Thursday, February 21, 2013

Big Foot Bunny

 

bunny tracks in snow

Here is the cottontail bunny tracks I followed yesterday.  This was a BIG bunny—bigger than my chickens.  Big Foot Bunny is his name.  I stayed with him for a long ways until finally he got under a bush and felt safe and warm.  At one point he sat straight up and turned and looked at me, like I had food for him?   Actually, he was bigger than my “Scottish Fold Cat”!  

It is still pretty icy to go on my walk this morning, so I think I will do house chores first and wait until this afternoon  to explore and walk.  Big Foot is apparently following the same rule, as there is no sign of him as I look out my Window in the Kitchen.  Maybe I should take a carrot with me if I should happen to meet him in the snow!  

I did my chores and a neighbor friend came by to get a couple of dozen eggs, and we visited a while.  After they left, the clouds came over and it turned cold, but I decided not to be a “fluff” and I threw on my jackets and went for my walk.  I saw fresh deer prints and a calf walking around, but my “Big Foot Bunny” was hiding out some place.  I did chop up a carrot and left it  at the place where we had an encounter yesterday.  I will be checking to see if the carrot disappears. 

A small hawk was flying over my chickens and I went down to them with my large shovel in hand to scare him away.  My hens are always glad to have me for their protector because the old rooster doesn’t really do anything but make a noise.  I also gave them their daily treat of torn up tortilla pieces, warmed up in the microwave. 

Tomorrow we have to go to town, stop at the feed store, and go to Costco.  Big Foot Bunny will be here alone. 

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

My Snowy Driveway

 

snowy driveway

Hello everyone!  I am still here and this time of year one must just go with the flow, as far as the weather goes.  This is my driveway where I have been speed walking everyday.  Needless to say, today I only made it down and up one time.  Usually I go five times, but it was too slippery today.  I don’t care to take a fall and be laid up for months. 

I got some pretty shots of the scenery and a cottontail rabbit sitting in the snow.  This rabbit was larger than my chickens! 

So much for my greenhouse this week!  I do have my lettuce planted in large pots and I have brought it  in the kitchen for now .  The greenhouse was covered with snow this morning so we have had to give it a sweep to knock the weight off the roof.  I love my greenhouse and can’t wait to use it. 

Early this morning when we opened the door to the hen house the chickens took a look around and headed back inside, all but one.  My little barred rock hen, who comes over the fence every day to go into the woodshed to lay her egg on a nice warm blanket.  It took her about a half an hour and she started to crow, telling me she was done.  I put on my boots and went in to tell her what a good girl she was, picked her up and carried her back down the hill, the snow was up to her belly if she would have walked. 

She is my favorite of all, showing great leadership and strong willed, but still sweet! 

Be back  tomorrow to report on my walk. 

Monday, February 11, 2013

Hop In Girls! Lets Go For A Ride

 

PICT0248

My husband was filling up the feeder and cleaning out the coop and I couldn’t pass this picture up.  One of them was precariously standing on the edge of  the wheelbarrow trying to coach the others to come and see.  The black giant was already in a position to look out over the edge and  be safe in her own position, up front.  Before it was over, there were five hens waiting to be hauled around for the “ride of their life”!  At first, they were a little “edgy”, but after a few minutes they thought this was the greatest thing since a lettuce leaf. 

Chickens are not boring, they are filled with fun every single day. 

I would have been working in the greenhouse but we have had snow for the past three days, so I even brought my leaf lettuce in the kitchen so it wouldn’t freeze. 

To keep my energy level up I started walking up and down the driveway five times, and the incline is good for me to get the blood flowing, while I am waiting for a little warmer weather so as to get back to the greenhouse.   The distance is almost a mile.  

I will be checking in when we get a window of warm weather once again. 

It’s time to gather the eggs! 

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Our Wedding Anniversary

 

flowers vase

 

Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary!  It comes around just way too fast.  We are going to enjoy the day by going over to the other side of our mountain peak here where there is a little “out of the way” village and stroll around some antique shops and later have a scrumptious dinner at  a favorite Italian Restaurant. 

I realize that tomorrow is “Super Bowl” Sunday, (for readers outside of the United States, this is the big final football game playoff)!   People here sit in front of the television most of the day and eat all kinds of foods that taste good, but are loaded with calories (fat). 

Not I said the little red hen!  That’s what they get for having this on Our Anniversary. 

We are not really sports fan people anyway, since we like to spend our time outside in the garden or taking brisk walks.  My husband enjoys skiing.  Once in a while we get out the tennis rackets and get some valuable exercise.

Everyone have an exciting weekend and I will be back  next week!