The old saying, Snow will not stick until the swamps are full and have frozen. From the rain we have had lately and the rain for the past few days the swamps are full! The National Weather forecast says the NE is looking pretty good for mild winter weather. Of course they are predicting a not so good chance of a white Christmas. Either way Christmas will come and go, snow or no. Cross Country Skiing and Snow Shoeing are our favorite pastimes along with those winter woods hot dog roasts. I am also enjoying these 40 plus degree days. December 21st will be the shortest daylight day of the year, Winter Solstice. Then the days will slowly gain more daylight and my hens will start giving more eggs. By this time of the year they have slowed down, 12 hens 3-4 eggs a day. I am much more careful on what I bake and plan in the days ahead. Lucky this year the 14 Australorp pullets have started laying in the past 2 weeks. They have given us the so called Pullet eggs which are the pick of many farm families. Tiny egg with that beautiful dark orange yolk. In about 2-4 weeks their eggs will be hen size. Being their first year they will lay regularly for us. Soon our family will be getting eggs to enjoy too. Right now, well I am hoarding eggs. This is our first go around at Australorps, we like them. They are a very friendly breed, heavy bodied and good layers. Our son Beau, had them a few years ago so we knew a little about them. Actually a fox raided his pen one night and killed all but one of his hens. We happened to be there a few days later. That hen was so traumatized she would not get off their kitchen window sill. Day and night she sat there not daring to go in her coop. What to do? Bring her back to the farm. The 6 hour trip with a hen, now that's funny. The dogs didn't mind sharing the back with her. We called her "Princess Queen" and here she lived at Cook'n by the Creek until her natural death. Sound a little crazy do I, could be. We always call the chickens mine, the horses his.
When our daughter Amber, moved to
Clara she was the one with chickens.
Many years ago she gave me her egg
gathering bucket, I still use it.
This morning as we sat enjoying morning coffee looking at the Christmas tree Dick made the remark, "we sure have peaceful mornings around here." I think he had that same feeling I did yesterday. Now the best part he was what he said next, "I'm going to buy more Austrolorp hens next spring". My kinda guy! You can never have too many hens. There will be eggs sold and given away, after all we are not in it for the $, we enjoy setting and watching the chickens peck during the warmer evenings. We have a birds eye view from our table and kitchen window to keep an eye on them throughout the day. We let our chickens free range, this makes the yolk that beautiful rich orange and I would like to think make my hens "Happy Hens." Kind of like the Happy Cows from California commercial. I have a hard time seeing animals confined to small spaces. I don't like so many laws but I would like to see one that gives large animals the right to 1 acre of pasture per animal and a place to get out of the heat, cold, snow or rain.
A hen egg on the left and a Pullet egg
on the right. Kitchen towel a gift
from my friend Tomi.
Our beautiful Australorps, in the
sunlight they shimmer iridescent colors.
The song I have posted is a Randy Travis song from 26 years ago, " He Walked On Water." It is about a Grandfather that would set in the shade and watch the chickens peck. This could have been written about my brother Bob, he would do the same and so many of the lyrics pertain to his life. Writing on this quiet, peaceful morning and talking of chickens brought Bob and our son back to my thoughts. I have such a wondering mind! The first time we heard this song was standing on an Army Base in Stuttgart, Germany where Bart was stationed. Bob had passed away 4 years prior. Bart asked, "mom have you heard Randy Travis's new song?" I hadn't. We listened to it with tears spitting out. Yes our family thought that "He Walked on Water". Here's to you dear brother and all the wonderful memories you gave our family. The most important lesson we learned from Bob, the love of family and watching the chickens peck. All of our kids have owned chickens at one time in their adult life. We "Passed it On" from my mom, to her kids to mine. I'm proud of that! Living in Clara has been a dream come true. Our 3 kids grew up visiting their Uncle Bob and Aunt Bev just about every weekend. Since we lived in the city (Shinglehouse, population about 800, smile) Clara visits gave them the country dirt road life that I believe everyone should experience. They would fish and play in Clara Creek, hunt the hills, take hikes, ride dirt bike and bikes, play with cousins and enjoy the kids that lived in Clara.
Maybe, just maybe I figured out how to post from YouTube...maybe. My computer skills are next to none and I am often amazed at what I learn. Life is a learning experience for me everyday, from animals, cooking, life, you name it I have so much to learn. If the video does not work you can go to YouTube and search it. It really is a wonderful song. I'm sure most families have that one person that held their family close and together.
Take a few minutes to set, relax and think of someone that has made you happy in your lifetime. There are sad times but without them there could not have been the good times. Don't forget to "pass on" those memories to the younger members of your family. It is how they learn where their roots all began.
