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Hi Everyone,
It finally happened . . .
. . . on Monday we finally got the chickens processed that we were supposed to process the week before. The van broke down on Wednesday preventing Papa from making the Jacksonville deliveries. The part was going to take too long to come in so the mechanic put in a used sensor and Papa was able to make the deliveries on Thursday—which caused us to have to play musical days with the chickens. So instead of Thursday and Friday, we processed Friday and Monday. The two day break in between was actually nice. Wayland learned that it is very important where the feeder is placed inside the pen—the chickens must be able to eat all the way around the feeder (it cannot be up against the wall). The lesson paid off royally as the chickens grew exceptionally this time with the majority being 5 to 7 pounds—there were even a hand full of 8 pounders. Who says that you cannot grow a chicken in 8 weeks on no-soy and no-corn!
. . . on Thursday we were finally able to get the van properly fixed with a new sensor wire and the mechanic gave it a much needed oil change.
. . . one of my favorite birds returned! Over 30 years ago I read Louisa May Alcott’s book Eight Cousins and I was introduced to a young housemaid whose name was Phebe who went about singing as she did her work—she was like the Phoebe bird. I fell in love with the girl and her name—and dreamed of one day having a daughter named Phoebe Lark (Lark because a friend named her daughter Lark and I thought it went well with Phoebe). When we moved to our farm, I was introduced to both of these lovely songbirds—the Eastern Meadowlark and the Eastern Phoebe. I met the Meadowlark first. Many times I would hear its clear flute-like whistles—and then the challenge began—the challenge to find the melodious singer with the black chest and bright yellow chest. Most of the time he was hiding in the grasses, but sometimes I would spot him perched on top of a fence post. Years later I met the Phoebe bird. I was working in the garden when all of a sudden I heard a raspy “fee-bee” coming from somewhere nearby. I walked through the garden until I found the owner of the voice and came upon a dark brown/blackish and white bird sitting on the fence post. Over the years I have learned that the Phoebe bird migrates to our farm in early October. I do not know when they leave, but for a few months I can hear them all around the farm singing their name “fee-bee” calling back and forth to each other. I am always listening for their return, and last Monday (October 12) as I was walking back to the house for breakfast I heard the distinct “fee-bee” and I knew they had returned. That night I marked it on my calendar—for I always mark the date of when I hear that they have returned.
. . . a box full of spring goodies arrived. Back in the summer Mama and I scanned Eden Brothers website looking for specific tulips, daffodils, alliums and ranunculus. Last fall I had attended a Bulb Planting/Growing class with the local County Extension office and I helped plant a bunch of bulbs. Mama and I went back in the spring to see which bulbs had actually sprouted, survived the hard freezes, and were blooming. So we came home and found some La Belle tulips, Dutch Master and White Lion Daffodils, Secret Garden Ranunculus, and Purple Sensation Allium (the tall kind). We then placed our order and waited for the day they would arrive. That day happened last week. Mama’s favorite flower is a tulip—so she grabbed up the tulips to plant in the courtyard (the only garden her health will allow her to take care of). Mama also planted the alliums and the White Lion daffodils.
. . . on Friday Shayne and I finally had the chance to plant the ranunculus in the North Market Garden—all 110 of them! We spent Thursday afternoon prepping a few beds—one for lettuce (of which I transplanted on Friday) and the other for the ranunculus. Two years ago we grew ranunculus in the West Garden and they bloomed so beautifully. It was our first time growing them and we fell in love with them. Mama says that the flowers are prettier than roses—and I have to agree. That summer I dug up the ranunculus chromes and saved them and planted them last fall—but the rabbits ate them, the weeds over took them, and the hard freezes killed them. I didn’t get one bloom! So this year I planted the ranunculus in the protection of the garden tunnel—where the rabbits cannot get, the weeds are easier to control, and they have some protection from the freezes. Now I just have to figure out where to plant 50 Dutch Master Daffodils.
. . . it turned cold enough for me to pull out my winter coat. Everyone has been asking me if I am enjoying the change of weather—and it was enjoyable until this morning. I do not enjoy cold weather. I turn into a bear when it gets cold—as in I just want to hibernate. It was only in the mid 50’s—but the wind was blowing so hard that it might as well have been in the low 40’s. I have learned that 50’s with a northerly wind is colder than 30 without a wind—probably because when it is 30 I dress appropriately and when it is in the 50’s it is on the border line of still being warm. Fifty degrees without a wind is really comfortable—but add that wind and you can hang it up. According to the weather man—50’s are here to stay (well after it is in the 40’s for a few days).
Serving you with Gladness,
Tiare