Sunday, June 20, 2010

I'mmmmm Back!

Whew, I have had a very busy 3 weeks since my last posting. Hopefully things will be getting back to normal now. I am still trying to finish the painting of my chicken coop. Have all sides done except the west side, which is always in the sun when I finally get around to painting. We did get the fly pen attached, and the chickens are now cozily in their new "digs" and loving them. We will give them a few days to adjust before we let them out in the fly pen to explore their new world. Eventually they will be free roaming chickens and just come back to their coop to sleep at night and be fed.
Pictures of the coop on the outside. We used metal frame, I forget what it is called, but no need for painting or will not rot.


Pictures of the inside.
We put up 6 nest boxes.


Last weekend we attended the Estes Park Wool Festival. The weather was in the upper 40's low 50's and was raining intermittently. The fog was settling down around the mountains. Estes Park is one of the most beautiful areas that I have ever been to.

The indoor vendors were one of the highlights of the events, after all the fur/fleece/wool growing livestock. Some of the animals at the festival were Yaks, goats(cashmere, and angora), angora rabbits, alpacas, llamas, paco-vicunas, and all kinds of sheep breeds that I don't even know what they are called.
Here are some novelty yarns that were so colorful, the picture does not do them justice. I wish that I had taken more pictures of some of the yarns that they had on display, they were truly inspirational for me, now, I have a few more projects that I have added to my "to do " list.
There were angora goats being judged, they produce mohair fiber. .
Two cute little angora goats waiting to be judged.




Also Jacob sheep judging. They can have up to 5 horns coming out of their heads. Wow!I particularly like their 3 color coats, what a yarn that would make spun up!

Also cashmere goats were on view, they had some of the softest coats I have ever felt. "!
This is a picture of two cashmere goats, it gives new meaning to the phrase"got your back covered".
Well anyway, I could go on and on about the wool festival. I will be going back for sure next year.
On the way out of town, we had to check out the Big Thompson River, which was at flood stage. Not much farther to go before it would spill out of its banks. There was some sand bagging being done on some of the sidewalks near businesses. Imagine being lulled to sleep every night by the sounds of a raging river, right off your deck!




Some of the other highlights of my 3 weeks off.
Our grandson Brady is here for 12 days as his mother is down on the beaches in Mexico getting married on the beach. He has proven to be a great helper here on the farm. Who says a 14 year old boy can't work! Here he is painting the floor of the chicken coop, he has been a godsend for us in helping with chores, especially the carrying of water buckets. There is nothing that can wear a person out like the toting of water!
Quiet time out in the garden and out with the animals. Always enjoyed by the two of us.





Dennis and I with quite time with our animals and gardens.Spring is so beautiful here in colorado. the air is fresh cool and clean smelling.
Pictured are some of our flowers. I really missed green when living down in AZ, the smell of fresh cut grass, and iris.


We also received our guinea keets, they are my favorite yard birds. Only a few days old right now, but they grow fast and will be on bug and rattle snake patrol before the end of the summer.
The dark colored keets are normal pearl guinea, the lavendar color are well, lavenders, and the lavender with white wings are lavender pieds, and we also have a few white keets. It will be a colorful flock when fully feathered. No little helmets on them yet.

And last but not least, here is LuLu, always ready to assume the position for a good belly rub.
More later...............................

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

6-1-195?

Today started out like any other day, of the 20,075 days that I have been taking up space on this planet. I woke up bright and early at 0600 which is my usual now. We had slept with the windows open and the temperature inside the house was a brisk 52 degrees, perfect sleeping weather, don't you think? But heck, we, or I should say I am a tough 1/2 Scandinavian just like that old meadowlark that keeps tabs on me.
I ambled over to my mirror, and did a thorough exam, as thorough as can be without my bifocals on, searching if any new wrinkles had appeared on my face, any new grey hairs? Any new fat cells that had taken up residence on my body, during my restful slumber. No, nothing looked out of the ordinary. So today is my day. Tera my daughter and first born, called and sang happy birthday to me on my answering machine,with her lovely little voice, I sure do wish that she would audition for the next American Idol when it comes to town. She also sent me a e-mail card, with a naked stud on it, that got my ticker going! Then my son Ryan called, and he has made me a chocolate cake. That is what I asked for, it has been so long since someone made a cake for me on my day. And who can resist chocolate? My Mom used to when we lived in Arizona.
Which reminds me of a story a friend of mine told me. Her elderly grandparents lived beside a beautiful little lake up in northern Minnesota. The wife had her hobbies, and the husband used to love to go down to the dock and fish, or take out his boat and fish, along with puttering around in his garage. Winters are harsh up in Minnesota, so their children were always concerned for their safety. They eventually talked them into giving up their place on the lake and moving into town, and living in an apartment, which was on Lake Superior near the harbor. The Grandfather used to sit in his chair next to the window and watch the boats/ships come into the harbor. He did this day after day. Pretty soon he did not get up anymore, and he eventually passed away.
I don't know why I think of this story when it is my day. I guess that I am blessed with my health, and things that I really love to do, that I am passionate about in my life. My advice is to keep active, and passionate about something.


Well anyway, I started painting the chicken coop today. Want to get this thing done. I started out with a red near the roof,

then a forest green stripe, Geesh! Looky here, the camera man took a picture of me with my eyes closed! No, I was not sleeping on the job. Anyone know where I can find a new camera man?
then the bottom will be the same tan as our house. I did not get to the tan, as it started to sprinkle. I told Dennis to let me know if he saw any lightening, since I was on an aluminum ladder, unless he has other plans, since I am an old gal now.
As always, I still have my sense of humor, sometimes I make myself laugh! Here are the fruits of my labor from today anyway.

More later.........