THE CHICKENS HAVE LANDED!

Well I always say "prepare for the unexpected because people are stupid." I told you yesterday that the hatchery said that my chickens probably wouldn't arrive until Thursday or Friday because they for sure wouldn't ship until today. Well guess what. They arrived today! Another example of American commerce where the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. I was watching both Nicholas and Jaxon when I got the call to pick up the chickens. I couldn't wait for Sarah to get here to pick up Nicholas so I loaded the boys up in Joe's new van and headed for the post office. Sure enough, there they were in two boxes. They looked like those boxes that you get when you buy a hamster only bigger. Out of respect for Joe's new van I put plastic down in the back before I put the chickens in. They were pretty quiet on the ride home (I thought they were dead). I put classical music on the radio to calm them. I read somewhere where they like that. The trip home was uneventful and I dropped them off at the barn, headed to the house to fill up the water containers then I took the boys out of the car. So organized! Not for long. I opened the box and they all just sat there. I tipped the box over so they would come out and they just sat there. I finally turned the boxes upside down and I swear they were clinging to the bottom of the box because they wouldn't come out. I finally put my hand in the box and that is when they all flew out. Kids were screaming and birds were flying. I finally got everyone settled down, and I counted the birds. "9". Counted again, "9". What happened to the 10th bird? I remember that one had flown onto the ramp and I thought that in the chaos that maybe it went outside. I looked around and there was no sign of her. I went back in and counted, "9". The boys wanted to ride on the 4 wheeler (they were done with the chickens already), so I thought I would ride around the yard and see if I could find her. I was about 50 yards from the barn when I saw a clump of feathers. A few yards later there was another clump of feathers. I went looking for Bear thinking that maybe he got it and killed it. Bear looked totally innocent, and I like a fool am standing there asking Bear if he ate the chicken. I even smelled his breath to see if I could smell chicken or see any feathers between his teeth. Nothing. I agonized over losing a chicken within the first 15 minutes of having it home. The boys played outside while I listened for sounds of an injured bird. Sarah came to pick up Nicholas and she wanted to go out and see the chickens. I told her my tale on the way to the barn. She went in and was looking at the chickens while I looked around more outside. She calls me in the barn and says "there are 10 chickens here." No way! Yes, there they were; 5 black chickens and 5 red chickens. I have no idea how I miscounted that many times but apparently I did. I don't know what the feathers in the yard were from, but at least it wasn't one of my new babies. I felt so much better. Now I could relax. At least until Bryan and Brad came over. Brad shows up first and he decides that they need to go outside. He starts chasing them around the coop trying to catch them. He finally gets one and puts it on the ramp toward the opening. She didn't want to go out so he gives her a little boost. By this time Bryan gets here I am actually holding one. It is surprisingly calm. One by one Bryan and Brad catch the birds and take them outside. A few got out of the coop before they could catch them so they ended up chasing them for awhile. It probably took about 45 minutes to get all of them outside. I thought, great now they are outside and Bryan and Brad are going home and then tonight I am going to have to put them back inside. Typical! Oh, I almost forgot about the one that flew into the rafters. Brad shewed it out and it flew down and landed on my head. Good Times!
So its time to get them back in the coop for the night. Normally if they were used to it, they would go back in on their own, but I don't think they had time to acclimate to their surroundings. Joe and I try to herd them first. Not working. I tried to catch one. That didn't work either. I tried a basket. Bad idea. Finally Joe and I both caught one each. We put them through the window opening so they would know where the door is. I put mine through the door and I heard it kind of roll down the ramp. Oops! It took us about 20mins just to get those 2. Finally Joe gets behind the last eight and starts slowly coaxing them toward the front barn door. He's walking really slowly with his arms out and he's making a shhh sound. The chickens are actually walking forward in a group toward the door. One went AWOL but he got seven in at one time. Way to go Joe! Once the final chicken heard where it's sisters were, she went in too. Finally all bedded down for the night. I hope it gets easier. I took skin off my knees trying to rub the dirt and chicken poop off from crawling under the bushes trying to get them. So much fun already and it hasn't even been 24 hours. I have to go now and check on them. Joe won't let me sleep in the barn.

Chicken Update

Apparently chicken shipping is on Wednesdays. So they will be sent out tomorrow and could take up to 72 hours to arrive. I don't want my chickens in a box for 72 hours. I asked the customer service lady if they would be ok for 72 hours. She said probably. If they die, we'll send you some more. I realize that chickens basically exist for meat and eggs, but have a little respect! Chickens are people too. Ok, maybe not. I'm sure I'll feel different the first time one pecks me when I am trying to gather eggs or eats the flowers in my garden, or maybe after I've shoveled chicken poop for the hundredth time. Time will tell.

Bryan's blog

Bryan started a blog, mostly to make fun of Sarah, Amanda and I. He can be a real ass sometimes. He wants me to put his blog address under my "blogs of interest" section. I have reservations because his blogs could be considered offensive to some and I suppose extremely humorous to others. As a mother I should be offended by his off color humor, but as an adult with a twisted mind, I think he is pretty funny most of the time. So to be fair I will list his blog. Be advised the content may not be suitable for younger viewers. The views expressed on www.wolfknuckles.blogspot.com are not necessarily the views of Whaddup Doe blogspot or any other associated blogs. Whaddup Doe is not responsible for any ill effects created by viewing the aforementioned blog. Viewer discretion is advised.

Moore Family Reunion

We had the Moore Family Reunion today at Foster Park. My mom and Aunt Velma actually made it this year. They are the two oldest siblings. It's getting harder to get them out and about. It's difficult for mom to walk too much. The one thing I noticed at the reunion is the inevitable fact that every one is aging. I see the "kids" that I grew up now all have kids and grand kids. I didn't know half of the people that were there. It was pretty easy though to tell who they belonged too. Most of the kids now look just like one or both of their parents. Aging really does suck! Life is like the ultimate cosmic joke. By the time you start to settle down and know yourself and be comfortable with who you are and have the means to do more things, your body starts to give out and you can't enjoy it. Well screw that! I'm gonna play softball even though my muscles are sore afterwards. I am not going to utter the phrase "I'm too old for that". I will follow my grand kids down the slide (until I break a hip). I will still wear the leather skirt that makes me look like a hoochie (well, maybe not in public). I refuse to go down without a fight and by no means am I ready to settle into a retired life. I am just getting started.! And God Bless the person that invented hair dye.

Happy Birthday Matthew and Jan

Big Birthday Day! Happy Birthday Matthew. How are things out in mountainous Colorado? Climbed up Pike's Peak lately? I need to get out there so we can climb down the Peak before I get to old to walk. Hope you have a great B-day. Eat lots of cake and have a piece for me. I miss you bunches!

And....Happy B-day to Jan (Brad's dad). Jan is in Oklahoma right now visiting his granddaughter for her 1st birthday. I think they have the Internet in Oklahoma so hopefully he will get his birthday greeting. Have a great B-day!

Challenge the Universe

I consider my self a reasonably smart woman, yet I continually attempt to challenge the laws of physics and gravity. I know I won't win, but I do it anyway. Maybe just one time the eight foot piece of wood that I am holding over my head with one hand and trying to hammer with the other won't fall on my head. I didn't really try to do that, that was just an example. What I did do however, is construct a kayak stand out of pvc. It stands 7' tall by 4.5' wide and 6'deep. I assembled it at my house without glue because I wanted to make sure it went together ok. My plan was to put it on my flatbed trailer and take it to the farm where I would glue it together and set it up. I wasn't looking forward to taking it all apart again just to glue it back together, but what I didn't know at the time was that I wouldn't have to worry about taking it apart. So, I get it on the trailer and I strap it down. I head out for the farm. I didn't want to temp fate so I only drove 45-50mph. Things were going well, I was singing along with Tim Mcgraw when I glanced in the rear view mirror and saw my kayak rack all askew, straps blowing in the wind and the truck behind me flashing its headlights. Great! I drove probably another mile looking for someplace to pull over. I got out of the truck and the guy following me pulled up. He says "You lost one whole side about 2 miles back." How embarrassing. He helped me secure what I had left and then I headed back up the road to find what I lost. There it was on the side of the road. At least it fell on the side and didn't get run over or worse yet hit another car. There I am gathering pieces and parts of pvc while good ole' boys in trucks drive by slow trying to figure out what I am doing, then laughing when they figure it out. Like I said earlier at least now I don't have to take it apart to glue it, its already in pieces. Miraculously I had all of the pieces. It was like putting a puzzle together. Then comes the gluing process. Pvc cement is just that, cement! it practically dries before you even put it together. Very hard to reposition so it has to be put on right the first time or you end up having to cut it off and start over. Starting over was not an option since I didn't have any extra pieces with me. I got the first tier together without too much trouble. I had a sinking feeling momentarily when I thought I glued the wrong length of pieces on the front and back. Luckily I was ok. The rest of it went together pretty well aside from dropping the glue container 3 times and fighting off a nest of wasps that made their home on the trailer side rail right where I was assembling the rack. Not to mention I was in the direct sun on a 90+ degree day. Mind you, I am not complaining. I bring all of my troubles on myself. I didn't have to make a kayak stand. The kayaks were doing fine just lying on the bank of the lake, but I have a need to make things neat and orderly. Plus when the kayaks are on the ground, snakes and spiders like to make their homes in them. I like to have projects to do. The truth be told, I like all of the funny and unexpected things that happen. I learn from my mistakes (usually) and it makes me laugh and gives me memories. I will probably continue to challenge the laws of physics. Who knows, I might win one time or die trying. By the way, when attaching a trailer to the back of a 4 wheeler remember that the muffler is hot! I learned that lesson yesterday too.

Labor Day Party

3rd Annual Labor Day Party (1st annual Whaddup Doe Party) is coming up August 31st. I am getting ready to send out the invites. Keep that date open!

What did I do today?

I walked my bunnies of course! I had one of Ellie's old harnesses that I make way back when she was a tiny puppy. I thought I'd try it out, and it worked. I'll have to make a couple more so I can walk them all at the same time. I really don't walk them, I just follow them around with the leash.