Tag: rural living

News Flash: Chicken Lays Egg on the Farmlet

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Recently science has discovered that the answer to that age old question,  “Which came first? The chicken or the egg?” is…

the Chicken!

Well, of course it did!  Just ask any hen and she’ll gladly set the record straight.  It is also a fact that chickens will announce that they’ve  laid an egg,   and of course for the egg to have gotten laid there had to be a chicken doing the laying.

Are you following this?

And so it was on the Farmlet today that in the midst of my housework I heard the heralding of GRAYSON (?) telling the world that my Ameraucana hen had laid an egg.  Not the hen, nor her friends in the hen house who would normally join in cackling about her accomplishment… no it was Grayson my roo letting the whole neighborhood in on the blessed event!  What’a Roo!

The Little Red Hen is incredulous that Grayson’s upstaged the show.

Meanwhile, all the girls gather round in excitement to watch and wait…

while Grayson paces the chicken run like a new father in the hall at the hospital.

Bertha looks into the nest and can’t believe her eyes…  “Oh my, it’s so BIG”  she clucks!

Then I look,  and there it is… Miss Ameraucana’s first egg!

I’m happy to know that all the girls will soon be laying… because that means that I will be solvent in my chicken endeavors again!

Mid July on the Farmlet

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Standing at the  dining room window I look out to see that all of my chickens (and the geese too) have decided to take advantage of the neighbors property.  It’s OK, the neighbors don’t mind.  In fact, they even encouraged us when we replaced the fence to put in a gate for the critters access and enjoyment.  And enjoy it they do!  Just try to keep them out!

I grab my camera and venture outside into the heat of the moist 93 degree weather.

By the time I get to the back fence the chickens have moved to the far side of the acre to forage under the oaks.  I could watch them all day if I didn’t have other things to do, but I give myself a break and watch for a while.

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While I’m out I decide that the Keets and the Baby Roos are ready for the big turning out party.  With trepidation I open the gate of their little nursery and let them go… and OH-BOY, can those keets FLY!  They’re only the size of doves at the moment and one has landed on the roof of the house!  Now what?  Well, apparently it scared her too, so she came back down and started foraging the morning glories with the rest of the gang!

Maybe they’ll find all the little ‘invisibles’ that have been chewing the leaves to Swiss cheese.

I hear the geese honking behind me and turn to see that they have become bored with the field scene and are heading to the gate to come back into the poultry yard.  They are honking at me the whole way…

MOM, hot-hot-hot, MOM!  They seem to say.

I yell back,  “OK, I can take a hint! ”  And grabbing  the hose I fill their pool for them.

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OK, here’s just a bit more from yesterday…

I cleaned out the corn field because it was done.  It was a little disappointing again this year, yet better than last because what little there was,  was delicious!  That’s when I discovered all the Butternuts that were hiding underneath!  A whole twenty pounds of them!  Now what will you do with that much butternut and more on the way.  I ask you?  No really, I want your suggestions please!

I also watered the cukes and potatoes and that’s when I found these!

And there’s plenty more for this winter too!

I love my life here.  “:<>

Seven Miles

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Getting back into riding seemed daunting to think about.  I rode everywhere in the city, but once I moved here I quit.  The country road is just two lanes, and in the morning the commuters are late, and  just like in the city… they drive too fast.  Hence my fear of narrow riding spaces and being found dead in a ditch bank, have weighed heavily on my mind.   But I have resolved to ride again, and so begins my journey back to health and fitness.

I started back last week actually, and I have surprised myself by surpassing my expectations for distance.  Each ride’s distance starting with 4 miles, then 5, and today’s 7 mile ride serve to boost my confidence.

Today I took pictures.

Of grazing cattle.

A cotton field softened by the humid haze in the air.

A cotton blossom drenched in dawn’s dew kiss.

A newly plowed field that want’s planting with perhaps another chance at corn for this year… we’ll see.

A small working farm… well OK, it excites this X-City girl to see such things.  I can’t help it!

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And then its the end of the road.  I did not expect or plan to reach this goal so fast, and yet, here I am.

Looking across the highway…

… at tomorrow’s ride.

Where will it lead?

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I turn around and head home.  Pedaling down the road I feel summer’s hot breath against my skin.  Perspiration beads on my face and rolls down my spine.   I pedal harder to reach the top of the hill and wonder if I can break  20 mph on the downside.

Push, push, push up the hill… I crest…

Now pushing faster the wind blasts down into my helmet cooling my head, and leaning forward I gain the speed to hit 24 mph!

I love to ride.