Post Gordon ~ Thoughts, Commentary & Reflections

So where's Wayne? Need a med update on your back!

Light snow coming down this morning (Thursday, Feb 12th) and feels a little chilly (18 degrees) after the balmy highs in the mid-40s that we've had. Moved the 10 chicks in their dog crate from the far side of the furnace closer to me, get away from some drafts over there. This morning they're all spouting tail feathers; no shoulder feathers yet, sharply defined, over-sized golden wings and they'll stretch a leg and fan out a large wing under the heat lamp.

Must be interesting being them right now as they grow so fast and change biology in a race to 'grow up' and increase their survivability. These are pretty well-protected, I think. Morphing like tadpoles.

The little tail feathers--very cute. The 3 new old hens and duck were up early, as were the roosters. The hen convent is quiet, no one much interested in venturing away from the heat lamp there.

Gonna be cold for about a week according to Accuweather...

 

Kentucky Tomorrow (Saturday-Valentine's Day)

Boy!! Has turned into a flat gorgeous day. Rousted out of bed this morning by arrival of used 2x6s, cement blocks and 275-gallon tote. Great!! A good start.

To my surprise the 3 new hens went in with the duck last night. Well, it was cold and even colder this morning, single digit temps. All I had to do was pull the board in front and part of a bag of pine shavings to hold.

Brianne had chicken fajita soup, so I went in and sat down while she wrapped up with another customer, a guy. Then a gal comes in, then two more and I've turned invisible. Ah-hem-m-m. Gave me something to grump about when she did get to me. Great soup!!

Then the place flat filled up out into the sidewalk and, of course, I hadn't paid yet. Miserable. Rather than get into line--especially after our little debate about her wanting customers to get in line under the 'Order Here' sign, I left a $10 and headed over to the thrift shop next door. Brianne and Josh are a young couple--with 7 kids. S-e-v-e-n!! I'm happy with my 10 Golden Comet chicks.

Very happy. Very productive not running Monday-Tuesday. Got email from Terminal Boss that he had a KY if I wanted it. Emailed back, sure and confirmed the time. Well, I'm happy to do that, too. Did my mile up-and-down my little trail this morning. Will get at least one more in this afternoon.

Had my Guinness at the Moose coming back from Bloomington yesterday, where I've made lots of purchases, mostly under $100. Two-wheel wheelbarrow, nice shovel, extra M18 Milwaukee battery, another 2-1/2" Shop Vac, storage boxes for books, telescoping 5" tine shrub rake, quick-connect heavy duty watering set, more pet bowls, and yada, yada. Adds up, too!!

The working man's burden: when you've got the $$, you don't have the time; and, when you've got the time, you don't have the $$. Part-time kind of connects the two, money and time.

Went back to the coffee shop for her veggie black bean soup to go and settled up. Guess if I want to see American Sniper at the Tivoli in town, will have to run back to town tonight or Sunday afternoon.

They've been sold out each time. Just like Brianne's soups.

Soup'll make it home ONLY if I leave NOW.

It's all good. KY tomorrow...

 

Oh, Curve Ball!!

Apparently Terminal Boss is moving things around to accommodate one of our dedicated drivers who'd like to get to son's wrestling match this weekend. What started out as KY tomorrow is now St. Louis on Sunday.

Fact is, I had plans.

But plans are a 'moveable feast' as Hemingway might say, not necessarily a picnic. No, it's 0600 start, too, so have to roll out earlier. Tomorrow looks like a nicer day here, anyway. Sunday's possible. I'll do it.

And make the necessary changes.

Just polished off Brianne's veggie black bean soup.

At least it made it home...

 

Yes, definitely like a refresh. More than a little sorry I took the load. The Moose Club has 7 lodges coming out on Sunday, opportunity to learn more about them and... and... and... free food.

Oh, well.

 

Growing Like Weeds

Really kinda amazing tonight looking at new chicks at Rural King the size my 10 Golden Comets were last week. Mine have grown into what were over-sized wings just a day or so ago, their full-time 24/7 job to eat, drink and grow at a furious pace into fully-feathered pullets, capable of withstanding a darn cold, windy evening like tonight.

Already I hafta think about bringing the big dog cage in or moving them to a larger cardboard box from the medium-sized dog crate they're in now. In fact, pulling that really big dog crate out of the 'Bridal Suite' where one of my broody hens hatched out 5 chicks last year was on my 'maybe do' list for today. (One chick got taken, robbed and no doubt dismembered for food for another bird's young'uns.)

Ended up adding 3 roosters and one hen to my critter list hatched out of fertile eggs from 2 Rhode Island Reds I bought for $20.

5 hens are in the convent (separate coop) with a small, 125-watt bulb providing a little heat, 3 new-to-me old hens and a duck are in the doghouse/coop. I insulated most of 3 sides. Their 103 temps will keep them warm together despite the cold. The roosters are out of the worst of the wind on the porch. I think they'll be fine, too, inside a tarpaulin enclosure and up on a roost.

Makes me respect wild birds, tellya.