A Nest Box Giveaway And A Job

Well, I had a nice little visit with my aunt.  Last time I saw her she was in the hospital.  She just had surgery and was a bit out of it.  She just celebrated her 80th birthday!  She looks great for 80, too!  She left Monday to fly to New York to visit friends.

I rounded up the little chicks yesterday evening and put them in cages.  Man, that was hard!  Those things can move!  And they kept running into a little grove of trees half grown with shrubbery.  It took about 45 minutes to catch seven of the buggers.  I caught them because there were nearly 15 or so of them, but they kept disappearing one by one.  I figured predators have had enough of my chickens.  Altogether I have 16 little ones wating to find a home.  NO, make that 19 of them.  I forgot the Black Austrolorps.  Got three of them.  Got an ad in the Bargain Trader coming out tomorrow.  We will see how it goes, I guess.

I've heard nothing on the job.  A friend who works in the CO2 department said they should be contacting me by week's end for an interview.  As of Friday, there were 10 applicants, but my boss sent in another application today.  And I don't know how many more may have applied on line.  I will ceratainly keep you all posted.

AND NOW..... for all you chicken keepers out there!  Pam over at Life On A Southern Farm is giving away a 3-HOLE CHICKEN NEST BOX!!

Ain't she a beaut!!  And she can be yours!  All you have to do is go over to her blog Nest Box Giveaway and post a comment!  You also get extra entries for blogging and tweeting and all that jazz!!  Good luck to all who enter!!

Good Easter Weekend & A Big Thank You

We had a pleasant weekend.  We left Friday morning on the 1 1/2 hour drive to my folks.  Of course, when we got there, my mom said she had to go pick up my sister and her kids who happen to live 10 minutes from me!  If we had known that, we would have picked them up and brought them with us!  But everything worked out anyway.  We swung by my house to pick up my wallet and some eggs for Easter.  Then we went to the mall to meet my other sister who was buying an Easter dress for my niece.  I was not away of this when we left the house.  I certainly would not have gone!!!  You know, when a bunch of women get together to "buy a dress" it's going to be an all day affair....and it was.  You can't buy a dress without buying shoes to go with it.  Then the other women want to have "a look around", and will probably buy something for themselves....and they did.  The best part was dinner at this new Mexican restaraunt.  But we were gone from home for nearly 12 hours!  I could have killed myself!!!  Saturday was pretty uneventful, as my sister who met us at the mall went back home with her kids and my other sister's kids.  But my brother and his wife came over Saturday evening after her family had visited them.  That was a treat cause I got to see Jalyssa, my three month old niece, as well as Austin and Tyler, my nephews.  Sunday the whole gang went to church while Mike and I worked on dinner and getting the house ready.  We had a big dinner of baked ham, potato salad, baked beans, deviled eggs, and more.  Then we had an egg hunt for the kids.  Last year, as a joke, we put some dog food in plastic eggs.  The kids thought it was so funny and my four year old nephew said," B member the eggs with dog food, Grandma?"  So we did it again this year.  Then we headed home Sunday evening with my oldest nephew who I have to take to meet his dad tonight.

I gotta send out a big thank you to several blogger friends.  First, I don't think I ever gave Amy a proper thanks for the things she sent to me.  I don't have any pics.  But she sent me some delicious Buttons chocolate candy, adorable "salt and pepper pots" with a rooster and hen on them, and a Union Jack, who sits upon my television.  Thank you so much, Amy over @ http://www.bubble-bubblesblog.blogspot.com/

Thank you very much Susan for the wonderful gifts I won in your giveaway, too.  I got them in the mail yesterday!  I got a white dream catcher, a shamrock amulet, and an angel in a heart!  I'll try to post pics later.  I'm pretty busy this week with work and other stuff.  But, thank you so very much!! http://www.troubleink-craftycrafts.blogspot.com/

Then I gotta thank Joanna.  I'm not sure who gave her my address.  It may have been me.  I can't remember.  But I know I sent her package from work and used my work address.  Maybe I put it in a note?  Maybe someone else gave it to her.  However she got it, thank you, Joanna, for my sign!  She sent me an ASU-Applachian State University sign.  I had a friend from high school that went to ASU.  But I haven't spoken to him since then.  But thank you, Joanna. http://www.boonedockswilcox.blogspot.com/

Have a great day, everyone!

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!!

1st Runner Up Still Wins!!

I really had no doubt that Joanna was going to claim her prize.  My few followers are pretty faithful followers.  They don't all comment on every post, but I suspect they are like me.  I try to read every blog in my side bar and every post they post.  Yeah, I miss one or two occasionally.  But I still try to read them.  But I don't comment on every one I read.  I mean, that's a lot of daily reading, and I enjoy it, but I don't think I'd have the time to comment on every one as well.  And so, Joanna did pop in and claim what was rightfully hers.

Now, here is the strange part.  I picked a runner up for a "just-in-case" moment.  Let's face it, that happens!  But since Joanna claimed her prize and the runner up got stuck out, I've decided to offer a prize to the runner up anyway.  I don't know what it is yet, and I'm not sending it right away.  I've decided that when I reach 50 followers (and I'm only TWO away!) then I will send a parcel to the runner up.  But I'm not sure everyone would believe who the runner up is!  I honestly couldn't believe it.  Really, I couldn't!  This person made it clear that he never wins.  And he was quite upset that he didn't win this time, either.  But, strangely enough, I reached in that bowl yesterday, pulled out a second name, and there it was.  John @ Going Gently was my runner up.  So, if he wants a rush on his prize, whatever it may be, he'd be wise to convince a couple of people to follow my little blog!  No lie!  He really was the second name I pulled!  So, a big congrats to John and Joanna!

The clouds over our house...just a pic for fun!

The Envelope Please...

Wow.  This was tough.  I was going to be completely fair about this.  I didn't want anyone to have an unfair advantage.  Is there a fair advantage?  I think that may be so.  But I still wasn't sure how to calculate that.  I was going to get Mike to pull the winner yesterday, but some things came up.  We didn't even eat dinner till 10:30 p.m. and it was leftovers.  It wasn't our fault.  But the details are boring, and I should focus on the giveaway.  So, I jotted down each person who was entering and their respective blogs on small pieces of paper.  I double folded each piece of paper and placed them in a bowl.  Then with out looking in the bowl I reached out and withdrew a single piece of paper.  I didn't want to look because the small papers weren't cut squarely, and I was afraid I might recognize the shape of one.  That might skew the results.  Insanity, I'm sure.  You're probably laughing at me right now.  You're probably saying that I'm getting too scientific.  No, you're probably saying that I need to just announce the winner and quit with all this mumbo jumbo.  I say you are right.  So without further ado, let me introduce you to my 100th Post Giveaway Winner:

Ladies and Gentlemen, say hello to...

JOANNA

http://boonedockswilcox.blogspot.com/

Thank you to each and everyone of you who read my blog and leave comments.  I never thought I'd have this many followers or have as many as 43 countries visit me.  Of course, I'm sure some of those were google searches looking for something else.  But I got the exposure anyway!  Maybe it won't be so far off before I can do another one!  See y'all around in blogland!

~Randy

Chicken Out!

I haven't done a chicken post in a while.  Shame on me for that.  So, I am going to try and make up for it today.  It was such a lovely weekend.  Saturday was a bit cool, but great weather.  Sunday, I was wearing a t-shirt and chillin' in the sun!  Of course, when we have days like this Mike and I spend it outdoors.  Even if there is nothing to do, we still go outside and find little projects to do.  This past weekend was no exception.  The chickens got to spend a bit of time out of the coop, as well.  I only took a few pics when they were still inside, though.  But they were getting a good bit of sun there, too.

Mike's been buying crumbles instead of pellets because we get a better price.  I throw out a few handfuls for them to scratch for, but I put the bulk of it in this feeding trough someone gave us.  It works great, but they climb on top of each other to get to the feed.

This is Little Chicken, the first chicken we ever hatched.  He's come of age and has been in with the hens.  But he's gotten mean since we took those four other young roosters out.  And since these eggs are for eating only, he got removed this weekend.

The big breasted gal in the box is one of my first.  She was full grown when we got her last February, so I don't know how old she is.  She's really a broiler, so we're not getting any eggs from these girls as of yet.  They may get the chop-chop this year.  The red headed girl is from one of the broilers and the RI Red rooster.  She was hatched early last summer, so she should start laying soon.  These girls don't have names yet.  The white stuff is lime powder.  We cleaned the "stuff" off the next boxes and sprinkled the lime to cut down on the smell.  It ain't bad, but we don't want it to get that way, either.

Dana is our sorta pet chicken.  She's got an enlarged left foot, and as far as I know, she's not layed an egg for us.  She walks with a limp and always gives me a laugh when she tries to run.  It's the funniest sight!

This was Stripey Cat's first encounter with a chicken.  He plays out back behind the coop in the small grove of pines, but he rarely pays any attention to the birds.  He just sniffed a few times then sprinted across the yard.  His attention span is still about 15 seconds cause he's so young still.  Heading out to my parent's this weekend.  Haven't been out there since the new year.  I'm sure I'll get scolded.

Today is the last day to get in on the give away!  Leave a comment, make sure I have a way to get up with you!  I'll announce tomorrow who the winner is!  Stay tuned in!

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). 

Are You Kidding Me?!

This is what I woke up to this morning!  That stupid weather man said rain yesterday, turning to snow last night, then back to rain by this morning!  Well, we got plenty of wind and rain yesterday, and there were a few tiny flurries when I went to bed.  WITN-TV here in Greenville said we would get a trace to one inch.  We got about three inches!  Everything is covered in white!  (This pic is from the last snow, but it pretty much looks the same).  I thought I'd wake up to a few slushy spots, as the rain would have melted most of it, but no way!  Roads to work weren't too bad as temps are hovering above freezing and rising.  Slush in most places.  But I am done with the snow!  We are expecting temps to be up to 66F by Sunday.  That's what I'm talking about.  PLEASE!  I'm begging now!

I didn't eat dinner last night.  It wasn't because of what Mike cooked.  I wasn't surprised when he told me.  He's been talking about it for a week now.  I had just gotten quite nauseous.  I felt like vomiting...but I didn't.  Mike killed and cleaned those four RI Red/Buff mixed roosters.  They were only doing some minor sparring (no blood) and never messed with Little Chicken, who is twice their size.  They were only six months old.  They were, however, tormenting the hens with their raging hormones.  And without any eggs, fertile or unfertile, they were just using up valuable food.  So they got cleaned and put on the grill last night for dinner.  I will have to try them for leftovers this evening.  I've never eaten any of my own chickens.  So I'll see how they taste.  I still have a white silkie rooster that needs a new home.  Maybe I'll put him in the Bragain Trader to see if I can find a good home for him.  I actually have two white silkie roosters to go, but I haven't decided on one yet.  He's with a mixed bantam hen.  I'm trying to get her to sit on eggs.  She's got 8 or 9 now, so we will see.

I still haven't figured out the giveaway yet.  Not feeling well last night, I was just laying on the couch all evening.  But I promise that it's coming this week.

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

Giveaway-Life on a Southern Farm

Pam over at Life on a Southern Farm has a wonderful surprise!  They make hen nest boxes to sell and have sold over 400 this year!  To celebrate, they are giving away two, yes that's two, nest boxes!  To enter all you have to do is go to her blog and leave a comment to the post! If you Blog, Twitter, or Facebook about it, it counts for extra entries!  Check it out!  See my side bar for a like to the web site!  Just click on the picture of the nest boxes!  http://www.georgiafarmwoman.blogspot.com/