Whoa boy! The days are just running together and I’m not doing a good job of keeping track of them. I normally post my weekly roundups on the weekend but then the weekend came and went. And then so did Monday. So we’ll call last week’s roundup a chat session, shall we?
There’s been a lot going on but then not a lot going on. It’s weird. But it’s a weird time in general. I think I pretty much threw the to-do list out the window. LOL. I’m just kind of doing whatever comes along. So last week my focus was the garden and getting a good list of what needs to be started and when and how and all that stuff. You can read more about that here. But now I need to focus on getting the chickens ready to move to the coop. They’re 3 weeks old now. They’re not quite ready to be outside, but they’re getting closer and closer. They’re so hard to photograph though. They are still in their ‘the sky is falling’ stage. I do have 4 that are getting friendlier and friendlier. The two barred rocks (which is why I love barred rocks), one of the Anconas (pictured above. I love how they kind of fade out when photographed. It cracks me up). I’m surprised by the Ancona. Everything I’ve read so far has said they are flighty. The other 2 are definitely flighty. And then the Wyandotte. I think she’s a Wyandotte. Time will tell. Either way, she’s getting to be very friendly. I spend some time each day in the bathroom with them (which is where their brooder is located). I let them out of the brooder for a couple of hours everyday and then at night, before bed, I go in and talk to them and try to pick them up. Anyway, they’re doing well. I’m happy to have chickens on the homestead again.
We spent some time on the river. That’s been nice. We’ll get back out this week too. There’s some foraging that needs to be done and some foraging location scouting that needs to be done as well. My goal for this year is to learn more about mushrooms. I’m starting with morels and hen of the woods. Those are 2 relatively easy mushrooms to tell apart from other mushrooms. I’ve never found them in the wild before though. So I’m scouting some good spots to find both.
We did a virtual river clean up this past Saturday. We gathered a ton of trash. You can search the hashtag #quarantrashed to see all the people who picked up garbage along the river. I wanted to go to the game lands and pick up shotgun shells. I’ve had this idea of reusing the shells to make things. I’m thinking a wreath. I think I have enough shells now to make one. But I’m open to other ideas. Someone on instagram mentioned an insect hive of some sort. I’m totally intrigued by that! Anyway, I was actually disappointed because it seems as if someone had already been by and picked up the shells! I know. How can I be disappointed with someone cleaning up trash?
We had a little bird hit a window yesterday. He knocked himself for a loop. I watched him and checked on him to make sure he was okay. It took him a good, long time to recover, but he finally flew away. I think he was an American Redstart. And I’ve never seen one before. At first I thought he was an Oriole, but when I looked them up I decided that didn’t quite fit the bill. He was orange but he had a white underbelly. I’m pretty sure it was a Redstart. And I’m happy he recovered. It was very warm yesterday but rainy so I was a little concerned for him.
Speaking of warm and rainy, I need to get the beans under the hay wagon/hoop house soon, but they need to spend some time outside first. So I took all the seedling babies outside for fresh air. I think they really appreciated it and loved it. Today is much colder so I’m not sure I’ll take them out.
I’m still doing my facebook live demos over on my facebook page every Saturday at 10AM. They’re fun. I really enjoy sharing some of the things that I’m doing with others. It makes me feel connected to my peeps. I came up with a schedule so if you are interested, tune in on Saturday mornings.
Speaking of, here’s my latest video where we made 30-minute mozzarella, in case you want to see it without hopping over to FB:
In other news, I made a sign to hang on our doors. We still have people who pull into the parking lot thinking that they can come inside (the fly shop, the house, whatever. They want in!). Unfortunately we aren’t letting anyone in right now. So we decided to hang some signs. I thought this one was cute, but to the point.
I haven’t really been making as much this past week. Just bread and the basics for eating and such. Nothing much else. My garden has been the biggest priority so that’s where my energy has been focused. I still need to draw out my garden plan but that won’t take too long. So I decided to join my instafriend Vicki with a Mystery Knit A-long. I’ve never done one of these before so I’m excited! You can find more info on her ravelry page and stay tuned for details here!
That pretty much wraps up the week. This week will be spent doing much of the same. I’m not really feeling the energy to create much, either in the kitchen or otherwise. I’ll spend some time foraging, taking pictures, playing with chickens, and just getting things done in general. I can’t see this quarantine ending any time soon. I think we’ll be under lock down until mid-May at the earliest. So my early days of panic and the ‘I NEED to get things donerightnow’ has subsided into ‘I’ve got some time so just focus’. I’ll head out one day this week to pick up some veg from the local farm and stock up on some chicken stuff to get us through the next two weeks. I’ll also pick up my milk and eggs at the ‘no contact’ drop spot. But that’s it. How are you all doing? What have you been up to? What’s been your priority? Are you focusing more now or were you always focused? I hope you’re hanging in there! I’m thinking of you all.
’til next time
-k
xoxo
Samantha
I’m not sure which is growing faster, the chickens or the seedlings!
chickenlibrarian
it’s a toss up! I think the chickens are ahead now though. The plants need to get in the ground asap if we want to keep them growing! yikes!
Daenel T.
That sign is cute and to the point. I don’t know why, but I’m surprised by the number of people who want to go shopping and stuff. My daughter is still working retail and there are folks who go into the store just to browse and get out of the house.
I think I’m gonna try the beer bread recipe that I shared on my Facebook page. I’m still trying to convince The Hubs to sacrifice a beer. LOL
chickenlibrarian
Yeah. I don’t get it either…why do people need to go to the store ‘just to get out of the house’? Um. No. This isn’t vacation folks!
Anyway, I would say the same about the Mister and beer except the beer bread was his idea. I really need to try that soon!
Take good care. I hope your daughter is doing okay what with working retail in such a time right now!
xoxo
Tracy
I have to admit, I’m glad I’m in NYS where the measures have been no non-essential workers are allowed to go to work and must stay home. I read Daenel’s post about her daughter working in retail and shuddered. Mr. Gordon is fortunate in that everyone from his company can work from home, so when the State’s executive order came out, at least he didn’t have to worry about being laid off. (I already work f-t from home for a company based out of Iowa.) The last time I went to any grocery store was 4 weeks ago today – and that was for just a quick run in and out. It wasn’t even my regular store, just a small one in a tiny town where I had hoped that there wasn’t many people. Unfortunately, no one there got the physical distancing memo and that was it for me. No more stores. And as of yesterday, quarantine has been stretched until May 15 in NYS.
Anyhow… I heard my husband telling his mother on the phone last night that it’s pretty much status quo for us. Which is true. When you are still working, it still feels like M-F, and yup, still working for the weekend. But, you’d think that I would have all kinds of motivation to finish up all the tasks I keep putting off, like the “going through boxes and shredding old paperwork” type of tasks. Well, apparently not!
Our chicks seem to be doing well, and they are at that stage where they are just starting to challenge each other and figure out (I hate saying this) the pecking order. From what I’ve read off of one of the extension websites, in a small flock like ours, it typically starts after 16 days. That would be about right. We estimate they are between 2- and 3-weeks old. Their personalities are also coming out, which has been amusing. (Pop on over to my blog and check out the post and pics!)
I would have loved a couple of Wyandottes in the flock. That was always part of the vision, but not to be. That’s okay. I’m in love with the babes we brought home. 🙂 (But I look forward to your future photos of the Wyandotte! I will be envious, but in a good way!)
I hated it when birds used to fly into a window at an old apartment I lived in 20+ years ago. There where big windows and the light must of hit it just right. I remember several birds slamming into it. 🙁 I’m glad the one that hit your window got up and flew away.
Well, it’s 6am and time to make sure Mr. Gordon is up and at ’em! 😀 TGIF! Hope you have a great weekend!
chickenlibrarian
I’m glad NYS decided to extend the shutdown until May 15th. I know a lot of people aren’t happy about that, but I was pretty much going to isolate as much as I could anyway. It’s not like the state is going to open back up and I’m going to go running around to all the places anyway. PA hasn’t extended yet, but we suspect they will soon enough.
I do feel for the people who still have to go to work and be on the front lines of this. We try to not go out and if we do we shop at the little store near us that I’ve mentioned. But I have to run out soon for chicken supplies. And I’m getting low on some other supplies as well. I’m going to have to pull out the mask and gloves and just do it I guess!
and I can totally relate to this still being status quo. We’re the same. Except the fishing lodge would be in full swing right about now. So there’s that. But otherwise, we’re just trucking along getting things done.
I can’t wait to read your post about the chickens! I try to reserve Mondays for blog reading. I’ll be sure to get to yours straight away. I don’t think my girls have established any sort of pecking order yet. Not that I’ve noticed anyway. They are 4 weeks this coming Monday! My how time flies. I still don’t know about 2 of the chickens. The maran is super shy. So is the barnevelder and 2 of the anconas. The other 4 (barred rocks, ancona, and wyandotte are all friendly). I even have 2 of the chicks that like to climb on me now. So that’s fun. I suspect the barnevelder is a roo. Time will tell. I won’t be sad if she is a he. Just don’t tell the Mister. He does NOT want a roo. I, however, get the final say and there will be a roo on the homestead. just maybe sooner rather than later.
Okay. Gotta run. Homemade clam pizza is just about out of the oven. I look forward to catching up with you over in your space just as soon as I can.
xoxo
Leslie Susan Clingan
Nice to see and hear you live! Or almost live…recorded, I guess.
We have a no soliciting sign on our door, in a pretty gold script, that the solicitors totally ignore and blow right by on their way to pushing the door bell. I like the idea of this sign, although, for now the solicitors seem to be staying away.
Love the idea of a virtual trash collection day. Our mountain hikes and paths are closed but I have noticed a terrible amount of trash in our neighborhood park. I think I will don some gloves and clean up down there, following your good lead.
chickenlibrarian
AWW! Very nice! I hope you are able to pick up some trash. We do a yearly river clean up in August, but with the social distancing happening, I think everyone is looking for something to do. This is easy enough to do by yourself. We do it with other people but we keep our distance and all go separate ways.
Oh! By the way, do you still need sourdough starter? If so, I can gladly ship you some. Sorry I was delayed with that!
-k
xoxo