Monday

Monday, I was going to cook chicken and freeze some. I picked up what I thought was a knife, but it was a fork. Not to be deterred, I used it to open the packaging on the chicken. I could see the package of chicken was puffy. But, what happened next was a shock.

The fork broke through the puffy package alright! Raw chicken "juice" squirted right up my nose and into my mouth. I gave a little screech and realized it was all around my mouth, too. Grabbing the Dawn, I got it on my finger and poked it up my nose and sort of into my mouth, spitting and rinsing with water. That chicken was so GROSS.

The chicken went straight back to the store and I traded it for fresh. I decided to go to WM. While there, I realized the pharmacy was still open. The pharmacist told me the germs had to get into my stomach. It can take 12 hours for me to get sick. Well, I was going to go to the doctor on Tuesday morning. Tuesday--it is about 1:30, and I am not ill.

Tommy was called for jury duty. I hoped his condition would exempt him. He did not even want to try. His voice gives away his happiness for this venture. He saw a high school friend at court that he had reconnected with while at Sam's. Monday was the first day, and he made it to the chosen 30.

 After I fed my chickens, as I rounded the corner where I could no longer see them, I heard what could have been an egg song except it did not last long. I did not want to go back and fight them for an egg.  Of course, it was such a short sound that it could been Cher beating up Bette for looking at any of the food. Cher is very bossy and dominates the food.

Knowing better, I bought Christmas hat Kisses for myself Monday night, telling myself I would not open them until after Thanksgiving. Who am I kidding? So, I am going to seal them up in several boxes or bags and put them into the trunk. Maybe that will keep me out of them. Tuesday--still have not even touched the bag!

That was my Monday except for two naps. Since the weather is going to be bad, I have the energy to stay up if necessary. I doubt anything will happen, but before any bad weather gets here, I need to change batteries in a few flashlights.

Have you ever gotten chicken "juice" in your mouth? Do you like or dislike jury duty? I cannot be trusted with chocolate. (Ask my kids.) Can you?

What is in this chicken?

I just wrote a whole post and lost it. ACK! Now, I am highly discouraged.

When I buy chicken breasts, I just get the lowest price at WM, lowest in town usually. When I put a half cup of water in the crockpot, the breasts were eventually floating. The broth is nasty. So, I ventured into Save A Lot and bought Sanderson Farm for $2.19 instead of the WM $1.99 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts.

The results were amazing. The chicken tasted like chicken instead of salty chemicals. This week, Sanderson Farm at the same store was $1.59 per lb. I bought two packages for a bit more than I pay for one at WM.

Breasts in the crockpot are rather colorless. They are seasoned, so they taste delicious. However, a little color would help. In a sandwich or casserole, color is not really necessary. One day, I opened the cabinet and grabbed a newish acquisition--McCormick Grill Mates Smokehouse Apple. Maybe I mentioned this and used it before. But, it tasted much better on chicken than it has before. This seasoning, of course, makes sandwiches taste much better.

Even though I bought two family packs to cook now, I will be getting at least one more family pack to freeze raw. If only I had more freezer space...

Can you tell the difference between chicken breasts with no additives and the treated stuff.  The packers do not say "treated" on the packaging. There is no packaging for me to read right now, but it sounds innocuous which I doubt it is.

I wish I could raise my own chicken!

Do you notice the additives pumped into chicken you buy?

Chicken Names; Who we can Shoot! Happy Birthday DIL

Today was free lunch Tuesday at the church with real plates and forks and knives. We had chicken pot pie with huge chunks of chicken. Unfortunately, it had peas, so I scraped off the sauce and ate the chicken. Huge pieces of leaf lettuce had a large square of Jello salad, the kind that is whipped with fruit in it. YUM! The yeast roll was scrumptious. The white cake square with lemon frosting I passed up after two little tastes of the frosting. Unsweetened tea topped it all.

The sheriff of our county spoke. It was all very interesting. We learned who we could shoot and kill and under what circumstances.

Finally, I decided on names for my two chicken: Cher and Bette, you know, like Middler.

Dinner was half of the little $3 salad, his half with chicken I cooked and dressing, my half with the chicken that came with it and some cheese. He did not want cheese, anyway. I am so tired I forgot to put tomato on the salad.

I finally got stamps, hobbled into PO, then lost her card. So, Happy Birthday!

We are still expecting 90s here.

I think I slept about three hours last night. UGH

Then, Heartbreak!

On Tuesday night, I finished the day with the glow of new chickens surrounding me. When I went out Wednesday morning, one of my precious red chickens was dead, her chest ripped open.

With a heavy heart, I tried to find how the raccoon got into their cage. I know it was a raccoon because of the chest being ripped out. I could not pick it up because I don't have enough balance to bend that far on uneven ground, using both hands to pick it up without chancing a face-plant.

When I first went into the pen, chickens were running and screaming for their lives. I thought--foolish chickens, you are safe. Then, in my search for eggs, I found the body.

No one I asked had time to help me. Well, the body will be gross by morning. Plus, there will probably be two bodies, maybe three.

My second career as a chickie mama was short. I cannot afford more hens. I really hate raccoons.

Today, I used my birthday card from KFC and got a free 2-piece meal. Of course, I got extra gravy. I carried the carcass home to the two who are left. But, they were so hysterical, I am not sure they ate it or the oats I gave them.

I also got my hair cut. I think this cut will work. It feels nice and swingy. You know that feeling?

Headed for a Spaghetti Coma

Tonight was the free dinner--spaghetti, Parmesan cheese, salad, dressing, garlic bread, unsweetened tea. I got seconds on spaghetti, cheese, and bread. I turned down cookies, ice cream, and chocolate syrup. Well, I did eat one bite of ice cream and took one cookie with me.

The meth addicts with whom I speak are funny, polite, and determined to do better for the future.

The people running the programs  are good company and interesting.

I got an invitation to a Cowboy Church. Yeehaw!

Now, I am home and watching Young Sheldon. Maybe I can fight off this coma for ten more minutes.

Tomorrow, I may go chicken shopping....much fun.  I went to Aldi's. More later.

I don't think I have ever had spaghetti I did not like if I had enough Kraft Parmesan Cheese in the green shaker bottle. How about you? Are you a fan of spaghetti?

4th of July and Chickens

For the Fourth, I had hot dogs, slaw, and chips.
Breakfast was banana and milk.
Snacks were boiled egg and cherries.

The BLT for dinner will be more of a salad since I will leave off the bread. If I ate two buns for lunch and two slices of bread for dinner, I would overshoot my self-imposed two slices of bread per day.

There was a box of sliced white mushrooms that I sautéed and put in a jar. In the same pan I sautéed onions and put in another jar. I love Ball jars. I think I may add the mushrooms and onions to a jar of spaghetti tomorrow.

It was a hot, humid day. My yard was supposed to be mowed. sigh

I count myself so lucky to have another day I feel well. For a while, I felt like I was slowly dying.

I am making plans for chickens again. I will not get chicks, but hens laying already. It won't be as much fun. The chickens won't know the ropes around here, so they will get less free range time. If they won't mind, they cannot have freedom once in a while. Besides, I had fun training the chicks.

If I get three hens, I can be assured of getting about 18 eggs each week. I won't eat that many, but you might be surprised how happy people are to get fresh eggs after helping me with something.

The flag at the head of the post will not enlarge or move to center.

Just Stuff

Last Friday, I think, I got a flu shot.  I have always suffered a tiny bit of pain at the injection site the next day, especially if it were touched. This last time, I had tremendous pain over most of my upper arm for three days. There seemed to be nothing I could do to stop the pain. I never take anything for pain, so I had nothing. Flopping around and moaning did not help one bit. Wonder why? I mentioned the pain today to the pharmacist today who said that was very unusual, that most people don't even know they got it. The second pneumonia vaccine is due, but I am loath to get it in case it brings on such horrid pain.

For several months I asked exbf if he had any of my Tupperware, especially the divided dishes for lunches. He replied every time that he had no Tupperware of mine. One day, after six months of questioning him and not believing, he brought me a bag of Tupperware! He just did not realize he had it. Now, how can a person not know he has a dozen containers and their lids? I am so happy to have them back.

I still don't trust this new dryer with a heavy king-size bedspread. So, today, J took it to the car, took it in the laundromat, shoved quarters in, and for $3 it is clean. Then, she put it in my dryer. I just drove and supplied quarters. I wish I had my old washer back. I don't believe it could not be repaired. I could have found another like it and cannibalized it to fix mine. I miss it every time I have to go out to wash.

When I get my pen and me ready, I am anxious to get new chicks. Someone promised to send me eggs to hatch. I am a glutton for punishment. I miss having chickens. I am so gratified that MamaHen took Dominique since D is happy and sticking up for herself. Of course, I won't rush out tomorrow for new little ones. I like raising them so they know me.

Since I am so overweight and have gained weight, today is the start of better eating. Maybe I should say--less eating. Weighing less would alleviate the pain in back and knees! The crockpot is still going, so I bought potatoes, carrots, and kale for the next "cooking."  Celery, onions, and bell peppers will be added for flavor. Potatoes are better than what I have been eating. I know what you are thinking. And, yes, I will have something chocolate or sweet every day, just not every hour.

Is it cool at your house tonight? My car ac sure is cold when it is not so hot. My ideal temperature is 80F for the day and 65F during the night. Of course, I am not eager for heating weather. The main thing about the weather these days is the low humidity. I can breathe.

I bought one Christmas present for half price today. Well, it is one part of the gift.

I found my favorite lipstick, Revlon, for $2.50 today at WM! Check your WM. The same lipstick is $8.50 at CVS,

Okay, I am off to eat a salad, take clothes out of dryer, put clothes in dryer from the washer.

Well, knock me down with a chicken!

Okay, so I have been running a high temp since Aug 14, feeling puny since August 12, have gone to doctor twice and taking another round of strong antibiotics and prednisone to help with the head congestion that will not ease. There is little cough, a bit of sore throat, and little sinus pressure. So, I feel lovely, am either hot or sweaty or dried to an ickiness. It definitely is not strep.

Balance has been a problem because I feel half here. I almost fell down the basement steps today since earlier in the day I decided the tomatoes were drooping too much. Getting up and down the steps into the house is dicey. I almost fell several times due to general achyness and lack of will to put my feet in the right place.

Yesterday, I was carrying about 16 oz of water in a plastic tumbler and a small bowl of dry oats, on my way out the door to feed the hens. I tripped on the carpet, kicked the waste basket into my path, stumbled over it and hit myself in the lips and mouth with the plastic tumbler, spilling water on me and dry oats on the carpet. I need to 1) vacuum the carpet or 2) let Fancy in to clean the carpet of oats or 3) wait on exbf and ask him to vacuum the oats. Really, I will wait until he comes so he can be my spotter in case I fall over the canister vacuum while I vacuum that one spot.

Yesterday, I was feeding the hens late, near dusk. They all three had come to perch on the iron railing next to the door, wailing mournfully in an attempt to induce me to come out and feed them supper. You may not believe it, but chickens do know how to beg. I started feeding them near the door at dusk, and they think that is where the food should be. At first, they never got a scrap unless they were in the pen. Good training and it worked. After the raccoon ate Chessie, I decided to feed them close to the door near dark.

That's why they were pestering me yesterday. I went out with a plate of food and managed to get down the steps safely. As I raked it into a pan near the house, Fancy jumped down and ran over. Thelma felt she would just run down the steps. I heard Louise flapping and taking off. She hit me on the right side of my  R knee that had the repaired torn medial meniscus, the one the doctor told me to be careful with. I think that hit was an acl tearer. Or, a lateral meniscus damager.

I staggered about a bit, twisting the L knee that has a torn lateral meniscus that needs surgery. Then, I hobbled to fix their cage on the porch and almost fell backwards off the steps onto concrete. I need a hole to crawl into.

Dinner is pimiento and cheese, ruffled chips, and diet Coke because I want it.  And, I ate KFC last night and there is no one to fix me anything. This morning, the hens went nuts over the breast skin, meat on the bones and the bones.

Sitting and typing is my best thing since Aug 12, 2011. But, there is more to life than this. Sleeping ranks really high. Yes, when chickens are not hitting me, I am stumbling over them.

I refuse to take aspirin to lower my temp or even Tylenol because my body is taking care of itself when I have a temp above normal. But, normal for me is iffy. Most of the time my temp is 97.2, but one day it was 96.5 or lower. I have to work to convince a doctor that if I am running an abnormal temperature.

Okay, right after this is Dumpster Diving II.

Over and out,
The permanently feverish one who is not taking any pictures.

Produce Run

Produce transportation--little red wagon

Since I discovered that there is something torn in my knee and I injured my shoulder, I have not gone for produce for the hens. I cannot carry even a light or small box to the car. My left knee just keeps collapsing! Asking the people who give me the produce to then carry the box to the car just seems all wrong.

Today, I did ask. The young woman carried it for me without seeming to be annoyed. They never seem annoyed, but I don't want to "ride a good horse to death." When I got home, as usual, I dragged the box into my little red wagon and pulled it to the hens. 

The hens have already had an ear of corn, a cantaloupe, and an apple from this box. From the house they have had two sweet potatoes, whole wheat bread, and a banana. Later today, they will get more of this plus oats. Since I have to go 50 miles to the doctor tomorrow and be gone a long time, lots of this will be saved for my time away. Yes, they will get food other than this during my absence. 

Notice the Bell pepper. It will be rescued before I feed it to hens. I will get some of it for the roast I will cook for tomorrow. Since the onion is growing green sprouts, I will try planting that and see what happens.  The rotten oranges have a special compost place. There is some sort of hole next to my fence. All onions, garlic, potatoes, and citrus go there.  I just fill the hole and don't plan to use that for soil.

After a getting a pen full of cantaloupe, corn, and apple, plus plenty of water, Fancy stood at the gate and pleaded in her long, drawn-out, squawky way, talking also, begging to get out. So, I must hurry and hang out clothes, and run out for an errand. Then, I can let them all out for their daily spa--dusting in a hole. They make their round for greens, eating short weeds, not these tall, unsightly ones that need to be eaten.

Getting produce for my hens makes me so happy. Am I just getting senile and overly sentimental when I think of them? Yes, I plan my life around hens. All was well in paradise until the raccoons showed up!

The sweet potatoes they eat are the natural loss from having bought 120 lbs of sweet potatoes last fall...25 cents/lb. The banana is one that was in the house, but gotten for hens.

In the box are grapes, strawberries, squash, onion, tomato, corn---many foods that were not rotten, just oldish, not much older than things that have lingered in my refrigerator. I rescued the red sweet pepper to cook with. The onion will be planted. Except for the moldy oranges, everything else was edible this morning. Okay, the cucumbers were turning yellow. Produce waste is my hens' gain.

onion sprouts in bottle

On the laptop was the only place I could get the short sprouts to show in the bottle. The inside of the sprouted onion was rotted on the sprouts. This will go into a vinegar jug to see what happens. I sliced and froze the whole red sweet pepper, forgetting to show the end product and all the pepper that was free-to-me. Well, you know what a Bell pepper looks like! Next time.....

It's almost six o'clock and I am sitting here, finishing this post. For the last thirty minutes, I have heard a noise I cannot identify. Finally, I figured out it has been hens in the box still sitting in the wagon by the back door. They help themselves!

Your turn
If you have hens, do they complain about not being let out of their house or pen to run free? Do you ever get old produce to feed hens or other animals?  Is there anyone else amongst you who spends $0 on food for your hens?

I Am About To Burst To Tell You!

New Tricks
Fancy and Thelma and Louise have been busy, learning new tricks. Hey, all three now come and get into their cage in the house. (Okay, that was the big news, but it seems so lame now.) Yet, they still frantically try to find their way out of their outdoor pen when the door is wide open.

Chickie Mama is coming...
so there must be food. I looked out the kitchen window and saw Fancy standing in my swing you can see way in the background of this picture, behind and to the left of the picnic table. I went out to take a picture. They heard me and started toward me. You just never can tell when I actually have food!

Hen House
The dog pen is their dwelling place. You can see the Rubbermaid box in which they lay eggs and sleep. Another box needs to be replaced on top of this one. They sleep two to a box or all three, just however they work it out. Both boxes sit on a plastic table. The ladder is for their amusement. Just to the left of the tree in the foreground, you can see a waterbowl that seems to be suspended in air. It is actually sitting on one of the three-legged plant stands. Raising it helps it not have trash scratched into it every day, every hour. The tarp lashed to the top of the pen is leaking. Poor hens have to rough it!

Oh, the side of my house is rock at the bottom. The picture makes my house looked cracked.

Eggs for baking
Right now, I could use the four eggs a day. When Chessie was so violently murdered, I was reduced to three egg sources. Putting the hens indoors has reduced the egg production. I am NOT getting up early enough to put them out at first light, even if first light is later due to Daylight Savings Time. My solution to having few eggs is to not eat them often for breakfast.

This week, I need an egg for the cornbread for dressing. Another three chopped, boiled egg will go into giblet gravy. Five eggs for Chocolate Pound Cake, four for pumpkin bread, 4 for pumpkin pies...maybe I can get the cakes and pies made. We will see. I still have three days to collect eggs. Some days I get none.

Fancy is lucky she is cute
She may be the slacker layer. When I gather two eggs, hers is not there. If she were not so cute and talkative, she might be dispatched to the oven after some prep work.

Fancy and the telephone
When I sit outdoors, I usually talk with a certain friend--Donna. She hears Fancy talking. We laugh about her insistence and coming so close, jumping up on the swing to talk with me. Yesterday, I decided to sit a bit in the yard because it was so warm and dry outdoors, very pleasant autumn day. But, I did not talk on the phone. All three chickens were contentedly pecking, silently going about their grass-eating and dirt scratching and bug-pecking. I took the phone out and dialed Donna. As soon as the phone started ringing, Fancy came running as fast as she could and TALKING to me. She must have heard the phone ringing! Anyway, she could not be quiet, but jumped up on the swing and talked to me as Donna and I laughed.

Fancy and the camera
She is accustomed to the red cell phone at my ear and never seems concerned. But, let me put the red camera to my face for a picture, and she is out of there. I can never just whip the camera out, bend or sit and get a picture of what they are doing at the moment. At first, all four shrieked and ran away at the sight of a camera. Now, they just go away. Finally, I have figured out that I am extending the camera toward them and making them uneasy. (no viewfinder) I don't dare lay it down to let them become accustomed to it. They would peck it and ruin it.

Whew
I promised you no more chicken talk for a week, and I have abided by my promise. Thanks for letting me share.

Your turn
If you have hens, are you as fascinated with them as I am?

A River of Waste: The Hazardous Truth About Factory Farming

Chickens unnaturally raised to maximize profits

Only after the last tree is cut down,

The last of the water is poisoned,

The last animal is destroyed...

Only then will you realize

You cannot eat money.

                                        

                                                          Cree Indian Prophecy

Ethics
Factory farming gives us meat that is much cheaper than organically raised, ethically raised, and humanely raised meat. But, at what cost? Watch the video, A River of Waste: The Hazardous Truth about Factory Farms to see the horrific damage done to the water, land, and human lives to satisfy our taste for meat, a voracious appetite, matched only by corporate greed, fuels big factory farms that flout the rules, poisoning all in the meantime. It seems that Europeans understand the need to stop practices we still continue.

I like and eat meat
In no way am I suggesting that anyone give up meat. I eat meat. I like meat! Eating less would be better for me. You make your own decisions on that issue. In case you got this far without watching the video, it is not about giving up meat. That is not an issue in this post and hopefully not the gist of your comments!

Your turn
Do you live in Arkansas? Or, in any area where factory farming happens? Have their been problems with the waste in the water?

Coop De Grace & HenCam & Chicken's Consigliere

I love the Coop De Grace blog. If you like cartoons, you might like these. If you like chickens, you might like these chickens. And, if you like chicken cartoons, you are going to love these! For some hilarious and honest chicken cartoons with a bunny, Vincent, thrown in, try Coop De Grace.  When I discovered the blog, I sat right down and read all the cartoons at Kater's site. If you decide to do the same thing, read from oldest to newest. Oh, she has an art site too!

The HenCam is right inside the coop! Plus, Terry Golson's outdoor chicken yard and goats have their own camera. Between sundown and sunrise the cam is turned off.

 Terry is a professional cook and food writer who has written a book, Tillie Lays an Egg, a book inspired by her very own hen, Tillie. She offers a curriculum based on the book. Teachers might be interested in her book and offerings. Tillie is one of her chickens.

The Chicken's Consigliere is bizarre at first. Then, it became hilarious once I figured out what was happening. Chicken has quite a life.

If you are looking for advice on how to raise chickens...hmmm, I only remember the fun stuff on these blogs. Try them; you will like them.

Little Bitty Safari Finds

Don't go looking for free chicken or people food in the Alternative Storage Container (ASC=dumpster) on a Sunday night like I did. It pays to be frugal when searching for chicken food, but this was a little much. There are doors to open, but the stuff was over my head and dripping with blood. Gag! I poked around a bit.

My haul:
3 onions (for me)
1 lb of grapes
a bit of leaves and stems from some produce
1 long, wide loaf of bread

Yes, I will cut the bit of bad place from the onion by using only a portion of what appears to be good by cutting more from the onion than I think is necessary. They were swallowing grapes whole. My hens told me they love grapes.

The first thing I tossed in their pen was bread. The loaf was large enough for two of them to stand on it as they pecked. Here it is 9 hours later, and they still have not consumed the major portion of the loaf even though it riddled with peck marks. They way they were pecking when I tossed it in, I assumed it was hard as a rock.

There was not much in the asc that I could reach or wanted to dig through, but tonight should be better. The hens were able to forage for about 5 hours today. They ate other things I threw to them--ears of corn, a bit of chicken, peach leavings, some dry cereal and things I have forgotten.

My onions are now chopped and in the freezer. Gee, this will save buying onions for awhile. Yes, I will eat the food. However, what I would normally leave is fed to my four hens.

Where do you get your chicken food? Do you ever go on safari (dumpster diving), or have you thought of it? Do you object to this practice? Why? Any questions about my safaris?