Saturday, November 23, 2013

Ckickens making Happy!

What a beautiful day!  It was cool and clear out today.  The sun was gorgeous!  And my chickens got to run around the yard, not once, but twice today.  They were in heaven.  I was talking to someone and I told them, I was so thankful because my chickens got to get out today and "make Happy!"  That is just what I think of them when they are out there scratching and pecking about.  They are making their own happy! 

Sunday, November 10, 2013

November 2013 - Working on the leaves

Where has the time gone?  There have been so many times that I thought about posting here.  But honestly, life got in the way.  Yesterday, I spent the day in the garden with the chickens.  We have two huge, old cherry trees that decided to dump all their leaves at once this year.  It was kind of them.  It seems easier to deal with one load of leaves, instead of several dumps of leaves.  I started out just working to pick up as many leaves as I could to cover one raised bed.  I think of the leaves protecting the soil, allowing for more worms to make homes, keeping the bed warm, like a blanket.

But then I started weeding...I have to admit, I have never liked weeding.  So I asked the chickens to take a turn.  Needless to say, they didn't do very well.  They were more interested in the bugs available.  I figured out the hierarchy for chickens...bugs, yummy and big things that look like caterpillars but are really crane fly larvae (at least per my Mother-in-Law), then worms, THEN anything green.  They did do a lot scratching though.  That was at least fun to watch. 

Anyway, while they were busy in the garden, I decided to take out the leaf-blower.  Now I have to admit that the leaf blower is not my friend.  It is LOUD.  It doesn't go with my idea of what gardening should be.  But when there is a yard full of leaves and not enough time, energy, or arm energy left, then one has to resort to extreme measures.  And I have to say, when I was done, I was satisfied.  I blew all the leaves over to the bare patch in our yard where the chickens were all summer and onto the dog running track right next to the fence.  I also uncovered the other dog running paths.  I think I will use straw to cover these.  It is a little slippery for a while, but it is pretty. 

My husband came out and fixed the gutter downspout that the dogs had knocked off. And then he proceeded to take care of a big hole that the dogs had dug.  He didn't seem to be having much fun.  So I asked him if he likes working in the yard.  He said no.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as we have been married for a long time.  But maybe this was the first time that I actually ASKED him.  And as they say, 'This changes everything.'

Why?  Well, I am from a big family.  I believe in team work.  As a matter of fact, I don't like doing a lot alone.  And I realized yesterday that part of the reason the garden wasn't that great this year, was because I kept waiting for my husband to take some initiative on it.  I was busy with the summer play, as he was as well.  But...I guess I thought....  Well, as you can see, whatever I thought, it was wrong.  And in a way, it was freeing.  It reminded me just when I needed reminding that...there are just some things that are things that I like to do.  And that is ok.  When I need help, I can ask.  Just like I did yesterday.  But I can't expect him to enjoy it while he is doing it.  It is just not his thing. 

And today, I know that the gutter is going to work properly, the hole next to the house that the dogs dug a while ago is filled, the grass can breath, the chickens have full bellies, and I not only got a lot of good exercise, but I enjoyed myself doing something I like to do.  I may not be perfect at it, but I like to do it.