The Weekend.

Ellie and her baby birds

Once again the hubster and I got many things done this weekend. We adopted three new chicks. A Buff Easter Egger born in February. This bird should produce blue eggs. We also got a White Plymouth Rock born in March along with a Speckled Sussex born in March. They are already in the coop having a great time with the rest of my girls.

Nancy is my bird lady, or rather a bird breeder that I go to; to get my birds. She showed me around her place and let me look at all of her adult birds. She had one White leghorn rooster that was the size of a Beagle. Only bigger.

She also had a three year old daughter with long shaggy hair that would go in and grab all the baby birds and place them on a running machine that was in the same room as the babies. Her name was Ellie. It was hard to watch little Ellie grab babies by a wing or a head and play with them as if they were little dolls. Yet Nancy assured me that she wouldn't kill them, she knows better now. You can tell this kid will end up becoming a Steve Irwin type that loves birds.

 I assume there were lots of killings before the age of 3? Nancy is passionate about her birds, and gets very excited about them and talks really fast. I was trying so hard to pay attention and once and a while I would get a tiny poke or a pull from Ellie. "Yes Ellie?" "I like your car!" "Thanks! you have good taste!" poke poke "Yes Ellie?" "What does tem-per-mint mean?" "uh..... it means.... uh..... ummm.... " meanwhile... Nancy hasn't skipped a beat and is throwing more birds into my arms to "hold". "Do you like this one? Here hold her for a second while I get this one"

 We were in Nancy's house and I was standing on what looks to be a nice rug... and there... goes a poop onto the rug...."oops that one just pooped" Says Nancy...casually. "I am so sorry!, I don't know... what....to... do about that" "Oh no worries, it happens all the time". Ellie comes running out with a squirt bottle in hand ready to clean up.

I came home with the three chicks.... absolutely drained. I was there for an hour. I was jammed with new knowledge but was exhausted from three year old Ellie, baby bird screams, and the constant push to look at an IPhone to see what these chicks would look like when they mature. I hate looking at Iphone pictures. I HATE IT! I especially hate looking at the internet on an iphone. It's not a computer, it's just too small. I have a dumb phone. I refuse to upgrade to the future.


So baby birds... check!

 Then we went to my mom's house to see a strange man. We went out to lunch and feasted. The weather couldn't have been nicer. I decided to pluck some fish from the pond. Check. Done.

We now have 7 Koi... swimming around on our front porch. Alive and well! They made the transport. Which means I can go and get some more. I think there are at least 25 fish to be plucked... or not plucked... we will see, I think my mom wants to keep the pond and fish. Which means it needs to be repaired. Which is not an easy task.

I also cleaned out the chicken coop completely. I even hosed it all down with a pressure washer. It is so clean I could sleep in there and that is saying a lot. (Chicken Coops can be notoriously disgusting).

I also went to watch a horse clinic this weekend at Snap Dragon Stables http://www.ridesnapdragon.com/. I finally got to meet Coelli Netsky. http://cnetskyequine.com/ . She is  a big deal where I live. She judges horse shows, and is a certified horse trainer.  I wanted to make my best impression on her; so... I dressed as a professional horse trainer. It did the job. I gained some respect, and hopefully have re-launched my reputation as a good riding instructor and horse trainer.

I'm hoping that my cartoons take off too. I havent' decided whether I will eventually make this into a book, or just do an illustrated novel like Robert Crumb. http://www.crumbproducts.com/ . I'm getting a lot of feedback from the cartoons on facebook. I would like to be the next american Norman Thelwell http://www.thelwell.org.uk/. I will never do it like him of course, but maybe with time I will get my own style. As I have mentioned before I love his work.

So that was my weekend!
Here are some pictures and maybe a cartoon if I have time.

Feasting with family.

James likes the strange man

James and Watts lounging and reminiscing about the old days.

Fish in the new pond!

Say hello to the new chicks. Mango, Spots, and Honky

a boy and his bird

My boy Watts (age 2) and his bird.

Easter Weekend

Watts has discovered money and candy are hidden in these eggs. We had to do a practice run before he went to do the real Easter egg hunt. 

It was Easter weekend and we got a ton done! My mom is finally back from her vacation which allows the hubster and I to work together to get projects completed.

My dad came over to help again and brought with him a 17' bamboo pole that he chopped down on his way here. He pulled into the driveway with it sticking out of his sunroof. I can't believe he drove around like that, but if you have ever met my dad you will clearly see that he is aloof when it comes to wacky looking things.

The bamboo pole was the perfect addition to the chicken coop roof. The hubster erected two beams and then laid the bamboo pole across the top to act like a roof ridge line. We then pulled chicken wire over it, and secured the edges to the sides.

With three people working on it, we completely covered the top in chicken wire and it only took 5 hours. Not bad. I can now go and get more baby chicks and actually watch them grow into ladies!

I also planted my peas into the new garden beds. However, I forgot to harden them off first. (to put them outside for the day, and bring them in at night to acclimate them to the weather) They will most likely die. I can just plant some more.

We also made it to nanny and pop-pops house in Reading, Pa for an Easter Egg Hunt. The weather blew chunks, but Watts and James had a blast.

James turned 8 months old yesterday, and with that he decided to climb all the way up the stairs on his own, looking back at me, as if to say... "really your going to let me do this?!" Watts decided that James was getting too much attention from me, so he brought some toys up the stairs and they played on the stairs for a while.

I also managed to teach a jumping class on Friday. It was so much fun. I rode a horse named Finn who is super fancy. I can't get him out of my mind. I would like to own him... only he is 17, and that is a bit old. I also worked with pony Raven. I jumped on her back and got her to walk, trot and canter. I gave the ok for her to do lead line classes, which is a big deal because she can now earn her own keep and will no longer be a useless pony sitting around eating and farting her day away.

It was a good weekend to say the least!

James and Watts getting ready for the Easter weekend. Watts is feeding James  a banana. 

James is 8 months now and proved it by climbing the stairs. Watts played with him on the stairs to pass the time. 

Our new Alcatraz chicken coop. We shortened the one side away from the trees where the hawks like to sit and wait. 

The 17' bamboo pole that my dad brought works as a great ridge line for my chicken wire. 

Rogue and Fluffy- best buddies! And now safe and sound.

Our vegetable gardens waiting patiently for plants. Notice my pea's? 

Doh! I forgot to harden it off first. Hopefully it will still thrive. Hardening off means to bring it outside for the day and bring it back in for the night till it has become used to the outdoor climate. 

Regina, Becky, and Martha behind two layers of fence. Safe and Sound, and hating me for coming empty handed. 

Finn and I cantering up to the next jump. Isn't he a handsome boy?! We get on marvelously. He's my new bestie! 

Finn and I jumping for the first time together. He over jumped it by about a foot. I don't mind. The higher the better!  He agrees with me because we share a brain.