Chickens in the sun

On By stefrobrtsIn chickens4 Comments
 
We’ve had a couple beautiful sunny days! Yesterday I secured the fence to the backyard so Barclay couldn’t squeeze through it anymore, and decided it would be nice to let the chickens out to peck around in the lush grass back there – their chicken pen is looking pretty picked over.
 
So I threw out a few handfuls of scratch and opened the service side of the coop and let them come out through the shed. The roosters were on patrol the whole time. 
I was watching from the other side of the fence, taking pictures. I didn’t want to disturb them, and I didn’t want to get sneak-attacked by a rooster while I was busy looking through the camera 🙂 Then a funny thing happened. Big Blue was watching me closely. Then he waddled down towards the shed and made a funny noise, and the other rooster, Copper, ran down and joined him. They appeared to have a conference, clucking at each other, then Big Blue called the girls and everyone went back to the shed and he took them through the coop and back out to the regular chicken yard! Even though there was still scratch on the ground! I guess he decided the new area was too scary, especially with me hanging around staring! 
Chickens are so amazing!
While I was taking pictures of the chickens this guy kept flitting around. I think it’s some kind of Oriole. I see a lot of them, but he’s the first one I’ve noticed this season. 

Kestrel

On By stefrobrtsIn outdoors1 Comment

I snapped a picture of this kestrel while his head was turned (he was watching out over the field, and when I stepped closer he noticed me and took off). He was sitting at the top of the sequoia down by the paddock.

Last night we got home from grocery shopping at dusk, and I pointed the sliver of a moon out to Dave, and as he turned to look where I was pointing, I looked back at the moon and an owl appeared out of nowhere and slowly soared overhead, heading for the woods behind the neighbor’s barn. So cool to see an owl flying by! I love living out here in the country! Lately we’ve been talking about finding someplace cheaper in town with less land to take care of, but I don’t know that I could live in town again. Not yet anyway.

Around the farm

On By stefrobrtsIn barclay, chickens, food, jack1 Comment
I got up this morning and took the dogs out, and went out to feed the chickens. My big buff rooster looks so much like his dad! (he’s in the back). I threw some scratch down in the coop for the girls.They gave me six eggs in return!

One of the girls was impatient waiting for her scratch while I was filling the feeder and she ran out into the ‘service’ area, and scared Barclay. She had such a determined look as she ran up to him he turned tail and ran!

Then he stole the scoop. He thought this was a sure-fire way to get me to chase him, but he forgot I have two scoops now.

 
We came back in and Jack was in the mood to get rowdy!

Woo hoo! Running through the house!
 
Wheeeeee!
Then it was time for doggie breakfast. And people breakfast.
The other day I made Beef and Bok Choy Hot Pot for dinner, and I made extra so there would be leftovers. It’s like an asian beef soup. So this morning I heated up a small pot of the leftovers, threw in some ramen noodles, and had that for a hearty breakfast – yum!

Then off for another exciting day at work…

Lee the HorseLogger

On By stefrobrtsIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Today Barclay and I were coming back form the dog park, and as I’m driving up the highway towards home, I see ‘road apples’. Although we live in a very ‘horsey’ area, road apples on the highway is still a pretty unusual thing! So as I’m approaching the next light I look ahead and see what appears to be a wagon. I missed my turn so I could keep going and get a closer look…

Yup, a horsedrawn wagon!

Wish I could have gotten a better look, the horses harnesses were pretty impressive.

What an unusual sight to see in our little town! A sign on the back of the wagon indicated to check out this website  Lee the HorseLogger. Apparently he is a simple man, living a simple life and traveling the country in his wagon with his beloved horses and dogs. I’m sure it’s a life of hardship, but a living life your own way has it’s own rewards as well. Good journey to him!

Red bellied Sapsucker

On By stefrobrtsIn outdoors2 Comments
 
This cute little guy showed up in our yard today. The cats were very interested in him as he hopped around the orchard, going from tree to tree, hanging on the trunk and pecking at it. 
 
I took a LOT of pictures of him trying to get a few good ones. He moved a lot and it was already getting dark out so I needed a slow shutter to get enough light, so a lot of the pictures came out blurry. It was also raining on me (and my camera) the whole time. I’m so sick of winter! It was worth it though, I got a few good shots, and the colors look right on. 
 
Cute little bird! I’ve never seen one of these around before!

Chicken update – Penny’s babies

On By stefrobrtsIn chickens, Copper1 Comment
 
Here are my two roos. The buff roo is one of Penny’s chicks, all grown up now and looking quite a bit like his father, Big Bird, except he also has feathered feet and pantaloons! Unlike Big Bird he has been very mellow, stays clear of people and plays second-fiddle to Big Blue.
 

This is his sister, who is the only feather-footed hen I got out of that batch. She is still filling out, but she definitly has the pantaloon thing going on.

Everyone has been doing fine. No sign of the hawk in a couple weeks now. The young hens have recently started laying, and so I pick up 7-9 eggs every couple days. It’s nice to finally have eggs coming in again. I’m kind of looking forward to chick season this year. Although I had planned to just slip feed-store chicks under any broody hens this year so I wouldn’t have to deal with roosters, I’m kind of curious to see what the chicks will look like coming from my buff hens and the blue cochin rooster, so I think I’ll let nature take it’s course and see what we get.

Barclay portraits

On By stefrobrtsIn barclay, pets3 Comments

Barclay came into the office and said ‘if I pose for an awesome picture will you get off your duff and come outside and play with me for a bit?’

I said ‘well..if it’s awesome…’

I love having such photogenic animals around!
These were both taken with him sitting by my computer desk, and the only light in the room was the desk lamp. Better yet, I took them with the point-n-shoot because Dave has my fancy camera at the theater today working on his time lapse project. I can’t believe how nice these came out!
And yes, I did take him outside and play 🙂

Cats

On By stefrobrtsIn mighty, mouse, petsLeave a comment
 Mouse and Mighty.
Even though they are sisters and we bought them to keep each other company, they have decided they HATE each other. Just the other night I let Mouse in, then called Mighty and as she ran up on the deck Mouse ran back outside and tried to run her off! They get in scuffles all the time, which Barclay loves to break up. I don’t know why I happened to get a picture of them standing this close, I’m guessing there was about to be a fight, but since the dogs and I came outside they decided to take it up again later.
After Mouse disappeared I got some nice shots of Mighty: