CHICKENS IN THE CITY

My mom called me today. She was laughing so hard she could hardly tell me this story.

They live in the city of Rowlett TX. A neighbor 2 doors down apparently had 5 laying hens that he keeps in his back yard. We have all heard that some cities are going back to allowing their residents to keep a small flock and this is one of those cities.

Unfortunatly one hen escaped as all sneaky hens do now and then. She made her way down with the cardinals and the blue jays to my fathers bird feeder and bird bath.

Dad comes from a farming back ground. His mom raised laying hens in Matewan WV and sold chickens and eggs to the local store.

Well he was tickled pink and so was mom when they saw her. The owner heard them talking and making chicken noises and so the elderly man came down and knocked on the gate. Dad let him in and mom went back inside to let the menfolk talk.

There they sat...on the outside bench forming a plan. How to catch that chicken. Each being in his 80's meant it would take a lot of thought and discussion.

Finally they took action. (here is where mom started laughing so hard she could barely speak) She told me about these two old men trying everything they could think of including a ladder up in the tree where she attempted to take refuge...to catch this little sneaky hen.

They finally gave up, shook hands and parted company to try another day. Later Dad was standing in the alley....and down the alley was the other gentleman....like two gun fighters. In between was the hen....they eyeballed each other wondering if they had the energy to try again when she made the decision for them.

She turned her tail on my dad, and walked back to her gate and looked up at her owner as if to say, "Well, what are you waiting for. I am hungry. Let me in." which he did. He waved at my dad and followed her in.

I knew you guys would really enjoy this as much as I did.

INTERESTING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

J and D worked last night for a couple of hours. I never went out to see what they were doing because I wanted to see it in the day light. After they left I went out and took these pictures.






You can tell it is kind of a house or cave built from scrap wood and drawers etc. Although it was cute, I was slightly annoyed because I will have to dissemble it. Until I saw this.




A golden dragon in front of an enchanted mirror.

So what do you think? I have cool grand kids.

LOOKING FOR RAINBOWS

An amazingly wonderful friend mailed me this stone that he found while on assignment in Butte MT. He says that when you hold it up to the sunlight, there is a rainbow in it's depths and he thought of me when he looked at it.




My grandboys love this stone. When they are at my home, many times they take it and just hold it and rub it. Or they will do what they did this morning....hold it up to the light looking for the rainbow.



Thank you Todd

BAPTISM, BBQ, BOY SCOUTS AND BROWNIES

What a very cool day. I slept late...almost until 8! I got up and soon heard little feet come trotting down the hall with a declaration of hunger. French toast and spam for breakfast this morning.

Then we all just hung out, the kids played, my daughter and I talked (trivial stuff--nothing deep as wounds are still new), then she left for work and the boys and I headed to the Boy Scout store. I love this store even though it is very expensive. While there we got the boys den number patches to attach to their uniforms, and guess what nanna found???? I am so excited about this chair. It fits me...it is tall so I don't have to hurt myself trying to get out and it has a foot rest!



After that we went to the store and got a fruit and veggie tray to take to my sisters. Today is the day she got baptized. We all cried because she was the first. I know that she wished more than anything that Michael was there with her...he would have been very proud of her.

The grand boys waited with anticipation for her to come out of the swimming pool...they were polite and waited for her to get her hugs...then they asked if they could please go swimming. She laughed and said yes and off they went. They swam for 2 hours while we ate great food.

Then went to feed horses and then home. Tonights dinner was the home made BBQ beef using Rudys BBQ sauce from Austin TX. I have to go back because my oldest ate his in 3 bites!

Then we had Blue Bell Chocolate brownie overload sundaes made with Hersheys syrup...and yes this was too much chocolate even for me but not my grand boys. When they were done they brushed their teeth, then we read about The Emporers New Clothes and we laughed and laughed, then big hugs and kisses and I don't think they remember their heads hitting the pillow.

What a nice day. Now I am typing this with a warm kitty happy feeting my shoulder and purring in my ear.

DEHYDRATING SWEET POTATOS

I had to share this. I don't have any sweet potatos right now but i am going to try this with my last yellow hubbard squash and pumpkins.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Dehydrate2store


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SEED SAVING

I planted soybeans this year and because the pumpkins and squash exploded, only 2 plants produced. They were completly engulfed by the vines of both. So since I only had those I did not harvest but let them grow and produce pods. when they were done I pulled the whole plant and hung it in the kitchen to dry.

Flash helped me de-pod the seeds today so they could be stored for next years planting.




This little cup of seeds represents about 4 or more packets of seed packets from just 2 plants. Cool right?

TIME FOR SCOUTS....OH BOY THIS WILL BE FUN