Bird Feeding Time!

Pulled out, dusted off, filled up and hung out the bird feeders. I don't like to keep them out year around. I'm afraid the birds will get too lazy and complacent, not to mention the expense. I want them to catch and eat the bad insects from our gardens instead and to earn their keep and in return, come winter time, out come the feeders. That's a fair deal I think!

It's amazing just how fast these feathered creatures discover the feeders. Perhaps, there's something in the bird world, i.e. a feathered gossip line, similar to the "twilight bark" that Pongo and Perdia used to ask for help in locating their stolen puppies (101 Dalmatians).

Anyway, this fall we've been having a boat load of Morning Doves visiting our feeders, pictured above. More than I've ever seen in one place before. They've been coming by the dozens! I counted 28 just the other day, WOW! Just hope they stick around.

The Six Million Dollar Man

1975 The Six Million Dollar Man game by Parker Brothers

Last Veggie Harvest of 2011...

Well, it might be November 30th but it's been unseasonably warm here in the Northeast, which is more than welcome. I just hope we don't pay for it later...

Anyway, most folks around these part have been long since done with their gardening but not us. No sir, we're still picking veggies, yes we are! Mostly it's kale for the rabbits, however, today I picked our remaining carrots and a handful of parsley!

Both delicious and it's that time of year when stews and soups are perfect meals and these two ingredients are welcome, hm hm good!

Happy Turkey Day Folks!

Wishing you all a Safe and Happy 2011 Thanksgiving

Vintage Kojak

1975 Vintage Kojak "The Stake Out Detective Game" by Milton Bradley.

Fancy New Dryer Vent Installed

I took advantage of last weekends 60+ degree weather and installed a brandy new dryer vent replacing the old, unsightly, incorrectly installed existing one. This one is designed better to keep the outside elements and critters out, while letting the hot dryer air out.

I cut the clap boards so the vent would sit flush against the house, chalked it good behind and then around all sides and edges once I fastened it securely to the house with four screws.

Inside, I installed new flex tubing from the dryer to the newly installed vent and fastened it so there are no holes or leaks. I then took the front panel off the dryer itself and shop vac'd the inside of the machine. It's now clean as a whistle and safe from the potential of catching fire. I'll paint it the vent come spring time to match the house.

In the end it all works like a charm and looks better to boot.

Ouchy Boo Boo

No, not Yogi Bear's Boo Boo (pictured) but rather Emilie boo boo!

Yup, received that call that all parents dread from Emilie's after school provider, "Hello Mr. Frye, this is so&so at so&so, Emilie had a little accident..."

The kids were outside playing on the playground and Emilie whacked her head on one of the pieces of equipment. It was bleeding pretty bad but the folks got it all under control, stopped the bleeding and had an ice pack applied when I arrived.

So, just as I did SO many a time growing up, off we went to the hospital to have it evaluated. I was thinking 3 to 4 stitches, however, and much to our surprise and relief, the ER doctor was able to use glue to, well, glue her wound shut! No stitches, hooray!

Now when I was a kid, they'd clean the wound with a rough SOS type pad, jab like an 8" needle in the cut to numb it, then sew it closed with a rusty fishing pin. Ah, but not today, these kids have it made. It's a completely different experience visiting the ER these days.

In the end Emilie was a trooper and did a great job under the circumstances. She is a brave little girl and I'm VERY proud of her but let's hope this was the first and last time we need to visit the ER because in the end I can't handle it...

Garage Parking...For One At Least

I've been making progress in getting the animals and yard put to bed for the winter. Actually, we're 99% complete with just a few more smaller odds and ends to tidy up.

One of the biggest accomplishments, and the one with the most dire consequences for me if I failed, was "reorganizing" the garage to allow JoAnne to park her vehicle inside. Unfortunately, and as you can see, I will not be parking my vehicle inside this winter, nope! I basically relocated everything to my side of the garage. I'm hoping I won't be needing anything from the back corner. If so, I'm SOL! Too much "stuff" - I need a shed. Also, gonna need a good ice scraper and snow brush, alas...

Le Coop Hath Been Winterized

The chicken and rabbit coop has been winterized. The critters are tucked in and comfortable for the long, cold winter ahead. The good news is that the Oprington pullets are beginning to lay; (3) eggs today. The older hens are in various stages of molt and not laying but no worries they're all snugged up.

Open House

The woodpeckers did the initial damage a couple summers ago and created access inside. The yucky, dirty common sparrows took advantage and nested in there this past summer. Here are two curious Blue Birds checking things out. Perhaps, they're visiting open houses for potential cribs come Spring 2012, which would be nice. Either way the two-legged homeowners appear to be completely oblivious to the ongoing damage - no surprise there.

Vintage Flash Cards

Late 50's early 60's vintage Flash Cards by Milton Bradley

2011 Lawn Mowing Totals

My 2011 grass cutting totals are in:

- Dad's Lawn = 16 Cuttings
- KMichelson Lawn = 15 Cuttings
- BCox Lawn = 13 Cuttings
- FPreisler Lawn = 1 Cutting
- My Lawn = 26 Cutting

SO very happy the season has come to an end! Shoveling snow will actually be a nice change of pace.

Happy Halloween (Make-up Night)!

It's our towns make-up Halloween night tonight thanks to the lovely Nor'easter we had one week ago, BOO!

Catnip Fix

Here's Gracie cat (closest feline) and Lila cat enjoying the awesome day and some of our fresh picked garden catnip. And boy do they LUV it! They eat it and roll all over it and become happy cats. I tried some too but it didn't have the same effect on me, alas...

The Rare "Hornet Cleome" Flower

I snapped this picture a couple weeks ago, before the frost and early Nor'easter hit. The Cleome is now dead, victim of the frost, and the hornet, well I can only guess he's a goner too.

This weekends weather, although a tad nippy, looks to be sunny and beautiful. The plans is to finish getting the yard and animals winterized, the spring/summer items stored and, at least, one garage bay cleaned so we can park a vehicle inside. A tall chore for sure...

Link Numbers

1958 Link Numbers by Milton Bradley

Jack 2.0

Things just were not the same out in the old animal pen since our beloved rabbit Jack passed away last month. Although, Jack will always be the king of our homestead, we adopted a new male bunny this afternoon. He's was advertised as a Holland Lop but I have my doubts, as they're supposed to be tiny and this guy isn't so much. No worries he's a handsome little man none-the-less.

His birthday is July 17, 2011, so he's still a young'n. He has BIG rabbits feet to fill but no pressure. The lady rabbits seem to approve and he's already settled into his new cage just fine. Several names have been tossed around, i.e. Gordon, Mark, Louis and even Tim Thomas (the Boston Bruins goaltender for those of you who are clueless, which is unacceptable by the way!). Until he is officially named I will be referring to him as "Jack 2.0".



Oh, he was also introduced to Trixie. Not so sure "Jack 2.0" enjoyed his initial meeting but I understand completely, after all how much fun can it be having your ear bitten, chewed and pulled by a dog that's smaller than you?! This bullying thing is getting out of hand...



Anyway, welcome to the ole homestead Jack 2.0!

First Snow Fall of the Season :-(

We had our first snow fall of the season last night, ugh! 32 degrees on the nose this morning according to our thermometer, brr! Too soon, way to soon for sure - it's still only October. Just hope it's not a sign of things to come. Here are some of our Halloween decorations with their snow hats on, kinda cool...

Our Orpington Flock of Ladies

Check out the little ladies! Are these not a good looking flock of Buff Orpintgon pullets? They have a wonderful disposition and very friendly too. They're closing in on six months old and should begin laying soon, which we'll welcome as the older hens have all but stopped ever since the cold weather has begun to move in - if we're lucky we get one egg every couple of days.

New But No New...

I replaced our chickens homemade milk crate nest boxes yesterday with real nest boxes. The homemade nests worked out just fine for many years. The real nest boxes had been hanging in the old, empty chicken pen at my dads house and I finally got around to moving them here.

I built some new roosts for the ladies to fly up on and hung it. Will be heading to the feed store this morning to pick up a bail of hay, which I need to the rabbits with winter approaching and will also use some to line the new nest boxes.

The pictures below are not the prettiest but then again I'm talking about a chicken coop, so it's to be expected.

Before -


After -


For anyone interested, I have two used milk crate nest boxes available...