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Small chicken hatcheries

For the twenty years we have lived here, I have always wanted my own chicken coops in the yard and a couple chicken hatcheries in our back yard pole barn. We have lots and lots of property to build even more space, and yet because even though we are out in the country, surrounded by corn, wheat and bean fields, it is still considered the “city limits” and we are not allowed to raise livestock in the city limits.  What I want to know is, what CITY?? I’m not sure what the population is here, but I know that the people in this small so called village, would only fill about 10 or so buses. And I’m sort of joking, but not by much.

I’ve always wanted the chickens in the yard type setting. I’ve wanted to be able to go out in the morning and collect eggs, and also I’ve wanted to raise chickens from the time they were laid to the time they hatched. To me, incubating them and watching the progress, would be simply amazing. It also would be really cool for my grand daughter and even my kids who are so much older, to be able to check out.

If I had a hatchery, it would be part of my dream for this place, come true. It is a shame to have all this property and not do anything with it. At least this way, we would have eggs, chicken to eat, and also chicks to sell. It sure would help with finances also.

 

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Flu season again

Every one in the family has a cold, cough or strep throat. It seems it’s going around all over. I talked to one of my son’s teachers last night and she told me her whole family had it and that there were quite a few kids out of school last week and this week due to it.

I have to admit, that I honesty can not wait until warm weather comes. I think that it will make a lot of people feel better, and even if they aren’t up to par, health wise it might make a difference in at least attitude. I know it sure would for me. I find myself getting kind of snippy about little things, since I have had a sore throat and a cold for what seems like weeks.

My daughter and son have colds and coughs and it’s all kind of making us feel sluggish and tired and cranky. Hurry up, warm weather!! It will be a joy to be able to go outside in the fresh air without getting chilled to the bone.

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A wonderful shopping trip

Usually I don’t say shopping is a wonderful experience, but today it was. I picked my grand daughter up from school, and we went into town shopping. First we went to the market, to pick up things that I didn’t pick up when I went grocery shopping. Then we went to a store where I knew there were garden supplies now on display. It was great how my grand daughter had helped me in the market, hanging onto the list, weighing onions and peppers, and even finding sales on what I needed that was on the list. That kid is a great shopper! I told her that I had a surprise for her, since she had helped me so much.

Once at the farm supply and feed store, I took her to the garden section. She looked like she was in heaven. I let her pick out ten seed packets that she wanted in her garden and she surprised me by picking out vegetables, all the while telling me that most kids her age don’t eat “veggies” and they should. She wanted to grow them, so she knew she would have them when she wanted them. Kid after my own heart.

Since she was so responsible about the veggie decision, I told her she just HAD to pick out some other seeds she would like to plant. She picked out ten seed packets of herbs like chives…which she absolutely loves and has since she first got teeth, despite of her breath… and then mints so she could make her own tea. Also eatable flowers. She made me so proud of her choices. Our next shopping trip is for a garden Angel. She is reading a book that is about a young girl searching for her Angel. Since we both believe in Angels, I’m going to surprise her and we’ll go pick one out that is just for her. I love that child so much.

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The mailbox fiasco isn’t over

Ever since I had my mailbox hit and destroyed, everyone is asking where I got a new one from. Apparently there is now a rash of destruction happening in out little village and it’s getting pretty bad. It started out with just an accident with my yard rocks and mailbox, then it escalated to unruly kids, that are actually juvenile delinquents who are now using BB guns, big M-80 “fire crackers” and even bottle bombs to do property destruction around here.

On the main highway that goes through town, there are houses that line each side of it. Behind the houses on another street is a sort of apartment complex. It has a actual row of residential mailboxes, for each household that are across the street from the complex. The kids that are causing all the destruction in the village are making a game out of seeing if they can knock off each box with ball bats. The police seem not to be able to catch who is doing this. It takes them forever to come out on a call also. I don’t really feel safe here anymore.

So far the mail boxes on my street/road (since it turns into a dirt road right before our house, are safe for now, since we have everyone aware and watching. Most of the neighbors have security lights and some even have security cameras hooked up now. I really hope the catch who is doing this. It’s scary to think even more destructive things could happen here. juvenile

 

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Home improvement and survival

Lately I’ve been coming across some really great web sites and FB pages about easy but good home improvement  projects. I’m finding a lot of great ideas, that I will be posting, with my particular twist.

It’s really interesting seeing and reading how other mom’s make their homes better, and ideas for storage, organization and also small repair projects that one can do on a budget. We all need ideas that will work, but will save money also. I’ve been running across some pretty awesome garden ideas also!

I have a feeling that I am going to be pretty busy come Spring. I’ve already started to roll some ideas around in my head that I’d like to do, both inside the house and outside the house. Especially for organization and to give us more space and storage.

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Deciding on bathroom tile

I’m thinking about going to the tile and carpet store in town, which also sells roll upon roll of wall paper and accessories, to check out bathroom tile. I really am not sure which kind I want, but my bathroom needs to be totally remodeled. I’m tired of looking at it the way it is not and there is no way the husband is going to do this project. I usually end up doing all the home improvement myself. It’s one of those true statements, “If you want something done, ya have to do it yourself, ” around here. Sometimes my daughter will try and help me, and sometimes my oldest son will, but they get into the project for awhile, then when it isn’t fun anymore, they stop. I usually end up finishing it myself. I’m glad I had family who were in the remodeling and building business and a now deceased husband who taught me a whole lot about home improvement and construction work. I even know how to build a pole barn!

So, I’m going to go check out tile, wall paper and paint tomorrow for the bathroom. I did get a new sink that is kind of classy, even though it’s white, which I didn’t want, but it was on sale. I have to remember that I need to find deals while doing home improvements, since it’s all being done with my cookie jar money.

I love the look of the wood floor, but I’m still undecided. Tile or wood look. If my daughter and I lived here alone, we’d do the wood laminate. We aren’t slobs. With the guys? Pffffttt. Ya’ll don’t want to know.

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Grand daughters garden plans

My grand daughter who is nine called me this evening. My daughter had called earlier to ask me if I would be home so KK could ride the school bus to my house after school. She had to take my grandson to the dentist before school was out and didn’t want to take KK out of school early.  Of course it was fine by me, but I didn’t want KK riding the bus, her aunt and uncle ride home, as they were staying after school (at the high school) for computer lab and wouldn’t be able to make sure the bus driver stopped at our house. Plus this bus has a long route and doesn’t get the kids home until a lot later, so I’m going to go to the school when the kids are let out to pick her up.

Well, when my grand daughter called she told me that she had drawn out plans for her garden here. I wasn’t really surprised, since even when she was really young…not even in school yet…she would sort seed packets into the right categories, and knew the difference between annuals and perennials, and the herbs that could be eaten and the ones that couldn’t be. She knew which flowers and herbs could heal which ailment and actually she was pretty impressive with the way she caught on to all of what I told her at such an early age.

Now that she is nine, KK knows about root systems, various was to use herbs for healing, and which ones are to make tea out of, and the herbs that go with what foods to make them tasty. Not to mention the ones that are for decoration since they are poisonous. I’ve taught her how to make ointments for both people and animals. And the list goes on. In the winter she studies seed magazines, my books and all the garden magazines I get and had to her for the winter to read.  I can’t wait to see her garden plans tomorrow. She is so excited. I might just take her into town when I pick her up for school and get her some seedling trays and some packs of seeds to start. I’m looking forward to this!

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A home alarm system needed

Living here, I have always trusted my dogs to watch my house, until new people started building around us and moving in. Now I’ve found that I need a Home Alarm System. It’s pretty sad that I have felt safe where I am living for over twenty years, and now I don’t. Homes are getting broken into all around us, we had our windows smashed last summer, and it just keeps getting worse and worse. I love my house and don’t want to move, but if this keeps happening, I’m afraid we are going to have to move out to the farm house, which needs a whole lot of work.

I’ve been checking into Home Security Systems, and reading recommendations. I’ve also been asking friends about the systems and companies they have and trust. So far, I’m not sure exactly what I want. Actually it’s looking like we are going to need what I’d like to call “full coverage.”

All these break in’s and destruction started about six years ago. Until then, folks around here watched one each others homes and garages, and were good neighbors. We all were like family. But new low income houses started being built and old people were moving, as taxes kept going up because of the new houses and water being pumped into the village, plus the break ins that started. It’s a shame that this is all happening. I saw an ad about ADT Home Security that I am going to check out. Maybe I’ll feel a bit more safe and relaxed if I know we are safe and our home is when we are gone.

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Wally World adventure

Yes folks, I call Walmart, Wally World. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t around here. I have to say if I know I’m going to WW…something I very rarely do, I check to see if I’m dressed right and I don’t have anything hanging out. It is because of the photos I see on the internet or in emails titled, “The people of Walmart.”

If anyone even tried to take a photo of me, I would totally go berserk and no doubt get arrested. Well, maybe not arrested, but for sure I would at least grab the camera, and yank the film or smash it. Isn’t there a law about taking a photo of a person without asking, or do I just have etiquette?

So there you have it. Another reason why I don’t go into Wally World unless there is garden things or seed packets on sale realllly cheap.

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Some new flower boxes

My flower boxes are old and starting to look really shabby. I would really like to get some new ones. I love how the flowers are under the windows so they partially look like they are peeking into the house. I can also tell when they need water, or pruning and weeded. I don’t know where the weeds come from since I plant with clean dirt, but I guess they sort of blow in from all directions and of course the birds that come up to feed on the feeders hanging on the front porch have a lot to do with it. I’ve decided to get new boxes this Spring. I honestly don’t think the ones I have will last another summer. And even if they did, they wouldn’t look nice.

I’ve been “finger shopping” on the internet and think I may have found the window boxes that will look awesome under my windows. They are kind of pricey, but look and seem like they will last a good while. This is worth the price, since the ones that I have now, I sort of scrimped on and are already looking like they are ready to fall apart.

I’m going to also go with a window box under my kitchen window that I will grow only herbs in. I think that will be a nice touch for the kitchen, not to mention handy, since my screens slid up easily and I can then get fresh herbs when I need them.