Daily observations of my simple life.

June:

The red moon, full and round slides down behind the west mountains as the red sun slides up over the east mountains. The day begins as bunnies play across the field and birds sing and scatter for food. I crawl out of my outdoor bed and head out to the corrals to feed and let the chickens out of their safe house. Beside my porch Luchia and her chicks fluff and flap their wings in early morning exercise in the pen I have set up for them. I'm hoping they will grow used to me again after a month out running loose.  It took a little cunning to catch them but now I feel secure knowing they are home, not at the neighbors. They are staying out of their house when I come out on the porch now and observing me. The chicks, one white and one speckled brown, I wonder what they are boys, girls or both.

The day promises to be another scorcher. Yesterday was sooo -- odd. It started hot and dry but by afternoon the wind came up and clouds gathered. In the morning I went for the mail at the post office and when I came out found I had a flat tire. I headed toward the air pump while some guy screamed at me over and over my tire was flat. Shhzzzz. annoying. I filled up with air and headed home hoping to make it before going flat again. I did. Staying indoors I waited for the waterman and the fed ex man . Once the fed ex man  came I had to fill out some papers and head out to either fax or fed ex. The fed ex office closed early, annoyed to be out in such smothering heat I headed for the truck stop to fax the papers. On the way my motorhome acted weird but I made it to the truck stop and went in to fax the papers. Well, after several tries they weren't able to reach the number so exasperated I went out in huge raindrops coming down in buckets. I was soaked by the time I got in my motorhome. I started up and headed out when my motorhome stalled. Don't stall in a truckstop exit!. I was able to pull to the side and turn on the flashing lights. On the cell phone I waited for 45 minutes listening to recordings telling me I was important to them please stay on the line. I finally reached a voice and she told me a number to call for road service. Once I got a voice after waiting a long time again, I was told they couldn't set me up with towing it had to be set up by the first person I talked to. Boy was I exasperated . This went on for hours. I left home at 3:30p.m. and reached home again having my motorhome towed home, at 8 that evening. That's what I call, "having a bad car day". 

It seemed that everytime I had to get out of the car it would begin to pour down rain. Finally, I went to bed in the storm , on the porch with lightning and thunder. The pine trees blowing in the wind gave me the sense of sleeping in the mountains. I love sleeping outdoors.

Earlier this week I planted two fruiting olive trees and an apricot and red plum. I bought a bunch of trees at half price so more trees will be planted. I felt proud when the tow truch driver drove in my drive. I could see he was pleasantly surprised at my little ranch. It's started to look respectable.

Early this month I had to go to California for graduations and a funeral. I was gone for 5 days. When I got home 29 of my little pullets were gone along with Mr Spice, Chili, Salty, and Pepper. Waterfall was still here and 9 little pullets left. Waterfall has made herself a pet , hanging out with me on the porch. I find it hard to believe that a critter got them as there were no feathers except a few in the hen house. I'm suspicious of a neighbor who knew I was away and knew the comings and goings of my daughter. She is vengeful when  I took in one of her people who she threw out on the street after she became jealous because he did some work for me. He and his girlfriend lived here in my camper for three weeks till  they could find a place. I also payed him for work he did. She called them her slaves and expected them to work for nothing dispite their paying her $600 a month.   She knows how much I love my chickens .  I was very sad for quit awhile. I gathered up all the fresh eggs and went to town and bought an incubator. Hopefully, I will have some of  Mr Spices chicks by the 4th -6th of July. Time will tell. What a mystery, what a sadness. Course it could be someone who drives by day after day and could observe that I was gone. Sigh. Now that I am home no more chickens have disapeared.

Sage and Cheriki are in their corral now as they were starting to eat my trees and do too much damage. Last week the back pasture fence got started so it is a work in progress. There is lots of feed back there and hopefully in a month or so it will be ready and they can be out there. I met a horsetrainer when I was at the feed store getting the incubator. He said he would come out and do an evaluation and t hen  train me and work with me on training Sage and Cheriki to lead and pack.  His price will be $25 an hour. I figure one hour every two weeks or so won't break me and I will make more progress.

Summer is here, early morning and evenings are my time of day, then I hole up to stay cool , sometimes napping in the afternoon.

Sorry to all of you I have not been on line much and have not answered your comments. Seems like I haven't had much time but now that it's hot I will be doing more computer time.

Posted by: cactusandquail at 14:53 | link | comments (4)

Comments:

#1  23 June 2005 - 18:11

 

I look forward to your posts even if they are only monthly. I'd sure get a lot more done if I only posted once a month. It's something to think about.

Sorry to hear about your chicks. We had a dog stolen once, and I could never understand how anyone could do that.

InMyLife

#2  25 June 2005 - 01:51

 

Your posts are so beautifully painted that I don't mind waiting for them! But I do admit the smile that comes when I see you've visited again.

I would love to sleep outside on a porch like that... I'm not sure why I've never done it.

Ladyinthemoon

#3  30 June 2005 - 03:30

 

I realize that a ranch must be hard work, but it sounds like a nice break from Waikiki. I've been thinking about the desert lately, don't know why. Sorry about the pullets.

alohalani

#4  14 December 2005 - 17:52

 

And I am wondering what happened to you. Did the person who got your pullets get you too? I suppose only your daughter knows what happened to you since June 30.The last I heard you had a blabbermouth nervous car mechanic at your house and then we never heard from you again.
susanaldridge2000@yahoo.de in germany

Anonymous

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