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Monthly Archives: September 2014
Potatoes Draw a Crowd
While cleaning some freshly dug potatoes, I tossed a few handfuls of the rejects on the grass. It took just a few seconds to draw a crowd of chickens. Even Lucky and her little ones came running.
Duckweed Smörgåsbord
Lucky spotted me scooping duckweed out of the pond for the chickens. She’s come running to give her chicks a treat. All the chickens go nuts for fresh duckweed. Not only do they like the fresh green duckweed, they scratch … Continue reading
Posted in About My Chickens, Raising Chicks
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Fall Harvest
This year, the Asian Pear tree is loaded with fruit. Peeled and sliced, I love how juicy and crunchy they are. A fresh crop of Ruby Streaks are on their way. They love the cooler weather. The white Tennouji Kabura … Continue reading
Posted in How Things Grow
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Fall Mornings Start Misty
Fall mornings often start misty. These cool, damp mornings smell so fresh. I’m not the only one who enjoys the cool, moist air. The clover along the garden path soaks in the fresh water drops. The mist soothes the drying … Continue reading
Book Review – The Edge of the Sky by Roberto Trotta
In The Edge of the Sky, astrophysicist Roberto Trotta, explains the origin of the universe using only the most 1,000 common words in English. His idea is to explain difficult concepts as simply as possible. It’s an interesting book, and … Continue reading
Posted in Reflections
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Hazel
Hazel is one of the more distinctive hens here at a man and his hoe®. Her character is as remarkable as her striking looks. She is a Turken chicken. She’s outgoing, friendly and cheerful. Seeing her come my way, always … Continue reading
Grapes and Raking Leaves
It’s the season for raking leaves. From now through October, piles and piles and piles of leaves to rake. Leaves to compost. Leaves to blanket the garlic beds. Leaves to run through. It’s also the season for grapes, a chicken’s … Continue reading
Safe with Mother
On a rainy day, the best place to be is indoors, looking outside from underneath a mother’s warm feathers. Below, it’s time for a short, afternoon nap. You’d never guess Lucky has her five chicks tucked underneath her. Out they … Continue reading
Posted in About My Chickens, Raising Chicks
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Out of the Garden Today – September 23, 2014
We had company for lunch today. How often do you get to visit someone and enjoy a salad made from salad greens that were just picked? It’s a pleasure to be able to serve such fresh food to our guests. … Continue reading
What Is That Sweet Scent?
Recently, whenever I am out in the vegetable beds, the sweet scent of a mysterious flower floats through the air. The past few days I’ve wondered what is blooming. Today I found out. It is the popcorn I planted. The … Continue reading
A Long Neck is Good to Have
Watching chickens preen makes me want to have a neck that can stretch like theirs. The only spot they can’t reach are the tops of their heads. To scratch an itch on their heads, they need to use their feet. … Continue reading
Only a Mother
Only a mother can provide the warmth and security a little chick craves. I was aware that hens have a variety of calls to instruct their chicks. There is the sound they make when they have found food. Another for … Continue reading
Posted in Raising Chicks
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Lucky Takes a Break
Being a mother hen is a twenty-four hour job. It’s mid afternoon and it’s time for a break. Some of her chicks are taking a warm nap under her, while others still scamper about. Her chicks may nap during the … Continue reading
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Out in the Field Today – September 19, 2014
Every trip into the vegetable beds is a voyage of discovery. You don’t have to look far to find beauty. Mother nature can’t touch a single square foot of land without leaving behind breathtaking splendor. I had a laugh today … Continue reading
Posted in How Things Grow
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On an Early Fall Day
It’s gradually becoming the cool, wet time of the year. For Lucky and her chicks, it means having a big breakfast before spending the day outdoors in the cool, drizzly weather. In the village, the last flowers of summer are … Continue reading
Posted in Raising Chicks, Reflections
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Lucky and Her Two Day Old Chicks
After just two days, Lucky has taken her chicks outdoors to enjoy life. In the clip below, you can see how little chicks bury under their mother when they want some warmth. During the day she takes them further and … Continue reading
Tree Trimmers
Near the post office is this long row of fifty or so trimmed poplar trees. Whoever trims them must spend a lot of time trimming them as they are always trimmed. Only, it turns out that it’s not a person … Continue reading
She Did It!
Lucky’s eggs hatched. After watching hens hatch eggs for five years, you’d think it would be no big deal. But each hatching is wonderful. And Lucky is a very special hen. As a tiny chick, she had an unfortunate accident … Continue reading
Carnivores
Not exactly tyrannosaurs, but fearsome creatures nevertheless if you’re a field mouse, the chickens have found a bone one of the dogs buried. With a bone, a flock of fifty chickens can attack it like a school of piranhas. Well, … Continue reading
It Has to be Picked Today – Edamame
I watched a program on TV Japan called “Tameshite Gatten” which each week, looks at something people use all the time, and takes an hour to thoroughly explain it. This evening they were covering fresh soybeans, which are usually boiled … Continue reading
