I trust each of you had a nice Memorial Day. I had the day off work, so it made for a nice, long weekend for me. We spent most of it working outside, and took the time on Memorial Day to remember those that have given their lives in service of our country, and those that have served and continue to serve our country.
My parents are coming to visit us in six days. They will be here from Monday until Sunday. We are extremely happy that they are coming, and really look forward to the visit. We are also busy doing a few things around here that need to be done before they arrive. Not that it really matters, it’s just a good excuse to finish some things up. Trust me when I tell you, there will be plenty of things NOT finished before they get here. I’ve already told my father that if he complains about it, he’ll be handed the tools to fix it. He promised he will not be saying a word.
My blogger friend, Lilla, asked me for instructions to build a soap mold. I thought there may be others interested, so I posted a page on making your very own soap mold. It’s not difficult or expensive to make. Check it out
My two broodies are so much better at it this time than last. They are setting tight as little drums on those eggs. Two of the fifteen eggs they were originally setting on had thin shells and cracked, so they were kicked out of the nests. There is a total of 13 eggs between the two of them now. The biddies should start hatching out about the time my parents come for their visit.
I’ve also noticed a little Golden Penciled Hamburg starting to act like she wants to go broody, as well as yet another little Phoenix. I told Bernie that if either or both of them go broody, I’ll probably put about 5 eggs under each of them. He didn’t say anything for a few minutes, and then he announced “You’re going to have to do something with all those chickens”.
I stared at him blankly. “Huh?”
“We can’t have all these chickens running all over the place around here.”
I continued to stare blankly.
“Well, that’s a lot of chickens you’re hatching. You’re going to have to think about getting rid of some of them.”
In the saddest voice I could muster I said “Well, the reason I want more babies to hatch is because I need more pullets so that I can keep Jethro and Pico. You know I need more pullets to keep more cockerels. Without more pullets, the balance will be off and I just don’t have enough hens to handle two more cockerels right now. I don’t really want more babies, I really need more babies.”
Bernie gave me a blank stare.
“Thank you, honey. I knew you’d understand. We’ll get rid of any future roosters.”
As I walked out of the room I think I heard him mumbling something like “Yea, just like we got rid of Jethro and Pico.”
Look at what we noticed in the backyard this weekend – on a little figurine thingy in the bird bath:
That hornet nest is small right now, but it’s been growing every day since. And it’s in a really bad location – that bird bath is right in the backyard and we walk by it every day. It can’t stay there. Those hornets wouldn’t be very understanding if anyone were to bump that bird bath.
Did you notice that caterpillar on the hornet nest? And isn’t it kind of creepy that the little boy and girl seem to be looking specifically at that caterpillar? I would think they would be more concerned with the hornet nest growing out of the little boy’s cheek.
Oh, well. To each his own. I really only posted that picture for my no-blog-reading-picture-looking-only niece. I figured she’d end up with a migraine if I posted even one more blog without a picture or two in it.
Bee Free,
Penny
Tags: broody hen, make a soap mold
Penny we done had 4 of those bee nest pop up now one on the house 2 on Tex’s smokehouse and 1 on his workshop. We had a kind of messed up weekend the plumbing again, this time it is the distribution box and drain field. we gots to fix both. Glad to hear your parents are coming for a visit.
and the chickens& puppys are doing so good.
Hey Charlotte – sorry to hear about the plumbing issues. It’s always something, isn’t it? Hope all is well otherwise. And I know how much Tex likes wasps and hornets! I’m sure he’s already taken care of that situation
Ahahahahahha! Bernie, Im sorry man, but it looks like youre gonna be having some more chickens around that there farm. But Id make Penny stay true to her word….NO more ROOS! But Im totally not taking sides. I mean, really,. how can you not love each and every one of those little chickies…..But cmon, you can only have SO many chickens….But really, peep, peep, peep…that has got to be one of the best noises ever……
Thanks for the mold instructions, Penny! I just told Neal I had another project for him and he didn’t run away screaming, so that’s a good sign!
I agree that the girl and boy figurine staring at the caterpillar does have a creepy feeling to it!
Chickens Rule – you NEED more chickens lol
lets hope they dont all turn out to be cockerals though, now that would learn ya
What a strange place for them there hornets to build their nest, maybe they liked the company of the little girl and boy…..
just squash it flat, them bloody hornets aint use to no man nor beast and ya cant even make a pie from them…..
x
Lilla – Yay! I’m glad Neal is going to build it for you. Please ask him to be sure and let me know if any part of the instructions aren’t clear when he starts using them and I’ll update them. And be sure to show us a picture of your new soap mold!
Frugalmom – I’m so glad your TOTALLY not taking sides. I’m saving your comment – it may come in handy when you finally get chickens……. speaking of which – hurry up and build that coop! I can overnight chicks, you know. I’m just sayin.
Marmy – I knew you’d understand. And I am really terrified of the cockerel ratio I am likely to get out of all these eggs. I’m actually trying to convince myself that we can put the cockerels in the freezer….. but that’s untested and remains a question. We’ll see.
We’ll be getting rid of those hornets. They are angry little critters. I’ve been stung for no apparent reason by them before. They actually do serve a purpose though. They are carnivorous and will eat other insects and clean up dead critters. But we have plenty around here so getting rid of that nest won’t throw off the balance of nature or anything.
Hope your boy got the whole passport thing straightened out and makes it to Thailand before too long. What an adventure for a young man!
Those statues do looked freaked out about the hornets. Good thing they’re sitting still so they don’t get all stung up! LOL
Hi Jocelyn – the little boy may be looking freaked out because he’s missing a wing. I guess they’re some sort of cherubs or something. I need to glue the wing back on and get rid of the hornets nest. Maybe that will improve his facial expression.
*sighs* I do so dislike hornets.