Turkeys Have Started Laying

Found 2 eggs in the turkey coop today in a corner I hadn't looked in.  I just figured they would lay in the nice nest box I have set up them.  Needless to say with the polar vortex we still have going on they were frozen.  So from now on when I go out several times a day to get chicken eggs or to check on everyone I will be looking all around the turkey coop.  It is earlier than they started laying them last year so I hadn't been looking that closely.  I added some more bedding to their nest box and moved it to where I found the eggs and am hoping they use it.  I don't know where there are any golf balls or I would put a couple in the nest box.  I'll have to see if Ron knows when he gets home from work today.  Yahoo, hopefully I'll have better luck with turkeys this year, not easy to hatch and get past 6 weeks; that has been a problem for me.

Baby Chickens get Moved

I moved the chicks from the little brooder to the big brooder when we got home today. Unfortunately the first born chick got trapped beside the feeder and found him dead when we came home. I don't think the last 2 eggs are going to hatch but will give them until Monday morning. Out of 19 viable eggs we have 15 chicks, 2 died and 2 eggs have not hatched.

Phase One brooder box that Ron made last year from a wooden crate and lined it with heavy cardboard.  I took a piece of chicken wire and made a covering for the top.

Chicks getting ready for their move.

They are so cute and precious.

In the big brooder.

Ron made this last year from a crib that was picked up at an auction for $1.00, lined it with heavy cardboard, plywood bottom and chicken wire lid.  I use the cardboard on top to hold in the heat or let some out as needed.

Bulk Cheese Purchase

When we were in Indiana this past Monday we went to an Amish Bulk Food Store.   This was the biggest bulk food store we have ever been to.  It would take a good half day or more to go up and down every isle and look at everything.  We were there for a couple special items and CHEESE.  Buying cheese in bulk saves so much money.  We cut it in chunks, vacuum seal it and then freeze it until we are ready for some.  Amish areas always have huge varieties of cheese and most have samples.  Of course there were samples of almost every cheese they sold and I tasted almost all of them.
We picked up small chunks of the following cheese:
Yogurt Cheese, Horseradish Cheese, Salsa Cheese, Cheese and Salami and Pepperoni Cheese.
We got 2 lbs of Amish Creamery Cheese, 6 lbs of the following: Baby Swiss, Smoked Baby Swiss, Smoked Mozzarella, Mild Cheddar and 12 lbs of Colby.
Prices for bulk cheese is a lot cheaper than small packages.  The cheddar was $1.99 #, Colby $3.15 #, smoked mozzarella and baby swiss was $4,49 # and the most expensive was the smoked baby swiss at $4.89 #.  If you would get any of the above cheese at a deli you would pay $2+ more a pound.
We also picked up 5 lbs of deli sliced smoked ham at $1.99 # and 6 lbs of smoked turkey at $1.99 #.  We packaged the ham and turkey in one pound packages and also that is how we packed the cheese.

Side parking lot and side of the bulk food store.

More of the side parking lot and side of the bulk food store.

1st basket of cheese going in the freezer.

The ham and turkey packed and in the freezer.

The Colby and Mild Cheddar before cutting.

2nd basket waiting to go in the freezer.

3rd basket ready to go in the freezer.

First Two Chicks

Woke up to my first 2 chicks out of the 19 eggs that were left in the incubator.  This was at 7 am today and it is 12:45 pm and I have 8 chicks with 2 chicks pecking their way out.  That leaves 6 eggs that need to start.  I was going to start right away filling 2 incubators with more chicken eggs but realized that they would hatch right before we go to Pennsylvania for a week.  So I plan on filling the 2 incubators on March 5th.  This way we will be home a day or 2 when it is time to take them out of the automatic egg turner.  I don't want our grandson to have to take care of any new chicks as he will be doing enough feeding the hens, collecting eggs, feeding the turkeys and taking care of the babies who will be about 4 weeks old when we leave; plus he works.   I'm sure my oldest daughter Gina will come over several times to help out.  She is really good about helping when we travel without being asked.  She just always volunteers to do it and she lives the farthest of the 3 kids. 

The yellow chick was from a brown egg and the brown chick from a green egg.

Feeling Eggcited

Today is the day.
For what you say?
I have been waiting 21 days.
One of the chicks is pecking away.
And soon will be here on this rainy day.

Unpacking the Amish Clothes

I started unpacking the items we purchased in Indiana yesterday. I had 13 bags and have 5 bags of items on hangers. Tomorrow I will take pictures of the items for men and hopefully get them posted. Then on Friday I will start working on the dresses. It will take me several weeks to get things posted as I only have so much room to hang things. As items sell I will post more. So watch the store for some really nice items.

Indiana Clothes Buying Trip

We left for our day to the Middlebury Shipshewana area Sunday morning and had a nice 5 hour drive there.  The weather was beautiful and the roads were clean.  We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Middlebury and would stay there again, very nice, clean and friendly place.  For supper that night we ate at a Italian Restaurant that the staff at the hotel recommended.  It was very nice and the food was excellent.
Up early on Monday morning and packed everything up and ate breakfast at the hotel.  They had a huge spread of food which is always so nice and convenient.  We left there and straight to do my clothes shopping.  The shop opened at 8:30 and we got there at 8:29.  Norma opened the shop and explain where the items I wanted to look at were and then went back into the house to straighten up from her kids getting ready for the morning.  I picked out the clothes, Ron took them off of the hangers and when Norma came back she clipped off the tags.  Had a wonderful time visiting with her while I shopped.  I have about 12 garbage bags full of clothes sitting in the middle of my living room right now and it will take me a day to get them on hangers and then the fun begins.  Everything needs to be written down with the color and measurements of each item.  Then I need to take the pictures and get the items listed.  Watch for more on my trip in another post.

We saw about a dozen wild turkeys in a field outside Middlebury.

Check out the beard on this fellow.

No mater the weather the Amish still hang clothes out.

A couple of horses with covers on to keep a little warmer.

Surgery Needed

I guess I am going to have to finally have surgery.  I've put it off long enough.  The doctors told me long ago about this problem but I just didn't want to have to go under the knife.  The surgery will be on my bottom (butt). 
They discovered I have a strong magnet in my butt and that is the reason I am not able to get out of my recliner to do anything.  The springs in the chair are metal and the magnets strong pull is holding me in the chair.  So you see I have an excuse for not doing anything.  I need to have it done soon if I want to get up and get things done around here.  Please keep me in your thoughts and hope for the best outcome.  Thanks

Hatching Some Chicken Eggs

On January 31st I put 25 eggs in one of my incubators.  I didn't fill it because I wasn't sure the 2 roosters were doing their job.  Yesterday I candled the eggs and only 4 had not developed anything. So I have 21 eggs that are showing some growing going on inside. A week from this Friday I hopefully will see some babies. I will fill 2 incubators after this group hatches.  Now I am getting really anxious to see how many of the 21 eggs will hatch. 
In a month or so the turkeys should start laying eggs and I will put turkey eggs in the 3rd incubator.  I didn't have very good luck with turkey eggs last year and am hoping I do better this year.  
I will keep you posted and of course will post pictures just like any proud mommy would. 

Another Chicken for a Pot of Soup or Noodles

After the dressing of the last egg eater I started find remnants of shell once in a while.  For a couple of months I have suspected that a chicken that the grandson gave us last summer was possibly eating eggs.  Every time I went into the coop she was always in a nest pecking around or just sitting there for hours without laying an egg.  On Saturday morning I went in to gather eggs and she was either pecking at an egg or at the bedding so I started with that nest first and gathered the eggs.  She went to another nest where there were 2 eggs and in a matter of seconds she had broken one open and was starting to eat it.  That was it I picked her up by the feet and finished gathering the eggs and promptly took her over to the turkey coop where she stayed until later that afternoon.
After we had done our Saturday shopping Ron and I proceeded to get her taken care of.  I always do the killing and instead of plucking her I skinned her and Ron removed the innards.  I brought her in and washed her up and plopped her in a freezer bag for later.
We try and do everything they suggest to prevent egg eaters but they don't always work.  An egg eater is almost impossible to break and can't afford to have one.  Both of the hens that we had to take care of were ones that would have been butchered later this year after the new ones that I am or will hatch started laying.  It's not something I enjoy doing BUT must do.

The Deviants of Decay, Forgive Us Our Trespasses Art Show

  
Last night we attended "The Deviants of Decay, Forgive Us Our Trespasses Art Show" where our son Ron and 5 other photographers displayed some of their work.  There was a nice crowd and we had a nice time visiting and seeing everyone's photos.  You can check out and Like/Follow Ron's Facebook page to keep up with his works of art.  Sit back, relax and take a look at all the beautiful photos he has on his site.  Also click on "About" and see why he is inspired to take photos like this and if you have any questions you can contact him on the site.

Ron and some of his work.

Ron's work.

Several of the display items came from my auction finds.  Ron borrowed them for the display.

My 3 beautiful grand daughters; Reagan, Hannah and Eliz.

Sisters, Hannah and Eliz.

Cousins; Reagan and Eliz.

A Lazy Do Nothing Day for Me

The big snow from yesterday is still coming down.  It slowed down for a little while but has picked up again.  We received about 9 inches of new snow on top of the 7 inches we got this past weekend.
 
I had 2 wisdom teeth pulled yesterday and was scared to death with them telling me about all the pain I was going to be having.  So far I took 1 pain pill and that was before I went to bed, I thought it might help me sleep.  Well I was wrong about that, I did not sleep well at all.  I was awake about every 1/2 hour.  I don't know why I couldn't sleep, I wasn't having any pain I just did not sleep.

I've declared today is an official PJ's day for me.  No reason I see of to get dressed, not going anywhere and I'm pretty sure no one will be coming here.  All schools and some businesses are closed and there is very little traffic on the roads.

I can throw my coat on and still go out and gather eggs, the chickens are not into fashion so they could care less what I have on.  I guess I better get out there and see how good they have been and then I am going to take a nap.

Snow, Snow and Never Ending Snow

This past Friday and Saturday we received 7.5 inches of snow.  They had predicted some rain and sleet with it but we got very little of that which was OK with me.  Tomorrow NWS says the following:
Tuesday: Snow, mainly after noon. High near 24. Wind chill values between zero and 10. East northeast wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tuesday Night: Snow with areas of blowing snow. Low around 17. Wind chill values between 5 and 11. North wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

So that means on top of the 7.5 inches we have now we could get another 5-9 inches.  And if that isn't enough snow they are saying we will be getting MORE on Friday or Saturday.
This for sure has been the year of the snow and horrible cold temps.  They said we had weather like this 35 years ago and if it was up to me it could wait another 35 year to repeat itself.
On the bright side.................... well right now I can't think of anything.  :)