Good friends and Fridays go together so well, don't you think? Have a great day as we get ready for the weekend. Paula, I've meant to update you on my three chicks that hatched weeks ago. They are growing like weeds and doing very well. Can't tell yet if one or more are roosters (please, God, let them be hens!) but they sure are cute. We were concerned about their hatch time being in December, knowing it was going to be cold. But their mamas took good care and, quite often, still keep them warm beneath them even though they aren't so little anymore!
My thankfulness today is that the weatherman says it will warm up this weekend to more normal temperatures, Paula. Like so many of us in the throes of Mother Nature's cold snap, I feel like I haven't been warm for days. I am looking forward to having 50* again! Enjoy your afternoon. Tomorrow's Friday!
Back steps tell the story. I've been very careful navigating them.
View out back. The kettle is an old cast iron sugar kettle...used to make cane syrup back in the day.
We made a REAL snowman but should have made one sooner. It was hard to make one with the "crusty" snow.
There's a highway under there somewhere. lol. Thankfully traffic was minimal. Most folks had the good sense to stay home but there are the rednecks (US TOO) that will be out on four wheelers and such. haha.
Good Morning Paula, sharing some snow photos. By the way, it still hasn't melted! I feel like I woke up in a Christmas card. This is our first measurable snowfall since 1989...we had 2 inches then and this time we have 4 and 1/2. Been scrounging for warm clothes, lol. My pets are absolutely not a fan though, especially my cats. They are pretty freaked out by it. Have a good Thurs.
Birdbath full of snow near the woods.
Hubby trekking through the snow to check things out front.
It is a sunny, cold midweek for me, Paula. The sun is such a welcome sight. The little bit of snow we got is melting quickly even though the temperature is just in the 20s F. Went out to refill my window bird feeder a bit ago. I'm enjoying seeing the many birds eating at our diner outside the front windows. Very entertaining. Bill the Squirrel and his girlfriend, Bernadette, have their own feeder and they are a treat to see, too. Hope your day is wonderful and you accomplish all you intend to.
The rich do not need admiration nor succor. Help the oppressed, which in these times means to come to the aid of society's marginalized. “Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless.” Ecclesiastes 4:1 NLT
Me and the girls had a craft day before Christmas and this is what we made....and sharing a close up of mine and my granddaughter's below. It's just a man's athletic sock (purchased from the Dollar tree or use one you have already) Fill it with dry rice till it's as big as you want. Tie off the top with a rubberband. and cut off any excess. Place another rubberband around where you want the neck/head. Cut the ankle end off another sock (we used old colorful ones that we had already) and make a hat for the snowman with it. Tie a ribbon or piece of fabric around the neck for a scarf and another on at the top of the hat or hot glue a pom pom as you see on the pink one. We used orange pipe cleaners for the nose and glued old buttons on the front of them.
Hello Paula, so good to hear from you. The polar vortex is way down here in FL. Of course we aren't used to it this far south. We may get ice tomorrow night but I hope not because Lord knows Floridians can't drive on it. We barely can handle the rain. lol. Thanks about my page. I do love that lil bear! Yes I'm still feeding the possum and he brings 2 of his brethren from time to time. (as I call them, haha!) Hubby has named him Oscar and I have fattened him up. I bet he would eat honey and anything else I give him. My granddaughter visited from Missouri over the holidays and she lives in the city there...she saw all 3 possums coming to eat one of the nights she was here. She thought it was so funny.
Yes, the egg production drops off in the Winter, as you mentioned was the case with your hens. The shorter daylight hours affects it for certain. My brother will get more hens soon and I'll be glad because I miss the eggs he shared. Especially since the price of eggs has tripled in the last few weeks. I can see where your hubby would not want to do away the hens, they do begin to feel like pets as time goes by. I can get attached to anything...just ask Oscar. haha. But yes, possums are neat little critters. They don't carry rabies and eat all kinds of vermin that are bothersome.
Glad to hear the new meds have helped to stablize your mom. I know thats a relief and that ths qualified for Medicaid as well. Zero copays are wonderful. It's good that you and your brother are close enough to visit and check on her frequently. It's good news that Dennis is doing well too and yes, maybe he can come off some meds or at least the dosage can be reduced.
Maybe you can come up with an easy craft idea for you and your Mom. Did you see the snowman socks I posted? They were easy to make and took maybe an hour. I can share a pic below once I find it. Hope your new week is good. Hugs from very frosty and freezing FL, Beth
It is a damp, gray day here but, since it's the weekend, it isn't so bad. I've done my outdoor "farm girl" chores and filled up my window bird feeder. Think I'll crochet this afternoon. What are you doing today? Whatever it is, just have the best day ever, Paula.
A polar vortex is supposed to hit Wonderland tonite, bringing wind chills of -20. It's Michigan--so these temps don't last long. Glad I don't have to go out in it. 🌬️
It's so nice to hear from you.. Sometimes when you're gone for a long time, I wonder if you're coming back! The last time I heard from you was July 7th.. That's the same month you talked about moving your mom into the facility.. Moving someone to assisted living sounds like a depressing task.. I don't have my mom anymore.. She passed away back in 1970 when she was only 32 yrs old and I was 13.. She died from lymphoma cancer.. It spread to all of her lymph nodes.. There's treatment for that now days, but not back in 1970.. Those goofy doctors told her that one day there would be a treatment for her cancer, but just wasn't that advanced yet.. They should have never revealed that to her.. My grandma told me that she screamed, what good does that do me now.. Those doctors just hung their heads and walked out the room.. Are things more settled with your mom now?
For New Year's Day meal we had our usual meal of pork roast and kielbasa cooked in a pot of sauerkraut.. Had mashed potatoes with it to put the sauerkraut over.. Did you ever make this dish? I put the salt and pepper to what I want to my plate, because George (hubby) doesn't like black pepper on anything.. Gee, I could see him trying to eat the Jambalaya your brother made!.. I know he wouldn't have done well with that.. lol.. Once we made fried potatoes and sliced up a very hot pepper to fry in with it.. It was so hot that neither of us could eat it.. Ended up dumping it out in the woods.. I wonder if the raccoons liked it.. I'd really like to try the Jambalaya you made (that is, the way you make it).. Over the years I never seen it listed on the menus of any of the restaurants I've tried.. Maybe it's a southern meal.. I live way up north, considered by some of the south to be one of those damn Yankees.. I have an aunt who lives in Georgia.. Got stuck living there because her husband was in the military and they moved around a lot.. When it came time to retire they were living in Georgia.. She told me a long time ago that people born and raised down there refer to the northern people as those damn Yankees! lol
I start getting anxious too come the end of August.. That's when I start thinking about fall coming.. Even though it's still hot here in September, I know fall is close by and I guess it's the knowing that makes me feel better..
We have one Aldi's in the same area where our Walmart is located, but you know, I rarely go in there.. I'm more of one-stop-shop person.. I don't like store hopping.. So tiring! Oh yeah, I just remembered, we did go out to eat on New Years Eve.. Wasn't sure if I would or not, but it was one of those last minute decisions.. I hate to plan anything because things don't always work out, so if the mood strikes me I go.. Well, I started out ordering a Caesar salad.. I like those so much better than a regular salad.. I really like the dressing they use on them.. Then I had grilled chicken, shrimp and mushrooms with broccoli.. It was served on a sizzling hot skillet.. I ended up having two Long Island iced teas spiked with something.. I can't remember what alcohol they used, but I'll bet rum was in it.. They make it in one of those long glasses, but they are foxy about it by filling the glasses with a lot of ice.. I know you don't drink alcohol.. Usually I don't either, just on special occasions.. I guess it makes me feel like I'm doing something special :)
The one movie you have on your page, The Day After Tomorrow reminds me of the same Statue of Liberty that was shown at the end of Planet of the Apes with Charlton Heston.. Did you see that movie too? The one on your page looks like it's based on the same scenario..
It's always nice chatting with you, Paula.. Best Wishes to you and Dennis.. Hope your weekend goes well.. *hugs* from Darlene
Hi there, dear Paula. What is going on at your home today? It is beautiful here; sunshine and heading to low 50s. I've done my outside chores and I''m waiting for my sheets to dry so I can remake the bed. Might make an Aldi run later and run by my girls' houses with some things I have for each of them. We'll see. Enjoy your afternoon and have a restful evening.
It's Thursday! Which means we are so close to our weekend we can feel it. Enjoy your day! It's 53* but the wind makes it feel colder, Paula. I have been outside a few times and the cold wind makes my eyes water. I've become a wuss living in the south all these years. HAHA
It's a beautiful Tuesday in my part of North Carolina. I just love the sunshine. Makes cold temperatures feel not so bad and makes one's heart cheery. Hope your day is filled with sunshine and cheerfulness. Paula, my baby chicks are growing like weeds. And, typical siblings, they fuss and carry on and it's so cute to observe. We've had one of the coldest Januarys on record and those babies are just thriving in their mamas care. Both moms are wonderful caregivers. Letting them go broody and hatch was our best decision. It's been such a great experience. Now if only I could find a way to not have soooooo many roosters. 6 roos in the Boys Club is 6 too many. In the "family" coop we have one bantam roo named Cappuccino. I love all my chickens but we are wasting so much money feeding roos that do nothing for us but make noise. It's just hard to cull them, you know? No one wants roosters. Anyway, that conversation took a downward turn, didn't it?
Thankfully my day started with much motivation (don't ask me why!) and I've gotten some things tackled. Why can't all days begin with a strong will and desire to kick the day's butt? Anyway, happy to see some sunshine and temps heading up into the 40s. Hope your day is a great start to the week, Paula.
Drama on the deck. Let my dog Jasper out on the deck & noticed about 40 blackbirds in the bare maple tree. They were eyeing the hawk sitting atop the evergreen next to them. Hope your week is off to a good start!🌲
