The past few days have been clear, and cold. Single digit temperatures  during the day, and a few degrees below zero at night, at first I was worried about the chickens.  However, the chickens are doing great, though they do look a bit ragged in the morning. 

The only thing that I am doing differently with the chickens is that I am feeding them an extra time during the night to ensure that they have a full crop when they go in to the coop to sleep.  No heat is being provided to the chickens, as they come with a nice down coat and are perfectly capable of surviving single digit above and below zero temperatures.  The coop is big, dry, and draft free, with adequate ventilation to eliminate excess moisture from regular chicken activities (like breathing and pooping, the two main activities of chickens).  Still getting large egg counts form the chickens also – another indication they are doing well in the low temperatures

Finished RSH 9103MME – Mixed Methods Research – today.  Submitted my final paper, and just waiting for a grade.  My next course is RSH 9104E – Concept Paper, and is the last “normal” course prior to comps and the dissertation sequence.  I came very close to withdrawing from 9104 and simply receiving another Masters, but have decided to continue towards my PhD (or EdD depending on how I structure my dissertation topic).  Sometimes, I just want to take a break and not have to worry about having to submit another assignment.  However, maybe with a bit better time management, I can have time to do the activities I want, and also have time for school.  So, depending on successfully passing comps, I will go on with the rest of the program.

Oh – I am picking my dissertation committee this week also – Fun times!

Comments(0)

Found the little egg in the nest today.  Even though it is quite small, I am still counting it as one (whole) egg. 

Comments(0)

We have had this orchid for about 10 years, and has finally decided to bloom.  While most of our other orchids have bloomed, this one never has, and I have no idea why.  I also have no idea why it has finally decided to bloom.  But, I am very pleased that we have not yet thrown it away, as has been discussed on numerous occasions.

Just finished another assignment in RSH9104MME – Mixed Methods Research.  While the class has not been overbearingly difficult, I have been sick.  I caught a cold (or something) prior to Christmas break, which I thought I was over.  During the break however, I was once again sick and while it was not a bad cold, it was one of those colds that make it very difficult to think or concentrate.  I could not read or write, and could not complete any assignments.  Last week, maybe because of the cold, I was very tired and had a very difficult time at work and doing class.  This week though, I think I am finally over whatever it is that I had, and seem able to once again, write (and read).  

I have been receiving seed and gardening catalogs.  Even though I do not plant anything in the garden until 15 May, it is time to start thinking garden again.  I do need certain seeds to start indoors starting in February.  Some plants take up to 12 weeks prior to planting outside, and some, like cabbage and pansies, take 8 weeks.  So, spring is coming, and I am hopeful for an acceleration in global warming so all the plants don’t rot in the cold rain again.

A crappy picture of the ever elusive sun thing that occasionally shows up in these parts.

Comments(0)

The moon through a thick fog layer at 9:50PM.

Taken with Fuji H20 in night mode with available light (highly filtered moon light) only. 

Comments(0)

Our 5 chickens managed to produce 137 eggs during the month of December, which equals 4.419354838709677 per day.  I an very happy with this number, especially considering that it is winter and egg production sometimes suffers in colder weather.  It seems that the mix of spent beer grain, layer food, and some vegetable scraps are a good diet for the chickens.  I am sure that the outside light also helps.  The light is on from  6:30 AM to 10:15 PM.  There is a small 15 watt light in the coop that is also on during those hours.

As for treats, the picture on the right is of the chickens having some heart healthy Cheerios!  At first, they had no idea what do to with the cereal, but they really liked the Cheerios. 

Next post – Summer Plans!

Comments(0)

After a long Christmas holiday, Albert the Assassinator Killer and Charles The Snitch returned to work.  Charles, a new employee, was to be trained by Albert to become Albert’s assistant.  As you can see, Albert and Charles are extremely proficient and need three computers to do their work.

As you can see, computer work is extremely tiring.  Here is Albert taking a little siesta, closely watched by Charles The Snitch.

And what is Albert doing on company time with company resources?  Where is The Snitch?

Where was The Snitch indeed!  It seems that Charles was taking notes on Albert’s activities.  Charles The Snitch, snitched!  Albert was fired!

Here is Albert The Assassinator preparing for the long journey home. 

What will happen next?  Will Albert return to his assassinator ways?  What will happen to Charles?  Will assassinate become a word he becomes intimately familiar with?  Who knows. 

Stay tuned for future adventures of Albert and Charles.

Comments(0)

Albert The Assassinator Killer and Charles The Snitch prepare to go back to work after a two week Christmas Break:

Comments(0)

Pizza Dough

Comments(0)

From a jar of peanuts. 

I guess this is for stupid people (i.e., liberals and lawyers):

Comments(0)

Just some images of some of the treats I made for Christmas. We gave most of them away, but we did manage to eat out share.

Made two types of Chex Mix.  One of the batches was an old recipe from my mom that is labeled “Mexican Tidbits”.  It is a bit more salty and spicy, and is my favorite Chex Mix type treat.  When I was overseas, my mother would always send some in my care packages.  I also made a “regular” batch, though I do vary the ingredients, using all three types of Chex cereal, along with a few extras.  I also leave out a thing or two. 

I also made two types of caramel corn.  One of the recipes was simply caramel corn with pecans, while the other batch was coated with milk and white chocolate.  The chocolate coated caramel corn was simply great.  It will be my standard caramel corn in the future, though the regular corn is also very good. 

I have tried walnuts and almonds in caramel corn, but I prefer pecans.  Walnuts are sometimes a bit too bitter, and almonds are too hard.  The pecans are usually soft and sweet; a perfect match for the caramel corn.

One last treat was date nut bread – again two batches, but both batches were the same. 

With the above, we constructed gift packages that also included home made Merlot wine, home brewed beer, and fresh eggs from our five chickens.  Overall, I went through over 4 pounds of butter, and about 2 pounds of brown sugar.

Happy New Year!

Comments(0)