks old, so close to lYinh.

We now have 52.

But they are tiny and underweight.

But they are gobbling up their fermented organic feed, so they will fatten up.

Bring on the eggs!

Bison

Bison had an interesting day yesterday.

He started the morning by reaching his head through the back fence.

And biting the neighbor's horse caretaker's dog.

On the nose.

(In order for the dog to get bitten with Bison's head stuck through the fence,

it had to basically stick it's face in Bison's mouth...)

Anyhow.

She freaked out and said Kyle was going to have to pay

$500 for her to take her dog to the emergency vet on a Sunday.

But it was just a scratch.

Once she calmed down, she was apologetic for going off half-cocked.

So Bison got banished to his crate.

But then later Rod let him out.

And he caught and killed Blondie.

It was her own fault.

The chickens are now in the fenced in garden.

But she keeps flying out to lay her tiny egg in the hay room in the barn.

She was out.

And then Bison was out.

And he did what dogs do.

He chased her.

Caught her.

And brought her into his crate to play with.

So he got banished again.

And Rod got to try plucking a chicken.

And Jim got to practice butchering a chicken.

And I got some INTERESTING photos on my phone at school.

Just another day here at the farm.