Missin' Y'all

So I haven't been able to blog for a few months.  I'm still alive and kicking.  I don't have a computer now, thus no internet.  Well, I do have internet on my phone, but I can't post on my blog. It just takes up too much memory and keeps timing out.  I do get to view my blog, though.  So I have seen everyone's comments.  I was just laughing, wondering how many blog rolls I've been deleted from.  Things are going pretty well.  Driving the truck is alright.  If I had to choose between the truck and the office, I'd pick the office any day.  It was more predictable.  It was pretty much 8-5 Monday through Friday.  On the truck I may work late evenings or sometimes on weekends.  But the pay was better on the truck.  Of course, we still have chickens....and pigeons....and cats.  And of course we still have Max and Minnine, our two little dogs.  Mike is doing well.  He's at home this weekend while I'm at my parents.  I came to my nephews birthday party.  He stayed home because he was working yesterday.  I'm on my mom's computer updating to let you all know I'm good!  I'm on Facebook if anyone wants to be my friend.  I'm listed as Randy Peterson Jr.  I have two accounts with the same name because I wasn't able to get into my old account.  It's still there, but just won't let me log in.  I'll try again and if I get in I'll just delete the old account.

We had a  lovely holiday.  Christmas and New Years were spent with my family.  We had snow on a couple of occasions.  And we're expecting more snow this week.  I could do without the snow....and the cold.  I just don't like the cold weather.  I'm thinking of buying a winter home in the Carribbean or maybe Central America.  Perhaps Costa Rica.  I'd love to spend some time in the Rain Forest. 

Anyway, just wanted to let you all know we're good.  If you can't find me on FB, check with Tracey.  I'm frieds with her and Amy and Anna and Kim and Joanna and others.  See y'all around!!

Much Ado About Nothing

That's pretty much what I have to share.  I've been my normal busy person, but nothing really worth mentioning.  I'm still camera-less.  But there really hasn't been much to photograph lately.  I did go play a round of golf the other day with my cousin.  It was only the second round of golf I've ever played in my  life.  I shot a 119.  If you know nothing of golf, then know that that is one horrible score.  If you are familiar with the sport, however, then that's quite an improvement from my original score of 135!  I have an outdated Game Cube that I play Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006 on.  I LOVE that game.  I have played it so much that I am now a better golfer than Tiger Woods, and I have more money than him!  What a fantasy!

It was an uneventful Labor Day weekend.  We did nothing special.  Spent time around the house.  Messed with the chickens.  I have some half grown pullets that I want to put in with the egg layers.  Mike has been buthering some of the older hens, so I am trying to replace them.  But I know I can't just throw them in, as the other hens will peck them half to death.  So I have a small coop set us adjacent to the larger one.  That way they become familiar with each other.  It worked before, so I'm giving it another go.  I also have some small bitties that were getting too big for the little coop I had them in, so I moved them to a bigger one.  My cousin, who works on the fishing boats, has been staying with us, as well.  They haven't been fishing the last two weeks, so he's been staying with us, just chilling out.  It's just been a weekend of visiting and resting.

No news on the job.  They advertise jobs for 10 days, and September 10th will be the last day.  So I may know by the end of the week, or it may be the first of next week.  I will certainly let you know, though.

I made my blog rounds.  I didn't comment of everyone, but I did read.  What a conglomeration of posts!  When you think of each post as a whole, it's quite funny to think of it all.  I read of hair, illness, loneliness, luggage, regrets, hibiscus flowers, getting back to artsy-ness, regrets, home buying, and so much more.  Altogether I think it would make a fabulous book!  Have a great week everyone!

The Final Countdown

My feelings are hurt.  Was it something I said?  Did I do something wrong?  I lost a follower over the weekend.  I had 62 on Friday, and today I am at 61 followers.  Okay, I know I haven't been posting as frequently as I should.  And certainly not as frequently as a good reader would like.  And I apologize for that.  I don't always post about chickens, but my life isn't just chickens.  I love my chickens.  I enjoy raising them.  They are a lot of fun.  In fact, two of my hens hatched out their littles broods yesterday.  And lately, I haven't had any good pics.  I, too, apologize for that.  I've been without camera for a few weeks.  I should have that remedied in another week or two.  With all that being said, I can see how my blog may have become boring.  I am sorry, and I hope you will come back.

Now, I have questions about being followed and following protocall.  Sixty-one blogs is a lot to keep up with.  I do try, however hard it may be.  No, I don't just read the chicken blogs.  Okay, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't have favs to read, but I still enjoy all of the blogs I read.  Really, truly, and honestly, I do.  I don't just read other chicken blogs.  I read plant blogs, life blogs, garden blogs, local blogs, national blogs, international blogs.  In fact, I have tried to follow every blog that follows me.  It seems like the right thing to do.  Wouldn't it be rude otherwise?  Are you required to follow everyone who follows you?  But I have seen blogs with 200, 300, or even over 1,000 followers!  Not that I expect to have that many followers, but if I did, there's no way I could keep up with all of them.  I did make a list over at dobbies.com .  I am on the list of More Chicken Keeping Blogs We Love.  Some of my followers and ones I follow are on that list, too!  I think that is sooo cool!  Congrats to you if you made the list!  But I am sorry if I cause any of you to lose interest, get bored, or just tired of my ramblings.  I hope that over the next weeks or so that may change.

Work has kept me busy, as usual.  Sure there are good days and bad days.  Anyone who never has a bad day at work is disillusioned.  Even people who land dream jobs, like pro athletes, singing and movie stars, and CEO's still have bad days at work.  You think the CEO of BP isn't having any bad days lately?  But overall, I do enjoy my job.  And I am aspiring to upper management.  Yeah, I have goals.  I'd be a fool not to have them.  But starting today, I got my first raise in three years.  Between getting bought out and facing a bad economy we just got passed by.  No, it's not like my salary doubled or anything.  But these days you take what you can get!  I'm sure most of you know what I mean!

The weather has been AWFUL!!  I do love my summertime.  Our temps have been in the upper 90's F. (98F today) And that I can deal with....at least until I get older.  But we haven't gotten any rain.  And we really need it bad.  My squash is all gone.  I'm trying to save my butternut squash, but it's an up hill battle.  So far so good with my watermelons and tomatoes.  The corn is curled and the canteloupes and cucumbers and wilted.  I try to keep water on the maters and melons, hoping I can at least have a melon or two to take to the beach next week.  My Impatiens, Zinnias, and Morning Glories are well watered, but still wilt in the day with it being so hot.  Just send me some rain.  Poor Farmer.  He's hurt his back and is laid out flat.  His grandson and wife have been working the field and taking all the veggies to market.  But Dustin says they will probably have to till in most of what's left.  RAIN!!!!

I will post later this week on the chickens!  Have a great day everyone!  I am on the final countdown till vacation! 

What Do You Say?

My birthday came and went.  And another week is gone.  Nothing special is happening.  My dad had an appointment at the VA clinic this morning about his leg.  Mike was supposed to watch my nephews and nieces, as they were staying with Grandma and Buddy.  I haven't talked to any of them yet.  I'm sure the kids went straight for the pool when they got there.  William, our inside sales guy, and a friend, helped me process vendor invoices yesterday.  We processed over $46,000.00 total.  I'm hoping that's a good sign that we're having a good fiscal month. 

The garden is coming along.  I've already been picking squash, bush green beans, and cucumbers.  I've got a few watermelons that are about baseball sized right now.  Some of my corn is just starting to tassel out.  I'm hoping to get some canteloupes, and I've got butternut squash growing this year.  I've never grown that before.  My okra all died, except 3 plants, and they are still only about 6 inches tall.  My sweet potatoes are vining like crazy, but I've never grown them before, either. 

I'v visited a few other blogs, and it seems all are busy.  Some are going away, some need to go away (as in a trip, I mean).  Some are like me, with bloggers block. What do you say, when you don't know what to say? 

Mike's picking my up in a couple of hours, and we're going to my parent's again for the weekend.  It seems to be the gathering spot for family.  So, with that being said, I'll leave you with a good ENDING for the week while I spend the weekend searching for new blog ideas.  Have a good weekend!!

Renee @ Of Lemons And Honey

If you have not been by to see Renee lately or even at all you should go see her now.  She is an amazing woman with a fantastic story to tell.  Here is a sampling. When I read this, I was wondering if it was a real story.  If so, was it her story?  Well she says it is!  It's a real nail biter!  She has started a "book" and has gotten me hooked.  And if you are like me, you want to know....the rest of the story.  Visit Renee any time at her blog http://www.oflemonsandhoney.blogspot.com/

Giveaway At Trouble Ink Crafty Crafts

Susan at TICC is doing a GIVEAWAY, as well!  It's giveaway fever!  She is giving away a dream catcher from her etsy shop and a clover amulet from her brother's etsy shop!  They have some pretty cool things!  You should check them out, and maybe even enter in the giveaway! (Not!)  Seriously, though, do read their blogs!  You can find Susan at: TICC
You can find her brother at: Whispering Woods

I was looking through their etsy shops and found some things that are pretty cool!

Here's one of her dream catchers;

Here's a beautiful box he made!

Go check them out!  TICC and Whispering Woods!!

100th Post Giveaway!!

Earlier this week I posted my 100th post!  That was just the coolest thing, as at one point I was considering discontinuing my blog.  Back then I only had 20ish followers and it seemed I had little to say.  Since then I have been posting about all this and that and I am pushing 50 followers!  I want to thank everyone who has found my nonsense at least a little readable and somewhat entertaining.  I wish I could send something to everyone of you!  But, unfortunately, I cannot.  Good news, though!  I am going to give everyone a chance to enter to receive a gift package!!!  I don't have pics, yet.  I'll get them posted by early next week.  BUT...
I can say that there will be a book, passed on to me by Missy over at Little Messy Missy.  If you have a chance, go check her out!  It will also include a jar of Mike's homemade Salsa!  The best salsa you can get east of the Mississippi!  There will be some other stuff that I'll share later!  But, today is your first chance to enter!  Just leave a comment with your name and blog address (or e-mail if you don't have your own blog). 

100th Post Giveaway!!

Everyone has been doing giveaways.  And I have even been fortunate enough to be on the receiving end....which I am very grateful for.  I have been wanting to do a giveaway of my own, but I didn't know what reason to give.  Well, now I have one!  Yesterday's post was my 100th post!  How cool is that?!  So I am going to do a giveaway!  What am I giving away, you say?  That's a very good question.  Cause I haven't a clue!  But, I am going to spend the next couple of days thinking about it, try to come up with something really cool, then post about it later!  Keep tuned in this week!  Tell your friends (Or don't if you want better chances at winning, I guess)!  But later this week I'll post what I'll be giving and what you can do to enter!  Thanks for reading my blog, friends.

~Randy

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Well, everyone has made it clear I cannot go.  I wasn't leaving permanently.  I was just gonna stop blogging, but keep reading.  However, no one seems to want me to do that.  I was going to post some pics on Black Kitty (that's what Mike named him) but for some odd reason my pics will not post today.  Pics I take with my camera take a long time to load normally, anyway.  So instead I am going to share a pic I borrowed from someone else.  I am also going to share a poem by one of my favourite poets, Robert Frost.  When I die I want his poem The Road Not Taken engraved on my head stone.  If there is one thing I have learned in my short 33 years  on this spinning ball of dirt and water is that chances are worth taking.  I have lost many, but that is because I have loved many.  And I regret none of it.  I am thankful for every single person who has entered into my life.  Some I have known for a lifetime, some for only a few short moments.  But all have touched my life in some sort of way and changed me ever so subtly.  And I am glad for that.  Thank you to each and every one of you who have blessed me by simply reading my ramblings.  I am sure I will post again before the fat man slides down the chimneys, but Merry Christmas y'all!!

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village, though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

-Robert Frost

New Blogger

If y'all get a chance, check out a new blogger.  He's also new to chickens from what I can tell.  But he could use a few followers. http://thebackyardchikenfarmer.blogspot.com/

Dude?!

Maybe this seems a bit wierd.  Maybe I'm just plain wrong.  I thought we were living in a different day and age.  I guess maybe guys just don't blog about chickens or the such.  I have nothing against girls.  I like girls.  I think they are wonderful!!  There are plenty of guys that blog.  And I know plenty of guys that keep chickens.  But I suppose guys just don't blog about chickens.  I was looking at my blog with my large number of six followers, and I thought to myself..."Gee, I'd like to have more followers than that!"  So I started checking out other blogs (cause you gotta follow if ya wanna be followed).  I noticed that there is a minimal amount of male bloggers that are blogging about chickens.  I suppose I don't have to be followed by  chicken bloggers, though.  I haven't thought this through.  I'm typing as I'm thinking.  But if you are a guy that has chickens (they are really amazing creatures) wouldn't you want to blog about them?  I did find Duncan_2009 who has started a new blog.  He hasn't gotten his chickens yet, but when he does, he'll have lots of fun, I'm sure.  Maybe I'm the wierd one here.  Who's to say what's really normal?  I have five buff and Rhode Island Red mixed chicks.  I put them in a pen by themselves and the kept getting out.  So I just let them run around.  But I had been touching them and hand feeding them for the first few weeks.  Now they run up to me everyday just to eat out of my hand.  It's the coolest thing.  During the day the hide out in the field behind the house.  (I'm afraid a snake might get them, actually)  But I go out into the field and listen for peeps.  Then I make kissing noises, and they come running.  That's why I blog about chickens.  Aren't there any guys out there ( I haven't forgotten about you John) that enjoys blogging about chickens?  Again, I am just thinking out in writing, but I was certainly curious.