2011 Year End

Over this past year I have blogged about the things going on in my life - my chickens, rabbits, garden, pets, cooking, sewing - just a little of everything.  So doing a recap isn't really necessary.

It has been a good year with all its ups and downs.  Hubby and I are healthy and able to function and as we get older that pretty much says it all.  Hubby has now lost about 80 pounds which is a big plus and I have gained about 8 (all while what I consider dieting).  "Mama always said" it would all catch up with me - for so many years I weighed 112 pounds and at 5'8" I was really thin!  It didn't happen at 40 like "Mama always said," but it did happen!  I feel the aches and pains of the good times of my life and the bad times of my life.  I make no excuses - I am what I am and God loves me even though I am not perfect. 

I started the year trying to increase my chicken flock.  I hatched and babied those little balls of fluff for weeks.  I had 32 biddies for a while, then the dogs came and demolished about half.  then the snakes came and demolished the other half.  Sick at heart I replaced the little ones with lovely Barred Rocks.  These ladies are so gentle and loving and fit right in to our little flock.  Matilda, my old Rhode Island Red hen, accepted them aboard while maintaining her position as the head of the pecking order. 

I have a special pair of Grays that are so beautiful.  I hatched them and raised them separately from the rest of the flock.  I will lose the beautiful rooster this week when he goes to the sale barn.  The rooster's name is Ming Ming and the hen is Tuck.  The oldest granddaughter named them as soon as they hatched and even though the sexes don't reflect the names - it is what it is.  Ming Ming tried to flog the older of the youngest granddaughter last week and then yesterday tried to flog the youngest granddaughter.  Ming Ming is too young as yet to have dangerous spurs, but his spurs are rapidly growing and with his temperment, he has to go.  The grandchildren love to play outside and I won't tolerate an agressive animal.

In the Spring, the oldest granddaughter decided she wanted a rabbit, so hubby added not one but three to the menagerie.  Lost one of those within two weeks but replace her with a fostor from Atlanta that was someone's pet.  Now down to two and they run loose in the barn and are very content until the neighbors dogs come snooping.  I really wish people would raise their pets not to get into other peoples business.

I had a fruitful early garden and filled the freezer up while enjoying all the fresh vegetables throughout the summer.  I don't can much anymore, but may have to reconsider with the coming season.  Hubby has already turned loads of leaves and mulch back into the soil in anticipation of the upcoming planting season. 

The youngest granddaughters and I planted trash can potatoes, but we waited a little too long to plant and only harvested a couple of handfuls of small spuds.  They will be great with a pot of green beans though, so all is not lost and the experiment was good for us all.  Plan to try the trash can pototoes again in early March.

This fall has brought my deer back.  They enjoy the huge acorn crop we have behind the house and will graze on the nuts for at least an hour a day and sometime longer.  I manged to get some good pictures of them last week and where there were only three, a new beauty joined them.  One day and young buck stepped in to enjoy the fare.  I cringe every time I hear a shot behind the house, as I fear a hunter as downed one of my babies.

I retired this year and was happy to do so.  I really enjoy staying at home and diddling with my cooking, sewing, animals, and garden.  I could keep working and Hubby and I could stash the dollars toward future travel, but I watch so many that save and save and then are unable to do the things they saved to do.  I wrote about my cataract sugery in an earlier blog, but I am still pleased with my much improved sight.

I spend loads of time with my youngest granddaughters and enjoy every minute.  I am bowled over by my oldest grand children every time they visit.  Living north of Atlanta, I only see them every six weeks or so and they change so fast.  Phone calls are just not the same.  They are both so bright and talented!

My parents are aging fast and it hurts my heart to see them struggle to perform even the most routine tasks.  They were both so active and energetic during their younger years. 

I experienced losses and gaines during the year which is part of living. I have seen new little ones come into the world, couples pledging solemn vows to each other before God, and have seen close friends and family lose the ones they love.  I have contemplated the whys of life and am still uncertain that I have accomplished what I am suppose to accomplish. 

Cleaning is calling, so until next time . . .

Happy New Year and
Happy reading!

Belle

Strange visitors

Deep into the reading of Inadmissible Evidence by Philip Friedman, a most unpleasant odor hit my nostrils and for a minute all thought and comprehension was focused on that horrible smell.   It took less than a minute for my brain to comprehend the source of this odor and I immediately threw the book and ran to shut the windows.  A beautiful but deadly (to the senses) skunk had sprayed its wares somewhere around my porch.  Hubby, with a huge smile on his face, slowly rose from his chair and found his flashlight as he headed for the door.  The puppies had not as yet been hit by the smell, as always, if Daddy was going out, that is where they were needed.   

The puppies came alive and I allowed them to join the outside activity, hoping against all odds that they would not locate said beauty and come in needing many baths which I knew would do no good.  After a quick turn around the yard and house hubby returned having not located anything.  We both settled back to our reading when something caught my eye at the door.  I quickly glanced about for the puppies and found them settled before the fire snoozing.  Again dumping my book I checked the porch and there drinking out of the puppies water bowl was a semi grown opossum.  He didn't seem to be in a hurry and drank his fill before turning to look up at me as Hubby opened the door.  He started to come in for a visit, but Hubby stomped his foot and the little rascal trotted off, straight under the hot tub. 

With flashlight and net, Hubby attempted to relocate our visitor to no avail.  He balled up tightly and was not about to leave his sanctuary.  Unreachable and not causing any harm we left him for the night determined to move him in the morning light.  Earlier in the day I had spent a good bit of time watching several deer play and graze in back of the house.  It was a day filled with wildlife! 

The next afternoon I cringed as the shots rang out behind the house, hoping that the hunter was a bad shot and had missed my friends.  Yesterday, there was a beautiful, if malodorous, dead skunk on the side of the road.  So is life -- here today and gone tomorrow. 

Enjoy life while it is available.  Whether wildlife or human, we are here for only a short time as was those that went before us and none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow here on earth.

Until next time . . .

Happy reading!
Belle