I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend! It was busy as usual but all worth it! Cleaning pens- moving birds stuff like that.  We did not have to leave the front porch to watch a lot of firework displays for about 3 days! They still sell bottle rockets and close to commercial type fireworks out here and it just blows my mind what people blow off in the yard! I watched it for hours as I was doing chores. The only thing I keep thinking is look at all the money up in smoke!
      We did get the new bator upstairs in this office without great hassle  and looking forward to hatching with it. I now need another office or a whole new building. I eventually might have to build one for another office or place to work ! But its all good! We are just going to need more space for other activities. Lord only knows what I moving towards next. I have recently tried a new health juice and well let me keep trying it... I sorta over indulged at first. Today is a new day.
   Well moving forward as usual I am very excited about changes!  Takota is turning 13 and that means OH NO!!! She would like some things re-done in her room and her laptop fixed. So as soon as time allows I am off to the PC man. I need some of the software he has and maybe another pc or laptop for work anyways. Cody has taken over the one pc that was a back up I should say spare so maybe I would be better off getting him a wireless lap top ? Hummm just thoughts for the day.
   For some odd reason I popped right out of bed bright and early and I think my juice has something to do with it??  Maybe it has to do with personal thoughts and goals? Lots on the brain and no time for the outside drama. I would love to see folks come down to earth but for some reality and accountability is not possible. I wish people great luck all the time no matter what, bad and nasty behavior is really an issue with people and it is actually harmful to your well being as far as health goes. I have always thought ugly hearts get cancer faster.... live lonely lives....heart attacks because they are prone to drinking.... I really think it is one full circle and good hearts always get feelings hurt but because they are good  they move on. Those with bad hearts or souls how ever a person wants to look at it ... they tend to linger in bad all the time and it is pretty sad and nothing is positive about it nor can you become progressive or stable in your own life living in a live that is not your own. Over this holiday weekend  we had the scanners running and just hung around for fun here. After hearing several really ugly domestics call out I thought you know its not worth it and shut them down. I watched tons and tons of fireworks being blown off  and was thinking about the families that  are not once unit and the tensions that create those fights must be unreal.... makes me think to myself how important that being honestly to yourself is. I am glad there are great times to reflect on small issues to improve our own self. Positive influence and great role models are important to all of us and I guess I have been lucky enough to have the good- bad and the ugly to learn from and know it has made me who I am and how to make the right choices for the long term well being of everything... everyone makes wrong choices but it depends on what they do and how they behave after the fact that shows what type of human they are to begin with.
   Well we are off to check out some thing that I might consider getting involved in If could just have a few more hours in the day... another building and while I am at it I want to paint the floors and gut the kitchen!LMAO I hope all family and friends had a super holiday weekend and all have been safe . I know at times I am hard to get a hold of and I am sorry for that....  as always life gets in the way when you are making it happen!

   Now just tell me who calls it summer vacation? I have yet to see the vacation. The kitchen remains a disaster and everyone else has the vacation from cleaning it? Every thing around this entire place needs to be worked on  and explain to me where the vacation part comes in? Yeah right.
   Two weekends ago I took a road trip to George Mihaliks home! That was a vacation in a way. I am waiting for the pictures of my car because it was rather funny to look at and took me a day to clean it back up. The incubator made it home safe and so did all the birds! I am happy for John Fitzgerald and all his new birds. I might sneak away from home and take a vacation at Johns house to help him build new cages! My friend Christy is trying to figure out a way to sneak off with me. It is rather funny to be honest we are trying to vacation to do work! I have been spending most of my nights in my chicken coop cleaning and building again. I am heading out there this am.
  I returned from George's place on Sunday night and cleaned house all day Monday because in laws were coming in Tues. We spent the rest of that week visiting family and eating out. By the time the weekend came around I slept 12 hours a night! Now it is back to work. We had a great time though.
  Birds birds and more birds! Seems I have birds falling out of the cracks again but this time I am ready for them. I have several birds that already have new homes to go to and will have some others for sale soon for pick up only. Like I said today will be my final day in the cleaning coops mode. I have to get this mess in my yard cleaned up and completed so I can get focused on other things. Like finding a house keeper and cook that will work for free or maybe trade for birds? LMAO
   While family was in town we went to the Price Tower. It is a building built by Frank Loyd Wright and it gave me tons more ideas! Nobody else is excited about the stuff because it means work but what ever I can cut the stuff up that  I cannot carry with the chain saw and remove it in smaller pieces!! LMAO HAHA. Honestly the carpet is being removed from this house ASAP. I have feeling it is part of the skin problems one of our dogs has. I do believe we will be handling that soon but I think the deck in the back yard should come first.
   My coop flooded on the edges again while I went to George's house. It really bothers me it did that so now I have rain gutters installed. Rod and I put them up last weekend. I realized why and could see exactly how water went into the coop after that. No biggie it is taken care of and after part of this deck comes down I won't have to many water worries again. I am shocked this is going on but when I think about it , nothing surprises me. A lot of this stuff was built when this area was in a  drought and people did not think about drainage or the effects of water. In the next week or so it should be all fixed.After that I will focus on other things  like finding that housekeeper that works for free?
   I am so looking forward to handling stuff to promote the breed of our birds. I think a Silkie should be in the yards of all good animal people! They seems to be addicting for so many people and I am glad.

  I don't think the cleaning ever ends? If it is not cleaning coops it is cleaning house. If not the house it is the barns or taking stuff to the dump? Where do I get all this stuff?. In a couple of weeks I am going to have a yard sale and get rid of tons of it! If it has been in the attic for 2 years than I do not need it!
  Today we are cleaning coops and people are coming to get the manure for their compost. I am going to make a garden next year! I do have some veggies coming for my birds from the local gardeners so that is going to help a little. I would like my own large garden next year.
  Chicks and more chicks. I have not raised nearly the amount of chicks I would like to this spring but things fell behind and the plan changed midway. I am going to NM to pick up  chicks and a new bator so I will be ready for spring next year. For now we are going to remain focused on our birds and this show season.  I cannot wait to see everyone this fall. The ASBC is showing strength and it is good to see. Wait until the ABA Yearbook comes out! As Silkie chicken people everyone should be proud of what has been done! A couple of years ago a wise man told me to change things by being involved and he was correct in his statements. Now if we could just get him involved we will be heading in the right directions! Just kidding . Things are becoming more and more progressive by the day and soon things are going to run with out kinks around here.. HAHAHA I am fooling myself right?
    Soon enough I will have more new software to learn and this should be fun . But I am looking forward to learning and having the ability to make changes with a few key strokes so that should be a huge asset .
   Speaking of assets.... You know there are some people that are worthless in this world and some that you know are worth their salt! When you are put to the test about your word and your word comes back bad it is over in my book. I know not all things work out but if a person is honest and tries it makes all the difference in the world.   I recently sent a main rooster to a friend. Something went wrong with the bird about a week after he got there ... it was not viral or sick but an injury like no other. I doubt any of us will ever know what happened or how it happened? I  received a lot of voice  mails and when I returned the call my bird was already being taken care of . The bird was given special care instead of being tossed off to the side. We still are not 100% sure this bird will come out of it but he has been given the best care possible and it will turn out the way it is suppose to. Trusting the people you work and trade with will always be a huge asset to the breed of Silkies and the Poultry World. I won't mention names or anything but not many men will spend a lot of time soaking a bird in the bath tub to help him!I still laugh because the bird loves his warm bath and you made his day. You know people with honor do their best to handle things correctly and others with honor will trust them in day to day situations. I worry honor and integrity is a falling spirit and it is up to the people to fix it. Some things just work out exactly how they are suppose to work out.

  I heard peeps and remembered I have Polish Bantams trying to hatch soon. I am excited to learn new things with birds. I am glad these have another owner that is going to have a lot of birds very soon if she keeps it up! Just kidding she only has one trio and it is amazing the number of eggs those ladies have created! I am glad she is getting a good start and has intentions of raising birds to start showing. It is never ending the education a person can get from other animal people. I even learned about Llamas this week! I do not need any for my own but they are a very interesting animal to say the least. Maybe later when some of my old farts pass on I can get one for coyote control. I am even thinking donkey in the future just because they are so cute! A donkey can sure enough handle coyotes if you have a good one. We seem to have a pack of coyotes on both sides of us now. Almost daily I see a momma yote' traveling in the neighbors pasture to a better hunting place, she is in no danger of us unless she comes way to close but you never know what happens after dark. A donkey or llama has been known to handle these problems. Most of my horses have plenty of game to them and will chase strays and other things out of the pastures so we have been pretty lucky so far.

     I have to be  reminded to update this stuff!  It has been a busy time. The pond is finished. Hatching is ending.... I have only hatched about 1/4 of what I hatched last year. I just have a couple of pens to hatch from now and that is it.  I am ready for summer and already looking forward to the fall season. I am just waiting to step on the colts and have time to do what we do best and that it the horses. Takota is out of school and this year is her year for colts.... so she eats a little dirt as long as nothing much gets broken she will be just fine. The colts are pretty good so the rest is up to her.
    Our birds are doing well and soon some will be in new places. I will have to have the space to raise chicks and it is time for some of them to go on to greener grass and be chickens. They will get a great place to be. I have to have the space for the babies as they grow.
    Fall will be coming faster than most realize and I am glad for it. We are totally tired of this inflation scam because it is an election year. It is so predictable during times like this and I guess people assume America is not  very smart because we put up with it and go into hysteria pretty easily... just sit back all things will change. In recent conversations with friends I have made the comment over and over ... unless we are willing to do something about it ... nothing will change so as a society we get what we deserve. Some things are worth fighting for and others are not.  They will self destruct anyways. Choosing battles carefully and wisdom of the enemy means you might have done your history homework  because history always repeats itself. This should be in all walks of life including  our animals . From horses to chickens it will always be the same. You will always have those that stir and cause grief . I am learning  from the children they are called GREIFERS or something like that LMAO. The kids have to educate us on these things? !!! I guess when you have a ugly soul it does not matter who you step on or what type of front you put out there... ugly is ugly. There is no changing these people and the best thing to do is step back. Let it ride because some way some how someone will get bucked off . It does not matter what type of critter we are talking about because GRIEFERS  are everywhere. I should state they are the same when it comes to their family lives also... it does not matter . It is not good for all of us as humans let alone it does nothing but bring harm to the breed of animals they are affecting. It is amazing some have raised great kids and I guess we should thank the rest of society for helping shape the kids. I find it amazing and think  therapy or meds will not help some of these folks. There is nothing progressive about them ... it will be the same old every year. We all should just be grateful their are people out there that not only have an IQ but loaded with common sense to save some of us from ourselves! Not that I am a hot head or anything LMAO.Things always work out for a reason and sometimes we as groups of people need to understand that .... some people cannot help but to always stand out front and suck up all the energy of others ... I think the term is vampire and others well they like to be the victims? Either way it keeps people in the counseling business with a job. I think you have to know you are sick before you can seek help but hey one can always just choose to move on versus dwell in the dirt.
       Chickens and more chickens..... I am a little concerned for our chickens. The price of feed has hit the roof and I mean hit the roof. Our horse feed is doing the same. In one week our mineral buckets went up 9.00 dollars! It may not seem like much but multiply that times 4 when I am buying feed and that is 36.00! Unreal to think not only can we not afford the gas to go buy feed but we cannot afford to buy it when we get there! It is pretty sad.
  Speaking of more money.... Postage went up. It  cost be almost 9.00 more to ship a bird a couple of days ago! The Post Office told me they are now going to break shipping Express Mail in zones versus one price on a National level. I am not sure how is was handled before but it seems to have changed. I think what is going to make it hard on all of us is now not know a flat shipping fee to charge. You have to wonder what effect this will have on buying and selling birds? I do think about how many people are on  a fixed income and the effect of this. I hope everyone does make it past this election time and we get this over with so we as people can move forward.
   Yes I wrote a book today! There has been a lot going on and that included our Club Ads. The members of the ASBC have done a great job coming through on behalf of the club and it will continue with strong good intentions and progressive in nature for the well being of the breed. My brain still boggles at other breeds but I do believe I only have limited storage space up there! In time I will learn about other breeds because I should. We are looking forward to a strong presence and knowing there is honesty and honor behind some it makes it even better.

  I should start by stating our pond project was not completed for a week! It appeared to be completed but when I returned with plants the water level was receding! Not a fun time folks! It is holding water again and all seems to be in good shape. I will get an updated picture. We have planted a few things but would love help in deciding what will survive and will not. I know there are others that have much more plant knowledge than I do. My rule of thumb is if it looks like a weed than I can grow it. I would love to try my hand at a garden next year but I guess I should see if I can make the small water plants live first?
   Lumps and Bumps
 Well it has been a long time but I managed to receive a couple lumps and bumps from the horses. Nobody was at fault but me. I know better and knew better at the time. Oh heck I even broke my own rules just to get these few bumps and bruises. I do have one heck of a bruise on my rear! In reality I was on the cell phone when I hit the ground and all I could do was laugh. Rod came out of the feed room looking for me and I was on the ground with my feet hanging out of a stall! I am sure it looked horrible! All I can do is laugh about it because I am not that hurt. Lesson learned for the 100th time.
  It is hatching time and I have been busy hatching a few for myself and some for a friend. She just got her first Polish Trio. That darn pair of birds can sure lay eggs! Oops trio but I was not including the cockerel.  I cannot wait until they hatch.... these are her first chickens and she is studying hard! I will be hatching them and hehehe I just cannot wait. Her and I have fun teasing each other back and forth. I am going to call her and tell her the chicks are all alive but they only have 4 toes each and I should cull them! We do have a good time with each other and these birds. They like to make fun of my silkies and some of my antics... I won't tell anyone she has a nummy bowl for her Polish and they get it filled every night! Good lord no wonder I have so many eggs of hers to hatch. The two ladies have produced about  28 eggs between the two of them in one laying cycle... I am not sure if they are done yet! Not to mention all of them are fertile! I wonder what is in those nummies! You would think we are  having to much fun with this teasing!    

  You know I think there is a song that says ... "I ain't as good as I once was ...but I am good once as I ever was "  Either I had a long winter and have fallen way out of shape or nope nope I am not saying it! I am in denial!  I forgot to take my vitamins that is my story and I am sticking to it.  Here is what we started yesterday and we built it at least a foot off the ground and surrounded it with these huge colorful rocks we had laying around! There is a lot of work to complete but it is a start. I let birds out this morning and they have no interest in jumping up there so I am glad for that! So far so good. This pond was between the house and the garage and has caused way to many problems.  This is going to be great when it is completed.

  I guess we could say spring is in the air? These recent storms have been taking their toll on my mental state. We have lost power one to many times and for the next batch of storms we are getting the generator ready. Between the brooder and Bator I  was losing it!
  With spring in the air this also means a few road trips! Wahoooo. We have been extremely busy lately so a could of road trips will help keep things in perspective for me. 
  Hatching? How is hatching going for everyone? I hope a lot less eventful that mine . This time of the year is so fun . I am excited to be doing it but wish it to be almost over and fall to be here! I missed a couple of shows this spring and am looking forward to the fall shows. If we do not stop losing power I will be showing the old ladies but that is ok I can still see my friends.
   We have not even come close to mapping some of these area out yet . I have a traveling partner now that has polish and we can at least split hotel rooms. That will be a big relief.

  Well I decided to take some of my own advice. Ignore the rest and focus on my birds and it works wonders. Why ...is all  we would like to ask people? You have to wonder if other people have so much turmoil in their hearts they have to create it for others...  It is much better to be outside enjoying the animals you have versus making heart ache and drama for others. I will pretty much step out from this point on. I am shocked at people and the child like behavior . Oh well so be it .
   On some great notes Barb Aerni you did it again! We are so proud of you! You have been through some tough times with a house fire to bad predators and still you endured it and moved forward with your birds! Huge congrats with your Rs FL !  I will look forward to visiting you in the fall and hope to see some super good colored birds. Hard work and honestly always pays off!
  I am also excited about the comments that have been made regarding the awards! I am glad most people are happy with them. Things are in progress and will only get better so be patient. I will do my best to handle my part.
   We spent most of yesterday in the coop. Rod built me a shelf so to speak and I set up the stainless steel brooders.I also have room for my show boxes underneath!  George gave me these cages and I am very proud of them! Thank You again. Well three on the bottom have 1/4 inch wire and the three on the top have smooth and flat stainless steel grate.  Later we will build wood brooders with 1/4 inch wire and use these cages for the next transfer of babies as they grow. In that same room we moved a wall cage that has four large compartments for the final stages before the babies hit the floor. I am about 65% finished with that room. I have another room for storage and food prep that needs a lot of organizing! I think I should have a yard sale very soon and get many many things I thought she have been kept gone! Tons of kids clothing! It is amazing the amount of clothes my kids have... we walk around in our same old stuff but darn it they just keep growing.
  My son will be 18 years old! WOW what a life of experience he has ahead of him... brings tears you my eyes to think my baby boy is now a big baby boy! Maybe this year when we are starting colts I can get him back on one? You know is always an ego adjustment? LOL.
  Today will be a big day... grocery shopping and I have to get chicken groceries also! I am enjoying our new food for the coop and look forward to a lot less hassle preparing feed. Yes they are a little spoiled but so what. I cannot wait to get this yard sale mess over and have a nice food prep area. The final thing I need it going to be a sink.... hint hint hehe. You know I ran my poor husband out of our previous shop for the birds and now I have taken the entire garage and two 8x10 storage rooms from him. I guess it is only fair he kicks our chickens and I out of the house right? Mostly the kitchen is where I do damage but during show season the living room and my office looks like a chicken pet store! So he has me about 90 percent kicked out! The incubator - hatcher are remaining in. I am still allowed to use the kitchen sink to bath birds in! I think that is because he knows I feel bad for taking over and making a huge mess so I clean the entire kitchen when I am done... Rods comment is well at least the kitchen is clean! 
    We are excited about the first couple of hatches but I think that is normal! I am sure that by the time we are finished hatching I won't  be as excited but this is life!

 Wow after a long weekend it is over.... It seems like a week ago. Have you ever noticed when you have a lot of things to get done and you have a plan something throws a curve ball. We lost power on bird washing day! I was extremely grateful I spent a lot of time setting things up to work like an assembly line because when we lost power I did not have any wet birds! WHEW. It set us way back though.... after a all nighter with bird prep we were running late on travel day! I think we ran late until the show was over!
    Hutchinson Show .....
 What a great place to go! We had to take the new family addition with us and Ms Hemi did just fine aside from her feet never touched the concrete!   
I have to finish cleaning the car out and I will get the info and make preparations to send it in  the ASBC
  I did want to give a huge congrats to Barb Aerni for her BV-BB- and Res FL bird! Super job lady and all your hard work is paying off! Maybe next time I will bring more ASBC goodies with me. Thank you for the renewal also. Keep up the work and keep in touch more often.
 I think so many of these shows are so much fun because of the great people that help create them. Without their hard work there would be no shows so please keep supporting these shows. Even if you cannot attend ,support them. A lack of communication will create failed Poultry Clubs and it will only hurt the industry. I heard several stories this weekend regarding clubs and not holding shows because there is nobody to help set up or the new facilities are just way to expensive and that is a shame! Things will settle down soon and maybe others will step up to the plate and help out also. I am still learning and  maybe by this fall I can be in a better position to help at the shows.