New Experience

January 23, 2019

I have long thought people pulling cats out of trees were a little silly. Why not just let them figure it out? They got up, surely they can get down.... I should know never to judge another, I am bound to end up in a similar situation.
A random dog came through our yard today. A big dog. Apparently it scared our outdoor cat and she climbed a tree. After 3 hours, the sun has gone down, She was crying up there, we had already tried a couple times to bribe her down,  the temps are dropping and it is already around 20 degrees and she is still up there... We said a prayer then we pulled out a ladder. First one of our daughters climbed the tree but couldn't get close enough. Up I went, my reach is just a little longer. I got a hold of her and yanked her down. No, it wasn't pretty, but I also don't think I hurt her. It was the best I could do in my precarious position. Once I got her to me, she clung to me like she did really want the help. The way down I wasn't holding her at all. If she wanted to stay in the tree, she totally could have gotten away. I think she was grateful, especially since this cat has been known to nip at us.
I am grateful she is safe in the shop, out of the weather. Prayers really are answered!

Drifts

January 8, 2019

I know that weather can be dangerous. It can also be beautiful. The winds have been blowing and the drifts of snow are beautiful. I wonder why it sticks in some places and not others. Some you can see where a structure or tree have blocked the winds, but other times a larger drift seems to have formed for no reason. It looks like waves of the sea frozen in ice crystals. So pretty.

Christmas

December 6, 2018

In October President Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints encouraged the women of the church to read the Book of Mormon before the end of the year and mark the references to Jesus Christ. As I have done this I have found different reasons this was good for me. I have noted characteristics of Jesus and the many, many times some are noted, and explained. I have noted how truly loving He is. This past week I have noticed how awesome it is to read of His birth, life and death as we celebrate his birth. It is interesting that we don't just celebrate his birth on one day, we celebrate for weeks. It is great as his birth, life, death, resurrection and Atonement have such a profound affect on every day! I can not image my life, without his. Would I be overwrought with guilt at all times? Would I have the strength to do even a small portion of what I have done? Would I have any purpose to life? Would I fear death constantly? Would I mourn and grieve inconsolably for those that have passed on? Would I have any direction? Would I have family or friends in my life? Would I have any love, happiness, joy?
I am grateful for His life, His example, His teachings, His love, His Atonement, His Grace, His long suffer, His death, His resurrection, His words. I am thankful for Him. He lives!

Snow, Snow, wonderful snow

November 28, 2018
Snow, snow, snow
We have had several flurries, but today we got an ok snow. Enough to build snow/dirt men/women.
I forgot how much work it is to get dressed for snow and undressed, not to mention trying to roll balls in the leaves, dirt, etc. It was fun though and our daughter enjoyed picking sticks for arms, rocks for the eyes, and a carrot nose.

One Hen over the Coocoo's nest

November 16th
The new hens from a friend... One has decided she does not want to sleep in the coop. We expected to have to put them in the coop the first night or two, after the first night they went into the coop themselves, but the last couple nights one (Lady aka Dark Meat, the Black Sex Link) has decided she does not want to sleep in the coop. She prefers a Pine Tree at the edge of the property. Her wings are not clipped, nor are several of the others, so she can hop/flap/fly up the fence and settle on the top of the fence or in the tree. Three nights in a row I pulled her down and put her in the coop, but last night even though we searched we could not find her. Sure enough this morning she was back but on the other side of the fence, talking to her friend through the fence. I walked around behind her and she headed to the front of the coop area and got herself trapped between me and the Broody Coop. Using a box I lifted her over the fence and she took off across the field to join her friend (Bazooka aka White Meat, the Aracana). I will be interested to learn if she decides to do the same thing tonight or not.
November 28, 2018
After multiple nights in the cold and several frustrating hunts for us and rescue missions to get the chicken back in the field where the food and water is, we finally clipped "Dark meats" feathers. For those unfamiliar with this, this is similar to cutting a persons nails, where that person likes to use the nails. Not painful, just frustrating for the bird to not be able to flutter/fly. We only clipped a few flight feathers so nothing that should impact her ability to keep warm. She has now decided the coop is not so bad and is making friends with a couple chickens to snuggle up to at night.

Cheaper by the Dozen?

November 11, 2018

A friend of mine did not want to care for her chickens over the winter, she gave them to us. 

One is an Aracana, a smaller whitish bird, the other is a Black Sex link 

(FYI Black and Red Sex link are named such,

 because you are suppose to be able to identify their sex at birth by their color). 

My friend's family called the Aracana Bazooka, and the Black, Lady. 

My sweetheart and our son have nicknamed them White Meat and Dark Meat.

I have not taken pictures of them yet. 

They are pretty skittish right now and run when I come any where near them. 

Here are pictures of their breeds though.

Aracana

Black Sex Link

November 11, 2018

The playhouse has walls and spaces for windows. It is taking shape.

 It is amazing all the things my brother has done with it. He is very talented.