BeccaOH: Update of just STUFF

[keljonma]

We saw our first measurable snow on Black Friday. Then Saturday and Sunday were warm enough for working outside all day long. 60 on Sunday. I cleaned out the garage and got things arranged and stored for winter. Felt good. I want to arrange my hoop house beside the fenced garden for winter turkey housing, then I'll feel set.

We haven't had any measurable snow yet! Today we are at 50 with the sun shining intermittently.

Our forecast does call for possible snow showers by tomorrow evening, but no one is saying that it will stay/stick. Pretty crazy autumn. By this time last year we had been snowed in a couple times with over a foot of snow on the ground!

 

[BeccaOH]

We saw our first measurable snow on Black Friday. Then Saturday and Sunday were warm enough for working outside all day long. 60 on Sunday. I cleaned out the garage and got things arranged and stored for winter. Felt good. I want to arrange my hoop house beside the fenced garden for winter turkey housing, then I'll feel set.

We haven't had any measurable snow yet! Today we are at 50 with the sun shining intermittently.

Our forecast does call for possible snow showers by tomorrow evening, but no one is saying that it will stay/stick. Pretty crazy autumn. By this time last year we had been snowed in a couple times with over a foot of snow on the ground!

If I had measured, we probably had a 1/4 inch before it melted quickly. Aly had more up on her ridge.

Yesterday afternoon we had quite a soaker of rain. Did you not get that?

 

[BeccaOH]

I had an extremely busy weekend. Seems my days get fuller and fuller. If I don't slow down and get some good rest soon, I'm afraid I'll hit a wall. And I still haven't done any Christmas decorating, but at least my brother volunteered to host the family gathering this year.

Friday night I attended a concert that benefited a local mission. It ran 3 hours, but it was a very good variety type of Christmas show.

Saturday, I ran to town, then I went to see a neighbor about a rabbit hutch. I really like it, though it needs modified a bit. He convinced me to bring home 3 silkies. They are 3 different colors, and I don't know what in the world I'll do with them if my friend doesn't take them. Someone picked up 6 dozen eggs from me, cleaning out the frig. Then I had to do all the chores for the animals that I skimped on all week long. Ran electric cords and plugged in some waterers. We had company for dinner, and I was ready to fall asleep in my plate. Working outside in the freezing weather really drains my energy. It hit 14 Saturday night.

Sunday was church and lunch fixed at home. Then my neighbor came and helped me move my hoop house for turkeys around my garage and up the hill above my garden. We had to move wet straw bales with it for banking against wind. He even stayed to help me hook up fencing. It isn't great fencing, but it should keep the turkeys in for scratching in the garden area until around March. (Not sure it would keep our a determined dog or such, though.) I have to fashion a gate and then they can try out their new yard. Didn't want to work on Sunday, but you have to take the help when you can get it.

That evening I moved chickens around consolidating so that I'm now down to just 4 coop areas--2 for chickens, one turkey, and one waterfowl. Not counting a couple bantam cages in the garage.

My little sebright hen gave me her first egg. Tiny and white.

After working outside all Sunday afternoon, I went in to make supper for 4 of Aly's oldest kids who came for the evening while Aly was in town (see her journal). It was pizza and tator tots, followed by popcorn while watching a movie. During the movie I worked on making 7 different batches of fudge for the "cookie" exchange at work. Used the coconut creme fudge recipe from the fudge thread here and LOVE it. Adding a chocolate coating or icing on it would be perfect.

http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3687

All the while I worked in the kitchen, Aly's DS3 who is 4 hung around babbling about anything and everything. I didn't know a boy could talk that much. And he is just so darn cute that it couldn't be considered annoying.

By the time all my fudge prepping was done, I didn't get to bed until 1:00 am.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Just want to toss in here, I picked my kids up at 9:30 pm, so her staying up to 1 am was all her own doing!

 

[BeccaOH]

This Christmas tradition makes me wish I had kids.
Tradition of the Straws: http://blog.tnfarmgirl.com/?p=1101

Had a KC duck die named Bella. I think the boys were being too rough on her. I had treated cuts on her head a couple times. I really need to weed out some boys, but what to do with them this time of year???

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

I'm sorry about Bella.

As for the extra boys, eat 'em.

 

[keljonma]

Sounds like you have been really busy, Becca! It sure is that time of year.

Weather-wise we have had snow, melt, rain and snow. It snowed a bit last night, but we only ended up with about 1/2-inch snow.

ETA: sorry about Bella; maybe you could separate the boys from the girls for winter.

 

[BeccaOH]

Last night it was at least 10:30 before I got home. A long day that didn't have a great start.

So I locked down the coops and looked for anything that might blow away in coming storm.

Yesterday was the first day for the turkeys in their new winter yard. Did I tell you that while moving the turkeys I discovered just what a huge bird my old tom is? He has to be at least 40 pounds. Young tom is packing on the pounds too.

Anyway a hen had decided to roost up on the turkey hoop coop door that was still open. The boys can't get that much height. I got her down and did the head count. Found I was missing a hen. I looked and looked in the obvious spots and finally discovered her on the ridge of one of my chicken coops. Not sure how she got herself propelled over there, but I couldn't let her stay out in the rain and rising winds.

I grabbed a tall step ladder and leaned it against the building. Then I used a fish net I use to catch my crazy ducks to grab her and pull her toward me. She didn't resist much and she was in my arms quickly. Took her to her house. Not sure how to teach these girls to roost inside at night. They were doing so well when in the chicken coop.

So it was after midnight before I hit the hay. Now I'm downing the coffee and watching the weather move in.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

I'm downing the coffee this morning, too.

Do you agree that last night was high stress?! LOL

Glad you were able to catch your turkeys OK. When we had our big Bourbon Red Tom (Charlie was his name) he probably went about 40#'s too.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

hey Becca!

isnt it funny where they hide to roost?!!? we have to start getting our turkeyburkeys in by 3:45 now or they start flying all over the place. the easiest way we've found to get them down from the roof is to throw a (plastic) bucket in their direction. of course not the thing to do at nite!

we had to run the little turkeys in b/c the wind was just too wild but our big ones are still out there.. is this crazy wind or WHAT?