Wednesday, June 20, 2012

What's wrong with this picture?

Here is a nice little Welsummer hen.
She lays chocolate colored eggs.
But she has an odd problem!



Here is another photo ~
can you spot it?

This hen has spurs!!!
I have had a hen or two that thought
they could crow, but this is a first for
me with spurs!



What next?





Monday, June 4, 2012

Of Hens & Chicks

There once was a forlorn old rusty
chicken feeder and an old
concrete drainage pipe
overgrown with 'hens & chicks'.


The plants were removed from the pipe...


and joined the old chicken feeder...


in a happy union that sits in front of the
chicken house!
'Hens & Chicks'/Chicken Feeder/Chicken House!
I had to do it ~ it just seemed right!




Joining these hops~


Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Pears

I brought the tall ladder down from the barn
this morning to pick pears.
The sun was shining warmly and the dew
was sparkling in the orchard grass.
The cats, Harley and Cricket, joined me
in tree climbing and chasing after
wayward fallen fruit!

Of course, the best ones are at the top of the branches!

Ripe for the picking!

Golden sweet and blushing from the sun!

The perfect pair!
(Farmers' Daughter #1 was married in the month of October,
 several years ago, now.
At each place setting at the reception was a beautiful
pear with a ribbon attached that read ~
~M****** and C****~
A perfect pair.
She was married out of doors and a
pear tree stood on either side of the
head of the isle.
So romantic, don't you think?)

I will can most of these pears to add to
the jars filling up the pantry.
Today, I shall make some Pear Honey~
delicious on hot biscuits, toast or waffles!
It amazingly does taste a bit like honey,
though there is not a drop in it!

~Pear Honey~
Yields 12-16 half pint jars

8 cups (about 3 pounds) peeled, cored, and chopped pears
1 20-oz. can crushed pineapple with syrup
10 cups sugar
1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Mix all ingredients and cook until pears are tender and mixture thickens, approximately 30 minutes. Place in sterilized jars and seal while still not.
(I got this recipe from Kelli at There is No Place Like Home a few years ago.)



This one will be my lunch!.
How perfect!

~*~

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Prepared for Winter!

Winter's coming so Gentleman Farmer has been a busy boy cutting firewood for our winter heat. We burn about 5 cord of wood each winter. It is our sole source of heat and our wood stove can be used for cooking when the power goes out.




(A standard cord of wood measures 4'X4'X8'. Or the way we stack it 2'X4'X16'.)






The newest wood rick.
One side of Five cord rows of wood behind the barn.










We are sure to stay toasty warm this winter thanks to all of Gentleman Farmer's hard work!


~*~




Saturday, July 9, 2011

The Marauders!

Maraud', To rove in quest of plunder; to make an excursion for booty; to plunder.

Marauder, n. A rover in quest of booty or plunder.



Meet my 'Marauders'!



(Shown above, plundering a bowl of oatmeal!)

Always on a quest for booty!




Monday, May 16, 2011

A Little Facelift for the Happy Hens Haus

Joining Amy and the gang

over at the Homestead Revival Barn Hop.




The winter rains and snow had nearly scoured

all of the paint off of the Chicken Coop.

We had one nice sunny day last weekend

so we got out the paintbrushes and went to work!

I have some of my plants hardening off
on racks over the compost bin...


and on crates next to the coop.
It was looking pretty sad
:~{



But now it is looking fresh and new!
It matches the color of the trim on our house.




We aren't finished with it yet;

we are painting window boxes,

making some little white shutters,

and I have a painting that I hang

above the door every summer.




I am wanting to plant some

deer proof perennials on either

side of the door.

I have had roses, lillies and some

herbs there and the deer
have throughouly enjoyed them.

Do you have any suggestions?

I will be back with more photos when

it is all finished!


Won't you take a peek at what is happening

at the other Homesteads? There is sure to be

something that will strike your fancy! ;~P



Monday, February 21, 2011

Homestead Barn Hop




Are you tired of this ceaseless, dreary weather?
Do you need a spark of color to brighten your ho-hum day?
But where does one find THAT on these boring washed out Winter White
or dismal Northwest Gray afternoons?
Why, right outside your window!
There may not be anything blooming in the garden
right now, but the shrubs and trees are full of
color nonetheless!
A careful glance past the bird feeder, I spot
a flash of azure with a velvet black hood
dancing in the buddleia bush!



A moment later, this little fellow joins him
wearing his finest little red bib and tucker!



Another softly colored guest zips in for a helping of
seeds to carry off to the higher branches of the
fruit trees to devour in a moment of solitude.

This little crowned beauty patiently awaits the
shower of seeds provided by the greedy
diners on the feeders above.

This plump fellow surveys the merriment of his
comrades from a nearby post. His turn is coming.


His shy demeanor soon dissipates
as he joins in the banqueting
sporting his fine rusty red knickers and
black and white spotted jacket.
While this little miss isn't bright in color,
the lovely muted stripes and white edging on her
feathers remind me of a beautifully
variegated leaf.
Another golden adorned sparrow has come to dine.
This fellow is so fat! And he is wearing a
lovely ascott of gold at his throat!
Else where on the farm, there are even more
splashes of color....
like this yellow tommy kitten
hunting for mice.


One has to focus to notice the silver plumage of this Heron
as he stands perfectly still, awaiting an inattentive
frog or small fish on the boggy tidelands of the bay.

Color is out there, we just have to take the time to
stop and look and enjoy!


~*~
Joining Amy @ Homestead Revival for the first


Won't you *hop* on over and see what's happening
at all the other places?