Crazy string and slugs

Yesterday afternoon I bought Kate her first can of crazy string.  I know, I know, crazy right?  That stuff makes such a mess!  Now that she has been able to experience all that a can of crazy string can offer,  I don’t think I will be buying it again.  That stuff is not suited for a person with OCD.  Again, it is very messy, luckily we were outside, so it’s not like it got all over the house.  Only on the pile of logs.   In fact, Kate was having so much fun with her new-found crazy string that she failed to notice the family of slugs living in one of the logs.  Those suckers with all of the slimy trails were the biggest slugs I think I have ever seen.

While I was off grabbing the camera {because these things need to be docutmented, right?}, Kate thought it would be a cool to see if the crazy string would stick to the slugs.

At least this way, if the Slug Family makes their way to my garden, they can easily by identified.  I hope they don’t make it that far.  That reminds me of that joke where the slug knocks on the door.  That joke was so silly, it is almost humorous.

A quick garden update

It has been a very busy few days around here.  We have attended two award ceremonies this week.  One child got a Good Citizenship and Principle’s Award, while the other got more awards than we can remember.  Summer has officially started for the youngest, there have already been a comment made about boredom, of course that was when it was time to clean up said child’s room.  It is a mess, I tell you, a utter mess.

During this past week, I have decided without a doubt that those mystery plants from the compost are indeed pumpkins.  Most have flowered and now have fruit.  We were hoping for squash or maybe a cantaloupe or two, but I guess we were meant to have a bountiful supply of pumpkins.  I think I know what the kids will be doing this fall.

Speaking of squash, they have finally bloomed and have fruit.  I can’t wait until I get to try a new squash recipe, I usually just grill them.  The same recipes can become a bit monotonous don’t you think?

Some of the sunflowers have reached unthinkable heights.  I have learned that sunflowers aren’t suited for containers.  I will spare you a photo of those, it’s sad, but have a look-see at what the others are up to.  I’ve read that sunflowers make nice treats for the chickens.  And us too.

Boux the Chicken Sitter + A Quick Update

Last week, I brought the chickens out for a little rec time in the garden.  It was a nice warm sunny day, and I needed to clean out the brooder.  It was a win-win.  So, one by one the not so little chicks go placed in the garden.  After they were all safely reunited in the garden, Boux had to keep a watchful eye on them.  He started at the back door,

That wasn’t quite close enough for him, I guess, because he made his way to the garden fence.  Boux laid there on the ground for quite some time, just watching the free entertainment and keeping guard.

That brings us to Monday.  After a very busy week last week, Mr. Dad and I, brought Thing 1 and Thing 2 and Boux and Roxie to the Lake for a little Rand R.  We left Pops-in-law in charge of the chickens.  They aren’t much trouble {Food + Clean Water}, so we thought he could handle them.   While we were out, one of them knocked over the water, getting all of the bedding wet.  So, Monday, that needed to be added to my out-of-town make-up list.  Did I mention that the chickens can fly now?  Given their new-found talent, I we did not feel the garden is an adequate recess area.  Now, where should I put them?  Lightbulb moment!  I can block off the entry room, and let them play in there for a while.  Brilliant!

Not so much.  See, that black hen hiding behind Eggs and Omelette?  She can fly pretty high, on top of that mattress in fact.  They have gotten quite large and have out grown their brooder already.  We will try to finish up their coop this weekend.  It’s warm enough outside, the temperature stays in the 50-60s at night, I’m sure they will be fine.  I have also learned over the last few days that gloves are most definitely needed when  trying to grab reccess time is over because those claws are MIGHTY SHARP!  We may also be selling or giving away a chicken.Anyone want a pet Rooster?  This is Runt at about 5 weeks.  He has begun to show the same markings as the other two Roos.  Until the hens begin to produce eggs, we won’t know for sure, but if Runt turns out to be a rooster, I will have to find him a new home.  Mr. Dad said we can’t have 3 roosters in the same hen-house.

Wrangling chickens

Who knew catching chickens could be so hard?  Well, I guess if you’ve done it, then you would agree that it is difficult.

I let the flock out in the garden for a little recess time.  No problem there.  Just put them in a large tote by groups of threes and transport out to the garden.

The problem occurred when they kept flying out of the tote when it was time to put them back inside.  Instead of a nice calm repeat of this morning, no, it took half an hour to bring them one-by-one the chickens got brought inside and put into their brooder.  Maybe I should add Chicken Wrangler to my resume`?  Or better yet, maybe the chickens and I can take our little act on the road.  Kinda like a circus performance!

Hidden nest

I was checking on the dewberry patch several days ago and found a nest camouflaged inside.   I didn’t expect to find anything in it sence we have been finding unoccupied nests lately.

To my surprise, it was being rented out to Mrs. Sparrow (or at least I think she is a  sparrow).  Inside there two tiny blue speckled eggs the size of a pecan.  I guess Mrs. Sparrow saw me coming and decided it would be a great time to go to the grocery store, because I didn’t see her anywhere.  That was good for me,  I got to snap a few pictures before she got back.

I went out this morning to check on the little eggs.  Mrs. Sparrow was out again.  Maybe I should call next time I go for a visit, she is always out.  The eggs had hatched, the cute little eggs were replaced by the ugliest little bird!  It’s so ugly it’s so darn cute.

I would say that Mamma Sparrow pick a pretty good spot for her nest.  I don’t think predators can get to her babies.

  

Y’all enjoy your morning!