Woods

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived" Henry David Thoreau, Walden (1854)


"Judge every day not by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you sow." - Robert Louis Stevenson


Friday, October 10, 2014

It's Chicken Time




I know whats been missing, its chickens on the homestead.  I finally got my Hen Den and some Booted Bantams.  My wonderful neighbor helped this all happen for me.  After almost five years without chickens I don't know how I made it.   Our DD has chickens over at the other homestead but its just not the same taking care of your own and watching them do their chicken stuff.   The young roo crowed for the first time this morning, what fun!

My favorite chicken is the Barred Plymouth Rock, nice brown eggs. A nice all around chicken.  But I'm getting into the Booted Bantams cuz there just darn cute,( DD will raise the meat birds).  Nice to let loose in the gardens and they make good mothers.  Raised Bantams before, fun chicken to have on the homestead.  We even named our bantams.

I love the pin my neighbor made.  Heavy, heavy,heavy!  Made of cedar, old tin roof , wired vents on three sides with doors.  Door on side to gather eggs (can't wait).  The wood will weather to a old silver look.  And I'm going to make a steampunk rooster weather vain for the rooftop.  Looking for some old gears for this project.

The next morning after I got my chicken house and having a nice cup of coffee and looking forward to getting the chickens I could not believe what came running by but a beautiful red fox.   It ran to the creek and the neighbors hounds were in hot pursuit.   They gave up,went home and a fox with a new chicken house to check out later.   I'll have to keep a good lookout when I let the chickens free range.  I am happy the house is well built with heavy wire.

Fed them a few turnip greens from the garden and theres nettle growing along the banks of the creek bed that they will enjoy as well.   Theres something about chickens that make the homestead complete.


Spinning and dyeing and soon weaving.  Oh boy is this a super fun project.  I have been spinning up a storm and experimenting with natural dyes.   I'll get to posting my dyed finished yarns on next post.

Went to Missouri Town 1855 last weekend and met some really nice folks on spinning and dyeing.  I pick up something new to learn each time I meet a spinner and weaver.

I did my best spin so far from a blend roving of Jacob and Merino wool.  Over 1400 yrds of single ply.  I filled the bobbins to the brim.  Not sure what I'm going to knit up, a lace shawl with beads maybe.



Garden news:

Had and still having a great season from the gardens,  peppers (hot and sweet) are loaded and need to get picked.  Turnips and doing very good , kale is still pretty tiny.  Carrots need to be pulled.  Lots of small pumpkins for fall decorations and some for pie making and pumpkin seeds to roast.

Lots and lots of marigolds from last years saved seeds and many volunteers that pooped up.  Have to wait for a dry up and save seeds from pole beans and many other flowers and plants.

Leaves are turning and soon the fall and raking will begin.  Bonfires and hayrides this month and a corn maze to visit.  Lots of fun autumn things to do.

Lots of uncertainties in our world so best enjoy each day when we can.  Hope its a beautiful fall day and a chicken doing its chicken thing kind of day for you all.

Thanks for dropping by
linda 

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...