Expressly Corgi

Tuesdays Show & Tail - Prosthetics for Animals

2011-03-29T18:00:00.001-07:00

I recently gained employment with a company whose beginnings started with creating prosthetic legs for people. My job position is in the retail and customer service for orthotics and durable medical equipment, but I've always been impressed by the devices that have been created to enable injured people not only to walk, but to run and jump and not be held down by a classification of "handicapped" any longer! Here's a short video about a mini horse, Midnight, who, at 4 years of age, now has a second chance at being a real horse again! What a delight to see what prosthetics has done for HIM!

Corgi Coat Blowing Contest?

2011-03-27T15:52:00.000-07:00

Last Fall, Mr. Wonderful and I got fed up with all the shedding our 4 Corgi girls were doing. We decided we could bathe them and put a quick end to the tumbling fur that generally follows us around the house after a bathing/drying session with the dogs - and remember, we also have a smooth coated Australian Shepherd, which makes the total of our dogs climb to FIVE!

First we did baths - one dog at a time, in assembly line fashion. I hosed them and washed them in the shower, wrung them out - ears to toes, passed them to hubby who then put them each in their own crate and brought me the next dog to bathe. When they were finally done, we hauled out our Ace in the HOLE - a giant FUR-MINATOR, so to speak !

...A Stihl Leaf Blower! With that POWERFUL MOTOR that moved rocks, branches, and big clumps of dirt, Corgi undercoat should be no match for THIS tool!!! I brought each dog, one at a time, out on their leashes. Hubby UN-LEASHED the strength of the leaf blower on our first unsuspecting subject! LOW and BEHOLD - the success of Corgi pitted against said LeAf BlOwEr was repeated time and time and time and time AGAIN!

No pictures can possibly have been taken to show you what wonders took place! I held Corgis whirling and twirling at the end of leashes trying to escape the WHOOSH of air coming out that tube....Corgis snapping, Corgis ScReAmInG like they were being massacred...Corgis clamping their teeth on the end of the tube to the point where it was nearly impossible to extricate their teeth from around and within the heavy duty material that the leaf blower tube was made from!

When all was said and done, not one hair was removed from their undercoat. Not one. Score? Corgis - 4, Stihl Manufacturing - Zero.

Tuesdays Show & Tail - Feelings about Furs

2011-03-21T06:39:00.000-07:00

I'm joining in with Angela's Show & Tail this week. Hope you join in! Be sure to check out her guidelines!

This is a wonderful circus act where a woman from the audience receives, of all things, a lovely fur coat! Nowadays we tend to think of how many suffering animals were sacrificed to produce one fur coat, and it makes the coat seem so unappealing. Watch this little video and at the end of the show, tell me how you feel about her coat.
Enjoy....

Happy St. PaTrIcKs DaY!

2011-03-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

Have a good one~

Sunday Funnies

2011-02-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

Hope this adds to your weekend enjoyment!

Corgi Games!

2011-02-04T19:43:00.000-08:00

Enjoy your day - the CORGI WAY!

PURELY MICHIGAN gets hit with Blizzard of 2011

2011-02-02T11:36:00.000-08:00

Welcome, Winter of 2011!

The news has been warning of a blizzard to hit our area for nearly a week now. Angela in West Virginia first alerted me to the broadcasts she heard in their local news. I watched the skies last evening before bed and I admit, I was a scoffer. But look who is not scoffing NOW!!!

Winter is for the BIRDS...but even THEY don't look too thrilled!

Better hunker down again for a while - - Happy Ground Hog's Day !

Very Cold, but LETS Find CHIPPIES!

2011-01-23T17:39:00.000-08:00

The temps have been sub-zero towards the end of most evenings. Our oldest Corgi, Sissy, loves the winter snows with all her Corgi Heart! Her favorite thing to do, when I will let her, is to go DRILLING for CHIPMUNKS! These aren't the best photos, but taken out the window in our "Observation Room", it was the best I could do for now! I don't want to be brave and freeze my fingers off!

She looked so satisfied at the end of "the chase"! Nothing better than a Corgi Fulfilled!
Have a great day -

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - Panda-modium!

2011-01-03T18:09:00.000-08:00

I'm joining in Tuesday's Show & Tail with Angela today - please visit her blog to read the rules and join in the party!!!

Jan 01, 2011 A rare Panda Cow was born in Colorado. This miniature calf has markings that look much like a panda bear, hence the name. What a cutie!!!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T22:16:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to You and Yours!

Tuesday's Show & Tail

2010-12-21T16:38:00.000-08:00

I'm joining in at Angela's for Tuesdays Show and Tail - go HERE to check out other blogs who are also featuring stories about pets!

The short video below is about Nilla, a Corgi, who enjoys going down hill in her very own sled, and she does it very well, if I might say so myself! Have a Merry Christmas!!!

Tuesdays Show & Tail - One Stop Shopping

2010-12-13T19:19:00.000-08:00

I'm joining in Angela's party today and hope that you'll stop by and visit her blog and any other joiners this week for Tuesdays' Show & Tail!

Happy Holidays!

December...time to remember...

2010-12-11T17:56:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy couple of months for me learning my new job. Each day it gets a bit easier, but part time equals nearly no time for nearly anything else I'd like to do! Blogging became a new and fun adventure a couple years ago when I first became unemployed, and it filled an empty space in my life. Right now it seems that weekends are the only time I have time to check out anyone else's blogs, never mind writing for myself!

Dixie (L) and Sassy (R), 2 yrs of age (2 years ago, Christmas time)

This year we put up a SMALL 3 ft tall artificial tree - it's sitting on the sideboard - high enough so the Corgi girls cannot reach it. The younger two girls think the ornaments are chew toys made especially for their little seam-ripper teeth! Naughty girls! I remember when they were just young pups - and when they'd chew and destroy a decoration I really liked, I'd think "gee, I'll be so thankful when they're about 3 yrs old-- they should be done teething..." WRONG! They're 4 now, and they still get into trouble with those pearly white tools! Nothing is safe if those girls are left unsupervised for a moment! And so - the tree is sitting up, high, on the sideboard.

Teeth like seam rippers!

My other 2 Corgis eat only food, and the rawhide chews that I give them. Sissy is elderly and so mellow. Prairie has always only gnawed on raw-hides (unless she has access to an open cupboard and helps herself to boxes of jello or pudding mixes....but, if it was open, or there was no door installed yet, it's clearly FAIR GAME, right?!?) Since Mr. Wonderful built new cupboard doors, Prairie can't access any of the bagged or boxed foods. It's no longer a "Self-Serve Cafe"! This is something I can be truly thankful for! But Prairie is not. She just grumbles under her breath, disgusted that she has not got opposing thumbs to pry that door open!

Be Thankful -

Frankenmuth, Michigan

2010-11-26T19:35:00.000-08:00

This past week, Mr. Wonderful had the entire week as vacation - the first whole week he's ever taken off work in the entire past 7 years! Wednesday we went on a day trip to Frankenmuth, Michigan. The day was cold and gloomy, but he and I always have a good time no matter the weather!

Frankenmuth is a Bavarian style town. Every building, including McDonalds and the Dollar General Store has a Bavarian flair to the outside facade! The last time I was in that town was when my boys were 3 and 5 yrs old - I remember the covered bridge was under construction, and so this trip when I saw that covered bridge completed, it was OLD construction! And next to it was a little Bavarian style shopping center! Such a cute area to walk around in!

We had noon meal at a restaurant that served FAMOUS CHICKEN DINNERS - and, there was no disappointment! The meal was great, and served by Senior ladies, dressed as Bavarian waitresses, complete with white starched aprons and little caps! The interior of the building was entirely Bavarian, with separate dining rooms that were given names. Ours had 6 high backed booths, and the room was called the Cow Path.
After lunch, we visited Bronner's Christmas Village - a HUGE store filled with all things Christmas! It's open year round. You can find just about any style or theme ornament there, with all sections of the store labeled to help you locate anything you may want - farm items, beach items, forest animals, hunting, fishing - you name it!

After returning to our car, we were feeling a Christmas Overload, of sorts. It was fun to see how the town had grown and changed after all these years, and so interesting to see Bronner's Store again. But, you know, nearly every single ornament was made in China...and after not having employment for so long, it was hard to look at all of the pretty decorations, and nothing made in America. We even visited a store called Purely Michigan; the sign said the shop contained items made in Michigan. Besides Maple Syrup, we could count only 2 items made in Michigan...a lazer carved wood ornament of the shape of the state, and a few hand woven baskets by an artisan in Cheboygan, MI. The embroidered sweatshirts that said Michigan on them? Made in Honduras. The stuffed bear wearing fishing gear? Made in China. We weren't tempted to open our wallets for anything except our Chicken dinner. And - it raised another question - what country did our chicken come from.....

Let us give Thanks...

2010-11-25T15:35:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Day has been a mile-marker day for me this year. Two years ago I was laid off from my job, and was wondering what in the world there was to be thankful about, as my final work day was the 21st of November. It felt like the beginning of the end. Those of you who know me realize all that has been going on here, and could see and read about what some of my time was spent doing. A good portion of my time that you DIDN'T see was all of the job applications I sent out, the rejections or 'no replies' that I received, and the grand total of 9 interviews in 2 years that I was called out for, all of which I was experienced and could fulfill the job duties posted. I was rejected for every last one of those 9 jobs full time jobs, but I applied for hundreds more each month anyways. Finally on interview number 10, I was hired! Thank you to those who prayed for and with me before each and every interview - at last I have a part time job with acceptable pay!

I started October 4 in a small 2 girl office doing customer service work for a medical equipment supplier. Something I've NEVER done before! I was lost (and still am!) with some of the computer screens and terminology that the other CSR's use - it sounds foreign to me. But slowly I'm getting the hang of it! I like the girl I'm working with - she's almost as green as I am, but it's pleasant working with a like - minded individual.

A new job is not the only thing I'm thankful for. These past 2 years have me grateful for Mr. Wonderful and his patience with my moods, grateful for my new bloggy friends, grateful for my hens, the egg sales, the hen house sales, the Corgi Note Card Sales, and the little things that helped keep our household functioning. Both my boys and their families were visiting with us last weekend, and we had a super great time - simply amazing to me to watch the grand kids play together! They change so much each time I see them, I wish we lived closer, to be able to see them more often, but I'm thankful we are able to see them when we do.

God has been so good to us, even when I wondered what I could possibly be thankful for way back those 2 years ago....but I always knew I'd be able to see the blessings once I was able to look back from where I am now, and appreciate it fully. Faith is a marvelous thing.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday's Show & Tail - Smell a Rat? or - a BOMB?!?

2010-11-08T15:31:00.000-08:00

Giant African pouch rats are performing a serious task: sniffing out deadly landmines.
The rats weigh between 0.7 and 1.5 kilograms and measure 30 to 40 centimeters in length, excluding the tail.
They are especially suited for mine detection because they have to use their sense of smell to locate their food supplies, which they store underground. They’re also easily motivated by food as a reward and are nocturnal, so they tend to be easy to manage during the day.
It takes two human “deminers” a full day to clear a 200-square-meter minefield. With the help of a couple of pouch rats, they can finish the job in 90 minutes. So far, the rats “have helped re-open almost two million square meters of land” in Mozambique.
The cost of fully training each rat at about $8,400.
Oh, and they only work Monday through Friday. On weekends, they play.

Chores Galore!

2010-11-08T05:34:00.000-08:00

Our 5 acres of "Heaven on Earth", as its been called, has hundreds of trees. In Spring, the leaves provide a back-drop for the flowers of the Dogwood trees; in Summer they block the view of the neighbor's house and garage, giving us our own private little world. In Autumn, the colors and shapes are amazing! In Winter, the snow rests on the branches and trunks, offering a view out our large windows that makes me glad of the toasty heat from our corn stove and wood burner! I DO love them, but at this time of year, they mean more work. It's FALL, after ALL!!! And FALL, they must! More chores AFTER work!
We rake only the area surrounding our house and outbuildings, of course. We don't clear the entire 5 acres. But when we're finished with this small patch, it FEELS like we've raked 5 acres, let me tell you!!! Every muscle, every bone in our bodies ache!
The musky odors of the leaves as they are moved brings back thoughts of Autumns long ago - when us kids used to "help" dad as he raked huge piles of leaves in our yard. He'd no sooner rake a huge pile and he'd gently toss us into them, covering us over with a blanket of leaves! They were light and fluffy, and we would beg to be tossed in again and again! Dad knew how to let kids have fun, and how to join in! Never mind he had more raking to do when the games were done for the night - he had the heart, mind and soul of a child, and shared in our delight of the season!
Later on, we'd help truck those leaves by the handfuls and Dad would lug the largest share - to the burn barrel in our alley. The main portion of leaves were from a tall Oak in the neighbor's yard, so they would smoke and barely burn. A sprinkle of Maple leaves would renew the flames when smoke had taken over from the oaks, and the smell is something I enjoy now, away from my fire pit. The scent takes me back... decades back...as the flames fire my rememberings of the BEST childhood a girl could ever wish for.

The Leaves are Waiting....

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - Magical Mystical Corgis

2010-11-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

3-D Corgi

Many of you know that I am owned by a herd of Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs - all females - and one of each color! They can be wild as the day is long, and are the subject of the note cards that I sell in my etsy shop, Classy Chassy. I've gotten many questions on how I get them to "pose" for the photos, and let me tell you right now, that is no simple matter! My girls are very active, and their attention is easily sent off in the opposite direction when they sense an upcoming activity, or when movement elsewhere is perceived! I take many photos for one shot, and ALWAYS there are BLOOPERS! There are the great shots, however, and these are the photos I use for my cards. Corgis have a natural beauty, spark, and a haunting look in their beautiful eyes that hits you like magic!


Welsh Corgi Dog - the Faerie Steed

"Pembroke Welsh Corgis are indeed a magical breed of dog, and legend has it that they once served as the trusted steeds to the Faeries in the woodlands of Wales. If you look closely at a corgi's coat, you can still see the outline of the Faerie saddle on its back and shoulders."

Have a Faery Magic kind of Day!

Our Place - Kitchen Final Touches -

2010-11-01T06:56:00.000-07:00

The weekends have sure been flying by since I started my new little job. The noon till 5pm hours cut into the day, and rush hour traffic leaves me getting home at 6 or 7pm, which I don't care for particularly. I should get books on tape to listen to on that evening drive. Any Library Employees out there with recommendations for me??

This past weekend I had a goal in mind - RECLAIMING MY KITCHEN! It's been a disaster since spring, when we first began to work on renovation. Mr. Wonderful had the cabinet doors built and mounted, new counter-topping, new red paint, and some of the plug ins installed (after finding many live electrical wires hidden beneath back splash and/or drywall!) The kitchen was safe and operable, but no lighting and no back splash, no window frame or sill...It was lacking in charm.

TA-DAAAH! Lookie Lookie, see what's new!

New copper colored tile...

New corner shelf for nick-nacks...

...and note the light bar with shelf over top of it - custom made just for ME!

I'm LOVIN' IT!!!

2010-10-29T07:10:00.000-07:00

I haven't been blogging much as of late, but it's for a good reason - I'm happy to report that after 2 long years of being unemployed due to the economic conditions, I finally got a job! It's only part time, but it's a job and I'm happy to have it.

As with each situation I've ever been hired into, this is entirely different from any other job I've ever had. This one involves customer service for a medical equipment supplier, and there's a lot to learn. I'm familiar with many medical devices, from wheelchairs and walkers to orthotic boots and AFO's, which is a help. But the computer system this company has is an entirely different ball of wax! It is an older system, and upon describing it to my IT savvy son the other evening on the phone, his constant reply to everything I told him about it was "REALLY?!?!" Come to find out, what I'm using there at the office is an old version of "DOS", with the black screen and the blinking black box to enter information into! I was "surprised", but NOT surprised, if you know what I mean. It's basically an 'easy' system to work with in some respects, but more difficult because of the amount of time it takes to enter customer information in SEVERAL times on SEVERAL different screens. There are no 'drop down menus', nothing to make it more user friendly.

So as I struggle to learn each and every shortcut keystroke, every possible patient/order/physician screen, be patient, and I'll have more postings later on. I've enjoyed finding stories and videos for Tuesday's Show & Tail, and linking up with my pal Angela for this weekly event. I hope you have found those postings entertaining! Right now I'm singing -
"- HI-HO - it's off to work I go -"

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - Corgis Love to Help with CHORES!

2010-10-26T05:57:00.000-07:00

I'm joining in Tuesdays' Show & Tail at West Virginia Treasures. You can link in too, with any pet or animal stories and photos. Go to Angela's blog to sign in, and visit the other participants to see what they've posted today! Be sure to read her rules, and WELCOME!

We all know how Corgis think everything is BIG FUN! Here's a Corgi willing to help its' owner with the most mundane of chores!
(A little more about this team... This video got them 1st place in the international summer 2009 video competition, and they earned the novice title in Freestyle. Sadly, Obi has since died way too young. It was reported he had some sort of digestive problem. Susan Brogan, his trainer, continues to compete in freestyle with other breeds, but I haven't seen her with another corgi. Such a creative trainer!)
Enjoy the SHOW!

Tuesday's Show & Tail - Animorphs!

2010-10-12T06:47:00.000-07:00

I'm joining in Tuesdays' Show & Tail at West Virginia Treasures. You can link in too, with any pet or animal stories and photos. Go to Angela's blog to sign in, and visit the other participants to see what they've posted today! Be sure to read her rules there.

Have you ever seen creatures like these before??? I love the creative side of the people who appreciate wildlife on the WILD SIDE!

For more creative talent, click on THIS LINK, and find the pictures I've posted today, and many many "morphs"!

Announcing a Giveaway!!

2010-10-08T17:48:00.000-07:00

Announcing a GIVEAWAY!! HURRY AND ENTER!!!

Angela, at West Virginia's Treasures is having a giveaway. The prize is a $25 shopping spree from one of my two etsy shops! ANYONE MAY ENTER!!! Here's what she has to say:

To celebrate my One Year Anniversary hosting Tuesdays' Show & Tail I am going to have a giveaway! I am offering a $25 shopping spree to Monica's etsy shops. Monica has Classy Chassy and Dark Horse Primitives for you to pick something nice and unique from. You can pick one thing from one shop and another from the other shop if you'd like only don't go over your limit unless you want to pay the difference.

Now the rules for entering are simple because as you know I like to keep it simple. You will have up to three chances to win.

1. Go to Classy Chassy and or Dark Horse Primitives and come back and tell me what is your favorite item.

For Chance #2. Link up with my Tuesdays' Show & Tail this week (Click HERE to enter!!!) for a second chance.

For Chance #3. Post about this giveaway or put it on your sidebar linking to the giveaway for another entry ~you will need to let me know that you did so I will make sure you get the extra entry.

~ Remember - ANYONE MAY ENTER!!! And you will have up to 3 chances to win!!!! The giveaway will run from now until October 11th. I will put all the names in a hat and draw one lucky winner. I will announce the name of the winner on my next post for Tuesdays' Show & Tail. That's all there is to it!

Happy Fall, Y'All! - a Celebration of Harvest

2010-10-06T06:22:00.000-07:00


Getting ready for winter heating

Some of you know that on my BIRTHDAY, the Lord graciously provided a new part time job for me. I was wondering if the job was my gift from God, or if the previous 2 years of unemployment was my present! Perhaps it was both? We cannot know or understand the mind of our Creator, but at any rate, in all things, be thankful!

I've enjoyed the colors of the trees and foliage on my daily drive to the office each day. Tractors are in the fields, "bean heads" at the ready, and have been harvesting corn in some areas as well. Our harvest this year has been from our 3 tomato plants, which delivered plenty for our sandwiches, a few jars of tomato jam, and "dainties" for our hens! Our flower garden has flowers - and the sun in the woods does not allow us to have extra space for a good vegetable garden. But we've had a harvest of a different kind - a harvest of fallen trees! We've been cutting and splitting on and off this past summer, when time, heat and humidity allow. We still have some wood to split yet.

Ready to split!

The new job hasn't required much of me, except to plan my schedule, as I don't start working till 12 noon, and I return home around 5pm. But still, anything new can be tiring on the mind. I've been learning the phone system the past couple days. It's different than any I've used before, and seems to me to be a little old fashioned. But, that is what they use, so I'm a-learnin'!

My drive home last night was a nightmare. "ART PRIZE" was going on downtown, with all of its various venues, and thousands of people wanting to get off the expressway to find a parking space to see the artistic creations, and to vote for their favorite Artist. Big money involved on the streets of Downtown Grand Rapids! Then, a huge traffic jam...an accident that slowed traffic for miles. Even the southbound lanes were slowed to a crawl, because of "gawkers" trying to see the wreckage! I got off as soon as I heard on the radio what was causing the mess, but it didn't help me one iota! I think I headed out into a mess that was just as bad - the cars wanting to park to see Art Prize, AND local college students going to and from their classes! Oh dear!

So, for a job that should get me home about 5:30pm, I arrived home at 6:30pm, and look what I found after my tiring day???

Deliverd, but not stacked!

Mr. Wonderful found a deal on wood, and ordered 2 cords of it. This is part of the first load. The fella was supposed to deliver and stack, but he changed his mind on stacking it for us, even with the offer of extra pay that he agreed to. So - he gets less money, and we have more work! We stacked one pile of it last night when Mr. Wonderful got home, and this pile will get stacked when we get home tonight!!!

Happy Harvest!

Tuesdays' Show & Tell - the Mighty Walrus!

2010-10-04T18:02:00.000-07:00

Time for Tuesday's Show & Tail! If you want to join me and others who are posting pictures of animals or pets (past or present), Go Ahead - sign in with Mr. Linky at West Virginia Treasures. Anyone is welcome to join us! Congratulations, Angela, for completing a wonderful YEAR of this great animal party!!! It's been fabulous fun for us all!

This is the neatest exercise video - to enjoy the music and commotion, please turn off my blog music at the bottom of the page, then click on the video to start it!

Hope you enjoyed watching this great exercise program!!!

We have a Winner - - -

2010-09-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

It's after midnight, and now it's my official "Happy Birthday", and I wish to thank all that participated in my Birthday Card Contest, and also thanks to everyone for their Birthday wishes for me!

There were such great entries for my contest, I really struggled to choose a winner! I loved them all so much! But, as hard as it was....(may we have a drum roll?....)
I am pleased to announce the winner of the box of 6 Corgi birthday cards is The Princess of Everything with her entry:

From the office of the Federal Witness Protection Program:

You don't know us and we did not do what ever it is that we were accused of!

Princess, I will need your mailing address in order to send out your prize. And thank you all again for entering, and making my day extra special!

Happy Birthday to Me....

Thursday is the Final Day - Enter NOW!

2010-09-28T13:50:00.000-07:00

DON'T FORGET!

There's still time to enter my Birthday Contest!!! Thursday is the final day and winner will be announced on Friday!!! Enter as often as you wish! Click HERE for details!!!

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - Little Sea Squirts!

2010-09-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

Time for Tuesdays' Show & Tail! Please join me and others at the party headquarters! Sign in on Mr. Linky at our hosts' blog, Angela at West Virginia's Treasures - anyone is welcome to join in and post about a pet (past or present), or any kind of animal on God's Green Earth (or ocean?!?) Welcome!

These fast-growing sea squirts were found at Larsen A. This can be an indication of a first step towards a biodiversity change after the collapse of the ice shelves. The animals in the foreground are colonized by two crustaceans and a brittle star. Credit: J. Gutt, Alfred-Wegener-Institute.

I've heard it say there is nothing new under the sun. I don't believe it is absolutely true. There are many creatures we've never seen, many creatures that have never been confronted with the lens of a camera. How about this picture, for instance - have you ever beheld anything like it before?

GS at the Great Lakes

Let's go SWIMMING!....or NOT!!!.....Here's more interesting ocean finds!

Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary, about 17 miles off Sapelo Island, Georgia, is home to a variety of strange creatures. The Glyceridae, or bloodworms, are ferocious epi- and infaunal polychaetes that prey upon small invertebrates. They are errant burrowers that build galleries of interconnected tubes to aid in catching their prey.

Pillar Coral

Parrot Fish

In the Weddell Sea off the east coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, 10,000 square kilometers of seabed was sealed off from the surface for thousands of years by the 100-m thick ice shelves. When these ice shelves collapsed in recent years, the area was opened up to species that could not have survived there before. The earth undergoes constant changing - temperature changes, earth quakes open caverns in the earth - many things happening in different parts of the world. I'm sure scientists will discover many new and different creatures and organisms as time unfolds on our little planet in the huge universe!

Have a Wondrous Day!

OH NO! A BIRTHDAY CONTEST!!!

2010-09-24T16:20:00.000-07:00

OH NO! A CONTEST

To Celebrate my upcoming BIRTHDAY - I decided to have a contest, and anyone is welcome to enter - you don't have to be a follower to participate, but be sure I have your email address in the event that your entry is chosen as the winner, please!

New in my ClassyChassy etsy shop I'll soon be adding a listing for "Corgi Birthday Cards", and I'm really excited to be offering them for sale. The prize will be a boxed set of 6 birthday cards to my winner. Each card will be different, 4 will have verses inside, and 2 will be left blank for personal sentiments.

So, how do you enter, and how do you win??? To enter is easy....The picture below above a sentiment for the inside of the card. "Prairie Dog" is the model and she's sporting a Groucho nose, mustache, and glasses! Isn't she just the Bees Knees?!? I would like everyone to think of something humorous that will go with her photo on the front, and I will choose the winner from those submitting the funniest or most unique saying to use inside this card. Yep, you might have to work a little - scrub the dust off the old brain cells and think about it a little. And, if you know anyone who might want to enter, please send them the link to this contest; as I said, ANYONE can enter, but please, submissions must be "clean" and fit for any age group to read, okee dokee?

Submit your entries in the comment section at the end of this post. The winner will be chosen on Thursday, September 30th, and announced on my birthday, October 1st! Good luck and have fun!

Happy Birthday to me....

OK Go - White Knuckles

2010-09-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

You will enjoy this entertaining little video even if you aren't into dog agility or training techniques! It's fun to watch, fun to listen to the music, too! (Be sure to turn off the music on my blog, on the sidebar below.)

Go - White Knuckles!

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - No Monster in the woods - or WAS There?!?

2010-09-20T14:44:00.000-07:00

Trail Sign in the forest

Mr. Wonderful and I were away on a weekend mini-vacation paid for by his employer. Every year they have an awards ceremony in honor of the workers who have been with the company for a number of years. Last year they held it at a ski lodge and received so many compliments from everyone who attended, so they decided to have it at the same place once again. We got continental breakfasts, and the awards banquet on Saturday night featured Rib Eye Steaks and chicken breast - very tasty!

Jewel-like Mushroom

Slippery Old Plants over mud and marsh areas

Ferns

Camera at the ready...

Saturday during the day we were free to do whatever we wished, and Mr. Wonderful and I went 'exploring' at Grass River Conservation Area. There were wildlife observation decks every so often, and wooden plant walk-ways to follow. We stopped to rest and observe nature, hoping to see some neat animals amidst the vegetation...when SUDDENLY - out of NO WHERE - - -


BIG FOOT!!!

Yep - BIG FOOT! Actually, we found this guy lurking in the Archery Section of a sporting goods store! He was 9 ft. tall and was a target that could be purchased for only $875.00 - such a DEAL!!!

Hope you enjoyed my post for the day!

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - See Ya Later, Gator!

2010-09-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

Time for Tuesday's Show & Tail! Our host,Angela of West Virginia Treasures, is missing in action today, due to the arrival of a new baby Nephew - - so I'm posting a Show and Tail feature anyways. Congratulations, Angela, on your new Nephew!!! Prayers for health and wellness, for both your sister and her new baby!

Florida sheriff's deputies sprang into action Monday morning when a seven-foot alligator made its way toward a group of school children.
A school crossing guard first spotted the gator on a street in Oldsmar and called authorities.

Gator Round-up! Click on pictures to enlarge!!!

Deputies quickly arrived and called for a trapper, but decided they couldn't wait when the reptile entered the street and began heading towards a group of children walking to Forest Lakes Elementary School.

Three deputies worked to lasso the gator's head.

Gator in Chains

After a short tussle they were able to tape its mouth shut and secure its back feet with handcuffs.

...and a fashionable Hoodie too!

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission took custody of the gator until the trapper arrived.

See ya later, alligator!

Digging In to Fall

2010-09-13T06:42:00.000-07:00

SO Thankful we have cooler weather finally. Summer has been beastly hot this year! Yesterday we brought home 50 bales of hay from our supplier, and we're going back for a few more. They want to store their machinery in their lean-to, so we're going to help clean that area out for them. They have mowers and balers, and also equipment they use for their lawn service that need to be cleaned up and stored for winter. We don't have much storage room here on our place, and can only stash about 60 bales of hay at a time, so we're able to go to their house and pick up hay as we need it. They don't charge us extra to store our hay there, either. We are so thankful for that family and their generosity! I believe God has seen their kindness and has blessed them this year. While many other farm folk have had hay rained on and ruined after it's been cut, this family has had a great hay harvest every single time, all 3 cuttings!

I've got to get out and cut back some of the flowers in my circle garden this week...many are spent, and I'd like to do a little something different, if I can get my imagination going, to re-work the appearance of that garden for next spring. Maybe while I'm digging around in there, I can come up with a new idea for re-vamping it. It's kind of like re-arranging furniture, in a way - only harder work is involved AND different muscle groups! Am I up for it??? Wait 'n' See!

Diggin' In -

Hope-sessa Tra La La!

2010-09-09T16:44:00.000-07:00

You know, I have the dearest husband in the world, but he's been cranky lately - short handed at work, mean and mouthy customers that he's had to deal with every day...can't say as I blame him for getting 'the cranks'. I've been waiting for the mail delivery each day, hoping the surprise I got for him would show up - and today it finally did! SWEET! So, I gift wrapped it with a charming note and put it on the bed where he'd be certain to find it when he got home and changed this evening.....

Mr. Wonderful and his Surprise!

It was an instant HIT! Doesn't he look pleased??? He could hardly wait to climb into his new Tee, and it brightened up his mood immediately! I love to see that smile - it's a winner!

Love Chickens?

When I was a kid, we called gifts like this "Hope-sessa Tra La La!" I think it means "present" in Polish, but I'm not certain. The expression has a funny happy sound, and that's why I remember it so easily!

Make it a great day - for EVERYONE!

It was a dark and stormy night.....

2010-09-08T06:49:00.000-07:00

Obligatory Corgi Photo - Sass Dog on Deck!

This past weekend I worked on the Laundry Room - cleaning cob webs and dust, defrosted the ice from the chest freezer...and Mr. Wonderful installed a new hot water heater! We needed it, as the other one was starting to take a dive...took too long to get hot water to any of the sinks or faucets upstairs, not to mention the SHOWER....and I could hear the lime rattling around inside of it when it would start to heat a new water supply. Mr. Wonderful even sprung for a new shower head - the kind that sprays a wide rain shower on you, and the shower head removes so you can "spot-spray"...sooooo nice!

Yesterday we had a hum-dinger wind a blowin' most of the day. Things started out bright and sunny in the morning, but as the day progressed, it got more windy. The power went out in early afternoon, so no hope of catching up on blog reading! And, I must make mention that the power outage most likely happened because I defrosted the freezer (no extra ice to keep things frozen) and because of the new hot water heater installation....(kind of like washing your car makes it rain outside???) I have Consumers Energy on my cell phone contacts list, so I dialed them up, and waited. And waited.

About 3 hrs later, the power came back on, but Mr. Wonderful had phoned, asking me to meet him for dinner. How could I refuse Pizza??? MmmmmMMMMM! We returned home about 8pm, and.....NO POWER! So, I dialed up Consumers once again, and of course, there is no updates on when power would be restored. No phone. No lights. No water. We spent the rest of the evening reading our chosen magazines by flashlight, glad we had eaten dinner out! For entertainments sake, I phoned Mom on my cell - she gets rattled when Caller ID does not say who is on the other end of the call, but she put on her "Big Girl Panties" and answered my call anyways - Yeah MOM! We had a nice little chat, and decided to hit the hay at 10pm. The power came back on at around 1:00 am. So today, it's back to normal chores as usual!

Back to FULL POWER!

Tuesdays Show & Tail - Belly Flops!

2010-09-07T06:16:00.000-07:00

I'm linking in today with West Virginia Treasures, hoping to inspire other animal lovers to post about their pets and creatures in nature - perhaps you have an interesting photograph to share with us? Link in at Angela's blog, and join in the fun!

I saw this cute short video with (what else?!?) a short legged Corgi - having a dive and swim lesson with its life vest on! Enjoy....!

My Review of Margarita Rooster Cookie Jar

2010-09-06T08:30:00.001-07:00

Originally submitted at CSN Stores

Features:

Cookie jar
Margarita collection
Earthenware
Hand wash only
Keeps your baking staples or freshly baked cookies fresh
Hand painted detailing on a scalloped body
Modern take on a Spanish floral

The Rooster Crows PROUDLY!

By Classy Chassy from Greater Grand Rapids, MI on 9/6/2010

Pros: Decorative, Large Sized, Dishwasher Safe, Colorful
Cons: None
Best Uses: Decorative, Cookie Storage
Describe Yourself: Casual Cook

I liked the large size. There was no description on it to let me know how large it was, and I didn't feel like calling up customer service when I ordered it, so I expected it would be much smaller. A nice surprise, and it was very well painted, no missing color or glaze on the product.

Cookies I baked to put in the Cookie Jar

Hens that created eggs so I could bake my cookies!

Tags: Cookies, Made with Product, Eggs, Chickens

(legalese)

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - Frightfully Funny

2010-08-31T07:24:00.000-07:00

I'm joining in on Tuesday's Show & Tail at Angela's West Virginia's Treasures. Click on the Peacock to join in or to see other participants. If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Please check out the rules at her blog, and WELCOME!

Yesterday I was out stacking hay in my potting shed and as I removed one bale for feeding the horses, I happened upon an unexpected surprise.

Snake Skin - so perfect!

I'm certain it was the skin of a Garter Snake - they're quite common here in the woods. Sometimes I come across them when I'm pulling weeds, or getting ready to start a bonfire...they like to hide underneath the rocks I have placed in those locations. It can be startling when they first emerge, but, they are harmless, so I leave them be and enjoy their slithering movement as they 'high tail it' to a different location.

Mr. Wonderful, my "HE-MAN"!

This specimen was completely intact - no rips or tears, except for the neck area where the snake decided to slip out of its suit! I saved it to show Mr. Wonderful when he came home in the evening - I knew he'd find it fascinating. I forgot about the skin until after dinner. He was unwinding from his busy day, watching TV and thumbing through a magazine...so when I walked over and whipped out the snake suit, he didn't hear me come over towards him, but he sure seen that skin as I dangled it over the top of his magazine...and he LEVITATED into the air, his remaining hairs forming a Mohawk as they stood straight up from his head! Some 'not so pleasantries' flew from his lips - seems I had forgotten how terrified he is of SNAKES!!! I could literally SEE his heart pounding in his chest, he was so startled by the sight of that thing!!! It made me laugh for hours - but him??? ....notsomuch!

Here Snakey Snakey!

Ice Cream Sunday - or Sundae?

2010-08-30T06:40:00.000-07:00

Mr. Wonderful had a loooooong weekend this past Fri-Sun. and I think he really enjoyed it! We had a chance to visit some good friends in his old hometown of Fremont - people we had not had a chance to visit with since last year sometime. Everyone's lives are so busy, and the time flies by too quickly. You just have to clear a space in your calendar and do something about "making time to make time", if you know what I mean.

Heritage Hen House Flyer

The garage got cleaned out from building our Heritage Hen Houses, finally. There's been no time for that up till this weekend either! I can't even BEGIN to know where that mans tools need to be stored, and so I steer clear of his MAN CAVE. If I were to put anything away for him, he'd ever find it again! So, I sweep the floors when he is finished arranging the saws and wrenches and air hammers. I know my place in that world!

Sunday we took an afternoon drive up north. I enjoy those drives, as it reminds me of when my dad used to take our family on Sunday drives...we'd all pile in the car to enjoy the scenery. I remember looking out the window, and back then I'd pretend I was galloping on a horse, jumping over fences and ditches, and racing across the roadsides....We didn't need any videos to watch in the car, or headphones to listen to tunes to pass the time. We played road games, used our imagination, and just enjoyed the drive.

Jones' Ice Cream, Baldwin, MI

No road trip is complete without a stop at Jones' Homemade Ice Cream shop! This parlor in Baldwin Michigan (a little hole in the wall town) has changed very little since dad took us kids there so many decades ago! The very same square tables, the same counter, the same round counter stools - and an old wood and glass display case with candies and tee shirts for sale... On all the walls are photos of Baldwin, previous owners, and a pictorial history of Jones', so very faded, but interesting to see and read.

Same Building since 1942

I heard the owner telling one of her helpers that she had owned the shop for the past 20 years, and there had only been 3 owners! I guess that shop helped all the previous owners retire, because that place is ALWAYS packed whenever we've stopped in for an icy treat!

Mural on the building was added just a few years ago.

Some things have probably changed, at least as far as the menu goes - I see they have Blizzard type treats, waffle cones, chocolate DiPpEd waffle cones, chili dogs, and nachos. These things were unheard of when I was a kid - you got a choice of regular cones, or SUGAR cones - that was as far as cones went...no sprinkles, no Blizzards - and I thought the cones themselves would never be improved upon. I suppose there's always room for improvement - except when it comes to Jones' handmade ice cream, ITSELF! It's the WORLD'S BEST!

Have a COOL DAY -

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner! and another chance at a giveaway...

2010-08-26T05:22:00.000-07:00

The DICKENS, you say!

Back in July I won a giveaway at West Virginia Treasures for a $40 gift certificate at CSN Stores. There were so many neat things, I just couldn't decide what to use it on, but finally I made up my mind....

My prize was fragile - no disappointments because of breakage!

Lots of good packing inside this box, as well!

My package came by UPS yesterday - such a large box! I chatted with the driver for a few minutes, but FINALLY he left so I could be alone with my package!! I savored the Christmas-like moment, but not for TOO long, let me assure you! After ripping open the box, I found everything was expertly packed in bubble wrap, and I lifted out another box...

LARGE Rooster Cookie Ja

And THIS is what I chose! CSN stores has almost anything you could dream up! And the $40 is what I "spent" because they have FREE SHIPPING! No out of pocket costs, unless I went over the amount of the gift certificate.

UPSTANDING - in EVERY WAY!

And more good news for YOU - Angela is having yet ANOTHER GREAT GIVEAWAY, and you will have your choice of up to THREE chances to win!!! You don't have to choose the same thing I did, but you WILL have to compete with ME, because I'm entering again TOO!!! Click HERE to see her simple rules and to sign up for her giveaway - and a chance to win your very OWN gift certificate!!!

Hurray for CSN!

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - Leucism is not a Religion

2010-08-23T14:52:00.000-07:00

Hairy Woodpecker, normal coloration

The photo above is a picture of a Hairy Woodpecker which we often see at our feeders near the house. I didn't have my camera nearby yesterday when an unusual bird landed on our suet feeder, but I found the image below (taken by a person in Massachusetts), as I searched for a photo of what type of bird we were visited by. I wanted to have the information to share with you today!

"Albino" Hairy Woodpecker

The condition, called Leucism is a very unusual condition whereby the pigmentation cells in an animal or bird fail to develop properly. This can result in unusual white patches that appear on the animal, or more rarely, makes the creature completely white.

Look for God in Unusual Things Today!

Tuesdays Show & Tail - Humor!

2010-08-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

Today I have some Animal Humor to share. Enjoy!

Make it a great day!

Who CANOE??

2010-08-16T06:54:00.000-07:00

This weekend was so hot and miserable across most of the United States - humidity was the chief culprit. Mr. Wonderful was out there in the thick of it, mowing and weed-eating our yard, and also way down by the roadway, sweat just dripping and causing grass clippings to stick to his skin. Thankless but necessary chores like these need to be done.

Canoes of Many Colors

After he showered and changed, he said he had a brilliant idea, and we had to leave right NOW! He grabbed us each some bottled water, and we headed out to Rockford - to a CANOE LIVERY! We had talked of doing this a year or so ago, because he knew it was on my 'Bucket List' - things I had never done before. Because HE is MR. WONDERFUL, he knows how to do most EVERYTHING, and he enjoys doing most anything we can dream up to do! I was taken totally off guard, but I was game, and the humidity was letting off due to a cold front that was moving through - what a relief!

Water so clear we could see the bottom!

Since I'm a greenhorn, I knew absolutely nothing about canoes, balance, paddles - so you can imagine the possibilities for disaster were endless!! He had to tell me to relax, because the canoe was wobbling back and forth as I tried to figure out how to steer and balance so I didn't tip us into the Rogue River! In a short time, I began to feel like Pocahontas with her Warrior, paddling down the rapids!

That's ME in the front! (SURE!)

Muskrat

We saw turtles, many ducks, wildflowers, and even some magnificent homes hidden far from the roadways that we would never have imagined were back here! One of the most surprising sights we saw was a clump of grass, possibly a foot long and equally as wide, "swimming" to the shoreline! We watched in amazement as the "grass" lumbered forward onto the sand, and we could see a muskrat shedding its' baggage, venturing out to collect more of the same! So funny!

The 2 hour trip ended far too soon for me. Mr. Wonderful took me out for pizza afterward - and he gets an A++ for a surprise date like this!

Who CANOE?

Dog Daze of Summer

2010-08-12T05:49:00.000-07:00

Corgi Life in Puppy Prison - not as rosy as it seems

Heat and Humidity seem to run hand in hand these days in our area, and across the States. Everyone is Melting!

"I'm melting, melting! Oh what a world- what a world!"

Last summer I picked up a child's Turtle Sandbox at a yard sale and turned it into a pool for the Corgis to go swimming in! They love it, and when it's so hot, they will jump right in and swirl around to play, and the cool water is a wonderful beverage too! As the temps rise, they require more liquids, so when you are feeling rather warm, please remember your pets wearing those hot fur coats!

"Kibbie Float"

Make them a "Kibbie Float" by first placing the regular amount of dry kibble in a serving dish, and add fresh water! A super treat and can be served morning and evening!

Keeping Hydrated -

Good Morning Sunshine!

2010-08-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

This is the view I wake up to most every morning....
There's a bit of open sky in our woods and the sunshine peeks in to warm my little flower garden!

Do you see how the trees are leaning in the picture below? It's no trick of the camera - and it gives me the feeling I'm living inside a glass globe, like the snow globes we used to get as Christmas gifts when we were small! Imagine what a view God has as He holds HIS globe in His hands and looks down on US!

Mr. Wonderful fills the bird feeders with "Black Oilers", as they are known at the feed mill. Both birds and squirrels enjoy feasting on what we supply, and we have good fortune of being able to watch them from our dining room window. A perfect set-up for us nature lovers!

The rest of our yard requires me to search for plants and shrubs that require mostly shade to survive. But Let There Be Light - and I'm filling it up with bright flowers and lots of color! A good contrast for all of the "greens".

Make it a GREAT DAY!

Tuesday's Show & Tail - I Wanna be a Dog!

2010-08-09T13:40:00.000-07:00

Down Country Roads

2010-08-09T06:19:00.000-07:00

WAZZ-UP?!?

On Friday we took the finished coop to the Newaygo County Fair and got our display set up. The borrowed trailer worked quite well for loading and unloading - much better than the big lift required to put that heavy monster into our pick-up truck! Getting too old for much more of that!

I added a few decorative touches, including signs and sun flowers - and of course we included flyers and business cards in weather protective folders for folks to take if they were interested in ordering one of these beauties for their flocks at home.

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE!

The designated area for our display had a nice grassy spot and we set it up there to take some photos. We got a lot of lookers even though the fair didn't officially start until the next day. Everyone seemed charmed by it, flipping open doors and latches to look at the "innards" as well as the "outtards"!

We're happy to be finished with this project - the heat as been terrible, but the humidity was WORSE! I believe God is making up for our unseasonably cool summer LAST year by sending us rain and heat THIS summer! He works all things out according to His plan. Today it is raining again, and since we have friends that will be exhibiting daily this week, they have graciously offered to open and close the hen house doors depending on the weather, so the display bedding and our fliers do not get soaked.

Even if we don't get any orders resulting from the display, we'll get exposure, and maybe surprises will happen --

Down the Old Country Road!

Abracadabra - the Things We Learn

2010-08-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

A poem for those in the working world - from one of my favorite childhood poets. It was written long ago, but rings true even today!

One from One Leaves Two

Higgledy piggledy, my black hen,
She lays eggs for gentlemen.
Gentlemen come every day
To count what my black hen doth lay.
If perchance she lays too many,
They fine my hen a pretty penny;
If perchance she fails to lay,
The gentlemen a bonus pay.

Mumbledy pumbledy, my red cow,
She’s cooperating now.
At first she didn’t understand
That milk production must be planned;
She didn’t understand at first
She either had to plan or burst,
But now the government reports
She’s giving pints instead of quarts.

Fiddle de dee, my next-door neighbors,
They are giggling at their labors.
First they plant the tiny seed,
Then they water, then they weed,
Then they hoe and prune and lop,
They they raise a record crop,
Then they laugh their sides asunder,
And plow the whole caboodle under.

Abracadabra, thus we learn
The more you create, the less you earn.
The less you earn, the more you’re given,
The less you lead, the more you’re driven,
The more destroyed, the more they feed,
The more you pay, the more they need,
The more you earn, the less you keep,
And now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray the Lord my soul to take
If the tax-collector hasn’t got it before I wake.

--Ogden Nash

Fair Play

2010-08-06T05:45:00.001-07:00

The plan for this evening is to transport our lovely hen house to the Newaygo County Fair. We were fortunate to be able to borrow a small trailer to move that heavy Chicken Palace - much easier than us 2 senior citizens lifting it onto the box of a pick-up truck (which incidentally has been outfitted with a lift kit by the previous owner!). We've delivered many chicken homes to our customers in that fashion, but upper body strength is something I lack, and as wonderful as Mr. Wonderful is - he just can't lift it that high by himself!
Yesterday I finished staining, and today will be adding finishing touches to the project. The girls have been watching and hoping that this new home will soon be theirs, but Mr. Wonderful refuses to lean that direction. His plan is to sell this display model! We advertise our structures unstained to save money for the general public, and also to encourage the entire family to complete the fun part - the painting and decorating! We imagine parents and their children getting away from their TV's and computers, using their creativity, working as a team to complete a project that can be uniquely theirs. What could be more fun?!?

Playin' it Fair -

The Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round - But not for me....

2010-08-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

Those closest to me know I've been SO looking forward to a job as a new hire, driving school bus for our local school here in our small community! The perfect job, perfect pay, and soooo close to home! I lined up my physical and finger printing for today, and I arrived for the DOT physical and drug test on schedule.

Of course the doctor was NOT on schedule. I waited - nearly 2 hours, and I had the fingerprinting scheduled 2.5 hours after my physical, thinking for certain that would be enough time! NOT.

I passed the physical in flying colors. However, I was informed that because I take insulin once a day, that automatically disqualifies me from receiving a license to drive school bus or anything other than my own vehicle. Out of frustration, I started to cry. You can understand that I've struggled for 2 years trying to find employment, begging for interviews, asking to work for FREE (and getting rejected even for THAT) - it has been so hard! The doctor asked, "Do you harbor feelings of guilt?" "Do you have trouble sleeping at night?" "Do things seem to move in slow motion, or too rapidly, in daily life?" "Who is your family doctor?" I looked at him incredulously! He then said, "I must inform you that we have contacted an ambulance service to transport you to a Suicide Prevention Treatment Center, and we will contact your personal physician..." You have never seen a person change from an exam gown to street clothes so rapidly! I left that Occupational Diagnostics Center, elbows flinging away their grasping fingertips, before they could hit the facility lock-down button! Imagine that! And, as I drove away, the ambulance was pulling up to the main entrance!

What started out as a wonderfully happy day filled with anticipation of a new direction in life, new employment, and a fun filled afternoon soon turned into an outrageous nightmare! I suppose the old adage "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched" still rings true. And another caveat to remember: Never show any emotion at a medical facility!

What Can Happen NEXT??

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - Eggs in a Rainbow of Colors!

2010-08-02T11:34:00.001-07:00

I'm joining in on Tuesday's Show & Tail at Angela's West Virginia's Treasures. If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Please check out the rules at her blog, and WELCOME!
Been so busy working on the Hen House for display at the County Fair, but still the daily chores must be done. This morning the girls needed housekeeping, and while I was "changing the sheets", I collected several eggs. Just look at the variety of color!

(Please note the Obligatory Corgi Photo in the collage above.)
I love the deep chocolate brown of the Cuckoo Marans eggs. Some of the customers adore the blue eggs, even saving them till last to enjoy the unusual color. One of my customers believes the blue eggs are oxygen deprived, and prefers the brown or tan eggs! Oxygen deprived??? NOT TRUE!

"Easter-egger" hens lay the blue, green, or pink eggs; each separate color is particular to one hen. They taste the same as all the other color eggs - no difference. And the brown eggs are not "color fast" until they've been exposed to air for an hour or two. Up until that point, the color can be wiped off! So fascinating, and there is much more to be learned!

Have a Rainbow Day -

Almost Fair Time!

2010-08-02T07:39:00.000-07:00

Saturday will be the start of the Newaygo County Fair in Fremont, Michigan. Mr. Wonderful was asked to build one of his Heritage Hen Houses for display near the Poultry Exhibition Area. Between the heat and his "day job", it's been hard to get going on the new coop, but he is nearly done building it, complete with all the bells and whistles, and I will be able to start staining it soon. I think I'll stain it the same as the one I'm using. I've created brochures to place near it, and also made some cute business cards. We don't want to miss an opportunity to make a sale!

Life's a STAIN this week -

The Big Reveal - The Great Dining Room Challenge

2010-07-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

If you recall (or not) last week Angela of West Virginia Treasures and I were going to reveal our dining rooms after giving each other a week to get them all spiffed up. No big remodel jobs here, just a good cleaning, as these rooms are the dumping grounds of household accumulations of mail (opened and unopened!) and other things that are placed here as people walk by to grab a drink in the middle of working on projects, etc. You know how that goes in your own homes, I'm sure. BEFORE pictures are ABOVE, and without further adieu, here are my AFTER pictures!

First off, the large windows needed to be washed. That was a big chore because they tend to streak when they are cleaned as the sun is shining through them (which is most of the time!). My canary cage was relocated so he could look out the windows and enjoy the goings on in the yard below.

Since I have such a lovely garden happening outside, I decided to create a flower arrangement for our table. Flowers should inspire a dining room table to REMAIN for dining, don't you agree?

Vacuuming the area rug and mopping the wood laminate floor was not too difficult. For laminate we were told to clean it with Windex - and we would have no streaks! I've always done that since Mr. Wonderful installed the flooring, and it's always looked great. I proceeded with arranging a cozy "table for two"...

...and arranged the decorative items on the sideboard....

As you can see, I've brought the outside INSIDE with the use of houseplants, and of course, my little chicken salt/pepper shakers and antiques are things I can't do without! Love my little "cobwebby" Hens & Chicks! Looks rather cozy, don't you think?

Now, I'm headed off to see how Angela fared this week - she has a much busier schedule than I have, with young children to deal with. Wonder if she had to lock them in a closet in order to keep her dining areas clean for her photo shoot?? Click HERE to visit her house in West Virginia!

Keep it Squeeky Clean -

Got CHICKS? Brooder Set-up the EASY WAY!

2010-07-28T05:28:00.000-07:00

When I lived in Illinois, I was able to get advice on an inexpensive brooder system from a farmer's wife. Being born and raised in the city, I had no clue as to the ins and outs of chicken care, and Donna, who had been born into a farming family, was no stranger to anything farm-related. She took me under her wing, so to speak, and taught me a few things about poultry and brooder boxes for new chicks. I will share that with you today.

Before you bring your new chicks home from the post office or the feed store, you should have a few things in place. Assuming you will be getting only a few birds to raise up to be layers, this plan works well for around 10 birds. Once you get the gist of it, you can set up additional brooders for larger amounts of chicks!!! You will need:

heat lamp
heat bulb
large cardboard box
wood 2x4
wood shavings (not sawdust!)
chick waterer
chick feeder
chick feed
small size grit

Heat Lamp - These are relatively inexpensive and can be bought at a hardware store, feed store, or online if you like. The bulb that works best for the chicks is a RED one, as it is easier on their eyes.
Cardboard Box - get a clean refrigerator box from an appliance store. These have worked great for me, and you can cut it to the height you need, so as the chicks grow and attempt to pop up into the air, they won't pop over the top and outside the box! Yep - they are kinda like popcorn!
Feeder/Waterer - these can be purchased at the feed store or online.
Grit - because chickens don't have teeth, food goes directly into their crop, so they need to grind the food in order to utilize it properly. Small grit is the size you need for chicks, and as they grow into large birds you can increase the size they will need to medium grit.
A word on Chick Feed - there are plain feeds and medicated feeds on the market today. I have always purchased medicated feed to prevent such diseases as coccidiosis. Most poultry suppliers will vaccinate chicks for around fifty cents a bird, and that is well worth it. Medicated feed for the first month, in my opinion, is worth feeding as a preventative, and it costs the same amount per sack. Some folks, because of the popularity of organic farming, don't want vaccinations or medicated feed anywhere near their chicks. That is their choice, and there's nothing wrong with that. They may or may not have troubles with the health of their birds during the early stages of "chick-hood". I prefer as much certainty as possible, myself, and prevention is the best medicine!

Of course you can buy a brooder from a poultry supplier or from the feed store. But, this is what I do, and it's easy, inexpensive, and you can send it to the landfill when you are through and not have to store much at all!

Cut the cardboard box down to about a 3 ft. height, and fill with pine wood shavings. (Sawdust is too fine, and the chicks might ingest it, causing blockage and illness.) Fill the feeder and waterer, placing them in the box. Then, grab each chick, dip their beaks into the water so they will start to drink. Don't dip so far as to let water enter their nostrils! Just wet the beak! Then, take the long 2x4 (it should be long enough to cross the top of the box and stay put, without falling into the box) and clamp the heat lamp onto it and plug it in. That's all there is to it!

Watch the chicks, and if they huddle together near the heat, you may have to lower the lamp an inch or so. If they try to go way to the sides of the box away from the lamp, they are too warm, so raise the lamp a bit higher. If they are walking around all over the box, napping and eating and drinking, they are ju-u-u-ust RIGHT!

You will have to keep an eye on how they are positioning themselves if you have them in an outbuilding and the weather is changing daily, like in early spring. As they grow larger and the down is replaced by feathers, you may not need to use the lamp during the day - only at night if it turns cold. But that's it for brooding in the brooder - pretty simple, and nothing to be afraid of. If I can do it, you can too!

Keep it Simple -

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - Animal Chiropractics

2010-07-27T10:50:00.000-07:00

I'm joining in on Tuesday's Show & Tail at Angela's West Virginia's Treasures. If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Please check out the rules at her blog, and WELCOME!
A new trend used in health care and healing of animals is Chiropractics. If you have never heard of it before, it has been around for a while. When I lived in Illinois there were only two Doctors practicing on animals in our area back then. To be able to enroll in classes, one had to be either a Veterinarian, or a Chiropractor. It isn't something you can just "do". Chiropractics in humans has been successful for many different ills, so it stands to reason it should work in animal health care. Here is a story in PICTURES!

Make it a GREAT DAY!

The Great Dining Room Challenge

2010-07-23T10:25:00.000-07:00

Been feeling sorta down and out again, like "Granny" in the photo above. Angela from West Virginia Treasures and I decided to add another 'Challenge" to our Git R Done projects. If you remember, we had the Great Gardening Challenge not long ago, and it worked out wonderfully well for both of us!
The garden area viewable from my dining room got a new look, and I'm loving it! It was so successful that Angela and I decided to work on our dining areas...BECAUSE....they collect clutter. They are a dumping ground for mail (read and UN-read), craft projects, purses, kiddy klutter, and a multitude of other things that really need to be put away in their rightful homes! So, here's MY "before" photos:
Our dining area is rather small, like the rest of our house. It might not seem like a huge deal to keep it organized, especially with only 2 adults living in our little cabin in the woods! It gets full of mail, car keys, and items for sorting, and then 'Sidetrack-itis' takes hold; and when that happens, I seldom get back to sorting any time soon!
We plan on finishing up our challenge and celebrating our success next week Friday, so be sure to check back! And, we'd like to invite anyone who might have a cluttered dining area to join in with us for our Great Dining Room Challenge! Just leave us a comment to let us know you're "in", and link in to this post with your before photos. Deadline for completion is next Friday. No prize, but the feeling of accomplishment is WONDERFUL! Click HERE to visit Angela's Dining Room!

When Picking Chicks, DON'T Choose a Tomato!

2010-07-23T07:42:00.000-07:00

Hens are not just for farmsteads anymore. Many urban areas now are allowing city dwellers to keep a few hens in backyards, to supply fresh eggs for their personal use. Of course before placing your order for pullets, or buying them from your local feed store, its wise to check your municipal code. Grand Rapids, Michigan has submitted a proposal to allow urban chickens, and the results of the vote are pending. Codes will determine how MANY hens a person can own as well as chicken containment and chicken house sanitation, and most codes, I'm certain, would prohibit roosters in urban communities.

Once the "All Clear" is established, a "Flight Plan" is a must. How do you know what KIND of chicks to buy?

First off, know where you can purchase pre-sexed chicks. There are many mail order businesses found in the back of farm catalogs or on the internet. Admittedly, you will pay more for the pre-sexed chicks, but it is worth it to know you'll not have to get rid of any peeps you have already christened with a NAME. It's very hard to send a peep down the road once it has a NAME - believe me!!!
If you buy from a feed store that has the cockerels and pullets separated, the choices are relatively easy. Or ARE they???

For the urban "Chickenteer", the breed choices are the most important. You want EGGS, not more baby chicks. Choose breeds of birds that are not "broody". Broody hens set on eggs. They desire to HATCH them. When they lay a clutch of eggs, they will lay no more until they either hatch those eggs (no rooster, remember, so the eggs are not fertile!) or until you can 'break' the broodiness cycle so they will begin to lay eggs once again (can be difficult). Non-broody hens could care less. Give em a nest box, they make their daily deposit, and walk away. You want the NON-broody hens. Much easier for busy urban dwellers.
A few breeds I've had success with are the Ameraucana, Sex Link, Australorp, Silver-laced Wyandotte, and Maran. Other breeds can be researched online or in poultry books. When you want good eggs, choose the RIGHT chick - NOT a TOMATO! Once you have breed knowledge, go pick your chicks! And in 5 or 6 months, those pullets will be squawking out their very first egg - the first of many more tasty treats to come!

Make it an EGG-celent Day -

Got Eggs? Got Berries?? Let's Bake!

2010-07-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

There's something wonderful about having hens - could it be all those fresh eggs?? Mmmmmm! Something to remember: If your recipe calls for the eggs to be 'room temperature', BELIEVE IT! Most baked goods turn out better if the eggs are room temperature.

I found a neat recipe today, and I adapted it to include something I just love - BERRIES! Of course you've read my previous post about the 'not so good' Blackberries.... and you know I won't be using any of THOSE for my baking today! However, it IS Blueberry time in Michigan, and I just happened to get a quart of them at the store today. Here's my recipe adaptation:

Blueberry Muffin Doughnuts

2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 t. salt
1 T. baking powder
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/2 c. plus 1/2 t. butter, divided
1-1/2 c. sugar, divided
1 egg, beaten
3/4 c. milk
1 c. fresh blueberries
2 t. cinnamon

Combine flour, salt, baking powder, nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon butter, 1/2 cup sugar, egg and milk. Fold in fresh blueberries. Fill 6 large greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or when muffins begin to pull away from sides of cup. Remove immediately from pan. Melt the remaining butter; roll muffins in butter. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon; roll muffins in mixture. Makes 6 large muffins.

Getting "the Berries" -

OH BOY! Wild Blackberries - YUM-M- M.....or not so much.....

2010-07-22T05:06:00.001-07:00

So far this year we've had a pretty fruitful summer season back in the woods. Wild flowers were in abundance, both red and black raspberries were unbelievably tasty, wild strawberries could found, and I've been SO WAITING for the Blackberries! While Angela and I were working on our Great Gardening Challenge, I found a new patch of these beauties just waiting to ripen! They found a very convenient spot to grow - just over my split rail fence, where I can easily pick them without having to enter MOSQUITO-VILLE and risk unwanted 'needle sticks' by those blood thirsty varmints! The berries were hard and dark green the week of my discovery, and the beginning of THIS week - look at 'em! I thought perhaps by Friday I'd be able to harvest a few for making a smoothie! I found a great recipe I'd like to try, using vanilla flavored soy milk and agave syrup - it even suggests tossing in a few sunflower seeds and cayenne.... Not sure about that part, but perhaps I'd try it with the last few sips of my drink, if I'm brave that day!

Plenty of rain in our area has helped the berries and wild flowers take off in their growing sprees. The mosquitoes are unbelievably large as well, and thrive in the vegetation that seems to be overtaking our yard. We have an electric fence that keeps shorting out because of large amounts of thick stalked plants that are springing up all over. When it shorts out, horses can escape. After arriving home from work yesterday, Mr. Wonderful fired up his gas weed eater and began trimming! The fencer was once again working properly!

I was fixing dinner when he finished weed wacking, and he was so happy to have that huge chore completed. He remarked how POWERFUL that weed eater was, and invited me to have a look at his handiwork through the large picture windows. I could not help but stare in awe, mouth wide open, at the superb job he had done! All around my little garden, it looked so serene and beautiful! And behind the split rail fence - empty space! He made quick and easy work of removing those pesky blackberry brambles, before they had a chance to claim any MORE of our yard space! Imagine THAT!

I remained speechless for a moment. In times like these, I always think to myself "if the world ends tomorrow, will this episode in time really matter??" Naaaah! And, Blackberries at the store cost only $3.00 a pint.

Fruitfully Yours -

Tuesdays Show & Tail - Pony Tales!

2010-07-19T06:50:00.000-07:00

I'm joining in on Tuesday's Show & Tail at Angela's West Virginia's Treasures. If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Please check out the rules at her blog, and WELCOME!
Back in the early to mid- '90's I had employment training harness racing horses. Early mornings would find me at the Morrison, Illinois Fairgrounds feeding 4 racers 'in training', then taking them out a bit later for their morning exercise hitched to a jog cart, or when it was too cold and snowy I would attach them to a jogger and exercise 2 horses at a time while I drove around the race track in the comfort of my heated truck! I remember those times fondly, and the horse I have now (Suzy) is one that actually taught ME how to drive harness racing horses! I love to hitch her to her cart, and go trotting down the road...very relaxing for me, and pleasant for Suzy too. She'd rather be hitched than be ridden under saddle any day.
On Sunday Mr. Wonderful and I visited some friends in Fremont. It's fun to catch up on all the news in people's lives, and after a bit my friend Pam and I went out to check out her animals. She got a black pony for her daughter, and they bought a nice harness and little cart for Thunder to pull. Thunder must be around 8 years old or so, and he's a cutie, but he's been spoiled and has his own ideas of how things should work. Pam has ridden horses for years, but she's the first to admit that she has no knowledge concerning driving, carts, or harness. She has hitched the pony and driven him maybe 6 times or so, but Thunder gets to do mostly what Thunder wants to do, and he's getting pushy and head strong. She asked for my help, and of course I was game! We 'tweaked' the adjustments of his harness, we hitched him to the cart, and away we went!

Thunder was supposedly Amish trained. That means he took off at a fast road trot, but didn't like to walk or stop/stand still. We don't know how long he was with the Amish - could have been started pulling the cart, then perhaps was sold, sat around in a pasture, and never worked again until Pam got him. Very uncertain history. As we went down the road it became clear Thunder knew how to do a nice turn with the cart, a pivot, and a working trot as well as the faster road trot. He disliked walking, but he got a chance to learn how to START to like it anyways! Stopping was another matter. He would pause, then begin prancing in place, then turning around to face the other direction, and attempt to trot back home again. Not cool.

I worked with him, as Pam sat next to me in the cart, and we got him going again with the tap of a whip on his behind. There were periodic starts and stops, and one time Thunder decided to see if he could step backwards and rear up to attempt to take advantage of the situation. He re-thought that little trick, and was made to see the error of his ways. We headed towards home, and PASSED it! After he showed he could be calm about going where I directed him, Pam took the lines on the way back home. She drove him in a nice little circle around the yard before returning to the hitching post. We worked on some ground manners after cooling Thunder down with a fine mist of water on his warm body. He clearly wants to please when given the opportunity, but just needs more work to show him that no matter who was in the drivers' seat, he must listen to where the DRIVER wishes to go!

It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon! My friend has some work cut out for her, and I'm sure Thunder will try to pull another stunt or two before he becomes the perfect Equine Citizen, but he'll meet his match with Pam on the lines!

Time to GET GOING! Bye for now!

The Great Garden Clean-up Challenge!

2010-07-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my little garden in the woods - a project completed because of the Great Garden Clean-up Challenge I had with my friend Angela of West Virginia Treasures fame! When you have a big project to do, and you are uninspired because of heat, pressing chores, or pure procrastination, what better way to get it completed than by doing it with a friend! Angela and I live in different states, but we didn't let THAT stop us! Here is my "BEFORE" photo. Hard to tell there is any type of garden or thought put into this space shown above. It was (and still is) Mosquito Heaven. I hate when they screech their buzzy noises around my ears, and I REALLY hate being bitten by those little vampires!I put in 5 bags of cedar mulch, and I really could have used a 6th one, but I "made-do" with what I had bought. Too hot and miserable to run back to the store today.I planted 2 hostas in with the other plants already living in this little area. It gets mostly shade, so the hostas will thrive, but it is also partly sunny, so perhaps next spring I'll add a couple of other flowering perennials to the mix.Hope you enjoyed your view of my little woodland garden as much as I enjoy finally having it completed!!! Click HERE to go to Angela's garden!

I hate Skeeters -

Tuesdays Show & Tail - Scooby, Where ARE You???

2010-07-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

I'm joining in on Tuesday's Show & Tail at Angela's West Virginia's Treasures. If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Please check out the rules at her blog, and WELCOME!
What an interesting time we had this past weekend - horseback riding on Saturday, and also, a guest came to spend an over night with us - My Sister-in-laws' Bichon, Scooby! She and her hubby were going to be out of town and asked if we could pet-sit Scooby - and of COURSE I said YES! Even though it would mean 5 dogs in our house, the more the merrier!
First in the door came Scooby's "luggage" - a little suitcase full of his accessories (treats, food, brush, leash, placemat, and bowls), and of course, a couple of beds and his BONE PILLOW! Inside the suitcase was an instructions for his care during his stay with us. I much appreciate knowing all about what an animal is used to, as it eliminates the guess work for me. Scooby even gets a 'sleeping pill' before he goes to bed at night - well, that's what they call it - it's really a breath mint!
After his mommy left, Scooby sat by the door looking dejected for a while. But he's a good little guy, and it didn't take long for him to settle in. I had chores to do outside, so I left him in with Nitro for a while. When I came back inside, I called him....No Scooby! I looked all over the house. Still, no Scooby. SCOOBY DOO BEE DO - WHERE ARE YOU??? Finally, I went back into the living-room for the 3rd time, and looked around. I had a double-take at our recliner. There was a quilt on it....
WELL! Don't let me DISTURB YOU, Scooby!!! For goodness sakes! He knows how to make himself comfortable! What a funny little fella - always smiling!
Scooby was the perfect guest - ate everything put in front of him, and didn't fuss about bed time either! We sure enjoyed having him as our guest, and we were thrilled to find out he'll be coming back to spend time with us again in August! I'm SO looking FORWARD to it!

Hugs -

Horsin' Around on the Weekend

2010-07-12T07:35:00.001-07:00

This past Saturday a friend of mine came over to spend the day. It was great to do some 'catching up' on each others lives. She's a farm girl from way back, and she loved seeing our hens and the chicken palace that Mr. Wonderful built. She is an animal lover too, of course, and we planned to take the horses out for a little trail ride.
It's great to have a loaner horse that has been around a few blocks - makes a beginner feel at ease with no fear of broken bones! Sandra had few reservations about standing behind this one and brushing her tail - - but click on the picture to enlarge, and look at the expression on her face! It's quite comical! A true "Kodak Moment"!After a short lesson on the workings of the steering and braking mechanisms, we were off to ride the road to the trails. There was plenty to talk about, and plenty more to see riding the State Land about a mile from my house.We must have been out for at least an hour, but what a great way to spend the day, sharing a favorite activity with a good friend! We grilled hot-dogs for lunch to have with potato salad and chips - and PLENTY of iced tea! The day was sure hot, but we were blessed with cool breezes, beautiful scenery, and NO SNAKES! I was sorry when the time came for her to leave...the day ended all too soon for me. But because of the quiet patience of her mount, Sandra may be back to ride with me again!

Happy Trails!

Steamy, Hot Chicks, and the Gardening Challenge

2010-07-08T08:18:00.001-07:00

We've certainly had a lot of steamy days here in Michigan. Other states are feeling the heat, too, as I've seen on the evening news. We've got some HOT CHICKS to take care of - and one way to ensure they remain healthy through the heat is to make certain they have a lot of water to drink! I clean their water container with bleach and rinse well before delivering the water supply to the Egg Producer's Official Headquarters...and I also add 1 Tablespoon of Cider Vinegar for each gallon of fresh water. It helps sanitize, and also refreshes the hens during the heat wave and high humidity.

The coop that Mr. Wonderful designed has ventilation with screens near the top of the house, and the front and back doors will latch open to cool the entire interior on days like we've had this week. It's nicer for when they go indoors to lay eggs, but they still prefer to be out of doors, as the location of the hen house is in the shade for the most part. The girls linger underneath the coop when they want a dust bath or just to have some 'alone time'!
The gardening challenge I have going with Angela from W. Virginia has slowed down considerable. We've BOTH had extreme heat and weather disruptions. It rained last night here, and the skeeters are out in full force, and humidity has prohibited me from doing much of anything since last weekend. Above is my 'before' picture of the garden area I selected. And BELOW is the picture of how far I got, taken yesterday.
You WILL notice a difference in the appearance, but I'm not done yet. Angela and I decided to extend the deadline to Wednesday of next week. She needs time to convince her hubby that he really DOES need to get the landscaping fabric down from the barn for her...that it's an actual project, not just a 'whim'! I hope he cooperates before the frost sets in.....!!!

Stay Cool!

Tuesday's Show and Tail - Curly Cutie!

2010-07-05T19:00:00.000-07:00

I'm joining in on Tuesday's Show & Tail at Angela's West Virginia's Treasures. If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Please check out the rules at her blog, and WELCOME!
They say a person learns something new every day. And every day I watch for my 'something new'! Here it is!
This is an Astrex rabbit - nearly extinct. It is a form of a Rex Rabbit, whose hair coat is so fine and short - the guard hairs are the same length as the undercoat... so very thick that it feels like velvet. Rexing is a genetic mutation. Astrex rabbits are covered with varying degrees of curly hair. Only the ears, tail, and feet have little to no curl. The rabbit shown here is considered an extremely curly coat. To find out more about this "rare-bit", click Here!

Have a Hip-Hoppy Day -

Oh Those SKEE-TOES! A Sad Tale of Gardening Woes...

2010-07-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

I love to putter in my little flower gardens. It's so relaxing to me, and on days when the sun is shining, it's a little bit of heaven on earth. I have a hummingbird feeder hanging above my 'circle garden' and sometimes I'll get "buzzed" by one of those little fellers when I wear a bright colored shirt! So funny!

There's one garden spot I absolutely DREAD to go near, and I've put it off long enough this season. It's the one area I can see from my large picture windows....MOSQUITO CENTRAL - a place NO one should tread unless there's a mobile blood transfusion center somewhere near by!
We planted a couple of small bushes there, thinking it would be nice to see that when we looked out that picture window at the bird feeders and the woods down below. But - we never thought of how miserable it would be to tend that area - weeding takes a little while to accomplish, and even to spread mulch is painfully itchy for a few days afterward, even using repellents, which do little to deter OUR skeeters!

So, I was chatting with Angela of West Virginia Treasures this week, commiserating over how much needed to be done around our homesteads, trying to get over feeling lazy and uninspired, and wanting to make our little pieces of heaven-on-earth more appealing. We've both been pelted by rainstorms, which has made gardening difficult, but has done wonders for weed growth! We decided to create our own "Gardening Challenge" and finally "GIT R DONE"! For me, this has meant making a decision to go out and face the music, to beautify that little area way down in the "SKEETER Holler". Silly me.

The GREEN blobs above are my BEFORE pictures. It's just a small area, as you will notice. Angela is picking a small area too. But we hope to make a difference in the appearance of a small section of our yards. After all, Baby Steps is the way to accomplish most tasks like these. And hopefully, one week from today, we'll be "sitting pretty"!

DON'T "bite me" -

A Wrinkle in Time

2010-06-30T10:57:00.001-07:00

Lookee Here! What a great HAUL this morning, eh?
Eggs, eggs, and More eggs! Everything seems "picture perfect", doesn't it? But, look again. Closer. Click and enlarge the picture below, if you have to, to see the wrinkled truth....
Do you see it? Do you see the wrinkles? Kind of like the difference between our daily lives and our "blog lives"...Everything can look so smooth and lovely from afar...but when you get up closely, you can see the flaws...The Wrinkles.

Wrinkles are a part of reality. Old age, certainly. There can be wrinkles in the plans for our lives, which come about by error, the economy, mean spirited people, or "just because". I've hit a "wrinkle" nearly 2 years ago when I was "downsized". It wasn't the first upset in my life, and it certainly won't be my last. Somehow we get through it all. We can't choose what kind of bumps are in our roads but we can choose how we perceive them. The government has refused any additional federal extensions for unemployed workers. I feel badly for them, badly for me. No matter how hard we have tried, how many applications we send out daily, many of us are still unemployed. But we must continue on, looking for jobs, looking for the bright spots in life...

..Small blessings...Things we enjoy doing...Things we do for others. And we keep trying. Because life is an Adventure. The Greatest Show on Earth!

Blessings -

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - Don't Get all in a FRIZZLE!

2010-06-28T16:03:00.000-07:00

I'm joining in on Tuesday's Show & Tail at Angela's West Virginia's Treasures. If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Please check out the rules at her blog, and WELCOME!
Isn't this a dandy looking chicken? It is called a "Frizzle"! A friend of mine has buff colored banty Frizzle hens, and hers are the first I have ever seen, though Frizzles come in just about any color. They are bred for exhibition and originate from Asia.
Here are some Frizzle pullets. They look so downy and soft! If a Frizzle is bred to a Frizzle, 25% of the offspring will be what is known as "curlies" - the feathers are only curled, and very dry and brittle. If a Frizzle is bred to a normal soft-feathered breed, 25% of the offspring will be normal feathered.

Frizzling in the Summer Heat -

A Nativity Scene in Summer

2010-06-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

For anyone who has not been a regular follower of my blog, I've started to advertise vintage statue restoration as a way to get extra income and to help people who have family heirlooms that they would like to preserve and have repaired. I like to keep as much of the original look as possible, and not add any unnecessary bright coloration to a piece - I love the "old" look of things.

A couple of months ago I was asked to "brighten up" a backdrop for a Nativity Scene at a Church I used to attend years ago. I remember looking at it as a child during services, and thinking it could look better if someone took the time to repaint it a certain way....but that's as far as it went, of course, until NOW!
The backdrop consists of 3 pieces connected by hinges. In the 2 pictures above, you can see what the outside sections looked like for at least 50 years, maybe longer. The backdrop is made of heavy cardboard that has been painted, and it is all framed with wood. I would like it to look a little more realistic, but still with that "Old Stable" appearance.
In THIS picture, you can see how much I have done today, and I've got a lot more to do. The window is not finished, and either are the stone blocks. The inside portions need to be painted, and the center where the scenery of the countryside of Bethlehem will have to be done as well. Mr. Wonderful will tighten screws and add some nails to hold things together better when I'm finished with the art work. I'll post again as I get more completed so you will be able to see how its coming along.

Christmas in June -

Tuesday's Show & Tail - Out of the BLUE - -

2010-06-21T09:19:00.001-07:00

I'm joining in on Tuesday's Show & Tail at Angela's West Virginia's Treasures. Angela has been having trouble with Mr. Linky lately, but if you leave a comment here or on HER blog, we'll make sure to stop by and visit you to read your animal story; If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in!
Last Sunday Mr. Wonderful and I saddled up the horses and went for a ride. Fathers Day here in our area of Michigan was hot and humid, but by 5pm it had started to cool down a bit. I brushed the horses and tacked them up, and away we went!

There is a dirt road a couple miles from our place that is nice to ride on - generally little, if any, traffic, and there is a DNR multi-use area where we can ride off-road and see nature at its finest. The smell of pine trees and scent of wild flowers - very relaxing, and beautiful to be outside in. We were riding along a row of old pine stumps that had been uprooted and used for a farm fence years back, when suddenly, OUT OF THE BLUE, Mr. Wonderful detected "SNAKE!"
On top of one of the old roots lay one of the longest snakes I've ever seen out in the wild! We both said at the same time "Blue Racer!" The snake must have been 5 feet long! And of course I had to check out our DNR website to see if that is what kind of snake it truly was....and yes indeed-y! My dad did not lie in the stories he told us about these snakes years ago - - There ARE Blue Racers in Michigan!

Blue Racer Facts: A large gray or blue snake with smooth scales. The head is usually darker than the body, though the chin and throat are white. The belly is light blue or white. Young racers are grayish, with a pattern of darker blotches and spots. Adult length: 4 to 6 feet. Racers inhabit a variety of places, including open woods, meadows, hedge rows, marshes, and weedy lake edges. They are alert, active snakes that may climb into low bushes to escape enemies. These snakes feed on rodents, frogs, smaller snakes, birds, and insects. Although they will bite if cornered or grabbed, racers are not venomous. Females lay 6 to 25 eggs in rotting wood or underground during June and July. The young racers hatch in late summer and, as noted above, are colored differently than the adults.

The DNR reports that the number of Blue Racers has declined, due to persecution by humans and habitat loss. It could be why they are seldom seen.

Have a S-s-s-sens-s-s-sational Day -

Welsh Corgi Dogs - a Wonderfully Adaptive Breed of Dog

2010-06-17T06:43:00.000-07:00

Right now there are a couple of us Corgi loving dog owners going through the same thing. A friend of mine has a dog that's a "look-alike" for my Sissy dog, and heart breaking enough for the both of us, we have each discovered our little look-alike has tumors.

Coincidentally enough (during this time as we await our appointments to see if there are any options available for our dogs), this video has been circulating Lakeshore Pembroke Welsh Corgi Rescue, which you know I support with sales from my etsy shops. The dog, Cindy, had surgery to remove tumors which resulted in an amputation of her front leg. Look closely as you watch it - her left front leg is missing, but she is getting along just fine! It is nothing spectacular in it's production, but I thought I would share it, to show that ordinary dogs can get through an ordinary day despite their disabilities.

Ever Hopeful -

Dutch Barnevelder Name Suggestions - - -

2010-06-15T17:04:00.000-07:00

My new pullets need some names. REAL Dutch names because of their Dutch Heritage. A relative of mine said she knew a few Dutch ladies, and would see what she dig up for me. Well, she phoned this evening with 2 suggestions. The first was Matje (pronounced "Macha"). I'm okay with that one. Unusual, but might be easily remembered after a few days. The second name suggestion was Fokija (Pronounced "Fuckya"). Again, unusual, AND VERY easy to remember.... but I'm not so sure about that one. Any other suggestions out there would be welcomed!!!

Unusual Day for Unusual Names,

Tuesdays Show & Tail - Wonderfully Gargantuan Cecropia Moth

2010-06-14T12:52:00.000-07:00

I'm joining in on Tuesday's Show & Tail at Angela's West Virginia's Treasures. If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Check her blog for the rules, post away - and thanks, Angela, for being a great hostess!
The Cecropia Moth is very unique looking from the time it begins life, to the time it emerges from its cocoon.
Some years ago a friend of mine found the unique worm - it was all be-jeweled and so interesting. She placed it in a jar along with maple leaves she found it near. It spun this hairy huge cocoon, and she and her young daughters waited for it to emerge, to see exactly what kind of butterfly might appear!
Instead of a butterfly, out popped a moth, of such large proportions - nearly unbelieveable! Even though it was not a butterfly, they could not be disappointed. It was stunningly beautiful, and its' wingspan was about 6 inches!

I am posting a couple of photos from a site called wormspit.com. Go THERE to see more photos and read about this amazing silk moth! You will be amazed at how this creature begins its life!

Silentlyl Spinning -

Barnevelder Hens

2010-06-12T08:41:00.000-07:00

The new pullets I got yesterday will look like the hens shown in the picture above when they are grown. I did some quick research before I decided on trying them out, and found they are a medium heavy breed of chicken, and dual purpose (eggs or meat). They were a well known Dutch breed known for producing a good amount of dark brown egg, but now breeders are raising them for show so they aren't as concerned with maintaining the dark brown egg color, or even to the productivity of the hens. It seems that whenever chickens are raised for show birds, some things such as productivity are compromised to achieve a balanced appearance in the bird.
Do you think the same goes for breeding other species of animal?

Happy Saturday -

Cleopatra, "the Recipe", and those darned Barnevelders

2010-06-11T15:26:00.001-07:00

I reported not long ago about Cleo laying those strange triangular eggs - I had to catch her in the act to find the culprit! While my GD was staying with us for a week, she and I built a 'Hen Hospital', and fed Cleo oyster shell calcium, special "dainties" from the kitchen and garden, and "the Recipe" - a magical wormer to remove any parasites she might have been harboring. She TOTALLY ceased egg production in the hospital, but today she produced her first egg since she indulged us by drinking "the Recipe", and guess what? No triangular egg - a completely hard blue shell, normal as can be! I am so happy - I was worried that one of my readers might have been right about her getting into some harmful poisons that caused her eggs to come out shell-compromised! Mr. Wonderful puts mice killing pellets in one of the outbuildings, and that was a concern I had. I thought perhaps I would have to put Cleo away...but today was a fine day in the hen house - a day to celebrate! Rejoice with me!
So, what of those "darned Barnevelders", you ask? The picture above is one of 2 Pullets I brought home today. They are about 8 weeks old, and so dainty! I saw a FOR SALE ad and just had to have a pair. They will lay brown eggs in around September, and I KNOW Mr. Wonderful will be so pleased I got them, once he finds out, which could be a while. (The last pair of birds I smuggled in at Thanksgiving last year were not discovered for 5 months.)
These little girls are quite speedy, and have such a soft peep sound when they talk to each other. It will be a couple more months, at least, before they can go in with the other hens due to their young age and small size. I don't want any bloodshed!
Meanwhile, little tomatoes are starting to grow on 2 of my plants! I'm happy about that too - last years tomatoes were a wash - it was so cold all summer we never did get any mature fruit off the plants. It's going to be very warm and humid this weekend and I love the look of our garden right now.
THE PURPLES ARE BLOOMING!!! Such a season of color coordination!

Have a Happy Weekend!

104 Years Ago - Lost Film

2010-06-09T05:39:00.000-07:00

You are there for a cable car ride in San Francisco in 1906. This film was
"lost" for many years. It was taken by camera mounted on the front of a cable car.

The number of automobiles is staggering for 1906. Absolutely amazing! The
clock tower at the end of Market Street at the Embarcadero Wharf is still
there. ... How many "street cleaning" people were employed to pick up
after the horses? Talk about going green!

Here's the Earthquake in 1906 - same clock tower, later date.

Have an Old Fashioned Care-free Kinda Day -

Flowers a-Plenty and Chicken Chickens!

2010-06-08T17:50:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share a collage of flowers that I photographed in my "circle garden" last week. I love the red poppies, but they have begun to fade and loose their leaves. Have to find time to get some bark mulch to put around the plants yet, but it's been so rainy most of the time, and I've been busy on the days that the sun is shining!

At dusk this evening we heard a sharp barking noise outside. Mr. Wonderful went outside on the covered deck and saw 2 fox! It sounded like more than just TWO - we figure it could be a family with kits - the kits are usually born in March, so they could be on the prowl. The chickens were cackling, but were starting to roost, so I went out and locked the hens in their coop, and I saw what I think was a young kit - it just stood there staring at me from about 20 ft. away. I may have to lock the girls in every night now - - I don't want any casualties!!!

No Chicken Left Behind -

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - So Tweet Once Again!

2010-06-07T14:45:00.000-07:00

When Mr. Wonderful and I drove to Chicago this past Saturday, we stopped at one of our favorite Antiques Stores. I love to look, seldom buying anything there. It's a higher priced antiques consignment store, and looking at the goods that are for sale is fun - wondering what some things were used for, and then reading the tag with the explanation - that is what trips my trigger when we browse!

On the way out of the store, the last viewing area is a room about the size of an average dining room. I barely walked in the doorway, and - My, MY! What did I SPY??? A Vintage Bird Cage! Just the thing for a Housing Upgrade for Bizzy, my wonderful singing canary!!! I had found an antique cage a few weeks back while estate sale shopping, but after installing him and his accessories, he just was not "happy"....it was too small and he was feeling like Goldilocks.
It has a great vintage appeal, but he just wasn't as perky in it. I think it was more of a size for a little finch than a canary.

The NEW cage, the Cadillac of Bird Cages, is unbelievable in style/design! And even MORE unbelievable is that the chrome was all intact (very little rust), all the glass was there with no cracks, the art deco design is mostly unscathed, and it came with original perches, swing, and feed cups! Bizzy is now a Swinging Single again - lovin' life and singing about his chrome plated cage with STYLE!

Swinging in Style -

Camp Gramma - Parting Shots

2010-06-07T13:55:00.000-07:00

We had a lot of fun last week at Camp Grandma - it was hard to think about saying "Goodbye" -

We had so much fun making memories....

BUT - there's always NEXT summer to look forward to!

Keep your Chin UP!

Camp Grandma at the MOVIES!

2010-06-04T05:46:00.000-07:00

I was looking on the computer for movies to go to when Viv surprised me from over my shoulder. We watched the previews of Shrek, and the decision was made to phone Great Gramma and see if she'd like to join us for the matinee. She agreed, but invited us to lunch at her place, so Viv got a pretty dress on, and we drove out for our meal.
Sloppy Joes was the meal of the day. We got served first, took some photos, and then we headed off to Celebration Cinema.
There were plenty of opportunities for photos at the theater, and Viv is great at posing for them. I have some to share with you today.
By the way, the movie was great, for all age groups! We had a lot of laughs and it sure was entertaining! We took Great Gramma back to her house, and then drove back to our place. Of course, there were evening chores to be done, but after dinner there was time for horsing around.....
You can see how tall this horse is, but Viv was determined...
...and she made it onboard after a few tries. Then she surprised Mr. Wonderful (alias "Grandpa"!) by riding the horse by herself!
She practiced stopping, starting, and turning before I let the lead rope go. Of course, there were a few "tests"....
...because the horse decides if you "pass" or "fail"! I guess Vivian "passed", because ....
...she didn't get hauled back to the hitching post too many times!

Today is our last day together and we are thinking of Garage Sales if we can find any! But first, breakfast. And then we'll see what the rest of the day holds!

Happy Trails to YOU!

Wet Wednesday at Camp Grandma!

2010-06-02T18:00:00.000-07:00

I thought Monday would be the last rainy day of the week, but this morning we woke up to showers, and it sure put a dent in my plans for the day. My GD and I were going to clean the hen house, and perhaps plant a few of the flowers we got at the nursery yesterday...but no dice.

Instead, she helped with the feeding chores as usual, and we put together a Hen Hospital for Cleopatra. Cleo has a food tray, and all the greens she can eat. Viv put crushed oyster shell on the food tray for Cleo. You see, Cleo has been laying triangular eggs, most with holes in them. And today we found an egg with no shell - just the membrane holding it together. So we are hoping she will eat up some of the calcium with her food, and that it will correct the problem with the weak or non-existent shells. We used wormer in her water, to rule out parasites. We aren't worried that any medicine will get into her eggs, since they are thrown out. We're starting from scratch with her, and hope we can figure out the problem she has. Any suggestions??
Since it was a gloomy wet day out, we did some crafts. Viv cut out some paper dolls, and found they are fun to play with, and very portable!
I printed them out on card stock, and she did a great job cutting the dolls and their accessories out. Later on after lunch, I showed her how to make Nitro, the Aussie, do his tricks. He will jump through hoops for treats, and she found this enjoyable. Maybe she will take after Grandma, learning to teach the animals some tricks!
Viv cooked dinner - Mac and Cheese - for Mr. Wonderful and I. Well, I helped a LITTLE - but she stirred the cheese and made it just right!
After she got ready for bed, we played cards for a while. It started with War, then King's Corner, and finally, Black Jack! Yep - we played penny ante and the one that got closest to "21" in the count of each hand won both pennies. I hate to say it, but that girl is GOOD! She caught on quickly to counting her cards and playing very well. She'll have to teach that game to her mom and dad, since it's a great mathematical motivator and might jut help her excel in Math next year.
She's got a pretty mean Poker Face, wouldn't you say???

We're hoping for a brighter day tomorrow, so perhaps we can "horse around" a little outside. It can be a challenge to find things to do in the rain, but I'd say we did alright!

Stay Dry!

Visitor of the Week at Camp Grandma!

2010-06-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

My oldest grandchild is staying here with Mr. Wonderful and me - it's "Camp Grandma" this week! We started off the day with oatmeal for breakfast, and because I made too much, the hens got to share the bounty. They were pleased to see Viv, and would not leave her alone once she started passing out the goodies!
Then, it was off to the feed store, for sunflower seeds, chicken feed, and wood shavings.
There was lots to see at the feed store - halters, buckets, brushes, plants, and storage bins. Even candy.....
After they loaded our truck for us, we went to Seinz Greenhouses. What a great sale they had! Loads of veggies, tons of flowers, bushes, annuals, hanging baskets - wow! We got a small cart full of things to plant for Wednesday's activities!
In the afternoon, it was off to the vet for Sissy - she has another bladder infection, poor Corgi.
We gave Sissy a bath, and some cheese with her medicine. Vivian is going to give her another pill with cheese for her bedtime snack. Sissy has to have pills for 2 whole weeks! Yep, it's that bad! But in another couple days she should begin to feel better.

We are going to make Strawberry Shortcakes OUR bedtime snack. Viv is the strawberry expert. She learned how to chop them up last summer when she stayed with us.

More adventures tomorrow - we have a lot of plans in the works for the remainder of our visit together.!

Have a GREAT DAY!

Because You Love Me - a Corgi Story

2010-05-31T14:57:00.001-07:00

I'm joining in on Tuesday's Show & Tail at Angela's West Virginia's Treasures. If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Check her blog for the rules, post away - and thanks, Angela, for being a great hostess!

Enjoy watching the bond between this Corgi and his owner - touching, and a tear-jerker!

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - Luna Moth

2010-05-25T04:22:00.000-07:00

I'm joining in on Tuesday's Show & Tail at Angela's West Virginia's Treasures. If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Check her blog for the rules, post away - and thanks, Angela, for being a great hostess!
Isn't this moth beautiful? A blog I follow pictured a moth like this and wondered what it was - of course I knew the answer! Luna moths are one of the most unusual and unforgettable of the winged silk-type moths ever! The wing span can be up to about 4 inches, and they are so lovely! They live only about a week, long enough to mate and lay their eggs on the bottom of black walnut leaves. Their eggs hatch in 10 days, and the resulting caterpillars eat leaves from Beech, Red Maple, Hickory, White Oak, and Willow Trees, among others. Usually 2 generations are born each year. Luna moths used to be quite common, but now are among the endangered species in some areas.

Time Travel - Highland Park

2010-05-19T05:21:00.000-07:00

Recently I was curious what I would find if I "googled" the old park we used to play at when I was a kid. I remember it being a lovely place with a public pool; us kids used to pay 5 cents for a basket to check in our clothes and towel, and in return we'd get a pin with a number that matched the basket. When we were ready to leave, we'd turn in the pin and the counter person would retrieve the basket with our belongings. Many a summer day was spent going to and from the pool. On the way we would go through one of the alleys and pick wild raspberries to eat en-route!

The major grassed in portion of the park was kept mowed by my friend's dad. He worked for the City Parks Department and drove a big tractor. His skin was tanned and leathery, with deep crevices from the sun drying his skin. (Big Al. That was his name - and he had our horrified admiration for being able to suck an egg out of its shell and eating it RAW!!! OOOOO!)
The manicured lawns were used mostly by golfers that came to practice their swings. I know that because my dad was one of them! Many a Saturday my brother and I would shag golf balls for dad - he'd hit them out to us at the far side of the park right about where that soccer net is located. When we got home, it was my job to wash the golf balls and scrub all the dirt and grass stains off them. I got paid 50 cents for this chore!

There was a wooded area in the park, with trails, and big rocks nearly hidden by the weeds and trees. (Dad said Magoochi the Indian was buried beneath one of those big rocks! I wonder if Magoochi was part Italian??) I loved the trails the very best! There were Tiger Lilies growing in the woods, and my friend and I liked to pick them for our moms. The trails weren't marked - and we never got lost. They were easy traveling, and one trail even led to some cemented rocks that served as steps. They crumbled and a few were replaced by railroad ties, but time removed those as well.

There was a creek running through the park, with large man-made tunnels at either end. Dad said he used to go through the west tunnel when he was a kid, and it went towards downtown - it was kind of a drainage below the streets. We were forbidden to go in the tunnels - it wasn't safe, and the Boogieman lived there looking out for little children to steal! I also remember a big walking bridge that arched over behind or alongside the public pool. Dad used to take us there on hikes - that was before it was torn down to make room for the new-fangled expressway.

I did find this photo when I googled the park association - it shows what the park used to look like many years before, perhaps even before my dad was a kid! I never remember seeing any of the park that looked like this! I suppose they couldn't afford to keep it up any more and decided to simplify things for the city budget - and now, there is no longer any public pool for the kids. Too expensive an upkeep for the city.When taxes were raised to fund the park and the upkeep, it makes me wonder if they considered lowering the taxes when the flowers and the pool and the other attractions were removed.....Obviously it is cheaper to maintain, right?

Here's what Google had to say about Highland Park:

The Highland Park neighborhood is a transitional urban neighborhood with close proximity to the downtown area of Grand Rapids. It is currently a single-family residential neighborhood with scattered apartments and multifamily rental units.

The neighborhood's geographical makeup consists of a valley section to the south and west and an elevated hill section to the north and east. A natural wetlands creek and woods bisect these two contrasting topographies. A focal point of the neighborhood has been Highland Park itself over the years. The park was assembled from many small purchases that began in 1873. The park contains approximately 30 acres of fairly rough terrain, as some of the park lies in the Coldbrook Creek Valley between College and Grand Avenues.

Historically the area was an ethnic neighborhood of Polish and Czech families, mainly centered around St. Isidore's Catholic Church and parochial school. St. Isidore's remains a focal point in the community today. The housing in the neighborhood ranges from 40 to over 100 years old and presently remains well constructed and maintained.

Walking back in Time,

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - Old Bones

2010-05-17T14:08:00.000-07:00

I'm joining in on Tuesday's Show & Tail at Angela's West Virginia's Treasures. If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Check her blog for the rules, post away - and thanks, Angela, for being a great hostess!
This is a post about Old Bones.
Bones?!?! Who said "BONES"?!?!?
Now I'VE got BONES!!!
And I don't SHARE!!!
But, those aren't the kind of bones I'm talking about - sorry Corgis! Mr. Wonderful and I went trail riding this past weekend - a wonderful 3 hour ride! The weather was lovely, wild flowers were in bloom, and the horses were basically well behaved.Suzy was itching to get a move-on. She's sprightly for 23 years of age. Candy is another year older and wiser. But she enjoyed getting out and seeing the sights too.
Mr. Wonderful took this pic of Suzy and I when we all took a break, and I took a shot of him and Candy.
Remember what I said about OLD BONES? Mr. Wonderful and I were hurtin for certain the next morning, and we realized OLD BONES is what we have! Next time, a shorter ride will be necessary before we try another 3 hour tour!!!

No pain is a GOOD thing -

Spring Has Sprung in Michigan Woods - just in time for SUMMER!

2010-05-17T06:06:00.001-07:00

These Trillium plants are now in full bloom in our woods. We've had a few frosts, so some didn't fare as well as these in the photo that I transplanted last year near our potting shed.
Our irises have buds, some started to bloom this past weekend. I love the look of the buds - so full of promise, don't you agree?
I took the photo above earlier last week - and then we got the frost - all of these beauties are now crumpled and brown. They usually last so much longer.
But the strawberry blooms made it through unscathed! These are the pink blossoms of the decorative strawberries - they do get fruit, but not as many as the strawberries commonly picked for re-sale in your local market. The flowers are most welcome in our frosted garden right now!

Happy Monday!

Triangular Eggs

2010-05-14T14:23:00.000-07:00

Cleopatra is no "SQUARE" - she's very "HIPP" because she lays triangular shaped eggs! When I go out to collect the eggs, I've been noticing that one egg (a blue egg - ALWAYS a BLUE egg) has a flat side! Then a few weeks ago, the flat sided egg has had a hole in it. Hmmmmm. At first I thought someone had pecked that hole. But, every hole is the same size, about the same shape, and always it's that blue flat sided egg!
Couldn't figure out which hen was the culprit. There are 2 of them that lay blue eggs. But finally I caught Cleopatra in 'the act'! I opened the nest box lid, and there she was, straining to get that egg out...ONE....TWO....THREE.....FOUR.....FIVE! And out it came! She left the nest box, and I picked up the egg, hot from the hen. I examined it, and this is what I found - - -This egg is triangular! Can you see the gently formed curves?? But oddly enough, there was no hole in the egg. I brought it into the house and set it on the towel, as you will note in this picture. After about a minute of sitting there, POOF! The hole appeared!!! It was like the pressure was equalized as the egg cooled to room temperature, and it sucked that portion of the shell inside the egg, leaving a crater! Ever seen anything like this? I'm wondering what caused it and how we can fix the situation! Stay tuned - if I figure it out, I'll certainly fill you all in on it!

Have a great weekend -

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - Old Tyme Equine Veterinary Remedies

2010-05-10T16:46:00.000-07:00

I'm joining in on Tuesday's Show & Tail at Angela's West Virginia's Treasures. If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Check her blog for the rules, post away - and thanks, Angela, for being a great hostess!

Years ago horses were the only "horse power" on family farms. They worked sun up to sun down in the fields and taking trips to town for supplies, and for Sunday-go-to-meeting! Veterinary medicine was not common place, and if a vet could be found, money was tight and was needed for other things. Farmers had their own home remedies to patch up "Ole Dubbin" and to make him right again.

Here are a few interesting remedies used in the past. Most are no longer used, some have been adapted by thrifty horse folk, and others are downright dangerous! Read them to learn what was common practice 100 years ago, but be thankful our horses have much better and safer medicines today!

Kerosene or turpentine were rubbed on cuts. After using either one of these, salty meat grease (ouch!) was applied to the wound to keep the hair around it from turning white.

For swellings on the horse's leg, mix into apple cider vinegar all the salt that will dissolve. Put this mixture on the swelled area. The salt draws out the water.

To keep flies away from horses before days of insect repellent, some soaked a rag with coal oil and attached it to the latch string that held the bridle on. Or they tied a little bush there. The horse's movements would swing the bush to scare away the flies.

If a horse hurts his eye (like hitting a twig), throw table salt in it.

To treat a horse for distemper, burn old leather under his nose. This keeps his nose from clogging and prevents choking.

To treat the horse to get rid of worms, farmers would feed their horses a pack of cigarettes or tobacco.

For heaves (or a cough) pull out the horse's tongue and smear it with pine tar. (UCK!)

When worked hard, horses would get growths like corns on their hooves. To rid the horse of these, farmers would lift up the hoof and pour spirits of turpentine in it, then set the turpentine on fire. The heat will heal it and keep the hoof from getting so sore.

To relieve the horse of gas, make him jump logs.

An all-purpose ointment, called "White Liniment," combines 1/4 pint salty meat grease, 1/2 pint turpentine, 1/2 pint kerosene, 1 pint vinegar, 1 pint apple cider, a handful of salt and three or four egg whites. This could be used on cuts, bruises and just about everything.

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - Get that Poor Doggy a Bone!

2010-05-03T16:56:00.001-07:00

CoOpS FeR sALe!

2010-05-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

These past couple of weeks has been pretty hectic for Mr. Wonderful. He got a great response from the chicken coop ads I've been placing. Finally he got caught up and has one more to build, but we can start taking new orders now. The picture above is the coop we delivered yesterday to a couple that lives nearly 2 hrs. drive from our location in Michigan.
We advertise fully assembled coops, ready for the buyer to paint or decorate any way they wish. Heck, that's the fun part anyways! This family ordered 2 coops - one for meat birds, and the other for laying hens. The pictures here are what they are doing to finish the first coop to their tastes - I think it will look great when the coops are completed!
They placed an order for "heritage" chickens, on the endangered list, to add to their farming experience. As we talked with them, they spoke of their hard work to become "Organic Certified" with their farm, and all of the road blocks to obtaining certification. And there are many! Sometimes it seems that the government is against anyone wanting to be self sustaining, and against the small farmer in general. Big Business is what pays - taxes to the government, and maybe even money to put towards keeping someone in office. We don't know much about that, because we're only one of the little guys! And the prospective Organic Farmers? They've not given up their "day jobs" yet!

Have a Happy Day!

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - Pigs in a Blanket!

2010-04-26T11:53:00.001-07:00

I'm joining in on Tuesday's Show & Tail at Angela's West Virginia's Treasures. If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Check her blog for the rules, post away - and thanks, Angela, for being a great hostess!
Despite the woolly coat, this curly cutie bears no relation to sheep. In fact, it's a rare breed of pig called mangalitza, and when three of these little piggies showed up at a zoo in Essex, they caused quite the commotion among visitors who couldn't decide quite what they were.
The mangalitzas weren't just brought in to look cute (although they're doing a darn good job of it anyway). They were procured to be educational, and to help ensure the breed's survival. Zoo education coordinator reported, "We've got them here as part of a breeding program to make sure this fascinating breed does not become extinct." The breed originated in Hungary, and the haircoat protects against sunburn as well as flies and other biting insects.
Can you just imagine how cute the baby porkers would be??? ADORABLE!!! To find out more info, just google "pig sheep" and see the pictures and videos that come up!
Oops - disregard the picture above...it's my mistake! (Sorry about that, Angela! tee hee!)

Have a great day -

Lucky Chick!

2010-04-22T17:32:00.000-07:00

OH MY! I'm a lucky Chick! I won a GIVEAWAY from the Greentiques Solution - This Chick looks shocked - but it's the kind that comes from a happy surprise! Just look at my prize -It's an oven key - to push and pull the oven racks when you're just wanting to take a peek at those cookies that are not quite browned enough - so very handy! The author of the Greentiquesolution blog, Rory, is the craftsman of this unique rack puller. It's made of a beautiful wood, sanded smooth as silk, and I had my choice of colors to match my new kitchen cabinet doors. He did a fabulous job and has some great hints on his blog for just about anything you might be wanting to refinish or craft. Rory is very friendly and has more items for sale at an etsy shop called the frenchmaid, and I hope you will stop on by his blog or the etsy shop for a visit - tell him Classy Chassy sent you! I love my prize, and I'm one happy Chick!

6th Published Photo Game

2010-04-20T18:19:00.000-07:00

Rory of the Greentiques Solution tagged me to be part of a photo game - to play, you must reach into your archives and republish your 6th EVER photo and explain how you might update or change it today. My 6th photo posted on my blog journey was Feb. 2009. I did a short post on Spring Cleaning.I probably wouldn't change the photo because the alternate picture would have included cobwebs and dust bunnies!!! - - but as the post continued, I talked about some New Puppy Announcement cards I had created, and I could have chosen to photograph those as well. Being new to blogging, I wasn't too wordy and kept most posts short and sweet and to the point. I guess I'm still that way, although I often put in more than one picture per post!

I'm supposed to tag 10 more bloggers to join in the game, but many folks are non-participants in these kinds of things, so I'll leave it open to each of you - if you would like to, come on and join in, just reach back in your archives and show us YOUR 6th photo and what you would do to change it out or add to it! A great new way to reminisce!

Have a great evening -

Tuesdays' Show & Tail - Animal Talents

2010-04-19T16:13:00.000-07:00

I'm joining in on Tuesday's Show & Tail at Angela's West Virginia's Treasures. If you have a cute story and picture of a pet, or any furry (or non-furry) friend, you are welcome to join in! Check her blog for the rules, post away - and thanks, Angela, for being a great hostess!
There are lots of talented animals in the world, but Welsh Corgis are my favorites! Enjoy the following video of this smart little doggie!

Barks and Wags -