Out of the Brooder

Jake and I officially let the birds out of their brooder box. One brave bird had escaped and others were sitting on top of the waterer contemplating. So we opened up the front of the box and let them have a bit more freedom, not enough to let them out into the fenced yard yet. I will probably give them at least 1-2 more weeks. (We have to finish putting up chicken wire along the bottom so we don't have to chase them back in.) They seem to be enjoying their new found space. There are a few that seem to like staying by the door so we have to open it gently. It won't be long little ones. It won't be long.

Cherry's Road Trip

No, it was not for pleasure (per se). I thought she was in heat...well, she probably was...yesterday. Okay, I was ignorant to the fact that it only lasted 24 hours. I told the lady with the buck that Cherry's tail was wagging like crazy. I mentioned it was yesterday, not today. I had put the buck rag out this morning with maybe a little tail twitch, but she was more excited about the branch of leaves I had for her. Well, we tried anyway. Nope, not interested in the least. I need to watch in 10 days, but usually it is 21 days between. Oh well. At least Cherry got to take a little road trip. And maybe I was mean on the way back and turned on the back window wiper just to see if it scared her...it did.

Random Thoughts

I didn't go to church this morning. There were physical reasons, but probably more so prideful reasons. Nonetheless, I spent the morning with God. I could see him in the trees blowing and feel him in the warm sun on my skin. I could hear him in the birds singing their songs. I saw his beauty on the pond. No, I didn't go to church, but my spirit was renewed (must be the Indian in me).

Change of Seasons

Don't you love the lightness of the air when fall is on its way. The cool morning air puts a little bounce in my step. I feel myself breathing deeper and slower. It is still 90 degress in the day, but it is in the 60s when I wake up.

As fall approaches, I once again turn to my to-do list in my head. What needs to be done over the next couple of months to make sure we fare well through the winter.

The well is insulated to ensure we have free flowing water. We should insulate the pipes in the greenhouse, however. All the animals have decent shelter. I do need more hay and straw for food and insulating the shelter. There is still some fallen trees to be cut and split to have ready for the fireplace in case we need heat, or just want a warm fire crackling with our hot chocolate around January. The garden can still be tilled and planted with cool crops and cole crops. I also want to have a cover crop on some garden plots. I need to be thinking about what trees or bushes I need plant for our food, bee food and soil improvement.

Of course, it is my favorite time of year to decorate. Time to think about setting some mums on the porch and pumpkins here and there. I do have one small white pumpkin that survived our summer. It grew by the porch. The rest of the plants burned up in the heat. (I will be planting them elsewhere next year).

It is deer season for bowhunters. Maybe I will have a chance to clean out my freezer and rotate some new venison and even hog sausage.

There is a lot to do in the fall, but for some reason, it just does not seem as hard as the summer chores in the heat...

Chapter 3

"A Happy Spouse is a Helping Spouse"


I think that is pretty clearly stated. I have learned a lot from Bruce in how to treat your spouse. He has shown me great patience, trust and to really "not sweat the small stuff." We are a great team. He is laid back and I am uptight, so when you put us together, it works out pretty well...most of the time.



I have asked Bruce what makes him happy. His reply...if you're happy, I'm happy...Come on, that doesn't make me happy. That doesn't give me anything to work with, does it? I have asked him in the past about what is most important to him when he comes home? Quiet, hot meal, sparkling clean home, Cleopatra costume with a palm leaf? Again, he says if you're happy....blah, blah, blah...

Well, okay, then let's say he is a simple man with a simple thought pattern and that is what he means. Then that means I have to figure out what makes ME happy...great, that is even harder! Especially since I am not simple with simple thought patterns, as most women aren't. It would make me happy if he would tell me what would make him happy...okay, I am dizzy now.

I guess what makes me happy is a clutter-free home, knowing the kids and Bruce have good, healthy food to eat and Bruce keeping his fat head off my fluffy pillow...that's about it...I think I can work with that.

Chick Pics

Well, its almost 3 weeks. Yes, they have hit that oh so awkward stage-half furry, half feathery.

Cleaning the Porch

Yes, finally got the back porch somewhat straightened. It had needed to be done all summer. We have our extra supers and other bee equipment all nice and neat in a corner now. I had a super full of honey that we were saving for this fall to put back on the bees. We had taken it off early spring and we saved it specificially for that purpose. It had been sitting on an empty freezer on the porch not harming anyone for months, but I moved it over the "bee" corner. I guess when I was moving the fairly heavy super full of honey, I opened up some of the capped cells. It was probably two or three hours later, Jake was going out to check on the animals for me when he wanted me to come and see the porch. The bees had found the honey. Really??? There were hundreds on the porch, and over the course of these past several days, have not left. Some fly in and out taking it back home, but I am really a bit afraid that they will try to make it their new home...on my porch!!! All the equipment is there, except nothing is covered, but several supers and frames with drawn comb...I may have to suit up and move that honey closer to them a little earlier than planned.