tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89365023414565817212024-03-13T13:47:03.537-05:00Fat Bottom FarmOur Backyard Homestead in progress...Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-30492849020386260042010-12-29T16:04:00.000-06:002010-12-29T16:04:43.087-06:00My day at Pure Luck Farm and DairyIn order to do this post justice, I must start at the beginning...<br />
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A few weeks ago I decided that the 7 roosters that I had in my micro-flock had to go. It was not my intention at all to have so many extra roosters, but it seems sexing chicks is not 100% accurate. What was I going to do with the 6 extra roosters, I decided to keep the Silkie Bantam Rooster, he sounds like a toy when he crows and is just too cute.<br />
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I emailed Ben at <a href="http://www.purelucktexas.com/">Pure Luck Farm and Diary</a>, someone I met on <a href="http://www.backyardchickens.com/">Backyard Chickens</a> and asked if he wanted my extra roosters for his family. I knew he had no issues with processing chickens and since I raised them, I did not want to do the dirty deed myself. It is not that I haven't done it before, I helped my dad process chickens, rabbits, deer, and bear all the time as a kid in Northern California but there was just something different about this, hard to explain I guess. <br />
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The day was set for me to deliver the goods to Ben and in return get a tour of <a href="http://www.purelucktexas.com/">Pure Luck Farm and Dairy</a> where it is the home to 100 Nubian and Alpine goats, a Great Pyrenees named Lucy and five acres of certified organic land on Barton Creek in Dripping Springs, Texas. His family specializes in handmade artisan goat cheese and certified organic culinary herbs that you can find at local stores and restaurants around Austin, TX. Please check out there website above, they have an amazing history.<br />
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I was so excited to see this amazing place, especially the goats. Once the roosters had settled in, the tour began. First stop the five acres of certified organic culinary herbs, row after neat row as far as I could see and the smell was just divine; Ben told me all that was growing, but the smell of dill lingers in my mind. Next across the road to the goats (my favorite part), along the way we were greeted by Lucy "Protector of the Goats", you could see by the trails along the perimeter of the fence she takes her job very seriously. We continued to walk a little further until we came into a clearing and there relaxing in the shade were about 30 (others were in back field) of the most gorgeous creatures I have ever seen; a mix of Nubian with floppy ears and Alpine the only breed with upright ears. The group was alert to new visitors but curious of our presence, you could tell they were trusting of humans, welcomed our scratches and rubbing of the bellies. I was in heaven and could have just sat right there all day, just observing those marvelous creatures. At this point I am kicking myself for not bringing my camera, <strike>idiot</strike>! All of the goats are due to have kids in February and most according to Ben have twins, sometimes triplets. Next we stopped by to see "The Man" of the group, then on to the milking barn where all the fun happens. <br />
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It was so much to take in, but the goats are milked, the milk is filtered and quickly cooled then moved over to be pasteurized then it is put in baskets for the whey to drain. I highly suggest attending one of their <a href="http://www.purelucktexas.com/index.php/workshops/">workshops</a> and you can get a hands on experience from goat to cheese. I know I will be and I can't wait, because Pure Luck Basket Chevre Mixed Herb and June's Joy are very yummy.<br />
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I want to thank Ben for taking the time to show me around, it was an amazing experience and one I will not forget. Thanks again for the treats, June's Joy is fabulous.Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-15974305598597758132010-08-01T14:59:00.000-05:002010-08-01T14:59:28.312-05:00Our FIRST Egg!Wanted to do a quick post that the Fat Bottoms have become successful and we have so graciously received our FIRST egg. Not sure which pullet is now an official "Hen"; but we are all excited to have such a wonderful gift. We keep looking for more like a treasure hunt. Cameron wanted to put it under a light to hatch, unfortunately I told him that even though we do have roosters, it would be a futile attempt and too look forward to next spring when we will add clan of Fat Bottoms.<br />
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Until next time...live long, love much and be natural,Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-16853302076878182792010-07-11T20:05:00.001-05:002010-07-11T20:07:19.536-05:00Dreams in the making...I have a dream to visit all the National Parks and Historical Places in North America before I am too old to move. How will myself and hubby accomplish this task? By hitting the road in a fifth wheel trailer, but not just any fifth wheel; a 38 foot <a href="http://www.carriageinc.com/products/cameo">Cameo</a> by Carriage. I should step back and explain how all this came to be...<br />
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For my new followers, my hubby wanted to get a 37 foot sailboat and sail all over the world, not necessarily circumnavigate the globe but hit all the secluded coves in Caribbean, East Coast, Bahamas, etc. Which at first was a grand idea and I researched books, websites, and magazines. But I could never get past a fear that I have been harboring for 20 plus years. The fear of drowning.<br />
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My mom spent an enormous amount of money when I was between 8-10 years of age on private swimming lessons and I would say that I was an excellent swimmer until my biological mother decided to take me along with some friends to the lake. It was good day until her friends kids thought it would be fun to hold me under the water, I was the youngest so I was an easy target. Well, they scared the living <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">bejeasus</span> out of me and it took two summers for me to even wade in the water. As I got older the fear subsided and I eventually was able to enjoy myself in water sports again after my near-drowning. <br />
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Just my luck I married a guy that grew up sailing on the Texas Gulf Coast and it wasn't too long before he wanted to get a Catamaran and teach our boys to sail, which proceeded to scare the living daylights out of me when it would heel over with one pontoon out of the water. Has with all boat people one is not enough, we eventually bought and sold boats until Pilgrim, a 27 foot Catalina that is slipped in <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Palacios</span>, TX. I like sailing but I love land more. Twelve years of sailing and I still can not relax on the water. So we have switched dreams from water to land and I can't wait to hit the road. <br />
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Until next time...<br />
<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">Lanora</span><br />
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Recommended Reading:<br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=littleblushes-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=157409145X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=littleblushes-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=097419610X&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-55883391611025672352010-07-06T11:39:00.000-05:002010-07-06T11:39:47.410-05:00Correction needed for previous post. Oops!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd75RPIA5R43wKgatQCX0KZww5oTFG0I5ZrRNpK9lhqRlggq1eSlud2su_jjLafIXA9v270GLoyjcPs_VKOw_dmvr0RU-_3jXTzlr8HNisFrGQ4n8h6vM1v2Q9qwUdjzcw6TFG1PwKP-4/s1600/Picture+312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd75RPIA5R43wKgatQCX0KZww5oTFG0I5ZrRNpK9lhqRlggq1eSlud2su_jjLafIXA9v270GLoyjcPs_VKOw_dmvr0RU-_3jXTzlr8HNisFrGQ4n8h6vM1v2Q9qwUdjzcw6TFG1PwKP-4/s200/Picture+312.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess Avery</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Okay, so a few posts ago I introduced Princess Avery to everyone and well I made huge error in my skills of determining between a rooster and a hen. When I purchased the 7 chicks, I picked 6 pullets and 1 rooster (rooster had been painted with red dot on his head). Once they started to get new feathers, they all started to look the same and I thought the rooster was another chick that had similar coloring and I was wrong.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This morning, hubby and I needed to plant a Clumping Bamboo plant that I purchased at the <a href="http://www.sanmarcosfarmersmarket.com/">San Marcos Farmers Market</a> last week. I picked the spot between the coop and the neighbors house and as we were digging, I heard some attempts of crowing. I got so excited, because it was the first crowing I had heard, but when I looked, it was Avery doing the crowing. So it looks like Princess Avery is Prince Avery. Worked out good, because Cameron didn't want to eat her eggs anyways, problem solved.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Until next time...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Smiles,</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Lanora</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-32293113465530233012010-07-03T18:01:00.001-05:002010-07-03T19:23:16.691-05:00What would John Wayne say?I am not sure if it because it is Forth of July weekend or because AMC has been showing John Wayne movies since Thursday, but my thoughts have wandered to just what John Wayne would think of all the devastation and challenges that we as Americans face in this Century. Does it really take over 75 days to stop an oil spill or has one mans idealistic views been put before the welfare of others. We may not be the oldest Civilization, but we do have the longest run of legislation; The Constitution for the United States.<br />
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First paragraph follows:<br />
<strong><em>We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America</em></strong>. <br />
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For those of you who are close friends know that both my hubby and I are huge John Wayne fans. Our Catalina Sailboat is named Pilgrim, in honor of The Duke and we have a pretty good selection of John Wayne DVDs. Even though Mr. Wayne never served in our Armed Forces, a fact that he regretted, he did encourage thousands to serve with his endeavours of movies, play and speeches.<br />
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I have embedded two of my favorite speeches made by John Wayne, I hope they work. Listen with your heart and hope that this great country can survive the challenges that it faces. I wonder What would John Wayne say if he was alive today. <br />
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Some of our favorite movies:<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=littleblushes-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00005ASGD&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=littleblushes-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000O599NA&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=littleblushes-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00005ASGH&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-10324583761588343432010-06-25T21:39:00.000-05:002010-06-25T21:39:38.767-05:00Chaos got me some Chicken Bling!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This past week has been a whirl wind. First had to spend some time in New Braunsfels with in-laws due to the whole clan coming in from two different states for a total of 18-20 people being in one house at the same time. Chaos is an understatement, schedules and planning will not be held too, decisions will be put off until the last possible minute. It boggles my mind that 6 grown adults can not come to some kind of decision. The insanity can not be put in words, but I will try.</div><br />
<a name='more'></a>Just picture everyone, sitting around the dining room table, scratching their heads and looking at each other, and saying, "I don't know, what do you want to do?" over and over again. And then there is me, the black sheep, who can not join in the fun, because it was all water activities and heaven forbid that they even try to include me due to having my foot in a walking boot. There I sit, looking at my husband cross-eyed, pulling my hair out strand by strand because of the maddness that surrounds me. You dragged me away from my chickens, my peaceful abode, the goats, even Rio is calmer than this craziness! It made me want to start drinking, not just a glass of wine with dinner, no I wanted to down some hard stuff. He looks at me, with this WHAT? look and I told him that he will owe me, big time. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now, New Braunsfels has my all time favorite General/Feed Store and I always have to stop in, even if I don't need anything because I like the ambiance. They not only have feed/supplies for all critters, but also they have books, magazines, wind chimes, bird feeders, flags and western type purses with rhinestones and silver conchos. I just love this place! So there was a free moment and I told DH that he needs to take me on a drive, before I explode to my favorite store and there I will collect on the debt for the torture. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I got a few books to read, the new Hobby Farms Home magazine and the coolest denim backpack purse with Bling! It is too cute, the pockets have black-silver sparklers, the clasp have rhinestones glued on and the best part is the front part of jeans is actually the back of purse, with the zipper fly. In the end this made up for the CHAOS. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YAKPFzJ_Y4j8fG49OAr6AVv843SwXe0NdeEBrlISp3b4DnvO4QyPctr7N6I8FRuqVjRZBCYCipWyixmhdirM0QVgTvhDXLm7XmYnb8J9LAbi1oTUx_KEOHhs6la0ZyTU5dtcjhG95VI/s1600/Picture+406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YAKPFzJ_Y4j8fG49OAr6AVv843SwXe0NdeEBrlISp3b4DnvO4QyPctr7N6I8FRuqVjRZBCYCipWyixmhdirM0QVgTvhDXLm7XmYnb8J9LAbi1oTUx_KEOHhs6la0ZyTU5dtcjhG95VI/s200/Picture+406.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ndac_xLYJbdVyrN2BiOqVcNt863uu_5nov5TGLH1h3PfmT3NoUEWSpV7B-3BSoUpoyO33yDBhvOS1WdA4SgA0EP1ElQSfsHx45cby8WuagudPvxA2q4LHt4TXylZoQGk6UrXZgsFUQo/s1600/Picture+408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ndac_xLYJbdVyrN2BiOqVcNt863uu_5nov5TGLH1h3PfmT3NoUEWSpV7B-3BSoUpoyO33yDBhvOS1WdA4SgA0EP1ElQSfsHx45cby8WuagudPvxA2q4LHt4TXylZoQGk6UrXZgsFUQo/s200/Picture+408.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-41964190628271229122010-06-18T13:54:00.002-05:002010-06-18T13:56:56.872-05:00Introducing Princess Avery..<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd75RPIA5R43wKgatQCX0KZww5oTFG0I5ZrRNpK9lhqRlggq1eSlud2su_jjLafIXA9v270GLoyjcPs_VKOw_dmvr0RU-_3jXTzlr8HNisFrGQ4n8h6vM1v2Q9qwUdjzcw6TFG1PwKP-4/s1600/Picture+312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd75RPIA5R43wKgatQCX0KZww5oTFG0I5ZrRNpK9lhqRlggq1eSlud2su_jjLafIXA9v270GLoyjcPs_VKOw_dmvr0RU-_3jXTzlr8HNisFrGQ4n8h6vM1v2Q9qwUdjzcw6TFG1PwKP-4/s200/Picture+312.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery, the Chicken Princess.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wCemff1syp7P5WeRg56mX_R4sC1z97I3cgHyUmsztwKXjYuH2ro8-wshRiI0EsU9gNx0nyiv6ry11KjTWhlDOk7fXP9-lhVBo-AHmePw4VBcOa5LcKMRVUT1CTwTFBCuRlVNJjXe7kI/s1600/Picture+400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wCemff1syp7P5WeRg56mX_R4sC1z97I3cgHyUmsztwKXjYuH2ro8-wshRiI0EsU9gNx0nyiv6ry11KjTWhlDOk7fXP9-lhVBo-AHmePw4VBcOa5LcKMRVUT1CTwTFBCuRlVNJjXe7kI/s200/Picture+400.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Her Royal Highness on her Throne</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My youngest son has decided to bring in his favorite hen, Avery into the house so she can be a princess. He has always had a tender touch with animals and like all the other pets, they are drawn to him like a magnet, just like when I was his age. All strays ended up at my house even when the parents weren't too pleased. He may be a mini-me version of his daddy but his love for animals is all me. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a>It is too cute to watch him tend to her every need, making sure she has water, a plate of organic feed and cleaning up her messing she so lovingly leaves. She is content sitting on his chest has he lounges watching his favorite shows on TV. She makes little beeps, chirps and whistles while <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">snu</span><span class="goog-spellcheck-word">ggling</span> under his chin. It must be "chicken love"! Maybe I should look into making some chicken diapers for her. I can't believe I just entertained that thought. I wonder what he is going to do when she lays an egg. I can just see it now, we will have to save it because it came from Princess Avery. Until next time...<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYky9xs8RVG6Qf8xjisf592hAkxiJ_J345UBPCz81fpQOgoUyIkP7ozLM29IFJCAsI3SZDq0Ub5dvSuHGe1NtdkuvZneCutwRZ6dtJzDXY4O0KoeChZ28yL9uOH-Cgz-U00fVeNYuh9Ck/s1600/Picture+379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYky9xs8RVG6Qf8xjisf592hAkxiJ_J345UBPCz81fpQOgoUyIkP7ozLM29IFJCAsI3SZDq0Ub5dvSuHGe1NtdkuvZneCutwRZ6dtJzDXY4O0KoeChZ28yL9uOH-Cgz-U00fVeNYuh9Ck/s200/Picture+379.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching Cartoon Network.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Recommended Reading:<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=littleblushes-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0764132628&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe> </div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-42944117491281894822010-06-17T20:47:00.000-05:002010-06-17T20:47:26.682-05:00The Cast is off and other tidbits...I am throughly happy that my cast is off, after 4 weeks of complete torture. But I guess I was being a little optimistic when I thought 2 weeks of physical therapy and then I can go back to work. But NOOOOOOOO my wonderful doctor had to go and massage my foot where the break is and I jumped out of the chair like my rump was on fire, then he puts me back in this walking cast and says another 3 weeks in this; I went from excitement to gloom and doom in less then a second. The only thing that made it a tad bit better was seeing my hubby getting his in-grown toe nail taken care of....<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>I know my horns start to show, but it does me good to see my hubby be a big baby when it comes to getting a shot in his toe to numb it up. I mean...come on... I gave birth for pete's sake and he is tearing up over a little shot. So life is okay after all, until I realize I have to use crutches to walk. Boo! <br />
<br />
See my future post on our newest additions to Fat Bottom Farm; <em><strong>Magellen and Midnight..Keepers of the Fat Bottoms.</strong></em><br />
<br />
Recommended Reading:<br />
<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=littleblushes-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B001FA0TT6&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-4208500627177179142010-06-07T20:14:00.001-05:002010-06-07T20:15:17.319-05:00Photos of an afternoon...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It was a tad bit cooler this afternoon, all though I think it was less humid so I went out to check on the chicks. We have been letting them out in the morning and checking on them frequently to make sure all is well. So far they all make back into the coop way before dark. They were on the side of the barn that has a lot of new growth were we have been clearing trees. The grass ranges from 6-10 inches, just tall enough to keep good cover for them and it was shady.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAtNQGkCMqEPOd3eW_4zyyP1g0Wfj8_Cfkh4aWLUmVrE4FVh5yNU_BOHG-gKcv2FU1Q-lSdqq5a7WiKrzxeIIBHHpVm6LIY9t1qHj_pXHjKnCBojBsDwotkTMKMA_trX7QuoKS4Vm8_I/s1600/Picture+347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAtNQGkCMqEPOd3eW_4zyyP1g0Wfj8_Cfkh4aWLUmVrE4FVh5yNU_BOHG-gKcv2FU1Q-lSdqq5a7WiKrzxeIIBHHpVm6LIY9t1qHj_pXHjKnCBojBsDwotkTMKMA_trX7QuoKS4Vm8_I/s320/Picture+347.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See any chicks, there 6 in the grass.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a name='more'></a>I thought what a good opportunity to takes some pictures, so I grabbed a chair and set-up shop. As I was snapping away, thinking to myself, "why can't I make a living taking pictures of chickens?" That would be so awesome, capturing these creatures in their natural state, doing their simple chore of scratching, eating and when ready lay eggs. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Life gets complicated, sometimes we need to be reminded to slow down, <a href="http://want-less.blogspot.com/">want less</a> and make life simple. Yesterday for example, I was wound up tight, could have play music on my nerves, didn't want to be around anyone, the slightest thing set me off. The main reason is having my foot in a cast. It has been incredibly hard for me to relay on other people to do the simplest things like take a bath or drive to the store. If I had the proper tool, I would have taken the cast off myself yesterday, I was that ready. But today, watching those chicks mill around reminded me of what is important, God, Family, and Friends. </div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now for some photos of our Coop and the Fat Bottoms.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd75RPIA5R43wKgatQCX0KZww5oTFG0I5ZrRNpK9lhqRlggq1eSlud2su_jjLafIXA9v270GLoyjcPs_VKOw_dmvr0RU-_3jXTzlr8HNisFrGQ4n8h6vM1v2Q9qwUdjzcw6TFG1PwKP-4/s1600/Picture+312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd75RPIA5R43wKgatQCX0KZww5oTFG0I5ZrRNpK9lhqRlggq1eSlud2su_jjLafIXA9v270GLoyjcPs_VKOw_dmvr0RU-_3jXTzlr8HNisFrGQ4n8h6vM1v2Q9qwUdjzcw6TFG1PwKP-4/s320/Picture+312.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery, Cameron's favorite Chick</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tjiXee3ii2NqkobmX7gqDNr1jVH1bOSH8t2Droi6eV5JcNd5E-EBiDzQPhPLcDvNUtd32X8DGlwEGEnmqs-Moo8N2zju16AT6evlHak2bK_yW8swuQbLyMA60V25R9HJRSh4WhPz3OU/s1600/Picture+315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tjiXee3ii2NqkobmX7gqDNr1jVH1bOSH8t2Droi6eV5JcNd5E-EBiDzQPhPLcDvNUtd32X8DGlwEGEnmqs-Moo8N2zju16AT6evlHak2bK_yW8swuQbLyMA60V25R9HJRSh4WhPz3OU/s320/Picture+315.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Sly Fox Red Door.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtTz-bLdIcLl7MlhzytMw5vG9YzGAyDhoYchFB-PHEOyDZJpm6rrG3P7zhbUJDNUywOZ9v2fxQWkE-nvDJwfMKuuBSCbd-bZj8xEWopGNe9j7y82aXVckhivljqcvxGcChzcagozArpY/s1600/Picture+296.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtTz-bLdIcLl7MlhzytMw5vG9YzGAyDhoYchFB-PHEOyDZJpm6rrG3P7zhbUJDNUywOZ9v2fxQWkE-nvDJwfMKuuBSCbd-bZj8xEWopGNe9j7y82aXVckhivljqcvxGcChzcagozArpY/s320/Picture+296.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The Roost</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUqB25yCMR2q7bFc7ivrl0zXa303mClANwsJvOPytX55M-LRKHhm5ZOLfx8oHdoUxeX-0dA1kbA9iZHGPtk6ACNeYS-04yUCTwQSV7Aj0D446Jtv99zByk1VF380elsoq5NjeGy8mTNg/s1600/Picture+337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUqB25yCMR2q7bFc7ivrl0zXa303mClANwsJvOPytX55M-LRKHhm5ZOLfx8oHdoUxeX-0dA1kbA9iZHGPtk6ACNeYS-04yUCTwQSV7Aj0D446Jtv99zByk1VF380elsoq5NjeGy8mTNg/s320/Picture+337.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Ameraucana</span> Pullet</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FSVuivfef06pmUNaZdR5hXSCn3kA6u3Psw2peb5atXn2SfoVXrAzgGrQ19Aqu3_Fav1KRg2SI07x4Re-9ahA_51hsg1C-bjyhrxlTiKwrVt7FEqRiGZ9u4ZY1uZ3gW5THE6VnV6CJUA/s1600/Picture+344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FSVuivfef06pmUNaZdR5hXSCn3kA6u3Psw2peb5atXn2SfoVXrAzgGrQ19Aqu3_Fav1KRg2SI07x4Re-9ahA_51hsg1C-bjyhrxlTiKwrVt7FEqRiGZ9u4ZY1uZ3gW5THE6VnV6CJUA/s320/Picture+344.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duke or Duchess? But always the same look.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjsykc33gyhTqwOjorqIIFyOZnx8aNQK6VVa0lzwZ580U01z7KCm3-BPIYGT_TzKAZnPEsx40CtGdIOCE6qthv69pFzAv9mwrF6K0Y3ontNEGnTW4hMdklaf6LX5QQ49_q8vEBJxUB2s/s1600/Picture+308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjsykc33gyhTqwOjorqIIFyOZnx8aNQK6VVa0lzwZ580U01z7KCm3-BPIYGT_TzKAZnPEsx40CtGdIOCE6qthv69pFzAv9mwrF6K0Y3ontNEGnTW4hMdklaf6LX5QQ49_q8vEBJxUB2s/s320/Picture+308.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dominique Pullet</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl65WDEcFKrIh5_D7wt_SZuqNnOl9Zg3m778BWFxtv8u-sPHWHSk7NfDbV1ABjfTJ7EWSVjyFoEKc8RzpaU9DkB5gc0vhn_Dk86jM-LvAHmXzEBXEC8KDb4TZD5a3i8xFQVv0b9Nl1N6g/s1600/Picture+364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl65WDEcFKrIh5_D7wt_SZuqNnOl9Zg3m778BWFxtv8u-sPHWHSk7NfDbV1ABjfTJ7EWSVjyFoEKc8RzpaU9DkB5gc0vhn_Dk86jM-LvAHmXzEBXEC8KDb4TZD5a3i8xFQVv0b9Nl1N6g/s320/Picture+364.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is a stand-off between the Brahma and the Polish Crested.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcd9EdEcQLsO08igm0xK08hbPbTHhGIMqcBzyVwYCNK2DXAWp0alA8LFTJNl_FE45nSTlpEdSRgqy-mxeHFXIq5tWjGOs39SBGscOCJDbg0plqRI90fkXB-ZQMfxD6OvFKG1XKHEmW1Zg/s1600/Picture+317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcd9EdEcQLsO08igm0xK08hbPbTHhGIMqcBzyVwYCNK2DXAWp0alA8LFTJNl_FE45nSTlpEdSRgqy-mxeHFXIq5tWjGOs39SBGscOCJDbg0plqRI90fkXB-ZQMfxD6OvFKG1XKHEmW1Zg/s320/Picture+317.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our adopted chicken.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It was very relaxing to watch them. Pictures only capture the moment, but I hope you can imagine the joy they give me in real life.<br />
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<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=littleblushes-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1602393133&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-90342220796012183282010-05-29T18:37:00.003-05:002010-05-30T14:02:10.697-05:00Sly Fox, Peanut Butter and Heirloom Lace<em><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What does Sly Fox, Peanut Butter and Heirloom Lace have to do with each other? Guesses anyone, anyone? Well they are the paint colors for Fat Bottom Cottage, the chicken coops of all coops. And they were chosen by the names only. What???? </span></em><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"></span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">As I write this post, the 1st coat of Sly Fox is drying on the Vintage Screen Door that will be my way in and out of the coop and of coarse it will be coordinated with Fat Bottoms Pop Door once installed. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">The Fat Bottoms have been outside in their semi-finished coop for a week now, they are enjoying it tremendously; spreading their wings and growing big fuzzy butts. It was a good move, because the next shipment of chicks arrived on Thursday and I needed their brooder for the new arrivals.</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoQziA31m7beujz-Asa8deFn8YzTi-qzQ3iXfPZkdBw5gE6qoa9upDz1C2udRwLa5i1YAM-LlsjqHq7mOKN62fVe6lrdzu_dvXBtGrcQlFC5F6T8EYhyfmNL_nUOqty7pRai6QAJSzj8/s1600/Picture+200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoQziA31m7beujz-Asa8deFn8YzTi-qzQ3iXfPZkdBw5gE6qoa9upDz1C2udRwLa5i1YAM-LlsjqHq7mOKN62fVe6lrdzu_dvXBtGrcQlFC5F6T8EYhyfmNL_nUOqty7pRai6QAJSzj8/s200/Picture+200.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Colombian <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat;">Wyandotte</span> Bantam</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltaOMyxp7sPLYZniDlAPNGE6ZGBtctLXcDDcWPtMB4LoNaJeXM6n98Onox9xlFpTWmiY0C3NwhA_Eq4IybtdzkQye0g2Dl93JQ7bB5DoDpwTQqff7082D7hokDojvw9CVYopYWGAHOMQ/s1600/Picture+199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltaOMyxp7sPLYZniDlAPNGE6ZGBtctLXcDDcWPtMB4LoNaJeXM6n98Onox9xlFpTWmiY0C3NwhA_Eq4IybtdzkQye0g2Dl93JQ7bB5DoDpwTQqff7082D7hokDojvw9CVYopYWGAHOMQ/s200/Picture+199.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Silver Lace <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-image: none; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat;">Wyandotte</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH95yYCTvf7gusuRKohBq4MufzVjOmzKsXHjhbWCpkKPuUJj2IjFTlN0_oaQtuBYBjduZpVJrHoGiP4JcoLKZxFtP8daq77SGuefiEQLWaydlh57NzsUOFNUkiOEnn1juP_HI8HGBGlk/s1600/Picture+189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH95yYCTvf7gusuRKohBq4MufzVjOmzKsXHjhbWCpkKPuUJj2IjFTlN0_oaQtuBYBjduZpVJrHoGiP4JcoLKZxFtP8daq77SGuefiEQLWaydlh57NzsUOFNUkiOEnn1juP_HI8HGBGlk/s200/Picture+189.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Rhode Island Red (Packing Peanut)</span></td></tr>
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</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><em><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Back to the paint colors; I went into Home Depot with the intention of choosing colors on my own, no design help needed, even though I sometimes have a hard time matching my own clothes <span style="font-size: x-small;">(save that for another post)</span>. So there I am in my oh, so stylish wheelchair with my purple casted foot in the air looking at hundreds of color samples. I knew I wanted a red door, but not blood red, more on the lines of an old red barn with a little bit of Elizabeth Arden, vintage with a touch of class. I pulled some samples that caught my eye and made my pick, how appropriate is Sly Fox, just one predator of the chicken <span style="font-size: x-small;">(excuse my sick sense of humor)</span>. Okay, so one color down, now for the main exterior, it needs to blend with the landscape, but too dark to keep it cool in hot Texas summers. </span></em><em><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: red;">Side note: I predict 100 days of over 100* </span><span style="color: red;">Temperatures for 2010.</span> <span style="font-size: small;">Pulled three <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">tannish</span> samples and picked Peanut Butter, one ingredient in my favorite candy bar Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Try them frozen, <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">nummy</span>! Two down, now for the interior color, something bright and cheery so the girls will want to spend time laying wonderful eggs for my family and friends. BIG FAT NO! to White, we must have some excitement, so again picked 3 colors and picked out Heirloom Lace, perfect...I love anything vintage and antique.</span></span></span></em></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><em><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana;">The above is how I picked my coop colors, on my own, with no design help and all by the names. Do you have a vision of what the colors are? Come back for photos of the finished project in a future date...</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><em><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana;">My Reading Recommendation:</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=littleblushes-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0962464856&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-size: small;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=littleblushes-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0962464856" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Verdana;">Until next time, smiles!</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-40173227326982706032010-05-26T16:45:00.001-05:002010-05-28T13:24:31.097-05:00Organic: Yes or No?<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=littleblushes-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1605294853" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I guess you can say I have blunged head first into "Going Organic", but where exactly do you start? Well if you were me, which you are not, you would start researching all kinds of topics, listen to your friends, and try to K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Stupid) or go insane before you accomplish anything. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During my websurfing I came across the following and it has really changed my way of thinking. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a>Watch the video and also check out <a href="http://www.rodale.com/">http://www.rodale.com/</a> which is very informative not only on organic issues, but health issues in general.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Maria Rodale, CEO and Chairman of Rodale Inc., sheds new light on the state of 21st-century farming. She examines the unholy alliances that have formed between the chemical companies that produce fertilizer and genetically altered seeds, the agricultural educational system that is virtually subsidized by those same companies, and the government agencies in thrall to powerful lobbyists, all of which perpetuate dangerous farming practices and deliberate misconceptions about organic farming and foods.</em></span><br />
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<a href="http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1859729669?bctid=68877797001"><embed base="http://admin.brightcove.com" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=68877797001&playerId=1786720811&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://console.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" height="412" name="flashObj" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" seamlesstabbing="false" src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/1786720811" swliveconnect="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="486"></embed></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=littleblushes-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1605294853&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-33499732509588711302010-05-24T18:05:00.001-05:002010-05-28T13:25:50.445-05:00The chicks have flown....Not really.... but they have moved out to the semi-finished Fat Bottom Cottage. First let me say a <strong>"HUGE THANK YOU!"</strong> to my husband, he has had to complete most of this building with very little help with me because I have a purple cast on my right foot and can only hobble short distances. Count down to June 14th. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnD4wkRpQJmbq8AcNYkTLoaOzGI9P-H3zSCRPRYcqetKUiRGmej_drk5iayPF8aNaoYqBDyGQpcYR9FrczCqaqIGbTtWVkUNMvh9kBCUqVmpQUEojW7MiUnwK7aJq3X0S9lybwCblrXk/s1600/Picture+174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnD4wkRpQJmbq8AcNYkTLoaOzGI9P-H3zSCRPRYcqetKUiRGmej_drk5iayPF8aNaoYqBDyGQpcYR9FrczCqaqIGbTtWVkUNMvh9kBCUqVmpQUEojW7MiUnwK7aJq3X0S9lybwCblrXk/s200/Picture+174.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a name='more'></a>The roof is complete with 2 skylights that Darling Hubby added and I must say it looks really nice. The original plan has changed some what, it was going to be fully enclosed with 2 windows for ventilation but we live in Central Texas and it is already hot here, so the bottom half is boarded and the top is chicken wire. We will work on it more as it gets closer to winter. The chicks will be in the coop until I get a couple of spots fixed in my main fence area before I let the free-range.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayo7trcR3JHxqWOgcfDtmtG8G8_tKVfjVXqjXJamCRMrA6S7GHNVVsmJ_H1_UBkZkUg98hXTZBxpDKPfcR91frhgbw3_r4U6tdtX4nDO8nqVBXA_zNg2i_fiImdlFb8Af0PSn5b3MhZ8/s1600/Picture+182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayo7trcR3JHxqWOgcfDtmtG8G8_tKVfjVXqjXJamCRMrA6S7GHNVVsmJ_H1_UBkZkUg98hXTZBxpDKPfcR91frhgbw3_r4U6tdtX4nDO8nqVBXA_zNg2i_fiImdlFb8Af0PSn5b3MhZ8/s200/Picture+182.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We buried 1/2 inch hardware cloth 8 inches under ground all around the perimeter. I would like to see some sneaky predator try to dig in under. I think I will paint a sign the says "Racoons Welcome" with a big arrow pointing the way. I am sure to find some predator dead from exhaustion. There is one corner completed with the window, as you can see painting was my job and well...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Once the perimeter was complete we let them run around while we were working, below is a picture of the Guinea Fowl. I only have 5 now, we lost one after this photo was taken.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUh3p-D1QC2vge-5MjY8UcDY6ulLLjVmbA92zHnfqo-hKyJJPZeLL4Z19OK3PX2xNlOV4aqQUArImBNJXtH7a1pPcTKRiDs2-y5evSX7151Y1gzD-hDIty8sVnWXrSlL41xAz-8_l0_uE/s1600/Picture+165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUh3p-D1QC2vge-5MjY8UcDY6ulLLjVmbA92zHnfqo-hKyJJPZeLL4Z19OK3PX2xNlOV4aqQUArImBNJXtH7a1pPcTKRiDs2-y5evSX7151Y1gzD-hDIty8sVnWXrSlL41xAz-8_l0_uE/s200/Picture+165.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldDiSPr-fL8eM9UUnI0x1Cd904vF_hmXiCTtOt1SxR1p4phybmnqUwxJjXOnYgMT16ew5HGK24nigitbUk7Ur1xHumNmHGBazmUfOeFmUPHYi9sUwaKa2x8Xl88Xh7oEp8WRpIq7Jup4/s1600/Picture+170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldDiSPr-fL8eM9UUnI0x1Cd904vF_hmXiCTtOt1SxR1p4phybmnqUwxJjXOnYgMT16ew5HGK24nigitbUk7Ur1xHumNmHGBazmUfOeFmUPHYi9sUwaKa2x8Xl88Xh7oEp8WRpIq7Jup4/s200/Picture+170.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Above is a picture of a Ameraucana Pullet peeking out from the brooder to see what I was doing.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpSXmJsaNUuh8rOYNMEQDY28VhtCZ0HaAisu__1HGaz6jILX76l-C09xDkyutFGlJcTNlx8nGWey2x32g7kZ1Whh_3eN1WpOvWLhNNAz4ERzXNreZT0EVRGC1X9D9-TLPDKSToIx8OIc/s1600/Picture+151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpSXmJsaNUuh8rOYNMEQDY28VhtCZ0HaAisu__1HGaz6jILX76l-C09xDkyutFGlJcTNlx8nGWey2x32g7kZ1Whh_3eN1WpOvWLhNNAz4ERzXNreZT0EVRGC1X9D9-TLPDKSToIx8OIc/s200/Picture+151.jpg" width="200" /></a> I think it is the same pullet below getting ready to take a dirt bath.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAoZlJNIZqi7Hx61YtOLweUIrDGZjjATu4fRcDySbZy8_yObCQPp__s_26DRphyPAmjg5wLaK81gteKdvGX-fmH6FC9KaaBvRuIrF3LaCEGrjpspBlZePgi5whAhlnhBTNgCX8u1nzOA/s1600/Picture+181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAoZlJNIZqi7Hx61YtOLweUIrDGZjjATu4fRcDySbZy8_yObCQPp__s_26DRphyPAmjg5wLaK81gteKdvGX-fmH6FC9KaaBvRuIrF3LaCEGrjpspBlZePgi5whAhlnhBTNgCX8u1nzOA/s200/Picture+181.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Above and below is pictures of them in the cottage with the handy dandy water shelf I made to keep dirt and other particles out. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGL4WAZ03RFAgz9x_GVrlPUFNHMsdb1-R025ZgumymFAq2yHpL3DNt7vAjXl4xqGbx6BBWQRp5v_XYGfwj161-1Bqlofmm4Pv9ycD43MUPYRte-VyoLOFSb6J_GITNzGVPjK0re88ltog/s1600/Picture+180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGL4WAZ03RFAgz9x_GVrlPUFNHMsdb1-R025ZgumymFAq2yHpL3DNt7vAjXl4xqGbx6BBWQRp5v_XYGfwj161-1Bqlofmm4Pv9ycD43MUPYRte-VyoLOFSb6J_GITNzGVPjK0re88ltog/s200/Picture+180.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I am glad we got to move them out to the cottage because they have tripled in size and the brooders were getting crowded.</div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-92191941784907785932010-05-12T20:45:00.001-05:002010-05-28T13:30:59.497-05:00The Coop is coming along...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My Darling Hubby has been working very hard to get the coop ready for our micro-flock that is in brooders in what used to be the dining room. Below is 3 brooders housing the micro-flock.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMpmqnbsYyuI_XRBLi9-AGVUKr9YvopZE6are0UremDyWfryDqF4W6yiSNJELFLnGESmRAG9C_JorzUMbkHiKvLehJ00S-3V961qaEeEBEn_22uKO4tke3EUdMyu9VHG8XouCRMbFQeAv/s1600/Picture+125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMpmqnbsYyuI_XRBLi9-AGVUKr9YvopZE6are0UremDyWfryDqF4W6yiSNJELFLnGESmRAG9C_JorzUMbkHiKvLehJ00S-3V961qaEeEBEn_22uKO4tke3EUdMyu9VHG8XouCRMbFQeAv/s200/Picture+125.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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Half of the exterior perimeter is up and primed. What started as an image in my mind is taking shape and I am excited, even though I can not help as much as I would like to due to the messed up foot. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvJfoiLoeb-EYQpb4tUTuSHdAIsUbNAiySOMMkV5tgqnbKh7b_F8MXUQEzXfPEVrPQ_yfwaHTE5VSaHTg_sOzdh6KXqnBElQ-K4CAofup1nSXglcveJmR4GSe5YnvZmUtSv7m42Esyq18/s1600/Picture+133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvJfoiLoeb-EYQpb4tUTuSHdAIsUbNAiySOMMkV5tgqnbKh7b_F8MXUQEzXfPEVrPQ_yfwaHTE5VSaHTg_sOzdh6KXqnBElQ-K4CAofup1nSXglcveJmR4GSe5YnvZmUtSv7m42Esyq18/s200/Picture+133.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIkUeuxgKKP9R-PjGcENoqFb6LOxNzrs-UvaYUR55ZShbHX503kL7vdkazmQsGQpif5SXUOycQ5MPygHl5EpmU3KogCHbdxmbZDRWk7QYGM1CqjB02QuIut34NzoDsexmToVPiM4qcmiu/s1600/Picture+132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIkUeuxgKKP9R-PjGcENoqFb6LOxNzrs-UvaYUR55ZShbHX503kL7vdkazmQsGQpif5SXUOycQ5MPygHl5EpmU3KogCHbdxmbZDRWk7QYGM1CqjB02QuIut34NzoDsexmToVPiM4qcmiu/s200/Picture+132.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">There is still much to be done but it is starting to look like a coop. I have been researching and reading as much as I can get my hands on, learning what others have tried and what has failed. Pulling what I learned as a child and seeing if there is a new updated way.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&tag=littleblushes-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=backyard chickens" target="_blank">Search Amazon.com for backyard chickens</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=littleblushes-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">This is just the start of a bigger plan of raising and growing organic food for my family and friends, maybe sell extras at a local Farmer's Market.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&tag=littleblushes-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=organic gardening books" target="_blank">Search Amazon.com for organic gardening books</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=littleblushes-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Learned not to take DH to feed store with new chicks, he started picking out this one and that one. I was like, whoa..whoa..whoa.. we already have a rooster we don't need another to have eggs. Finally got him to narrow is picks to a leghorn variety, dominecker and a crested polish. I told him I have more on order but he wanted these, can't take him anywhere. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Until next time...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-50559148632948962042010-05-08T15:37:00.001-05:002010-05-28T13:42:00.095-05:00Update on events happening at Fat Bottom Farm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Both hubby and I had to work so no new work done on the chicken coop, but the chicks are growing up nicely. Switched them to an USDA Organic feed from <a href="http://www.coyotecreekfarm.org/mill/">Coyote Creek Farms</a>. It looks very yummy if I were a chick, I mixed in some with their current feed and they were searching for the new feed, must be a good sign.<br />
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I had a little accident when I was leaving work, rolled my right foot in a direction that is not normal.<br />
<a name='more'></a> Still trying to figure out how I drove home with my foot the size of a 5lb watermelon. I have to wear this walking cast until my appointment on Tuesday with a specialist. The family doctor couldn't be100% positive that it is broken, but looks very suspicous.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHg79tBCGJByXh7HPv-ln8wxbhP2BozfOMHyNMb2rONH6xCEXgAH1yVqV-oIs0LJXV4sm5oAzvyrMVVod1lyJyzkRU8CfAj88jGH2mQR4l9gBpMGKG3RMA01YVDrpUs4pWjAsSnMMyTrS/s1600/Canon+220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHg79tBCGJByXh7HPv-ln8wxbhP2BozfOMHyNMb2rONH6xCEXgAH1yVqV-oIs0LJXV4sm5oAzvyrMVVod1lyJyzkRU8CfAj88jGH2mQR4l9gBpMGKG3RMA01YVDrpUs4pWjAsSnMMyTrS/s200/Canon+220.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div>All I know is it hurt like the dickons, my foot is swollen and turning 3 shades of purple. My poor Kokopelli tattoo looks like Jaba the Hut smoking a peace pipe.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwZh-_6DyfOUWc2_9zD8f4xGGk_EaC98Ax-MdfSSUhKk4fesldQETupdsBcYyuoUdpJvZ1EEx6989K-msMzCX-5yB2IMea1W8Qlg1vglshlta7W5Ldt04zXW-svlD4dpUnYLADtvTiIrq/s1600/Canon+200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwZh-_6DyfOUWc2_9zD8f4xGGk_EaC98Ax-MdfSSUhKk4fesldQETupdsBcYyuoUdpJvZ1EEx6989K-msMzCX-5yB2IMea1W8Qlg1vglshlta7W5Ldt04zXW-svlD4dpUnYLADtvTiIrq/s200/Canon+200.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There she goes with the one-eyed thing again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvi6B1ArhgxRR_wNFwL4QCQK14qnsPL9EfzO1MHUmndaZQKIjckecZbeJegVKfkpuEQvSDnuMWzIz2_TxaUU9aZ70mvzmCrS7zD7akJ2WKWPSCkmPkNQIBi9f_hbMiwXBJpEKO9R_RzTm/s1600/Canon+214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvi6B1ArhgxRR_wNFwL4QCQK14qnsPL9EfzO1MHUmndaZQKIjckecZbeJegVKfkpuEQvSDnuMWzIz2_TxaUU9aZ70mvzmCrS7zD7akJ2WKWPSCkmPkNQIBi9f_hbMiwXBJpEKO9R_RzTm/s200/Canon+214.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Interesting sleep positions those guineas make, life is good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbT6EYvLGz8e7MPftuYxSguYRCfB9rvK_9JdnLg3-Xw6UC0NrbmgA7YYqGatXb_bsBEsNmxdEHf5Wv8eiCXeRlkj4NQTN-6ciRP3bv0Ny8XLP-QPiOm1DZRvFWeaHDRjh6o_sHSxVRuCLF/s1600/Canon+208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbT6EYvLGz8e7MPftuYxSguYRCfB9rvK_9JdnLg3-Xw6UC0NrbmgA7YYqGatXb_bsBEsNmxdEHf5Wv8eiCXeRlkj4NQTN-6ciRP3bv0Ny8XLP-QPiOm1DZRvFWeaHDRjh6o_sHSxVRuCLF/s200/Canon+208.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A peach-tree we planted. I hope it lives, I am great with animals but plants not so much.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUPfqxUT2M1SO09gmMIMel7r3pqY_78Qd_r-j6lhh0KWoiR6nyB2WcTnYBJDv4BEkHGEoZc5N8luD0I5C16d2svrGHtotobIJvUoCFrn0IbXGNID2Le2GFM-WpkV3qa2xj9h5wr7d-oS8/s1600/Canon+215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUPfqxUT2M1SO09gmMIMel7r3pqY_78Qd_r-j6lhh0KWoiR6nyB2WcTnYBJDv4BEkHGEoZc5N8luD0I5C16d2svrGHtotobIJvUoCFrn0IbXGNID2Le2GFM-WpkV3qa2xj9h5wr7d-oS8/s200/Canon+215.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is The Bug with his favorite chick. He walks around the house with her perched on his shoulder. Everyone say it with me, "AWWWWWWW!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-88138175341814428382010-05-02T19:25:00.001-05:002010-05-28T13:42:38.107-05:00Coop Close E' Nuff: Day 2Another day of working on Coop Close E'Nuff Day 2. Why Coop Close E' Nuff? Because the 3 pole barn that was built over 3 years ago has settled a little and all the nice right angles and measurements have gone south. So today we got the supplies to make a screen window. <br />
<a name='more'></a>I chose Vinyle Covered Hardware Cloth to keep predators out but allow ventilation when weather is nice. We will have to install a hinged cover before winter. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">See finished window below.</div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNDiT7lqNHdtdkj8xWMKtn4AVervmK4FsK1HoLkXWkCTXT6Dsqzidd-YgnyY_e0peAh7NxoF0JfmElY9iEJJ6-cOFFrlzrzHSqlF2pVmxl4jew6R5b5qdWtTtwjsrb1hQ8pvS_6o1DVKs/s1600/Canon+196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNDiT7lqNHdtdkj8xWMKtn4AVervmK4FsK1HoLkXWkCTXT6Dsqzidd-YgnyY_e0peAh7NxoF0JfmElY9iEJJ6-cOFFrlzrzHSqlF2pVmxl4jew6R5b5qdWtTtwjsrb1hQ8pvS_6o1DVKs/s320/Canon+196.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also put up another 4x8 board on another side. </div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVeYaWC33NoFj_Ks160T3kYPMEME1hgk6nSDSDXmfA-ywyI99xbRUKpTOrAHQENrUJKW2laWrBwICA6yUthxBtbpW9ko2rj-DMo7LWKjwBYeTvxM27GtCPFHtX_EqVABw04xjFmcrqCNR/s1600/Canon+192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVeYaWC33NoFj_Ks160T3kYPMEME1hgk6nSDSDXmfA-ywyI99xbRUKpTOrAHQENrUJKW2laWrBwICA6yUthxBtbpW9ko2rj-DMo7LWKjwBYeTvxM27GtCPFHtX_EqVABw04xjFmcrqCNR/s320/Canon+192.jpg" tt="true" /></a></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We still have another screened window to make, install people door, chicken door, install 4x8 boards on 2 full sides, roof and finish the sides that are started then the exterior will be complete. The one challenge has been that we have a Chevy Trail Blazer and the 4x8 boards fit but stick out the back so we can't close the hatch and they are the most expensive supply so far. The white you see is primer. Oh geez... I will have to choose a color theme. Oh my head hurts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">If you haven't noticed, our barn is very close to our next door neighbor. That house was put about 12 feet from our property line before our house was there. Why they didn't center the house better on their lot is beyond me, so our barn is about 5 feet inside our property line. They came out today to see what we were doing and when we told them it was storage and chicken coop. The guy says, " I hope they don't make any noise." I quickly fired back with, "No more then you firing up that Harley at the crack of dawn!", he walked back to the house, then his wife came over and proceeded to ask about what breeds and such. When I got to Guineas her face twisted. I made sure to let her know that they will control our pest problem and alert us to snakes. But she also walked away. The really can't say anything, they have over 100 rabbits in their backyard and once I have eggs and fresh veggies, it won't be an issue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Until next time.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-79668600158758286612010-05-01T21:13:00.000-05:002010-05-17T19:12:47.096-05:00Fat Bottom Farm in the Making...Day 1Okay...so on my last post I described my latest adventure; Micro-flock of chickens/guineas for our mini-farm called Fat Bottom Farm. The chicks are all under 2 weeks of age and they will need a coop for security at night and a place to lay the eggs when they reach around 5-6 months of age. So off to Lowe's we go to get materials needed to get started. We had horses in the past so we have a huge paddock already fenced and a 3-sided pole barn that we have sectioned offed 1/4 of the rectangle to make an approximately a 10x12 coop, with a human door, chicken door, screened windows, external nest boxes, roost, and hanging water/feed containers. It is a big project and I am trying to be cost conscience and recycle as much as possible.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOeCYlB4bfPhMhTusU2XyprdzETn0Fq5WmoW5OpHu6ytB9zaXcil-x6mnNmFOHTExkbFGgQdYn3FFDjk3N4E4UIBSHKWye8noYVekEZasU9LsH81hhAO2YouNlJTicYR8F2IRLV6M2h0C/s1600/Canon+187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOeCYlB4bfPhMhTusU2XyprdzETn0Fq5WmoW5OpHu6ytB9zaXcil-x6mnNmFOHTExkbFGgQdYn3FFDjk3N4E4UIBSHKWye8noYVekEZasU9LsH81hhAO2YouNlJTicYR8F2IRLV6M2h0C/s200/Canon+187.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is hubby surveying the project.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Okay we may be ready to get to started.</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTm0BRpaaFzEz9VZ0mYpPU17n-wEBpXthRJ5XcguIyDIRru50Qk4bYKIWdGPerO_zzCUE_gj-mmZ28SRBfdhR4-_kTlWWayMWaovBcjEIKMlXTKHt5gGh0yxzxP5xn1Bzs5O-RQP1YUts/s1600/Canon+188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTm0BRpaaFzEz9VZ0mYpPU17n-wEBpXthRJ5XcguIyDIRru50Qk4bYKIWdGPerO_zzCUE_gj-mmZ28SRBfdhR4-_kTlWWayMWaovBcjEIKMlXTKHt5gGh0yxzxP5xn1Bzs5O-RQP1YUts/s200/Canon+188.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7pZn2fdrdbC0-gjboxbDkp9QwymYxI4hq5vco4gY1TK-fedYLy-iAbJDnSmRzmVyXuIGuGUeHg35Rb6jPyMbXACp5XJA6ix-06wcGO5KLzhQMTbH-pYWSJxwdzP8echjsEb_m8a_DiIW/s1600/Canon+189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7pZn2fdrdbC0-gjboxbDkp9QwymYxI4hq5vco4gY1TK-fedYLy-iAbJDnSmRzmVyXuIGuGUeHg35Rb6jPyMbXACp5XJA6ix-06wcGO5KLzhQMTbH-pYWSJxwdzP8echjsEb_m8a_DiIW/s200/Canon+189.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a>What was accomplished on Day 1. A total of 3 cuss words..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJG7-0toKftlGnQEBZA0HvRGO5mGIX3EbBldZdrRcL8Px9t3ms1mZ_YFrrjXa2c-OxjyyYjXBB9VzqdUvMRGJVZn9cqPi58VRKYcLSnzlpV-SWZNe14FniMcDLyGmycByQ8bZJxcOOUWLs/s1600/Canon+190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJG7-0toKftlGnQEBZA0HvRGO5mGIX3EbBldZdrRcL8Px9t3ms1mZ_YFrrjXa2c-OxjyyYjXBB9VzqdUvMRGJVZn9cqPi58VRKYcLSnzlpV-SWZNe14FniMcDLyGmycByQ8bZJxcOOUWLs/s200/Canon+190.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a>Another view...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9Tk1O6PNr3LeNPYHroBXPwKrUFogw2AwUC31PQndibKuwdeaZDI_zdwopzo4Fys1AX1TBi_hxYATK8VcwG6RhDzJtZFduhR3t0PpBxIIzVh-YBeBPmpHYgZULHemBvw60nQ7UFIuoKWD/s1600/Canon+183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9Tk1O6PNr3LeNPYHroBXPwKrUFogw2AwUC31PQndibKuwdeaZDI_zdwopzo4Fys1AX1TBi_hxYATK8VcwG6RhDzJtZFduhR3t0PpBxIIzVh-YBeBPmpHYgZULHemBvw60nQ7UFIuoKWD/s200/Canon+183.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a>The older chicks had a short field trip to the yard...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are like statues....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPuuXv03zajdXigiQBLotLSzMGqH2DHq_QQs4DrAEthUWwjyJ_48IBAxjDbc44mwLDeAgFPiGHBxWvlKpSlXkKzGLExQg8DczXg0RrAdpxRbsAViTiuo1BKIfvFy4hEjx1EDHAH8BRChV/s1600/Canon+185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPuuXv03zajdXigiQBLotLSzMGqH2DHq_QQs4DrAEthUWwjyJ_48IBAxjDbc44mwLDeAgFPiGHBxWvlKpSlXkKzGLExQg8DczXg0RrAdpxRbsAViTiuo1BKIfvFy4hEjx1EDHAH8BRChV/s200/Canon+185.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN495pVwWHZMbRXJ4w6R5AybeySn4EcL1Qc4yAyjVJ31b8vA4Z6YEanKIcM270LCHZ8ezK1GYkHKj9fcHGfoByvcdyyY8cMtYYXJkysFEvhso3JkdkT6yCKHDuw3B2FAJCAajbeW3xvZa5/s1600/Canon+186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN495pVwWHZMbRXJ4w6R5AybeySn4EcL1Qc4yAyjVJ31b8vA4Z6YEanKIcM270LCHZ8ezK1GYkHKj9fcHGfoByvcdyyY8cMtYYXJkysFEvhso3JkdkT6yCKHDuw3B2FAJCAajbeW3xvZa5/s200/Canon+186.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a>The conversation goes, "Is it safe to move?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Until next time....</div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-75418624293281981462010-04-30T20:40:00.000-05:002010-05-17T19:12:47.107-05:00Am I a Chicken Hoarder?By all definations, no I am not a chicken hoarder. But I am a new owner of chicks and keets ranging from just a few days old to a little over of a week. I should go back a few steps and explain how I got into chickens. I have two friends that I work with and occasionally we have outings where conversations about sustainable living, living green and homemade items come up. I have learned to not get them started about garden seeds and some monsanto (may have spelling wrong) company. <br /><br />With it being spring and I finally got the hubby's approval to get Guinea Fowl for insect control, I leaped into chickens when my parents arrived for a visit. Perfect time to get chickens, all is well; a week later I added to the flock and my knowledge base for keeping Backyard Poultry. Plus it also takes me back to my younger years on our farm, when sustainable living was not as popular and I felt a lot more healthier because the items I consumed were free of pesticides, hormones and not gentically altered in some way. Why chickens? Good question that has lots of answers; but for now... my past was the cinder, my two friends the spark and wanting to live healthier is the fire.<br /><br />I started this little endeavor with 6 <strong>Ameraucanas Pullets</strong> (the girls) and 1 <strong>Ameraucana Rooster</strong> "the man". <br /><br /><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Ameraucanas, known as the "Easter Egg Breed", are a multicolored breed. They have beards, muffs and a normal tail with a tail head. They are often incorrectly called Araucanas, which have ear tuffs, are rumpless, and do not have a tail head which gives them a bunny tail appearance. Most of the chicks sold as Araucanas are really Ameraucanas, which are excellent, efficient producers of large eggs of many colors and shades including blue and green.</span></em> <br /><br /><br /><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"The Man" is recognizable by a red mark on top of his beak when someone painted him with a magic marker.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnY40Ab9MemqC5QzRkF2psZq7wK67HhrN2iQPEOK4fLuwwCseZqH28qqtWEP2uKm8svsllsHsjhvVxx1VGnF1yUEvaiftFpGuaNWnpuxL4brp9iFwInCMJpqQV_Z6T9ReH4P4BnrCVOI5/s1600/Canon+177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnY40Ab9MemqC5QzRkF2psZq7wK67HhrN2iQPEOK4fLuwwCseZqH28qqtWEP2uKm8svsllsHsjhvVxx1VGnF1yUEvaiftFpGuaNWnpuxL4brp9iFwInCMJpqQV_Z6T9ReH4P4BnrCVOI5/s200/Canon+177.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, I lost one pullet after a couple of days, so that left me with a half dozen. When I went back to Callahan's General Store to get a replacement pullet, the room that was filled with chicks before was empty. I acquired when the next shipment would be and was given the inside scoop on the best days to get day-old chicks. With great anticipation, I waited for the next delivery and that gave me a few days to research other breeds. I was still set on getting guineas, but I wondered what other breeds would be good for my project, so I set out to gather reading material. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The books:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Storeys-Guide-Raising-Chickens-Facilities/dp/158017325X">Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens</a> by Gail Damerow</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/City-Chicks-Micro-flocks-Bio-reyclers-Producers/dp/0962464856/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272675072&sr=1-1">City Chicks</a> by Patricia Foreman</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gardening-Guineas-Step-Step-Raising/dp/0739202502/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272675165&sr=1-1">Gardening with Guineas</a> by Jeannette S. Ferguson</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://handhpoultry.com/guinea_book.html">Guineas In Your Garden</a> by April Howington</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Keeping-Chickens-Ultimate-Raising/dp/1602393133">The Joy of Keeping Chickens</a> by Jennifer Megyesi</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Magazines:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.grit.com/">Guide to Backyard Chickens</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/">Backyard Poultry</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.hobbyfarms.com/">Hobby Farms</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.hobbyfarms.com/urban-farm/home.aspx">Urban Farm</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,,s1-26-27-1374,00.html">Organic Gardening</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thursday afternoon finally came and I ran out to drive the 18 miles to get the guineas keets with much excitement. I arrived and immediately made my way to the back of the store to the "Chick Room". I could hear the "cheep, cheep, cheeps" getting louder and my heartrate increased with excitement. I quickly was looking at each brooder's label to see what was available. I found the Guinea Keets right away, looked over the bunch and told the lady I would take 6. As she was preparing a box, the Ameraucanas caught my eye...and 2 of these, one as a replacement and one for....just because. I asked if there were any Wyandottes, but not this shipment, the lady named off two names I was not aware of and pointed to the brooders that held <strong>Light Brahma Pullets</strong> and <strong>Silver Spangled Spitzhauben Pullets</strong> (please note that the cover of Organic Gardening June/July 2010 has a Spitzhauben), I read the information cards and declared, that I would take 2 of each. So that puts me at 12 chickens and 6 guineas, well on my way to having a Micro-Flock for my Mini-Farm... <strong><em>Fat Bottom Farm. </em></strong>Now on to more reading.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em>The 6 Keets resting.</em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGNvMjcg8exG4CjTmDtUO_bCTgAQgqxQEe-6rEYrn7sVAomcUUc60Elix3MmWQosuSfK2RU-XuOdq3D0yYA6_ygUVyPe9IBwU5i5Sr1okjU7Ve4LWsMENaTAJEix8W20R1jhfhLFyovSr/s1600/Canon+162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGNvMjcg8exG4CjTmDtUO_bCTgAQgqxQEe-6rEYrn7sVAomcUUc60Elix3MmWQosuSfK2RU-XuOdq3D0yYA6_ygUVyPe9IBwU5i5Sr1okjU7Ve4LWsMENaTAJEix8W20R1jhfhLFyovSr/s200/Canon+162.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em>Ameraucana Pullet </em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2SrWCw5PcJPEfehyrOaSxV2yU9EN3fmmKK3465wxjE59cMwlNiFIim9t1VkZGruv5-qIdkoUBMCulCGPWdCHqATXMFVSFI7AzMW94v7EuWs9Udzgk-k4hDCBg3GOTfFOevz7YxOyVq4s/s1600/Canon+182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2SrWCw5PcJPEfehyrOaSxV2yU9EN3fmmKK3465wxjE59cMwlNiFIim9t1VkZGruv5-qIdkoUBMCulCGPWdCHqATXMFVSFI7AzMW94v7EuWs9Udzgk-k4hDCBg3GOTfFOevz7YxOyVq4s/s200/Canon+182.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em>Guinea Keets checking me out with the camera.</em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQE1Pnt1OJjihCIQGD6ymVNO-6SsiNR4jD6DoTr348r3bTM2ihNugHbW5bbQYXA_s-UeTbUmxSBtjBF0gYhpQF-n2Vaen7MtMD933Kn4E8QHIrRicqYeCmR9tjsXSVLc1851e2eRHCONg/s1600/Canon+174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQE1Pnt1OJjihCIQGD6ymVNO-6SsiNR4jD6DoTr348r3bTM2ihNugHbW5bbQYXA_s-UeTbUmxSBtjBF0gYhpQF-n2Vaen7MtMD933Kn4E8QHIrRicqYeCmR9tjsXSVLc1851e2eRHCONg/s200/Canon+174.jpg" tt="true" width="200" /></a></div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-51513396163212400502010-01-29T19:02:00.000-06:002010-05-17T19:12:47.124-05:00Rio's Goes to School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzged01L0-uyeZDtADL27BsxJh7QMDFy3oLpuK58e4CZSBq8g-6nZdw-OOS68m1KiJ8qLUEtomrsOtW4pu7UCldixGN-P4sclrOvLOOjBW-oK75g_7hkHInhkHucPcWaS6kPYZnEJEZIh/s1600-h/Picture+156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzged01L0-uyeZDtADL27BsxJh7QMDFy3oLpuK58e4CZSBq8g-6nZdw-OOS68m1KiJ8qLUEtomrsOtW4pu7UCldixGN-P4sclrOvLOOjBW-oK75g_7hkHInhkHucPcWaS6kPYZnEJEZIh/s320/Picture+156.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our son's school had a Pet Day and we took our 14 month old Blue and Gold Macaw, Rio to share the experience of parrots with his classmates. She did very well and allowed a lot of touchy fingers to stroke her tail and give her head scratches. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was other animals at the Pet Day, a chihuahua, a pug, 2 cats, a chinchilla and a cockatiel. But the kids kept coming back to Rio and asking all types of questions. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">I was told when son got home from school, that everyone kept complimenting him all-day about Rio. </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Z2iEL68QzsBncG4WEhAJVHnci5vomljEl0YoeRHzmtbbjTOrwAPX96Ktx0yvwKMh2W6IvT0WPQHMk7sAko2k0oVWhE_LS6UBDUlsfpNpyasu1qrfzCdnGDFwCbUwZJNXiW1Y4SmI0tIq/s1600-h/Picture+164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Z2iEL68QzsBncG4WEhAJVHnci5vomljEl0YoeRHzmtbbjTOrwAPX96Ktx0yvwKMh2W6IvT0WPQHMk7sAko2k0oVWhE_LS6UBDUlsfpNpyasu1qrfzCdnGDFwCbUwZJNXiW1Y4SmI0tIq/s320/Picture+164.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Until next time.....</em></span></div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-32859936356140093632010-01-28T21:51:00.000-06:002010-05-17T19:12:47.134-05:00Life sung by George Strait: Part 1I love music, especially if it has a story to it. I am drawn more to country music than rock, but I will always be a big fan of the 80's hair bands; Def Leppard being the favorite. But I grew up with Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash.<br /><br />When it comes to country music, I have my favorites; Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban and Tim McGraw to name a few, but the one artist that really touches my heart and floods my senses with memories is George Strait. That guy is not only good looking, can sing like no one else and his songs, well they are life, my life. I love to dance, got that from my parents and the yearly Christmas Party that my dad put together for the local union lumber workers. It was a huge scene with families, speeches, gold watches, music (always country) and dancing. I loved that time of year, I was the star when my dad would sprinkle down corn meal on the linoleum floor to make it easier for your feet to slide and we would two-step around the hall. So when I grew up it seemed natural to gravitate to the dance halls and country western swing. <br /><br /><br />I was in my early 20's and was recently divorced from my oldest son's father. Working very hard during the the week going to school, being a single parent and holding a part-time job, my parents felt strongly that Friday/Saturday nights were mine to go out with friends and be a "college student". It was a time that I could unwind my uptight life and have fun. There were 2-3 country western bars in Chico, CA: "The Jolly Fox" was an older bar with a small dance floor, a live band and if you had been going there long enough you recognized everyone. It had the best band with a cool Juke Box for the breaks, so the music never stopped. Then a new bar called "Western Lights" opened. It had younger crowd and a slightly bigger dance floor, along with another bar "Wild Horse Saloon" that was in downtown, had the college atmosphere and a mechanical bull (that I never rode).<br /><br />I frequented the Fox along with a friend, Carla that I met in college, we never paid a cover charge and hardly had to by drinks because she was friend's with the door man. It was a great time in my life, I loved the atmosphere, the jokes and the taste of Coca Cola from the bar, I was usually the designated driver. But one day, my friends Carla and Heather got together and planned a birthday party for me because I never had the official "turning 21" smash and they thought it was time for me to cut loose. So on my 22nd birthday, I cut loose, got smashed and met the love of my life, my best friend, my future husband, David.<br /><br />Thinking about this now, destiny has a sense of humor. Picture this, me with drinks of various mixes all with straws lined up in a row with a birthday cake. It seems that when bar patrons find out it is your birthday, everyone buys you drinks and with me being a total light weight, I was pretty smashed by my second "Sex on the Beach" and here comes this tall, good looking guy that wears his wranglers well asking me to dance. It had to be a joke, I could barely walk and he wants me to dance. So I pull myself together and out onto the dance floor we go. I don't remember the song, I do remember it was a 4 count and he had to teach me some steps, and it was magical. So much so that by the next weekend, I am back at the "Fox", sober this time and he asks me to dance again, but in his mind he thinks I have forgotten the steps and when we hit the dance floor, it was like magic; him and I just clicked. He was talking to me through his hands, guiding me along the floor. All the girls wanted to dance with him, he was very good actually one of the local radio stations "Country Kickers" and I was mesmerized. <br /><div align="center"><em>To be continued......</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-24752124240974576132010-01-13T19:56:00.000-06:002010-05-17T19:12:47.145-05:00A Piece of the PastIn trying to "organize" my home, I came across the box of photos that my mom had given to me. When I got the box originally I looked at a few photos on top and then put it away on a shelf to collect dust. I pulled it out on a day off, since there was no going outside with the freezing weather that Texas has been having for the past week (again climate warming, my butt!). I started sifting thru the box, pulling out photos of myself when I had red hair, old classmates and family members in their youth. Each photo representing a moment in time, a glimpse of the past, a represention of who I was and who I become. <br /><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I came across a piece of paper that was at one time a bright yellow, but faded over time to pale yellow. It was folded in half and then half again to just let a poem that I had penned called, Dear Grandfather be the only one seen. There is a mark that had soaked through the layers of the fold probably from something spilled, but at this present time I have no clue. There is no date or stamp to clue me into the age but I am guessing that I wrote this in 4th or 5th grade. <br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It is about my mom's dad, the only grandfather that I can remember. First let me clarify that when I speak of my parents, the ones that raised me, my mom and dad but on a family tree they would be my maternal grandparents and if they had not told me the truth I would have never known the difference. I have detailed memories of my grandfather even though he past on when I was very young. I remember how tall he was, the walks we would take around the farm and sitting on the arm of his chair as he told stories and joked with me. I remember him getting sick very quickly and being upset because the hospital staff would not let me into see him and how upset I was at my mom for not making them bend the rules. I know exactly where is grave is to this day even though I have not visited it in over 20 years. Thinking about this now, I have a profound sadness that I am fighting. It is amazing that this man, who was in my life for only a short period of time would leave such a deep, ingrained impact on me that I can easily remember such vivid details. I guess that is why when I was given an assignment to write a Letter Poem that I chose to write to him. Because of the dark spot I will re-write the poem so all can read it.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjAlzMx7dBMLlPjOyG9B6J-Iu6DjlUTxlmj4Jn_nLAdGnk7oaxBlqH-T3vr2x0H1qjk-vz3XljrbUvDk5t2gcln3_33ZmPjZ4hNtYPL9ud5S2_t7_3vmepiRpRObY1PO6MRt3dUzWgsPd/s1600-h/poem.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjAlzMx7dBMLlPjOyG9B6J-Iu6DjlUTxlmj4Jn_nLAdGnk7oaxBlqH-T3vr2x0H1qjk-vz3XljrbUvDk5t2gcln3_33ZmPjZ4hNtYPL9ud5S2_t7_3vmepiRpRObY1PO6MRt3dUzWgsPd/s320/poem.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Dear Grandfather<br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I miss you so much.</em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I miss our long talks.</em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>You always understood me.</em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I miss our rides to the Cottage Cafe, </em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>where you would buy me my favorite</em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>chocolate ice cream cones.</em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>You never let me grow up too fast</em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>and you where always there when I needed you.</em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I told you, "I Love You," all the time but </em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>the time you needed it most</em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>was the time it was too late and </em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>you were gone as fast as blowing </em><em>out a candle.</em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>You'll always be in my heart and </em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>nothing can shatter that memory</em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>of me, you and our moments.</em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>I miss you, Grandfather.</em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Your first Granddaughter,</em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>La Nora</em><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-85268872484019759332010-01-11T15:58:00.000-06:002010-05-17T19:12:47.158-05:00Treasures in Boxes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Reading another friends blog (<a href="http://www.tinascraftiness.blogspot.com/">http://www.tinascraftiness.blogspot.com/</a>) sparked an ambition to get my household a little more organized. If you come to my house you may find little clusters of confusion, piles of papers, old mail and items needing to go to their specific spot, but have yet to actually make it there. You may look and think what chaos, but rest assured these little clusters are to me Organized Chaos and if someone asked me for something specific, I know where it is and how far down the pile you can find it. Which brings me to admit a weakness I have and because of this move brought it into the light.<br /><br />Boxes...I adore boxes. Doesn't matter the size, shape or material I truly admire the difference each box that I have saved for one reason or another. When a box arrives at the door, I don't see just a cardboard box that needs to be cut down and tossed into our exausted landfills. I see a storage possibility, one that can help organize the household, a container that will ship an item sold on eBay or craigslist to its new owner. To me a box is possiblities, a vessel for treasures and a keeper of memories.<br /><br />Some mothers have Baby Books, I on the other hand have Baby Boxes (see below). Shoe boxes filled with memories of both my boys. As other mothers were writting down milestones accomplished onto linen colored paper, I was filling up what ever box I had chosen with slips of paper, deflated mylar balloons, envelopes with clips of hair, lost teeth, remnants of baby blanket and precious school projects completed for a special day. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GtCy66Kcli8LA9-XDwaLDKq3bhmaIL-BDsQoSqZ_8ujwdlD7OpRfNf_D27CgFC10fiJImBpVCRKjEnntZPMI7caJaAiLmRrw0L1abOR2y7FwJBGB_miVQRTvwnAxfLHzGbscAMfo8LUH/s1600-h/Picture+082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GtCy66Kcli8LA9-XDwaLDKq3bhmaIL-BDsQoSqZ_8ujwdlD7OpRfNf_D27CgFC10fiJImBpVCRKjEnntZPMI7caJaAiLmRrw0L1abOR2y7FwJBGB_miVQRTvwnAxfLHzGbscAMfo8LUH/s200/Picture+082.jpg" /></a><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabvs3It4kOI3F7ZvGerMb1KvmELD9Db2GYFZyIKUs4lpxSmzdFKuWq0JJjlLULAW0jKF2aTEauzsFChdSWZ5M7zyvtSwSxBFP3s4IkhDzzq5y1SpmS1VwZWaupbP8y63SbZvihhpfl3Eh/s200/Picture+080.jpg" /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few years ago, my parents sold their house (which was my childhood home) and bought a motorhome to travel with in their retirement. When all was said and done, I was given household items, furniture, and my Baby Book. I was also given a box (see below) with photos, slips of paper, envelopes and precious school projects done for a special holiday.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxon20CsGPk9JPkhn2gEwwFb8-K7dfOT_shCOoxbNCpKPjUX7x91ZO6TRgMP8LxyymB9dsQuZHuIkpBjEGdLfpJKisPIZVexr1vLqa0owEFeoCtFuhbVLrBL0udGKO2WfQYxTPosKTGiE/s1600-h/Picture+084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxon20CsGPk9JPkhn2gEwwFb8-K7dfOT_shCOoxbNCpKPjUX7x91ZO6TRgMP8LxyymB9dsQuZHuIkpBjEGdLfpJKisPIZVexr1vLqa0owEFeoCtFuhbVLrBL0udGKO2WfQYxTPosKTGiE/s200/Picture+084.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2eEVtjThL73rePIQnTXPaukqJ3ItvObVbiI_M43T0XIW4gl0FHvZS1q4R2FWhgd7tX5PTmIXGLFHCTby0qw5iCmRjDxmtPnRfoTZLd_GuDILf3BvOGKfacGgg4TrZpOcitGR6qbO_HUN/s1600-h/Picture+086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2eEVtjThL73rePIQnTXPaukqJ3ItvObVbiI_M43T0XIW4gl0FHvZS1q4R2FWhgd7tX5PTmIXGLFHCTby0qw5iCmRjDxmtPnRfoTZLd_GuDILf3BvOGKfacGgg4TrZpOcitGR6qbO_HUN/s200/Picture+086.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVK5yJmEFReOUe5pyMbAOOm91EF9VsacTf3mGyhWwGzWDnRsfgtIiHxALeTkr2ksYdJlfV0MC6Dqxa71itH2EWy4pysGcDmuUP_RQhKyL43WpSUQIIfC0vcHF0F48T-9qJ7cqmZe6IdaBw/s1600-h/Picture+079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVK5yJmEFReOUe5pyMbAOOm91EF9VsacTf3mGyhWwGzWDnRsfgtIiHxALeTkr2ksYdJlfV0MC6Dqxa71itH2EWy4pysGcDmuUP_RQhKyL43WpSUQIIfC0vcHF0F48T-9qJ7cqmZe6IdaBw/s200/Picture+079.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Boxes... hold items to be donated, to move things from one house to another and arrive at the doorstep with a new purchase. Boxes...are containers with photos, beanie babies, shells from the beach, and jewelry passed down for 3 generations. Boxes hold all my treasures. Boxes are a vessel in my life.<br /></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Smiles,<br /></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Leni<br /></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br /></div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-68862950077319216312010-01-10T20:38:00.000-06:002010-05-17T19:12:47.167-05:00MIA in BloggingRecently a friend of mine (<a href="http://www.julie-rants.blogspot.com/">http://www.julie-rants.blogspot.com/</a>) reminded me that I hadn't "blogged" in a while, she said, "you have a lot of great stories" and it got me thinking, which my hubby says is a dangerous thing, but I digress. <br /><br />Being the "Electronic Junky" that I am, I realized she was right. My other blog (<a href="http://www.sailingpilgrim.blogspot.com/">http://www.sailingpilgrim.blogspot.com/</a>) was started to share stories of my family sailing our sailboat in Matagorda Bay along the Texas Gulf Coast. Unfortunately it soon became non-sailing weather and Labor Day was the last weekend we were able to go for any length of time and with the current freezing Texas weather (global warming, my butt!) we won't be going anytime soon.<br /><br />So on with blogging on "Little Blushes" which I have done quite often, but I work real hard to have them less frequently. So "Thank you!" Julie for giving the little push needed to blog again. <br /><br />Boy...I hope I don't let my 2 followers down...the pressure....<br /><br />Smiles, <br />LeniLanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-16748460136656743942009-09-09T15:37:00.000-05:002010-05-17T19:11:54.898-05:00Labor Day Weekend SailSchool has started and the first 3 day weekend has come for us to go down to Palacios, TX and check on Pilgrim. As the day got closer for us to leave, Dave has to ease my anxiety by telling all the stories he has heard of people going to check on their boats only to find them hanging by the dock lines, completely submerged. "Way to go in helping me sleep there hubby!" The weather has started to cool down, but remember it still is Texas and when I say cooling I mean that it is under 100 degrees. As we watched the weather on Friday, it was looking like there may be some thunderstorms for the weekend, but the Matagorda Bay was to be smooth with 5-10 knots wind out of the East.<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-XEMW7oRM-en7s_VxaztSlbuc76EC-T-rmgAyQt57BHCnmcppTWzGbAQI3nFsaEs6xihGzzWnpDF01h7AJd_LZxKrGHLWvbLRg08RuUGSQ84HqBX0U161IIqqspW7SbhwXM74ekVE4bR/s1600-h/scooter.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379580860866114050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 120px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-XEMW7oRM-en7s_VxaztSlbuc76EC-T-rmgAyQt57BHCnmcppTWzGbAQI3nFsaEs6xihGzzWnpDF01h7AJd_LZxKrGHLWvbLRg08RuUGSQ84HqBX0U161IIqqspW7SbhwXM74ekVE4bR/s200/scooter.JPG" border="0" /></a>We decided to take Scooter (our very experienced sailing Boston Terrier) and PJay (sink like a rock French Bulldog) with us this time because #1 it was cooler and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1FH9b9NZ8of-YctvBWrZcfgpbr-OsXKEWoXSe2ez05kt-M3uMuY44tkPJY5J2vPrM5v_5COo3vE3qgfVsFwwg3XroDewom_Be9NkHd_90cy-JbcPgL2KDc5tXoSfPcUA47aiXZRyvDRF/s1600-h/Picture+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379591607486191874" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1FH9b9NZ8of-YctvBWrZcfgpbr-OsXKEWoXSe2ez05kt-M3uMuY44tkPJY5J2vPrM5v_5COo3vE3qgfVsFwwg3XroDewom_Be9NkHd_90cy-JbcPgL2KDc5tXoSfPcUA47aiXZRyvDRF/s200/Picture+031.jpg" border="0" /></a>#2 we found a hotel that allows dogs, <a href="http://www.palacioschamber.com/lodging.html">The </a><a href="http://www.palacioschamber.com/lodging.html">Deluxe Inn</a>. It will be so nice when we have the A/C installed on Pilgrim, no more hotels. We arrive to find Pilgrim safe, sound and above the waterline. I really wasn't worried because the managers have our numbers to call if something does happen, but we have to have some suspense, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZK5h5x87AgwhMZYahyIIOGZ8n9oKHGGYa0jSlRP9aONZFgtFteTv8XovQG4DzixYWzFNJaMtsu8lB4O4gl7zPbz_vgQfTa7Hq0TyKoaoiR6uQVQqhwnlvXRKPZnQGkIDvi8eDOL0HmWb/s1600-h/Picture+031.jpg"></a>life would be boring otherwise. While on the boat, checking on things and running the engine, a thunderstorm formed and little drops of rain started to come down. We closed her up and headed back to the hotel just before it started to pour for about an hour. It was great, Texas is in a terrible drought and that was so welcomed.<br /><br /><div>The next day we set sail around 8:30 am, with a slight breeze from the east under a full main and headsail furled completely out. Our goal was to make it to the Gulf, so Cameron could do some fishing. By 10:30 am we couldn't see Bird Island, a little island just off Matagorda Peninsula and a short cut to the Gulf Channel. I was starting to worry that we were making terrible time with an average of only 2 knots and Cameron would not be able to fish because Pilgrim's running lights were not working, so we needed to make it back before dark. Just as Dave and I were discussing the options, he made a slight sail correction, the wind picked up, we heeled to 10 and we were moving at closer to 5 knots. The bimini was providing great shade, so I kicked back on the low side and just watched the sky. Ahhhh, I love bay sailing! We stayed on this heading for about 30 minutes, just long enough for me to good and relaxed, the wind changed causing a sail correction and once more I am disturbed from my peaceful bliss. Ahhhhh, I love bay sailing. Finally around 11:30 we could see Bird Island and we were back up to 4-5 knots, good time for lunch. The evening before I went to Subway and got 2 foot longs with the fixings, but no condiments. This is much easier and cheaper than purchasing all the items then try to prepare a sandwich while balancing myself at a 10-20 degree angle, I've done it before and I will say it is a talent, but I usually have a few bruises to go along with the accomplishment. Back to relaxing, which by the way Scooter and PJay have been able to do the entire time, I have got to teach them to do something on the boat besides sleep. We had 4 porpoise sightings, all one pod because they all surfaced at the same time in our stern wake like they were trained for a show at Sea World. </div><br /><div>Past Bird Island and the Matagorda Peninsula, a course change would point the wind dead on our nose, so that meant motoring through the channel, past the jetties until we reached the Gulf. We furled in the headsail, started the engine and Cameron was finally able to drop his line in with over 35 feet of water under us. As we motored there was a least 20+ boats around us, must have been a good fishing day. Most have enough common courtesy to slow down when they come close to us as to not make big wakes as they pass, some do not and the boat was really rocking with the wave action caused by all the boats. About half way through the channel, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfjs-1sLgo4zaRVkASEeGDDdOy1JkhWFuzpijWG1TIirmtEhmOYT0RT3JSWXvQ0qa7hX6gNPeGt4Tc958pJlVPuGKv2f3CydRLYAFPTLyoxcO1tPUCkCgyCtBD61AGwwqVREDfyMyxMFd/s1600-h/Picture+049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379602629787332786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfjs-1sLgo4zaRVkASEeGDDdOy1JkhWFuzpijWG1TIirmtEhmOYT0RT3JSWXvQ0qa7hX6gNPeGt4Tc958pJlVPuGKv2f3CydRLYAFPTLyoxcO1tPUCkCgyCtBD61AGwwqVREDfyMyxMFd/s200/Picture+049.jpg" border="0" /></a>Cameron's pole jerks and he has a bite. Dave quickly jumps up to help and I take over steering the boat. After a few minutes the fish is scooped up into the net and Cameron has caught is <strong>first salt water fish</strong> and we have no idea what it is, even after asking a bunch of people. We ended up giving it to a family that was fishing on the docks we when we returned. </div><br /><div>We made it to the Gulf, smooth water and just a breeze that with the tiller tied to center and the main up we just drifted along slowly allowing Dave to get in some fishing as well, but with no luck. I had been watching coastline in the direction of Palacios and noticed that it was getting dark and clouds were starting to form in high pillars, what you see when a thunderstorm is forming. I mentioned it to Dave, so we decided to start heading back, but we went slow enough that Cameron was able to fish some more before heading out of the channel. As were moving, we started to hear thunder in the distance and I prepared the main to be reefed (shortened) if needed. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtcaUk744gB2-snUk-Q78807intNIDzNWrDEbHLN3FbzSz_Sf3znMJDj_f9sEda8af-pqUvDZGnbi9yxX2_f1q-rkwn2pU0ek681R23IZ7ISK4jGsWXwPODArcqhK7DouNHiXPu3opCWQ/s1600-h/Picture+054.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379616396507799602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtcaUk744gB2-snUk-Q78807intNIDzNWrDEbHLN3FbzSz_Sf3znMJDj_f9sEda8af-pqUvDZGnbi9yxX2_f1q-rkwn2pU0ek681R23IZ7ISK4jGsWXwPODArcqhK7DouNHiXPu3opCWQ/s200/Picture+054.jpg" border="0" /></a>We made the turn northeast, heeled to 10-15, Pilgrim moved up to 5.5 knots and Cameron fell asleep for an hour while we watched the weather in front of us. I turn on the VHF radio to see if any warnings had been issued, but there was none so we continued on our journey. The wind picked up, so I put a reef in the main; we probably would have been okay without the reef but I am sure Dave wanted to be safe and keep the heel down with Cameron, Scooter and PJay on board. Half way home we could see the rain in the distance but it never came our way, I could see a faint rainbow and at marker 34 we have to turn more northeast to stay in the Palacios Shipping Channel, land is on two<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHal09CGTlQ70wqmNMysJcxOmjnJWNytRTMgZ1kU7it8LMNUoVo3kCIHYKjE8NDXlaFoQqSRDrM28kEWfa_2ynWdSh0SqENRKl4wGx9Hd0J_vR77cvQHuW7uYdrc3UeaAvWecMIagNCg6/s1600-h/cabbage+head.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379623271059095074" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 105px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHal09CGTlQ70wqmNMysJcxOmjnJWNytRTMgZ1kU7it8LMNUoVo3kCIHYKjE8NDXlaFoQqSRDrM28kEWfa_2ynWdSh0SqENRKl4wGx9Hd0J_vR77cvQHuW7uYdrc3UeaAvWecMIagNCg6/s200/cabbage+head.jpg" border="0" /></a> sides and the wind is buffered. Down come the sails and we motored the rest of the way, by the time we got to the docks the rain had gone and the sun was out, the bay <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLsYJ0lwy8pliGKzRIymmv_0gd_QjCE5QxLbM0SIqpp5WZQPej-8NLxnnDcgV6tMWYWsbI_EibVAjFjklvCkGprSaO4BjB3Edse2n0vGI5qg6uzxMx-N-J8CxVUETKs8ksRWFhBRXAreeY/s1600-h/cabbage+head.jpg"></a>was flat like a mirror and Cabbage Head jelly fish (see picture)were abundant the closer we got to the harbour. It was another great day of sailing on Pilgrim, met some neighbors from slips close by, Cameron had "another first" memory, the dogs didn't fall overboard or get seasick and I am able to share another story. Until my next blog...</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-79833813382541957252009-09-02T18:20:00.000-05:002010-05-17T19:11:54.908-05:00First Sailing for TinaIt is the weekend of August 8th, 2009 and we went to Palacios, TX to do some sailing on Pilgrim. I had invited a friend from work, Tina to come and go sailing as well. It would be her first time actually sailing, so everyone was excited and both Dave and I were hoping the wind would cooperate.<br /><div></div><br /><div>We had reserved a room at the <a href="http://www.citybytheseamuseum.org/luther.html">The Luther Hotel</a>, built in 1903. We had a room on the 3rd floor and the view was spectacular. I have to say you can feel the history in this hotel, very nostalgic. Once checked in, we went down to Serendipity to put some shroud protectors on Pilgrim and waited for Tina to arrive. Once she arrived we all went to The Outrigger where good food, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFE_dZA147QtwfUrkUEcCk177Odhg9ZKBppUkJvBYnLHlWHPb0zWrH-NxzaJKcLvsJWDgQifbyB9f6pV2EDNERDdApGnS-QoRDfbIGAV552cRzxITW2DxOvbfXJTMQnDyNs8Fqnr3HhWZ8/s1600-h/Picture+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377025283133594114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFE_dZA147QtwfUrkUEcCk177Odhg9ZKBppUkJvBYnLHlWHPb0zWrH-NxzaJKcLvsJWDgQifbyB9f6pV2EDNERDdApGnS-QoRDfbIGAV552cRzxITW2DxOvbfXJTMQnDyNs8Fqnr3HhWZ8/s200/Picture+040.jpg" border="0" /></a>cold drinks and casual conversation made the time go by quickly. Even Dave and Cameron got in a couple of games of pool before we retired for the night.<br /><br />The next day we started out early and was out on the bay by 9:00 am. First picture is just starting out with a full main and the jib out half way.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3iG25BDn_cAWVDx4uBO2JVs9wBdFH5i3kIm6y4-WoQlV7uoQ6NuTlx8WXh6J5XDOg_2uxBf1saLl9l6sHBZcoJKK9leI-yEvJTSg4v1D_4d7XYKOTL1NorSE1anrKwZYObuOZ5U0Cu17/s1600-h/Photo_080909_001.jpg"></a> </div><div> </div><div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3iG25BDn_cAWVDx4uBO2JVs9wBdFH5i3kIm6y4-WoQlV7uoQ6NuTlx8WXh6J5XDOg_2uxBf1saLl9l6sHBZcoJKK9leI-yEvJTSg4v1D_4d7XYKOTL1NorSE1anrKwZYObuOZ5U0Cu17/s1600-h/Photo_080909_001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377023730149436642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3iG25BDn_cAWVDx4uBO2JVs9wBdFH5i3kIm6y4-WoQlV7uoQ6NuTlx8WXh6J5XDOg_2uxBf1saLl9l6sHBZcoJKK9leI-yEvJTSg4v1D_4d7XYKOTL1NorSE1anrKwZYObuOZ5U0Cu17/s200/Photo_080909_001.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Next picture is of Tina taking a little ride on the stern perch seats, I believe that is a smile of enjoyment, although she looks like she is <div>clutching the rails for dear life. We were getting close to 6 knots on this trip, zig zagging back and forth across Matagorda Bay. We were fortunate to see 1 porpoise and lots of Pelicans diving for food.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGN0jq7pe7Uz3V5RHX0NUdzJVgT603pMQwj1URv2CjASFuiAakypGWJfm95vJmuU5Vvd3MMQfw8H43PF81zPIit8loXg277PV16LC1peUgJvPMUrE2C35Ql2k7J3QNu2LjAZ1O1edjcTu/s1600-h/Picture+046.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377026424664122050" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGN0jq7pe7Uz3V5RHX0NUdzJVgT603pMQwj1URv2CjASFuiAakypGWJfm95vJmuU5Vvd3MMQfw8H43PF81zPIit8loXg277PV16LC1peUgJvPMUrE2C35Ql2k7J3QNu2LjAZ1O1edjcTu/s200/Picture+046.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We saw a few small fishing/shrimping boats and the birds would flock like it was their last supper. Once I got my nerve up, I moved to the bow of the boat to ride the waves on the bow, Tina followed. We switched positions so she could get the full benefit of the wave action. Dave was having a good time, aiming the nose into the biggest waves so by the end of the adventure, both Tina and I were soaked. Once one of the waves came over my head, that was it for me, I headed back to the cockpit, but Tina was enjoying herself to much. Just so you know, my husband makes me hold on for dear life as we are heeling over 20,with a slick deck to get back to the cockpit, but when Tina is ready he comes into the wind to level out the boat. Nice!</div></div><div> </div><div>After a southern engineered hove-to we had lunch and made our way back to the docks. Our trip log was 14 nautical miles and everyone had a great time. Until next time.....</div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8936502341456581721.post-52759395747887615962009-08-28T15:34:00.000-05:002010-05-17T19:11:54.917-05:00Palacios, TX or Bust!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX8BbPReohJkDk8x0Vj0oMxxl1pcd4b9-xDi5oX0ThC4H3oMg8PO7JUGiUcJHmCXmwbL-eXyxykmACKYBc1Gl9kY6845eRcsRdXhc9wTd2jR_BE1AVwQJylraYvYw3HXcKuYwhTkLasET/s1600-h/Photo_072509_001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375139020143106690" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 198px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 154px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX8BbPReohJkDk8x0Vj0oMxxl1pcd4b9-xDi5oX0ThC4H3oMg8PO7JUGiUcJHmCXmwbL-eXyxykmACKYBc1Gl9kY6845eRcsRdXhc9wTd2jR_BE1AVwQJylraYvYw3HXcKuYwhTkLasET/s200/Photo_072509_001.jpg" border="0" /></a>July 25th has arrived. The day Pilgrim is to be launched. We leave home with 2 vehicles loaded with sailing gear, sleeping bags, provisions, 2 dogs and 4 humans. We had to drive both cars to Palacios, TX; reload everything into the Grand Prix, leave the Trail Blazer at <a href="http://www.serendipityresort.com/">Serendipity Bay Resort</a> and drive to Rockport where we unload everything and my oldest son, Jason drives the Grand Prix back home along with the 2 dogs (it was way too hot for them). Wow! At least my oldest took it all in stride. Yes, that is him crashed with sleeping bags stacked up next to him.<br /><br /><div><div>We arrive at Rockport, check into the hotel, leave the boys and dogs in the air-conditioned room while Dave and I go to <a href="http://www.rockporttxboatyard.com/">House of Boats </a>to start getting the boat ready to leave in the morning. Did I mention that it was about 98 degrees with a heat index of about 105? It was hot! We get there and again there was Pilgrim with her new blue anti-fouling paint, the mast stepped, and shining new gelcoat swinging in that monsterous sling...my heart stopped, not again. I went to go settle the bill, I could not take seeing her swing in mid air. By the time I paid the bill, she was in the water and tied up at the dock. Thank goodness!<br /></div><div>We packed and stowed everything into Pilgrim, made sure she was ready for tomorrow morning and left to go back to the hotel so Jason could get on the road. Later that night we went to Chili's to celebrate Cameron's 12th Birthday, again. With our bellies full and exhausted from the heat we all went to bed to prepare for tomorrow.<br /><br />Sunday, July 26th we left the dock at 9:30 am headed North East into Aransas Bay, the wind was good and once into the ICW, we raised the sails and clipped along at 6 knots on a beam reach, there were some slow spots when we passed by land but most of the time we averaged 6 knots according to our new Raymarine ST40 Bidata system. Along the way we passed huge barges with tugs, a channel dredger and about 5 pods of porpoises. When we were in Espiriu Santo Bay it was really rough, the waves were disorganized and made it a little uncomfortable. Around 4:00 pm we started seeing buildings for Port O'Connor, our half way point, but things were going too good and just like that Dave grounded us in 2 feet of mud, good thing we were able to push ourselves with the help of the mainsail and diesel engine. We headed to dock the boat, find a hotel and get some food we were all exhausted. The Tarpon Hotel is within walking distance of the docks and was a pleasant stay, I believe we were the only ones at the hotel and the managers were very kind. I think because we were all pink from wind and sun burn, they felt sorry for us, probably thought we were crazy. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMgQq5WLR8OfOwxgJb44bKbj4jeO-mW1vxs1Q9zOLZHsAvq9bhhxUjbhivOEWZzhoeKkrIDikaGIDZFUsNTXnznnP0RCgth2GW_yZPNJW34Jr0FKrQzhGBjDk3V3036iINReUSxDE8EyA/s1600-h/gulfmap.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375135446257714722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 211px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMgQq5WLR8OfOwxgJb44bKbj4jeO-mW1vxs1Q9zOLZHsAvq9bhhxUjbhivOEWZzhoeKkrIDikaGIDZFUsNTXnznnP0RCgth2GW_yZPNJW34Jr0FKrQzhGBjDk3V3036iINReUSxDE8EyA/s320/gulfmap.jpg" border="0" /></a>Monday, July 27th we left Port O'Connor heading into Matagorda Bay with just the headsail and headed towards the channel to "dip our toes in the Gulf of Mexico" like it was swimming pool and we were checking the temperature. Cameron was so excited, he was finally going to be able to try out his saltwater fishing set-up that he got for his birthday. I had mixed feelings, half of me hoped he would catch something and the other half was going "what are we going to do if he does catch something?" We only went out to the last buoy made a u-turn and headed back in, the depth finder was showing 89-100 feet, we saw a few shrimp boats scattered and another sailboat in the distance. I wonder were they were going, Mexico, Caribbean or maybe Port Isabel.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1p7kF6dKoyIGEI7twpr-QSCHGM7kI2y5FLkWjBFb-RfrW7gMIreRJwc2k1tk0NcEdhDlCNtDRudVsFkAwaJO2a8J-78MmKeO3XcMl93q9Xa-PFM4DgxwQ08X8uRei72QGx3-StLD9zM2k/s1600-h/Picture+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375138645578057218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1p7kF6dKoyIGEI7twpr-QSCHGM7kI2y5FLkWjBFb-RfrW7gMIreRJwc2k1tk0NcEdhDlCNtDRudVsFkAwaJO2a8J-78MmKeO3XcMl93q9Xa-PFM4DgxwQ08X8uRei72QGx3-StLD9zM2k/s200/Picture+031.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div> </div><div>We made good time heading towards Palacios until we made the turn North and the wind was right on our stern and I had to go mess with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinnaker_pole">spinnaker pole</a>, which was not fun. Lets just say that I almost dumped it overboard I was so mad. The only thing that stopped was Dave saying, "those cost $800 to replace", okay I guess I will keep it, the POS!</div><div> </div><div>We made it to Palacios and docked Pilgrim into her slip by 2:00 pm and the hardest part of the whole trip was unpacking the boat and hauling everything up the dock to load into the vehicle. I could feel my brain pressure cooking inside my skull. I just knew that we were in hell and it was called Texas. </div><div> </div><div>Fair winds....</div></div></div>Lanorahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17456823484672616721noreply@blogger.com2