Monthly Archives: October 2014

On the 4th Day

Posted on October 31, 2014 by

On Japanese news today, the weather reporter pointed out that in the fall, mountains are said to get all dressed up, referring to the forests on the mountains turning brilliant with fall colors. In the winter they are said to … Continue reading →

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The Magic Number is Eight

Posted on October 29, 2014 by

The magic number is eight. Peach brought her chicks out into the chicken yard today. She has eight, fluffy, healthy, perky, excited chicks. The chicks started hatching on the 27th. Of the ten eggs she was sitting on, nine hatched. … Continue reading →

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How Many?

Posted on October 28, 2014 by

Peach and her new chicks are doing fine. How many does she have? At least seven, maybe more. They started hatching yesterday, and she’s keeping them in the nest today. Another day, and they will be itching to explore. Ruby’s … Continue reading →

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New Life – Pure Joy

Posted on October 27, 2014 by

New life! Chicks are hatching today. No matter how many times I see new chicks peaking out from under their mother’s feathers for the first time, it is pure joy. And in about two weeks, if all goes well, a … Continue reading →

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The Last Of …

Posted on October 26, 2014 by

We picked the last of the apples today. Once these and the other bucket of apples we picked recently are gone, that is the last of the fresh apples. These days, hardly anyone thinks about there being a first and … Continue reading →

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Backyard Kabuki

Posted on October 25, 2014 by

Dressed as flamboyantly as Kabuki actors, these young roosters put on a short, but elaborate performance. They are six months old now and turning into young men. Their combat isn’t serious yet, but in a few months it will be … Continue reading →

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Eggs Are Not a Commodity

Posted on October 24, 2014 by

I love Hazel’s eggs. Hers have speckles and a distinctive point. (See Hazel, Hazel’s Egg, More Hazel, Laying an Egg) Each hen lays a slightly different egg. And every time they lay an egg, it is never the exact same … Continue reading →

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Celebrating Greens

Posted on October 23, 2014 by

Picking fresh greens so others can enjoy them is something I look forward to. Today’s picking starts with Ruby Streaks. The dark, red mustard leaves liven any salad. Mustards, like Ruby Streaks, provide benefits besides making exciting salads. Eventually, I’ll … Continue reading →

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Rain is for Chard

Posted on October 22, 2014 by

The Swiss Chard thrives in the cool, fall drizzle. It’s one of those productive vegetables, which keeps sending up luscious leaves, no matter how many times you cut it. A ten foot row of Swiss Chard will feed a family … Continue reading →

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Stormy Night Ahead

Posted on October 21, 2014 by

An approaching storm is a good reason to make an apple pie. Chickens come in handy when making an apple pie. I have a bowl of apple peels and cores, and bits of pie crust left over after weaving a … Continue reading →

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Love Is Not Human

Posted on October 20, 2014 by

Love is not human, love is universal. I spend many hours a day with other animals, and their lives are as dependent on love as ours. Baby chicks are bathed in love from the moment they are hatched until their … Continue reading →

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MiAsa 美朝 Gets Some eggs

Posted on October 19, 2014 by

It’s another fiery autumn day. A perfect day to put some eggs under MiAsa 美朝, a feisty hen who has been sitting on some wooden eggs for a few days. I’ve written 9s on the eggs as they should hatch … Continue reading →

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Green and Gold

Posted on October 18, 2014 by

This is why Washington is called the Evergreen state. Green and blue are the predominate colors here. “Shades of Green” would make a fitting title for a novel which takes place here. Though this time of year, especially when there … Continue reading →

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An Egg Makes a Point

Posted on October 17, 2014 by

Eggs don’t always come as ovals. Sometimes they can be quite pointed. The most interesting ones stay here. That’s the privilege of having your own eggs. The “boring” ones go off to market. Though, none of the chickens at a … Continue reading →

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Mossland

Posted on October 17, 2014 by

I don’t need to travel all the way to Nanzen-ji to view a beautiful garden. I found an exquisite moss garden much closer to home. The moss is soft and plump from the cool autumn rains. This time of year, … Continue reading →

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It’s Summer Again

Posted on October 16, 2014 by

It’s summer again … for one fantastic day. Resting and sleeping in the warm sunshine is pure bliss for my chickens. Often, the only view you have of a chicken is their butt. Much of the day, they have their … Continue reading →

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Importance of Dirt

Posted on October 15, 2014 by

When you’re picking beans or leafy greens or fruit from a tree, it’s easy to forget the importance of dirt. You can’t escape dirt when you’re digging up potatoes. Digging up potatoes on a wet, windy day can be downright … Continue reading →

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Svenda

Posted on October 14, 2014 by

Svenda, a Swedish Flower Chicken hen, is over a year old now. He brother, Sven, is king of the flock. The two are such a wild mix of colors. Sven’s been a busy rooster this year, and many of the … Continue reading →

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Garlic Planting

Posted on October 14, 2014 by

It’s time to plant garlic. Breaking apart the garlic bulbs to separate the cloves, leaves behind a mountain of paper-like garlic skins. They are beautiful on their own. These are destined for the compost pile, but if you do some … Continue reading →

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Clustered Woodlover

Posted on October 13, 2014 by

It’s impossible to walk even a short distance in the woods without seeing something remarkable. I’m guessing these are clustered woodlovers (Hypholoma fasciculare), also known as sulpher tuft. As cute as they are, they aren’t edible. Evidently they are bitter … Continue reading →

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