Daily observations of my simple life.

April

It's been awhile since I have been here to post. I was so uptight about taxes and once they were done I sat laconically on the front porch feeling such relief. Sigh.

Life on the farm continues with steady work. Weeding, caring for the animals, putting up a new back porch. It's all a work in progress. When my grandsons were here I moved the chicks from the bathtub to the garage, still under light. Once they were a month old, slightly older, I moved them over a period of three days to the chicken house. I then had to come to terms with the barred rocks , four of them, that I had bought from the local feed store. They told me they were pullets, ah hah, 4 roosters who loved harassing the chicks. They are finally in their own house with the chicks pen extending their yard. Once my little pullets are big enough I will keep one or two of the roosters. My neighbor gave me another little hen from my first batch of chickens , a grand daughter. I named her waterfall because her feathers cascade down white with black tips like a waterfall. She lays the most beautiful aqua green eggs like clear water. The chicks love going out in the horse corrals to scratch and eat. They are a pretty sight, the fluffy little silkies, the grey and red larger breeds, there's a little arracana that runs out into the horse corral whenever I am out cleaning and raking. It runs in like it's saying "I'll help" , so cute.

Luchia is now setting on 4 eggs and I'm so hoping she will be coming out of the brush with some young ones about the 18th of May. I keep water and food close by her nest. She gave me a scare when she flew on the neighbors roof. I was so afraid she was going to run away but no she was just looking for a nest. Carlos is still no where to be seen. I have fliers up but no responces.

This month I let Cheriki out for several days to roam my fenced 4 acres. After two days I also let Sage out now they pen together at night and follow me around when I'm working outdoors. The other morning I sat on the porch eating my breakfast and Sage was on one side of me and Cheriki was on the other. What pets they've become.

The weather has been stormy. Last week we had a real lightning storm . I was worried about Cheriki and Sage as it appeared to strike right in my back pasture. My printer is now dead. We are supposed to have another storm go through this next few days.

Dave from the mountains has called me a couple times this last week. Guess I'm going to have to make a trip to the mountains. He's talking about buying a sailboat for two.  Grin. Lake havasu?  Or ocean front property in Arizona?

Posted by: cactusandquail at 03:01 | link | comments (3)

Gale Winds and Breezes:

I woke up sad this morning, thinking Luchia had left. I lost Carlos last week on an afternoon when we had gone into town to get supplies. He is in full feather and quit gorgeous. On the way home we had observed a car that seemed to be parked quit close to my property but as we drove up it drove away. A Thief?  I didn't notice Carlos was gone till evening when I fed and he was clearly absent. I have signs up and flyers at the feed store. There was no sign of struggle, no feathers on the ground, he could have wandered off but never has before. Carlos walked with a limp and his train was at least two feet long. He did not fly due to the weight of his train and there could be no fast get away. Walking was even burdensome for him and if a coyote had gotten him, as sugested by the feed store guy, there is little chance the coyote could have gotten away without tearing off feathers. I'm opting for a thief, a jewel of a bird seen as an easy snatch.

Luchia has been sad for her companion. Carlos is the peacock and Luchia the peahen, in case you are a new reader. I have gone after her several times as she goes off toward a faint peacock call in the morning. I recognize it as a distant neighbor who has peacocks. Yesterday was windy, very windy, like gale winds and I stayed in most of the day. At sunset I went out to feed and there was no Luchia and her place on the garage roof was empty. This morning I had an empty feeling inside, thinking my beautiful birds to be gone, when Luchia walked past my window. I thanked her for coming home. She has been wandering into the garage and watching the chicks and into the hen house looking at the eggs in the nest. Maybe she is about to set on her own nest, that would be exciting.

I had my morning coffee on the front porch after feeding. It's breezy but warm. As I gazed out across the field this cute little cotton tail rabbit, a baby, came out from behind the garage, heading for the feed. I saw the pink ears two mornings ago and assumed it would be a jack rabbit. I have never seen a cotton tail on this side of the valley. I am especially fond of cotton tails so I am just amazed that I have a baby living here behind my garage. I can't help but wonder if the grandsons didn't catch it in the mountains and turn it loose before they left. Last year they caught a baby cotton tail in the mountains, they are abundant there.

Spring is here, I'm watching my trees leaf out. So wonderful to see the trees made it through winter. Only one casualty and that is a palo verde, too much rain I guess. I'm contemplating my tree purchase this Spring. What kind of trees shall I get?  And where will I plant them?

There is an ad in the Dollar Saver about a goat with milk and one that is soon to give birth. I'm contemplating making a trade for my goat for one now milking. Another chore to take care of but I have wanted goats milk for cheese, so today I will call and perhaps go there to see about it. Spring is full of new life and gorgeous flowers, breezes and gale winds. Adjusting seasons.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 16:52 | link | comments (5)

New Tales to tell:

My grandsons have been here and gone. It was an adventurous week. I have tales to tell, which I will.

Today is cool and breezy, too cool and breezy to be out weeding. Last night on the news they said it would warm up today. Wrong! I have to go get some hay today so will come back and post. Just wanted to say Hi.

Two of my little hens are now laying. One a beautiful green and one a beautiful rosey brown. Such lovely eggs. I'm going to start leaving them in the nest for a week and see if one of the hens will set. The other chicks are growing and I hope in another week or so I will be able to make a  place outdoors for them. I named the hens and rooster my neighbor gave me from my original chickens. The rooster, one of my chicks she gave back is Mr. Spice. The white and black hen is Salty, the black hen is Pepper and the red hen is Chili.  Salty lays green eggs , Pepper lays deep rosey brown eggs and Chili is not laying yet, as well as my barred rocks.

I got some photo's on CD's so hopefully soon I will get some pictures up.  More later.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 20:01 | link | comments (2)