It's been a while, friends.
I have good intentions, I do, but ... life.
The last time I posted, Big Red, one of my favorite chickens had just died.
I have lost four more old ones, including this girl.
I wanted to show you something with this old girl. She was an anonymous
black hen, of the kind designated by hatcheries as
"Black Stars", or some other all-encompassing word to indicate a hybrid egg layer.
Her days of laying were LONG past. She was five, maybe more, because she may
have been one I bought from a local flock owner when I moved back here four
years ago.
See how washed out her face is? She was aged. If she were a younger girl,
she would still have healthy color in her face and comb and wattles.
Having said all that, everyday when I let them into the house side of the yard,
she would make her way onto the porch and stand at the front door, staring at it.
Like this. 
Like this.
I would see her and put some treats out for just her, and she would
grab them fast and eat before anyone else noticed.
I'll miss that.
I think I took this picture Wednesday or Thursday.
She faded, and died Friday night, and I found her body under the nest box of the
big hen house.
RIP, Little Black Hen.
There are only nine big hens left in there, and one does not sound well.
The oldest rooster, Ferdy, is not roosting, but making a little place on the floor. I hate to say it, but
he may be next.
This is sweet little Zoe, a ten year old Shih Tzu I have had
for two weeks from Bonner Animal Rescue as a foster.
She is a doll.
However... she will eat anything she can find on the floor except for dry cat food.
Consequently, today she has diarrhea.
Jester is a shy eater, and will wait all day to eat if he feels intimidated. It's easy to say
"feed them separately" but he will not eat a bite if he is locked in the bathroom and feels like
he is being punished. So... she will probably go on to an owner as a single pet.
She is a really cute little girl with good recall... walks pretty well on a leash.
Anyone local, she would make a wonderful pet.
This is my view looking down the pasture towards my neighbor's ponds.
See the little red tree?
There is a huge tree that always turns red this time of year, and I am
afraid I have missed it. When I walk out to get the mail shortly, I'll look for it.
We have had some glorious fall weather, but we also had snow flurries on Saturday!
Molly looks so innocent. In truth, she lays UNDER that swinging planter, the
last one I will ever use.... (because of all the waste last year) and grab birds as they land to eat. I caught her as she did it yesterday, and the bird was able to get loose and fly away.
So... the feeder is going to go on a shepherds hook. I like this arrangement better, because it cannot swing wildly and spill. You see, those sunflower hearts are THE most expensive of the feeds I buy.
I am being very careful this year to not overfill any feeders, especially my flat feeder.... I just cannot continue to buy as much feed as I have in the past, it has gone sky-high. I don't want the birds as dependent on it as they were in the last few years... so I put out a double scoop in the morning, and that's it.
Meet Bullseye!
This kitten was a wilding down at the lake where my oldest son and family have a trailer. They spend weekends there for half the year. This kitten came up to them repeatedly, and they began feeding it... and finally, one Sunday, Jim called and asked if I could take it.
I said yes.
He has had all shots and been neutered. My vet's office fell in love with him.
Here he is in action... and yes, I was warned about the Peace Lily and it is being removed.
He is a stinker.... he and Jester LOVE each other and play together often.
He and Molly play together after a standoff of a couple of weeks.
He has sure livened up the place.
The vet and I both think he is 4 to 5 months old.
He may be a little attached to me.
This is Cleo, one of the Kitty Cat Connection beauties.
She was one of the wildest.
She comes every morning and evening (well, most) and watches for me.
When I see her, I stop and go in and get her a can of food. She has me well-trained.
I also put the food dish out very early, so that all the ferals can come on deck and have some.
This is Coal, one of the two newest ferals from KCC.
She and Diamond Lil spent ten days in a big cage in my shop.
They are both still around and eating regularly. They know where the outside and the inside food is.
Diamond Lil is a tortie, and here she is coming out of the cage on her day of Liberation.
They are both still around, let's face it, they have it made here.
My beautiful Rusty, the cat in my header, has disappeared.
Wanda and Yeller are still here.
Dawn this morning was beautiful.
I am one of those weird people, I LOVE early nights.
I love that the chickens are in by five, and I have the whole evening to relax.
I found these eggs yesterday. Let me say here that
my old girls are almost finished laying, I get an egg from one of them once in a while.
I am getting NO green eggs any more.
The seven pullets I got this year are coming through, and three of the silkies.
One pullet, however, is hiding her eggs, and not in the planter. Someday I am going to find a huge stash.
I will have enough for Christmas baking, though.
Outtake of my helper.
Wanda waiting on the big hen house porch for me last week one morning.
Wanda was the spitfire who tired to nail me every time I stuck my hand in the Little Red Hen House to feed her. Now she meows as soon as she sees me.
Almost time to get Christmas out, but I am loving fall this year.
I am going very, very spare with Christmas this year.
Honestly, I will TRY to post more often so people don't think I fell off the ends of the earth.
