Happy Halloween!!

Stay up late and watch all the scary movies!!

Halloween and Death

Halloween. Day of the Dead.  El Dia de los Muertos.  Whatever you call it, however you say it.  This celebration happens all around the world and involves the dead.  In some cases we celebrate the lives of those who have already gone on.  In others we perform rituals to ward off unwanted spirits.  Still others we dress in costumes and visit homes looking for treats.  But what about the chickens?  Even those beloved flightless birds must pass away.  Our goldfish get a ride down the toilet.  Our puppies and kitties get a burial in the back yard.  They, too, should get the same respect.  No, I'm not talking about tossing about their bones in a voo doo ritual.  I'm not talking about those fluffy down feathers that fill our huggy pillows and warm comforters.  It's not about the long wing and tail feathers the top our Sunday best hats, either.  It's about two things, really.  Fried Chicken and scrambled eggs.!!  Yum-o!!

As Big As A Bus

Halloween is coming up this weekend.  Of course, I am planning nothing.  No parties, no decorating, no costumes.  I'm just not that in to it this year.  I am going to my sister's Saturday, but I'm not sure when I'll be home.  I'll probably keep some candy on hand just in case any kids drop by, though.  I did get to work yesterday morning, and looked out my window to see a spider had made its web there.  I thanked it for placing the festive decor for me.  Then, I thought of snapping a picture.  Just as I was about to take the pic a university bus was traveling by.  I thought it was to coolest thing.  I have never seen a spider as big as a bus!!  It looks to me as though the spider might even be trying to attack the bus!  Ahhhh!!  Run for your lives!  It's a 1960's horror film!!

Poor Little Feller

This is the little guy.  It's the only egg that hatched.  I snapped this pic last night.  I had brought my plants inside because we had a frost the other night.  A small spider was in my hibiscus and had created a big web across to the wall and over the babies brooding box.  I tried not disturb the spider.  I love spiders.  Don't want to touch them, but I am so fascinated by how the operate.  Where does all that silk come from?  If you wadded it all up into a ball it would be three times as big as the spider! 
Anyway, back to the baby.  He was born last Wednesday, October 14th, around 4 p.m.  How lonely he must be, peeping (quite loudly), in that box with no one around to listen.  I can't put him outside yet.  I want him to be at least three weeks of age, as we have had some cool nights.  Only one night of frost, and today will be near 80 degrees farenheit.  I think temps will dip to the mid 50's tonight.  I can't wait to get the poor little fellar outside for some company.  Maybe he can go visit China's babies for tea.  LOL
No big plans for the weekend.  My nephew and neice were upset, as they were not able to visit us last weekend.  They were visiting Grandma and Buddy.  But Mike promised them this weekend.  They both have soccer games Saturday morning.  It weather permits, we will attend the games.  Otherwise, we shall pick them up at their home.  We will find activities when they arrive.  Everyone have a good weekend!!

Update- Stayin' Alive

Rainbows seem to be the theme lately.  So I thought I'd drop one in myself.  This one was taken right outside my back door a few weeks ago.  I was walking out the door to head off to work, and there it was.  Somehow I think the beauty of it was lost on the chickens and cats.  Everything has been going okay. Our visit with Robert was nice.  I didn't get any pics of us.  He took a couple with a disposable.  I will have to get him to send some in the mail.  We visited the  North Carolina Aquarium  at Pine Knoll Shores.  It's right on the beach near Atlantic Beach.  We really enjoyed that.  That evening we stopped and bought some fresh shrimp and lump crab meat (real deal) and had fried fish and shrimp and crab dip at home.  It was awesome.  Chickens are all doing well.  Something happened to the egg turner and out of 44 eggs we only had one single egg hatch.  How sad is that!!  We were soooo disappointed.  I'm really hoping it's a hen.  I do have a white silkie hen that is finally sitting on eggs.  Her first few eggs she just kicked around.  She won't lay in her little nest box I made.  She just layed them on the ground.  So I put down so straw and put a couple of bricks to make a nest-like place for her.  She ate two of the eggs, and I was afraid she wouldn't sit on the others.  But I think she has seven eggs under her now.  Hopefully they will hatch.  I'd love some fuzzy bottoms.  Still looking for a camera.  Soon, I hope.

Slow to Post

Got a lot going on right now.  But, I do promise...I'll be back in a few days.

Brand Names

Grocery Store I Shop At:  Food Lion (H-E-B if I still lived in Texas)
Car I drive:  Chevrolet Silverado Pick UP Truck
Soft Drink: Dr. Pepper
Fast Food:  Burger King & Taco Bell
Cigarettes: Marlboro Light 100's ( I quit last May, but that was my brand)
Beer: Budweiser Select
Ice Cream:  Breyers Pecan Pralines & Cream
Wal-Mart?:  Only if I absolutely have to
Pizza: Papa John's
Body Soap:  Dove (don't laugh)
Chain Restaraunt: Red Lobster

A Camera, A Visit, and Some Steaks

I have so many things to take pictures of.  I haven't even posted pics of my pigeons!  But I don't presently have a camera.  I so much would like to get one, but there's always something else demanding. I am hoping to visit a pawn shop or two this weekend to look for a used one.  I think it is getting to be a necessity. 

Well, Robert will be arriving tomorrow afternoon.  He's flying directly into Greenville airport, which is nearly halfway between home and work.  Mike is dropping me off at work tomorrow morning.  Then he will be going to pick Robert up at the airport.  He is arriving at two in the afternoon.  I thought that perhaps they might just come straight to pick me up from work.  I'm miss an hour or two, but I could easily make that up on shortened lunch breaks.  I'll decide that this evening and let everyone who needs to know at work tomorrow.  Mike is going today to buy some steaks.  I believe he said the T-bones were on sale, but he knows that my favorite cut of steak is the New York Strip.  I'm not sure why it is called the New york Strip.  But to me it is a lean, tender cut of meat, that certainly is not like the filet mignon.  I don't care for filet, as it is too mealy for me.  I just don't like the texture.  But I do like a tender steak.  Not too tough, not too fatty, and not to gristly.  And I look forward to showing Robert around, showing him the chickens, the pigeons, the 6 week old kittens (anybody want one?), and all the animals.

Chicken Mania!!

Mike has a bunch of eggs in the incubator now.  They are scheduled to hatch next week.  I'm not sure of the date, as I do not know the exact day he put them in there.  I'm sure he has it recorded in his "Bawk Bawk Book" as he calls it.  But this time he used an egg turner that he got from someone else.  I couldn't notice how it was working, but I suppose we will see. It should be interesting because I think there is a variety of eggs from a variety of chickens.  This will be our last batch, too, because all the hens have quit laying altogether.  I will certainly have to get pics of them all when or if they hatch.  They should be hatching while Robert is here.  He will be arriving Friday afternoon.  I know he would enjoy that because I always do, and I've been there a couple of times for it.

Well, I am mainly blogging today to let everyone know that I have found some new chicken friends.  When you are a chicken raiser you cannot have too many chicken raiser friends.  All you guys who have chickens or just enjoy reading about them, I'd like to highly encourage you to check out these sites.  I have added them to my clog roll.

bluffcountrybackyardchickens.blogspot.com
busysolitudefarm.com
plainoldchickens.blogspot.com
completelyquackers.blogspot.com
nowandhen.blogspot.com
thesmallfarm.blogspot.com
itsachickenthing.blogspot.com
dailycoop.blogspot.com
joshsbantams.blogspot.com

Drill Weekend

I had drill this past weekend.  I've only been in the Reserves for eight months now, but I guess that's long enough for the honey moon to be over.  I suppose that would be the case with any job.  After a while the coolness wears off.  But then there are weekends when w totally do cool things.  This past weekend we had little to do.  We did clean our weapons.  We are going next month to Fort Bragg for three days.  We will be staying in the field (tents and cots...eating meal kits)  and going to the firing range.  I'm not sure if I will enjoy that or not.  We were told there are make shift showers available, but I don't know if there will be any hot water.  They are still wanting me to reenlist, as my contract will be up in February.  I extended six months trying to decide.  I am a junior enlisted soldier which means I get all the lousy jobs no one really wants.  But I don't have to be.  I have all the qualifications I need to be an officer.  I am considering going to Officer Candidate School and becoming a lieutenant.  That's obviously not written in stone.  But at this point it is certainly a possibility.  I snapped this pic Sunday afternoon.  I had nothing to do.  I was sitting on a 4K fork truck and saw my reflection  in a convex mirror.  So I snapped a pic in the mirror for fun.  Most of the soldiers in my unit are pretty cool.  We get along pretty well and work well together to get the job done.  We do make a very good team, and are probably the best unit in the battalion.  My time is running out, though.  I suppose I need to make a decision, soon.

Lemonade Award

Thanks to Steven over at Steven's Chickens.  He bestowed upon me this award for making lemonade when life hands you lemons.  These days that's not so easy to do.  I read all these blogs and hear wonderful things, but I also hear about the stresses of life we all go through.  I gotta say, I have been getting my share of stresses, not all of which I share on here.  But in spite of it all I do have plenty to be grateful for. 

I'm grateful for Mike and our little home with all or animals.

I'm grateful for our landlord and his wife for helping us get into this place, and for all the wonderful things they do for us.

I am certainly grateful for my wonderful family who are always there for me when I need them and there to enjoy when I don't need anything.

I am grateful that I have a good job in this awful economy where so many people have lost so much.

I would like to pass this award on to Becca @ A Southern Garden and Berte @ River Bend Farm

Feelin' Better

Feeling a bit better.  I'm still stuffy and have post nasal drip (Yuck!!)  But over all I'm okay.  I am going to my sister's tonight for my niece's birthday party.  She's 9 years old today, but thinks she 16 already.  I went to her soccer game last night.  She is a half back.  She didn't score, but her team won 2-0.  My nephew is a soccer player, too.  He'll be 13 in January.  Boy, they do grow up so fast.  I also have Reserve drill this weekend.  I'm dreading that.  My contract is up in February.  They better come up with a better offer than what they have so far, or I'm calling it quits.  We will have to see.  Everybody have a good weekend, and thanks for the "get well" comments.  Hope you feel better, too, Ames.  See y'all next week.

Under the Weather

I'm sick, and I don't feel like blogging.  Hope all you who are not feeling well are back up to par soon, as I hope I am, too.  My prayers for the folks dealing with earthquakes, tsunamis, and hurricanes.  God bless.