The Chickens Know

Spring is coming.  The chickens say so.

 

Since early December or before, my girls have been slacking in the egg production department.  All they were giving was one egg a day.  Not a lot, but we were catching up in the supply.

But this week?  We had two on Saturday, and two more Sunday.  Yesterday and today, three eggs each day.  Not bad.  The entire flock is shown above.  (That is Lacey flapping and showing off, trying to hide Rita by the tire)

At their peak, last fall we were getting around four or five eggs per day, so that is quite a bounce back. If this keeps up, I may be cooking egg rich dishes again.

Eggs anyone?

Fast Start, Slow Finish?

I started the year so well with blogging regularly. But lately, not so well. Even my knitting has slowed. But I will try to get better. I hope.

Fall has returned, although half heartedly. I am not a fan of these above normal temps, even if it is now in the 50s and 60s. Heck, I wore sleeveless top and sandals to church this week! In November!

The leaves have been falling right along. Usually our yard would be thickly coated. However Hubby discovered last year that if he puts the bagger on the mower he can pick them up and dump them in the manure spreader. He then scatters them in the meadow we leave fallow. The pictures here are less than 24 hours since the last pickup. Our trees drop them one tree at a time, so he will be at it for a while yet.

And another sign of fall. See the dust in the left background?

Our neighbor was harvesting soybeans. They always raise up a cloud of brown dust. There is a red combine in that dust cloud.

And just because I haven't posted anything here about my Little Peanut, here is a shot from this past week, when I got to watch her for a while.

Just like her brother, she wants her hands on the phone.

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Busy Day

I had my training today to be an Election Inspector for my township. Wow, that title sounds a bit overwhelming! I saw several people I know, and I think I can handle working once every three months or so. I'm also glad there is a primary before the big event in November.

The local weather guys have been calling this week typically the hottest week of summer. I am amazed at all the wedding anniversaries occurring this horribly hot week, including my own. What were we thinking? All I can say is, I can hardly wait for winter again

I have continued working on the Peanut Dress. I had hoped to work on it Sunday when I was at a graduation party. But the wind was blowing so hard, I didn't want it to blow away. As long as this heat holds, the Baby Hap is remaining in Time Out. Sorry, Purple Princess.

I planned on getting another good chunk of stockinette done tonight at Knit Nite. However, we had no key, and the spare was miles away, and another spare was camping. With the heat and congestion of the Old Fashioned Days.....oops, National Baby Foof Festival, I didn't want to trek across town to knit at McDonalds so we decided to cancel for tonight.

Since I was home, Hubby corralled me to wrangle squash vines do he could rototill around them. I also picked pickles. I posted the picture on Facebook. Here it is again in case you missed them.

Note to self, next year only plant three plants, not six.

And if anyone saw last evenings post, Jumper has decided to stay in his own pen today and just talk to his neighbors over the wall.

 

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Sign of Spring?

Is it a sign of spring that my miles per gallon, which dropped this winter, is creeping back up?

I was over 30 mpg last summer, but it fell slowly all winter to a low of 27.3. I know that still isn't too bad, but every tenth it went down hurt. But now it is on the way up.

I guess between summer blend and better roads, spring is back with better mileage.

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The Purple Period of Lent

It seems strange that the color of royalty, regal purple, is also the color used for the quiet, reflective periods of the church year, Advent and Lent. Advent is a time of preparation for the birth of Christ and runs through the four Sunday's before Christmas. Lent is the time before Easter when we prepare our hearts and souls for the events leading up to Good Friday and culminating in the great Resurrection of Easter Sunday.

Of course in Victorian times, in the historical novels, as women left off full mourning for loved ones, they got rid of the black, but started half mourning, in grays and purples. There was some mourning being done. In the same way now, as we view our lives, with our pride and lack of being all we should be, our sinfulness if you will, there is a touch of mourning for what we should be during these times.

This year, as I start my journey exploring my future in the Catholic Church, Lent feels more real and important. I am still learning what is I am to become. But I am trying to throw off some frivolousness this year,

As my Lenten discipline I am turning to my reading: No novels during this period. Poetry is allowed, and non-fiction. (Finishing "Spoon River Anthology," and my Kindle version of the lost "Cleopatra" on my apps. The Emmaeus Road for hard copy book.). I did that in the past, and really felt it did me a lot of good.

In addition this year, I am avoiding reading any of the political blogs I follow. Other blog topics are allowed, and I can watch the news, but no reading commentary until after Easter. That could even help my blood pressure!

May you have a reflective and growth filled Lent.

 

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Harvest Time

This time of year tractors, trucks, and choppers can be seen all around the country roads. Harvest season has begun. The choppers and combines may take up the roads this time of year, but be please patient with them. They are helping to put your meals on your table as they harvest feed for cattle.

One happy side effect is that the rural intersections that have been partly obscured by towering corn stalks as summer waned are becoming clear once again as the chopping corn is chopped into silage. I love being able to see what is coming around the corners before I get to them.

When all that chopped corn is packed into firm piles of feed for for the cattle to eat, it is covered with plastic and tires. If any of my readers ever wondered about about that plastic and tires, here is a link to a great blog post by a Wisconsin dairy farm chick. She explains the process. I even learned a bit myself.

Oh yes, just so you know, there is "chopping" corn and "picking" corn. Chopping corn retains some of the plant's moisture. The whole stalk is chopped for the silage. Picking corn drys down. When the cob and kernels have dried down, combines pick the corn and shell the kernels from the cobs. The stalks are left in the fields. This shelled corn is also fed or can be sold.

This has been a public service announcement for all you non-farmers.

 

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Vest and Poem. With Flowers.

I mentioned yesterday that the back is finished on the Oatmeal Vest, or as I've come to call it, The Hug from Flo Vest.  As I said then, the yarn was purchased by my late friend Flo and then gifted to me.
It is safely folded away.  This time, I will wait and block all three pieces at once.   One front has been begun and flying along.  Like I said yesterday, bulky yarn knits up quick.

And now, the tribute for Poetry Month, day 19.

The daffodils are to pop.
The little toads croak and hop.
The mud is drying, the grass is green.
It sure seems like Spring is on the scene.

Typically Michigan

I make no excuses about the fact I like this winter.  Even this past winter was okay by me. 

Spring has always been highly rated in my opinion.  I am not a fan of mud and sloppy driveways.   

Last week, we almost got to one of the nice parts of spring.  The weather was finally warm enough for no coats.  At least for me.  Hubby wore a sweatshirt, to my short sleeves on Saturday.  And with sandals, no socks in my Berkis.  The pasture, hay-fields and drive had dried off and the sun was shining.

By evening it was a different story.

Rain, wind, rain, lightening, thunder.  And did I mention rain?  

The power never flickered, but the Dish went out a couple times, very briefly, causing me to miss the end of Nascar.  

We were not an area that had the tremendous straight line winds that caused a lot of power outages and down trees.  But we did get rain.

The above picture is of the hay-field, as well as the one below.  It also includes the corner of the drive by the barn.

The pasture picked up some too.

And just to put it in perspective.  This crock pot liner was empty that morning. and the next morning, it looked like this.

And this morning?  Just a couple inches of snow.   Typical Michigan.

Now Is The Winter of Our Discontent?

Many of my friends, neighbors, and others across West Michigan have been channeling William Shakespeare and Richard III lately.  Conversations and FaceBook are awash with mutterings and grumblings about the weather.  And the temperatures.

And I have to confess that, contrary to popular opinion.....I am not one of them.
I have been completely enjoying this winter.  Sure, I got stuck in the driveway one evening.  I have arthritis in my knee and hands that has started acting up more. And it is hard to convince Lizzy, my dog, that she really needs to take a walk some days.

But come summer, when the heat of July and August are once again upon us, I will be longing for weather like this again.  This is not the winter of my discontent.

We Had Snow!!

No, not much, but enough to whet my taste.

Even Gilbert the Farm Dog was enjoying getting his feet cold in the snow

Not much in the wheelbarrow either, but enough that you can see the flakes, and watch it coming down.  Woo Hoo.

Attention Snowbirds

Today, for the second day in a row here in Michigan the temps are in the 80's. I am about ready to do a snow dance. I've already turned on the AC and the fan is blowing too.
Just sayin'.

Michigan at Her Finest

Temps hit a low of 15.4 before I left for work this morning, just as the sun was coming up. Back in the winter coat and stuffed mittens! Chilly at 1 when I took a run to the credit union on my lunch--although I cracked open the windows when I came in, because the sun IS shining brightly.
And next week they are calling for 68 degrees at the end of the 7 day forecast. And I've heard rumors of 70 or higher for Easter.
Ahhhh Michigan. Never a dull moment.

Hey Snowbirds!

Temps are up to mid 60's for highs.

Flowers are coming up.

Don't you wish you were back here?

Oh--did I mention 90% chance of snow on Saturday. ;-)

Ten for '10, the New Decade

I guess maybe I could come up with some resolutions. Since I am not good at New Year’s Resolutions, maybe I can do better if I make them for a whole 10 years.

1 Live long enough to retire.
2 Get a job I can retire from.
3 Make a sweater or shawl—a big project--out of homespun yarn .
4 Make another.
5 Try to get Hubby into something hand-knit.
6 Blog faithfully, at least 2 weekly/8 times a month minimum.
7 For every project I buy yarn for, make another out of stash yarn—at least sometimes, until stash gets low. “Low” being determined by my own judgment.
8 Continue to use crock-pots for meals.
9 Spend time with yarn every day—knitting or spinning or both
10 Become a grandma. I think ten years should be enough time for the boys to find someone nice and settle down. I won’t hold my breath on this one though.

Well—that sounds like a doable list, especially if I stretch it out over ten years. No one will remember after that much time what I resolved.

Now This Is More Like It!

I was greatly dissappointed with the storm yesterday. Even though all the schools were closed, by the time I drove into work yesterday, the roads were not bad. They were empty. As a result I was able to stop and take some great pictures on my way to work. The snow had mostly stopped by the time I went in.

By this time the road was wet and sloppy. It did make for some great pictures though.

This was taken off the back porch today. While we aren't getting the wind for a blizzard, we are windy and snowy.

Just as a comparison--this is looking over the pasture to the back woods yesterday in the heavy wet snow, early in the morning.

This is almost the same view, taken from the same place. With windy lake effect, dryer, finer snow.

Neat, huh?

I love winter. I think I'll go knit.

Persistance of Flowers

After the lousy weather we have had here recently--warmish, but very wet and VERY windy--it was rather inspiring to see these flowers still hanging on. They were on the east side of the church on Sunday, protected by the wall, and buried in leaves as you can see.
But aren't they lovely?

And so inspiring for a November morning.
And after all the recent wind.....

......it is amazing to see them hanging on when the trees are so bare.

Ahh, can snow be far behind? I hope not.

Changing Seasons

As I try to finish the Flying Geese Shawl--those rows of the triangle top are getting longer and longer--I have been enjoying the cool weather we were having. I say were because it was in the 60's today. First time all month I think. I much preferred the snowflakes I saw flying on Saturday.

But cooler weather is coming. I am counting on a cold winter--lots of reasons to use wool.

Health Checks

Last week I went to the doctor for a diabetes check. A1C could be better @ 7.5, but I and the doc were pleased with my combined cholesterol of 167. Due to no health insurance I went to the Health Department for the old yearly pap test and to schedule a mammogram.
I liked the gal at the Health Department. She was thrilled that knitting and spinning have resulted in steady, although slow weight loss. She assigned me the “task” of trying to spend an hour each day knitting (for blood pressure) or spinning. While spinning she wants me to concentrate on my muscle use, perhaps tightening abs while treadleing. I like those kind of assignments.
Right now though, my biggest health complaint is the flu shots. Not the H1N1, I’m not sure if I will try to scrape up money for that, since I am not a high risk group for that. I haven’t been able to get my regular seasonal flu shot, which I have gotten every fall for over 20 years. No one has the serum in town. Every time I find out about a flu shot clinic, it gets canceled before the date scheduled.
They’re probably waiting until I get sick or something. At least my pneumonia shots are up to date.

Fair Time--No Grease For Me

I wasn't at the County Fair much this year, mostly because of cost, but also because I could not make a commitment of time, not knowing when/if I would get a job or be called back to the library. (By the way, back on 15 hours a week starting August 18.)

But I worked in the Cheese Booth, sponsored by the Farm Bureau. I was commandeered by a couple friends and had a great time. The shift on Monday night could have been a killer, with 90 degree temps predicted with high humidity. However, it wasn't too terribly hot. And since the previous weekend's rain had turned the main arena into a bog, the Figure 8 Race (AKA Demolition Derby) was canceled, we were busy enough to keep from being bored, but slow enough to get in lots of gossip. And I was entitled to a free Farmer's Muffin--the culinary highlight of each year's fair.

Other than that night, I only attended the Thursday festivities. The daytime was dominated by the Dairy show. Katy's two oldest, Lydia and Austin were showing. And so was the grandchildren of Younger Son's boss. Lots of pictures were taken. Bill, a family friend the same age of Younger Son was the judge for the younger classes of showmanship. He even smiled.

I also helped later in the day at the History Building. Helped them get the fans to work. (Hot in there!) And later on was the Small and Large Animal Auctions. Not too late this year, and again, caught up on lots of gossip.

My biggest regret? Not being there to organize and attend the Friday Night Grease Fest. Sigh. No grease for me.

Countdown to Fair

Fair week is here. However between no job and the cost of parking, as well as other commitments, I may not be there much this year. The past several years, I practically lived there the whole week. This year, not so much.
I did get drafted to work in the Cheese Booth one evening. I sure hope the humidity goes down. I had enough of the hot and humid air in church this morning. (Can you believe someone deliberately wanted the windows open in this weather?) As long as I don't fall on the grill, I'll be okay.