Random bits

When DD went out to feed the goats, she discovered a new mother hen. I am torn between being enchanted with these sweet mother hens and their little fluff-ball chicks and being very cross that they are hiding their eggs from me! We have no fewer then 30 chickens in our yard, and an average of about 4 eggs a day. That just isn't fair. At least this new mother's efforts paid off; our Jersey Giant has been setting for over a month now on a nest of duds. ;)

Our 'little' Pancake is getting huge! I have read that they can gain a pound a day at this point, though I am sure that is under ideal conditions with primo feed (which she isn't getting!). She's doing ok on the table scraps and hog grower, though, and I'm happy enough with the weight she's put on. I see a Christmas ham in our future....

And, lastly, another gorgeous sunset.

Like country?

So, some friends of ours are going to be in concert at the QCPAC, opening for Lady Antebellum on September 11. Anyone going to be in the area? Check out tickets at the QCPAC website under "KMLE country series". These guys are amazingly talented!

Update on the....'garden'

Somehow, there are still a couple pumpkin vines clinging desperately to life. I keep watering them, hoping they will last long enough to see the turn in the weather (is it just me, or is it possible it's just a TEENY bit cooler. Hmmm...No, must just have been a dream I had....) There are a few lingering sunflowers, as well.

All the trees are happy (after their near-death experience when they were without water for 2 weeks) except for the apple tree. I'm not sure if it's just the heat (even though it's lasted 3 summers already) or the weeds around the base of it, but it's not looking too happy. Too bad, too, because we actually got edible apples off that tree this year!

Sidenote: wanted to share a neat site, NEA Soapworks. This gal has a really well done site and lots of creativity put into her soaps. It's fun to see what others are doing with their talents...

Erosion

Yesterday, I got the report from DD that the drinking fountain in the back yard wasn't working. When I went to check it out, I found that there was a leak at the pig pen. A bad, bad leak. More like a fountain. Or a waterfall. It had been going at least all day, maybe longer, at full pressure. The water had eroded out a cave about 6 inches under the crust of the ground, about 8 feet or more in several directions. What a mess. DH had to dig up all around it, trying to find the leak. Turns out there were several....the pictures don't do it justice. I can't wait for this month's water bill....

The view

I love milking as the sun is coming up.....I get to see some gorgeous sunrises! (Not to mention I avoid many flies this way.)

And, I found this to be pretty funny......

Taking over

My DD received a darling flower/ button clip for her birthday from her friend. It was so cute, but very limiting since it was bright pink and neon green. DD wanted to wear one every day that matched all her clothes, so she spent her birthday $$ on a hot glue gun and flowers (buttons provided by me.....) with the intent of assembling some flower clips when she got home from school today. I was curious, and wanted to make a prototype, so that it would be sure to go smoothly later on today.....it was just a little too fun, though. Won't she be surprised when she comes home and I've already made 10?? I better back a way from the glue gun for now and let her do some or she'll be pretty upset. ;)

As requested

A picture of a variety of egg colors. This was the collection of eggs yesterday morning. There were several more in the evening, but still not a ton for the amount of hens we have mooching chicken scratch from us. I wonder where they are hiding them all...