Perpetual Motion

Eleven months old.

Drama in the Driveway

I think it's a Black Racer. At any rate, it's non-poisonous, and it's much smaller than it looks in the picture.

Catching up

It's been quite a while since I've posted anything here. That hen that was on the nest earlier this Spring did not hatch any biddies. I really didn't expect her too. She never has before. Oh, she's come close, but the only thing ever left in her nest after "brooding" for weeks has been broken egg shells. I suppose Marans just don't make good mama hens. I did have one good Marans mama hen about five years ago, but she was killed in the afternoon by some varmint wandering through. One of my older hens died recently. I found her on the floor of the henhouse one morning. It happens. Now I have only six chickens left. I wonder if I will be able to keep a small flock going? They certainly don't reproduce, and when I've added new pullets, they end up getting killed by varmints. Well, maybe that will change now that we have a dog again.


My newest grandchild, little Gwendolyn Rose (Gwen), was baptised in her mama's childhood parish by her mama's childhood priest. That is so neat. She was named after St. Gwen of Brittanny. We rented a cabin on the river and all of the family gathered there and had a wonderful time! There were cousins all over the place, and my sweet Goddaughter Sarah Elizabeth, whose Mama is now little Gwen's Godmother, was there, too. Sarah Elizabeth's Daddy is my son's Godfather.



We have now acquired my son's dog, Yoda. Yoda is part German Shepherd, but I have no idea what his other part is. He is the happiest dog I have ever seen in my life. His name should really be Tigger! He is always in motion, and I had a bit of a time getting him to hold still long enough to take his picture, or at least get a picture that wasn't all blur! He's a sweet thing, and we put him up in the poultry yard at night after we've locked up the chickens so he can run. He has kept the pesky raccoons and opossums away, which has simplified my life.

Broody Hen?

Last night when I went up to lock up my chickens for the night, I noticed that there was a hen in one of the nests instead of on the roost where she belonged. Well, I thought, it seems I might have a broody hen. She was still there this morning and seems to have that look. If she is broody, and I'm not entirely sure about this, any eggs she has under her (I didn't check) will hatch in 21 days--June 12. Only time will tell. I have seen these birds sit on a nest for days and days and days only to come off the nest, shake out their feathers, and move on as if nothing unusual had happened. If there are eggs, and if they do hatch, I surely do need a few more pullets, but I already have a rooster; I don't need another rooster. (sigh) This breed of chicken (Marans) usually throws at least 50% male/female per clutch. As in all things, only time will tell.

She's Here!

Little Gwendolyn Rose arrived at 10:14 a.m. on 20 April 2010. She weighed in at 8 lb 12 oz. Mother came home from the hospital a couple of days later, and Tori is delighted with her new little sister.

New Arrival

My second daughter is due to have her second child tomorrow, April 20. I haven't heard from her in a couple of weeks, so I don't know how things are going. I would be down there with her (if she wanted me to be), but an ongoing family crisis up here (that promises to continue for about six months) keeps me from going. My mother's heart is pulled and torn in many different directions right now. However, my daughter is a good mom, and her husband is a great dad, and she's done this before, so I have no worry--at least I don't think I do. This fourth grandchild is a girl, according to the sonograms, but I still hold out a faint hope for little Nicholas. Little Gwendolyn Rose will be making her appearance very soon, I hope. (I just love that name!)

I'm not sure, but I think the baby will be named after St. Gwen of Brittany, or maybe one of these Saints. I'll be sure to post when I know for sure.

Possum in my Poultry Yard

Look who's always up in my poultry yard every evening when I go to lock up my chickens. He's always there, and doesn't seem to be too afraid of me at all. He just lumbers off a ways, climbs up a tree, and watches me until I leave. He comes after the left over grain in the chickens' feed station. Well, as long as he leaves my chickens alone, I suppose he's doing no harm.

Snowfall 12-13 Feb. 2010

Yesterday and today we had what passes for a snow storm down here in north central Alabama. It was a "wet" snow, and left much ice on the roads and bridges, creating dangerous driving conditions for Southerners who don't get much practice driving on ice and snow. It also afforded a most delightful and quiet interlude in the hurry and scurry of "normal" daily life. Down here when it snows, schools close, businesses close, groceries close, and there is a frantic rush to the store for "milk and bread." For us it provided a chance to sit back, build a fire in the heating stove, take walks through our woods, look for animal tracks, and just listen to the quiet and look at the beauty of it. It doesn't last long down here, thank goodness. While I was out this morning, I noticed where the raccoons come down the hill, through the fence into my poultry yard, and where they stopped and went back when the motion detector was activated. I noticed where the neighborhood tomcat came out of the woods and across my front yard and back down the driveway. Further up the hill behind the house, I saw canine prints. They went on for just a short space. I suspect the coyote, because I suspect a coyote back there, followed along under the trees where there was no snow, and left prints only where he had to cross a snowy patch.

We don't get much snowfall down here, and many times it isn't enough to stay on the ground, so when we do get a couple of inches, I'm very glad to learn what comes around my house, and how close it comes, during the night and early morning hours.

My Little Hisser tomcat didn't know what to make of the snow. I don't think he remembers seeing it last year. He did everything he could in order to keep his little "toesies" out of that cold, wet stuff, including climbing straight up the deck railing and nearly falling off! When I went outside, he got up his nerve and followed me around. Aren't pets just the most wonderful things? I'm so glad God grants us the occasional blessing of a brief snowfall down here. It gives us a chance to take a break from the routine and actually hear the quiet stillness that we should be attending to more often.

Spring is Coming

Just before dusk this evening, as I was outside I heard a scrabbling in the dry leaves on the edge of the woods right close by where I was working. I couldn't see anything in the woods. This time of year with all the leaves off the trees, it's easy to look deep into the woods. I thought maybe a stray cat was in there after a late bird, or maybe a deer. However, the sound seemed to be coming from up above me, so I looked up. There, high in the branches above my head I saw a little squirrel with a mouth full of dry leaves heading for his nest. He slipped into his nest before I could get my camera from the house. I guess spring can't be too far behind if the squirrels are repairing their nests and getting them ready for the next generation. It was a welcome sight.

"Gone Huntin'"

Today I am watching my baby granddaughter, and while she is taking a nap, I watched a TV show called "Gone Huntin'" on Untamed Sports TV. I like to watch outdoors shows, and hunting shows fascinate me, but I don't think I could ever shoot a deer. Maybe if I or my family really needed the food, or if the deer were threatening, I could shoot it. The hunters on this show shot a buck that had five prongs on each antler. I don't know if you'd say the deer had 5 or 10 prongs in this case. I am truly not a hunter. It was a beautiful animal. Anyway, I love watching these shows because I get to see different parts of the country, and they are so quiet and peaceful. I knew someone once who hunted for meat. She would write about being "out there" just before and at dawn when the air is crisp and wispy with morning fog. It's a wonderful time to sit and admire the beauty of nature and listen to the quiet and let it seep into your heart and soul. At such a time and such a place I would imagine that one could find peace and solutions to the everyday stresses and problems of life. I have been thinking of taking a page out of her book and spending some time in my own piney woods, but the only "shots" I would take would be with my camera. Only, I wonder how she managed to keep warm sitting out there in the morning fog watching the sun rise? I guess I will have to wait another month or two until the temperatures are warmer. Until then, I will have to content myself with brief forays into the woods. Maybe tomorrow when I am home I can get up there for a while.