We have CHICKENS!

I know nothing about chickens. Usually I ask my husband a lot of questions before I write up blog posts. Not today. You'll see it all from the very beginning, folks.

Anyway, chickens. I always thought it would be cool if we had them. All of a sudden, not too long ago, my farmer and his family went and bought some!

They started out as little chicks....then they grew to ugly teenagers. Seriously, have you seen that chicken stage of life? When their feathers start to change? Not so cute anymore.  I even forgot to take a picture.

Now they are full grown, and I guess they have been for a couple of months. The very exciting thing is that they just started laying eggs not too long ago.  Fresh eggs from the backyard? Yes, please!

My farmer brought them home in his hat. I said, "Just a sec!  Let me go get my camera!"  He doesn't listen. He didn't see the fascination I had of fresh eggs being gathered in his John Deere cap. I guess I'm strange. At least I got this picture!

At this point, I still hadn't walked up the hill to see the chickens. The only chickens I have seen recently, are these ones...

Poor chickens. Yes, we took a few of them and had them butchered. There are ten of these ladies in my freezer.

SO...today, we had some pineapple, that we didn't really like, so we decided to take it up to the chickens. The last time we had some old watermelon, my farmer said they loved it.

I took my boys and we headed up to the chicken coop.
Now...here comes the big shocker. THESE are our chickens...

I was expecting white chickens! Like this one...

I am going to embarrass my city girl self and say, I thought roosters were brown, and chickens were white. Yup. That's how much I don't know. You can laugh, it's okay. That's why I'm writing this post! To be laughed at!

SO.... I just googled "Chicken" (fyi, KFC is at the top of the list). I saw that there are many breeds of chickens and they come in some cool colors. Like the black and gray striped one? Now that is pretty cool.

OH wait! It all makes sense! We have brown chickens, and they lay brown eggs.  The white chickens, lay the white eggs you buy at the store!

Haha. Just kidding. Or... wait a minute.... ?

Okay, we'll leave that idea and move on.
So we opened up the door and walked into the pen. I thought "They are chickens. They will be scared of us." We went in and they started circling around my legs. I started to panic cause I could see them eyeing my ankles. It felt like I was being surrounded to get my feet pecked off. "Hurry! Drop the food!" I ordered my 4 yr old. He did, and whew! The chickens went for the pineapple, and forgot my ankles. So it all worked out. I should insert a picture of my safe, unharmed ankles right here, but I won't.

Anyway. Yes, I will continue to move on.  A little while ago, I had to ask my farmer a few questions about the chickens. I asked him if he had to have a rooster so that the chickens would lay eggs. He gave me that certain look and I hurried and backtracked and said, "Oh wait a minute. Chickens will lay unfertilized eggs!"  Yeah, that's right. We'll have eggs no matter what.  Independent female chickens. Good.

BUT....why then...does it look like we have a rooster in the pen? I'm a VERY confused city girl right now. Okay, bear with me, but I thought that chickens clucked and roosters crowed. Or do chickens crow too?  Nah....so do we have a rooster? Oh look! It looks like there are TWO roosters....
Disclaimer:  REMEMBER I AM FROM THE CITY!

Scoopin' Up the Field Mice

Well, it sure has been a while since I've updated! I usually have some sort of story every day, but sitting down on the farm, just doesn't happen too much during the summer time!

But I will tell you the story for today.

I was looking out the window at the flower beds, seeing how they are doing today and if they needed any water, when I saw something scurry across the sidewalk.  It was a little mouse. Yuck! Then I noticed there was another one right behind it, but it was not moving as quickly. I realized they must be babies. I went and grabbed our cat. I thought this would be a great and easy treat for her.

Dumb cat just sat there and sniffed at them.  Maybe cause they were babies and they were too slow. What's the fun in that? She did bat at the one that moved a little quicker.  It squeaked a little and then she plopped herself down on the cool dirt. Then I noticed TWO more little mice in the crack of the sidewalk. So yes. We had four total.  I pulled the cat over again. She didn't care. Sheesh, what was I thinking by giving her cat food this morning! I should have left her ravenously hungry. Well... the reason I fed her is because she has yet another litter of babies. And we all know how important it is for a nursing mother to eat and drink plenty.  So, she wasn't interested in the mice.

Sheesh.

Then I called the husband. He was just down at the shop. I told him that there were 4 baby mice up at the house for him to kill.  He told me to do it myself. I told him that I didn't want to. What if I missed. He said I couldn't miss if they were babies. I told him I didn't want to. He told me there was a shovel right there on the grass. I told him I didn't want to. He told me that sometimes I just have to kill stuff. I told him I didn't want too. Then I got a great idea. I told him that if he walked up here and killed them for me, I would make him an awesome dinner tonight.

Worked like a charm.

I haven't cooked anything in a very long while. That's what happens when you are 9 months pregnant and it's the middle of summer and you don't have air conditioning.

He totally went for it.  The poor guy.  But that is the power of steak and potatoes for ya.

He easily bopped them on the head. Poor little babies...that now won't be able to get into my house!

He tried looking for the 4th one (the fastest one) under this bush. But we couldn't find it.  At least he got three of them.  I don't feel too bad...even though they are pretty cute and they were a bit helpless. Because I know how NOT fun it is when they get into the house. Yuck.

Thank you, cowboy. Now...anyone got any great recipes I can look at for dinner tonight???

Cowboy Rules

I got this email from my father-in-law. I think it makes me laugh more, because I've been learning all of these "rules" the past year.  And because the one about salt, pepper, and ketchup totally applies to him.  (My commentary in blue italics).




Cowboy rules for:

Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Nebraska, Idaho, and the rest of the Wild West are as follows:

1. Pull your pants up. You look like an idiot. It's about Wranglers around here, folks. I haven't seen gansta pants for a long while now...

2. Turn your cap right, your head ain't crooked. Haven't seen this lately either. You wear a dirty ball cap or a cowboy hat...everywhere you go, except church.

3. Let's get this straight: it's called a 'gravel road.' I drive a pickup truck because I want to. No matter how slow you drive, you're gonna get dust on your Lexus. Drive it or get out of the way. They are not dirt roads. They are gravel roads. And everyone here has a pickup (not a truck, because a truck is another name for a semi. If you don't have a pickup, you're not a true cowboy.)

4. They are cattle. That's why they smell like cattle. They smell like money to us. Get over it. Don't like it? I-10 & I-40 go east and west, I-17 & I-15 goes north and south. Pick one and go.  Yes, they stink, but thankfully, there is more fresh air in the country, than stinky air. You only get that wiff when you're at a feed lot or something.

5. So you have a $60,000 car. We're impressed. We have $250,000 Combines that are driven only 3 weeks a year. hahaha.. So true. And it probably cost more than your house too! 

6. Every person in the Wild West waves. It's called being friendly. Try to understand the concept.  This one threw me off. Everyone waves. I had to get used to it. Even still, I sometimes forget. I also find myself amused and asking my husband, "Who was that? Did you know 'em?"

7. If that cell phone rings while a bunch of geese/pheasants/ducks/doves are comin' in during a hunt, we WILL shoot it outta your hand. You better hope you don't have it up to your ear at the time. I guess I will not go hunting with the guys.

8. Yeah. We eat trout, salmon, deer and elk. You really want sushi and caviar? It's available at the corner bait shop. Can we add pheasant and Rocky Mountain Oysters to this list?

9. The 'Opener' refers to the first day of deer season. It's a religious holiday held the closest Saturday to the first of November.

10. We open doors for women. That's applied to all women, regardless of age. Love this one.

11. No, there's no 'vegetarian special' on the menu. Order steak, or you can order the Chef's Salad and pick off the 2 pounds of ham and turkey. So true. And you will get weird looks even if you order chicken. 

12. When we fill out a table, there are three main dishes: meats, vegetables, and breads. We use three spices: salt, pepper, and ketchup! Oh, yeah ... We don't care what you folks in   Cincinnati  call that stuff you eat... IT AIN'T REAL CHILI!!

13. You bring 'Coke' into my house, it better be brown, wet and served over ice. You bring 'Mary Jane' into my house, she better be cute, know how to shoot, drive a truck, and have long hair.

14. College and High School Football is as important here as the Giants, the Yankees, the Mets, the Lakers and the Knicks, and a dang site more fun to watch. Oh, it's true. The whole town comes out for the high school football games. They are big events. Everyone revolves around the sports programs!

15. Yeah, we have golf courses. But don't hit the water hazards - it spooks the fish.

16. Turn down that blasted car stereo! That thumpity-thump ain't music, anyway. We don't want to hear it anymore than we want to see your boxers! Refer back to #1! 
 

More about the Cat

So, I've mentioned before, that our cat, is most likely, part human. Or was human in another life and re-incarnated to be a cat in this life. (Although I wonder why she was downgraded since she's an amazing cat..)
Anyway, the husband always makes fun of me because Moley really does have conversations with you. I mean, you can't understand what she is saying, but her meow's are perfect timing. You say something, she meows. You answer, she meows.  It's quite fun.
So.. the other day, she was crying at the door. I said to my husband, "What is Moley whining about it?" He answered with a smirk, "I don't know, why don't you ask her?" hahaha. Very funny!

But the best thing is that today, while I was sitting at the kitchen table eating lunch, the husband came home. As he was walking through the door, I heard him say something, but couldn't understand him. I thought he might be bringing someone inside with him. When no one followed him, I asked him who he was talking to.  He said, "Moley."  I totally cracked up.
I just reminded him that I wasn't the only crazy one.  Loved it!

Speaking of Moley, here is her cute new litter of kittens. About 4 weeks old now. They are all a little scared but nice. Except for the black and white one that is hiding in the back. It's a mean one already. Must be male. The little thing already bit me!

The Husband is Funny

So....as I announced before, we are expecting. No, not another cow, our very own baby. Since I'm due in September, we have come upon the exciting time of pregnancy when we get to have a big ultrasound and as part, find out the gender of our next child.
I had to shop around for the best price, and when I told my husband what it would cost, it was still too much for him.  His response?

"Why don't you just call my cousin, the vet. He's got an ultrasound machine!"j

I laughed out loud. He's so clever.  It was pretty funny.  And now I'm tempted to ask his wife if they ever used it for fun.  I'd also be tempted to ask to use it if ever I wanted to make sure baby was okay in there. Ya know, just when I get paranoid cause they've been sleeping for a long time and not wiggling.

So funny or not, I think this is very good information. Hah!

Gopher Bait

So yesterday, I decided to make a trip to town.  Not the close town, but the farther away town. I never know how people here distinguish that, but for some reason, whenever you say that you are going to "town" everyone knows which town you mean. I still have yet to figure that out and how it works. That's why I had to clarify it for you, because I do not believe that it is a universal understand. I think it's just something about living here.
For example, when I told my husband that I wanted to go to town today, he said, "Oh, well if you are going to town, then can you pick up something for the farm?"  Of course, why not. It's always good to consolidate our errands, especially when they are 45 minutes away.
I asked him what he needed. He told me that they had ordered gopher bait from the supply depot. Okaaay. So I had him write down where the supply depot was.
As I'm pulling out of the driveway this is what he said to me:
"Okay, hon. So gopher bait is basically poison. Ask them to load it into your trunk so you don't have to. They should give you 100 pounds. Under any circumstances, don't puncture the bag.  And if you decide to buy groceries or anything, I wouldn't put it next to the bait. Maybe pile them in the front seat or something."

I called back, "This sounds like a great thing for a pregnant woman to be doing along with her two toddlers!"

The risks you take for love.

So I went.  I pulled into the depot, stayed in my car, and popped my truck.  They loaded it. I never saw it.  I did buy groceries and they sat right next to me in the passenger's seat and under my kids' feet.

It's been 24 hours and we are all thankfully alive.

But the gophers? They soon will be dead.

Eventful day in the land of reproduction...

So yesterday was an annoying day for our bulls.  It was "Sperm Count" day.  Here they've been all winter, minding their own business and just eating, eating, eating. Then today? They were met with electric shocks.
I guess we have to make sure that they are still fertile before we send them out with the females this summer. It's important to have a lot of calves born in the spring.  I forgot to ask if they all passed the test.  And no, I didn't provide a picture for you.

But speaking of fertility, our cat also proved to us that she remains extremely fertile. She had a littler of kittens yesterday. She had SIX. No wonder she was so fat.  Sadly, one of them died, so we have 5 now. I was a little perturbed that my husband didn't tell me until after she was done. Stinker. He knows I like to be there for births!

But the funny thing is that HE had to be there, per Moley's insistence. Apparently, she climbed into the dogs bed, and when Ladd saw blood, he grabbed a box and and old sheet. She jumped right in.  Then he left her to do her thing and she came out to the garage and started crying at him. He followed her back to the box to where she jumped back in and started birthing again.  He stayed and watched for a while. As soon as he left, there she was, back out of the box crying at him. As soon as he returned, she jumped back in and pushed out another one. What an interesting cat.  Hahaha. She wanted someone to be there with her. Of course, my mother-in-law thought this was a great story. I can see why Moley is such a great cat. People will think I'm crazy, but she really does talk to you. You ask her a question and she meows and purrs right back.  She's always talking in conversation form. It's pretty amusing. I'd love to take her to an animal psychic just to see what she's saying. hahaha.

Anyway, there's an update for you. Our animals are fertile. Well, except for Baxter. He's fixed. Which is a good thing.