What to do.....What not to do.

 My grandson Wyatt enjoying a "safe" look at the girls.

   NOT so safe! 
   Chickens will investigate everything!
  And they do this by pecking. Ouch!

Obviously I was Mistaken......

    There has been a new development in the egg laying around here. Its definitely NOT business as usual for my chickens.
    Here is Reuben the Rooster. Or so I thought. Looks kind of like one, doesn't he? Slim built and smallest of the four. Attitude up the wahzoo!! Wasn't laying eggs. Yep, thats a rooster.

   Turns out Reuben laid the egg on the left in this photo. Its the third one that looks like that. So I'm assuming "he" laid all three. I actually saw him lay this one.   All three eggs are noticeably  larger than the others, a different shape and have a strange texture to the shells. 
  So you never know what Life is going to bring your way!!

   As another size comparison, here is Helga/Hank. No eggs from this one either. But notice the big, fat hen shape. Hester is almost as big! Hermoine is on the daintier side... but still bigger than Reuben.
   What a bunch!!!
  

Blossom is Having a Great Week!

   Blossom has really been enjoying herself this week. Just a quiet time at home. BUT the weather has been warm and clear (until this morning!), the breezes have been blowing, there are LOTS of birds flying around....and best of all... the squirrels are REALLY FRISKY! Few things beat chasing the squirrels along the fence. Or watching them rip-and-race around the tree limbs. It seems to be the equivalent of a doggie amusement park for my three canines. And I swear the squirrels enjoy teasing the dogs too. So its a win-win situation.
   Except for Rory, who got whacked in the eye by Blossom's tail right before I took the photo! Kinda' looks like shes winking at the camera. Yep, lets roll with that. It sounds so much better.

What Beautiful Eyes You Have!

   Found this photo of Ellsbeth. Such a pretty face! And her eyes are simply gorgeous. The picture doesn't do them justice. They have the most beautiful "marbled" pattern in them.....sadly it didn't show up.  I'll just HAVE to include this in one of the drawings. 

Buggy Wheat and a Thoughtful Neighbor.

   My neighbor Matt is one of those cool guys that does things like grind his own flour for the bread he bakes. And I'll add that he takes the time to try and find the NON-GMO grain. Very cool!  Anyway, the other day I received an email from him stating that he had found bugs in some of his wheat and did I think my "girls" might like it? Would they EVER!!!  So he came over with half a bucket full. They've been in buggly wuggly heaven ever since. "Buggy wheat is good to eat!" chuckle
   Tried to photograph them dining, but they are SO NOSEY. Every time I paused with the camera they came running over. Probably hoping I had more goodies!
   They'll be three years old this Spring. When I got them as pullet chicks I named them Hester, Hermoine, Helga and Rosetta. The first two grew into nice hens. The other two sort of "switched" on me. I now call Rosetta by the name Reuben. He even looks like a little rooster. Darn sure acts like one! Helga is most often referred to as Helga/Hank. Looks like a BIG hen, acts kind of like a rooster, never was much for laying eggs, stopped laying at a year of age. Go figure.... chickens do the weirdest things!   But they're SO GREAT to have around.  I'll expound later on that subject.  
   Oh, by the way, the "girls" are Buff Orpingtons.

Watchdog Ahulee.

Yep, hes watching all right. Hes watching the back fence, hoping our neighbor John will pop his face over the top and offer him a treat! Its the intensity of his gaze that I get the biggest kick out of. That is one ALERT watchdog! He is NOT about to let a doggie biscuit sneak past. Not on his "watch".

Why did I "rescue" a cactus?

   I know this photo isn't in focus, but I was perched rather precariously on top of a ladder at the time. I wasn't going to be picky.
   What I'm trying to show is what I saw growing in my rain gutter the other day. Don't know how long it had been up there. Obviously for a while. But that is not a good place for any plant to grow. Including a cactus. I'm not a huge fan of this type of plant. I admire them for all their fascinating qualities, but I don't really enjoy trying to maneuver around their thorns.  Thats why I'm trying to figure out why I felt so compelled to "rescue" this little one.
    I've been trying to be more conscious of trying to see the sacredness in all things. Or perhaps the tenacity of this little plant is showing me something.  Whatever it is..... this little cactus has my admiration.
    Just look at this root system it developed!

So here it is. All safe and sound in a little pot of soil all its own.   I'll have to read up on whats best for it.  So its "home" will probably be changing.  Kinda' cute, isn't he?