Who are your garden helpers?

yes he knows he is loved. Almost as much as my garden helper. Heheh
Hey, Beadmom, I noticed you lived in San Diego. I was born there. We have a few things in common, huh?

Julie.... A baby goose almost talked me into taking it and it's buddy (Didn't want it to be lonely) home from the feed store Monday...Almost.....

Gourd. We do! I lved in San Diego for 34 years. (Mostly in Lakeside)
Ginger

Neo that is a barred rock named Bardie and the others are Aracana, Pricilla, Henny and Penny is hiding. I worry about Bardie not being able to fly but the Aracanas can and stay away from the wild animals and visiting dogs.

Ginger, glad I'm not the only one that the babies call to!

Soferdig, don't worry about the last picture...my DH ran an intervention last night. He promised he would get my last bag of alfalfa pellets from the feed store so I didn't have to suffer the temptation. No time or money this year to make a safe house for chickens, but next year I think I will be able to give in when some Aracana chicks call my name!

Here is Miss Lexy in her better years.

Soferdig, I see the tufts now, but I have never seen that type of color on an auracana! Looks like a mix of golden wyandotte, or golden sebright. All of my auracanas are cream and gray colors. Yours are gorgeous! Do they lay green or blue eggs?

Thanks, Pixydish! I hope to be around here more now. I've spent the last 8 mos helping a friend through a terrible divorce so I haven't had time to post.

Neo Farm my chickens lay a more green to blue color eggs. I got them at a feed store so who knows what they are crossed with. The main thing I need here is to have them fly so the predators can't get them. My garden is better than the woods around so they don't fly over the 8' fence. Though they could. But they have more food in rich loam than in pine needle glacial moraine around. They are very friendly chickens though we have handled them since chicks. It is funny they have been so excited to have the garden back this spring because the snow is dissipating and the compost is warming up.

guinea hens fly big time. they roost in trees even in winter, there for have more protection from predators. if they are kept caged for too long when young they lose some instinct to roost up high. the eggs are deliciohs, but they tend to do group nests that you have to prowl around for which is fun

What a beautiful bunch of garden helpers!!

Welcome home sofer....thought it was about time for you to be back.

Cute chickens! I ended up in a feed store with baby chicks last week and was very, very tempted-and I'm clueless and about them and have no space besides. So, what's the real name for the ones that DH and I have taken to calling "Rock Star chickens"? (Yes, we're city folk...lol) They're the ones with the "bleached blonde" really fluffy feather "manes" and different colored bodies?

Hi neo, welcome back!

Wow, that beadwork is amazing.

Possibly the Polish. They have fluffy top knots on their heads and are pretty "Rock Star" looking.

Ginger

Thanks Susybell.

Here's my garden helper. Fluffy is an outdoor half wild cat that lives in my garage. She has a kitty door so she can get anyway from critters (fox, coyote, and raccoon). She's not tame enough to bring in, she attacks my feet regular and if she gets a claw caught in my shoe, I just slip out of the shoe and let her get loose on her own. If I try to help I'm risking bodily harm!! But she's loving in her own way, we just have an understanding.

She's a beauty. You're so nice to take her as she is and not as you think she should be. Isn't it nice to have gardening companions with you when you're out in the yard?

LOL It would be nicer if she didn't insist on being petted all the time! Especially now, I haven't been outside to keep her company for a long time.

beautiful cat! lucky cat! lucky you!

She was in her glory again today. Another beautiful day, so she helped me plant pansies.

Yes Sally, wasn't it a gorgeous day. My bulb bed is still to wet to rototill but I got alot of weeding done. I am hoping by tuesday the bed will be dry enough so I can get my bulbs into the ground.

Sally, Your friend is beautiful!

All of the animals were thrilled to have us outside for two full days this weekend...it's been way too long! Nothing more content than a puppy in a sunbeam while mommy is working!

your sweet furry friend found a perfect spot to enjoy our not frequent enough sunshine. I nice warm flat stone to perch upon. You can just see the contentment in her face.
Hey Sally, if you ever make a trip to the ocean let me know and maybe we can meet up. You have to pass by here on your way and you can stop and say Hi.
Jan

Aw, what a pretty kitty! Yes, it was a glorious day, and is again today! I started peeling the turf from an area that I want to turn into another flower bed, and boy did I have helpers! My chickens are so funny. They know the routine and don't poke their heads in for the worms until I move the shovel. I am always afraid I am going to decapitate one of them, tho. ;) The smartest one is Sally Matilda, a Salmon Favrolle, who stands next to the pile where I throw the next clump, and probably gets more worms than all the others. She starts fussing if I don't make sure she is getting a worm! Amazingly enough, they haven't tried to eat any of my landscaping except the grass. They are amazing little lawn mowers!

Sally love your kitty, looks like one I had many years ago, Her name was Dutchess.

I got out in the yard today, and got alot done.
My first task was to get my outside furniture unwrapped and put in place. I had lots of help.

First I had to rake the area.
Sassy Made sure the rake was clean.

Tilly wanted to make sure the table was level.

Ratso was checking one the weight of the barrow ( bad pic he moved)

Corky stuck her head out the door, and said No-Way. I'm old and I will stay inside.

Tilly..your cats are great. They all look so happy in the sunshine!
Sweetpea was confused when I told her that it was warm & sunny outside. She enjoyed sniffing around today and not getting her feet wet.

Poor baby, Tiny feet you know LOL

This is what Tyler had to say about all the doings today.
Please Don't step on me. (Funny, look at his face.)

Tilly and BeaHive-- Your lucky kids..they got to enjoy a day out in the sun with Mom's! It was still gloriously warm for a spring morning when I left for work this AM (6:15), and all the kids were waiting on the deck and not understanding why Mom had to leave when it was so nice out! The good thing is that I am the boss, and it's been slow these last two weeks, so I am playing hookey tomorrow afternoon and leaving work at 1:30. They say the crap is coming back, so I am going to enjoy the sun while I can!

Tills and Bea.....your helpers are beautiful. Never thought of chickens as helpers. LOL

Pookie wasn't left out on the sunshine, she's an indoor kitty and she finds her own.

She always gives me that "You aren't going to move me are you?" look.

Jan that sounds good. I love going to the ocean.

Hey Sally, think about it. The chickens are great incentive boosters, they start scratching up the dirt encouraging us to do the same. hehe poking their beaks into the dirt to make the holes for us to drop the seeds. Now if we could just train them to make even rows we would be in the chicken planting business. hehe

Picture the advertisment. Chicken planters wanted. No experience needed. Will train.
Get your chicken planters here. $1.00 off for egg layers. Egg shells are great for the soil.
Okay, sorry, I just had a premature senior moment. I am entitled as I will be 60 this year.

Hey - no old age comments! I just turned 62 and I only get senior moments when it's convenient. Like oh I forgot to do the laundry, or oh my I forgot to clean the house! Instead I am in the garden.....and my 2 cats and my dog like to follow me around. They are good company.

Hehe, sorry Judi. I have to laugh because my dear sweet MIL said to me when I was turning 50, Jan, all kinds of good things happen when you turn 50. We were driving along and I said, "like what"......... there was a long pause and she said, " hehehe, I can't think of a thing." well, what kind of wonderful things happen when you turn 60 Judi? I am waiting. hhehehhh

At least he didn't say "I don't remember..."

Ginger

Well Gourdbeader, let's see....in your 60s your bones creak a little more, you need a hot bath and 2 Aleve after working in the garden or riding your bicycle, you need a list when you set out to do errands, and you keep your calcium and vitamins in a pill organizer so you are sure to take them. On the other hand, you spend more time enjoying the world, you care less about how clean your house is, your children (if you have them) are now adults, you have a more astute understanding of what is important, and you enjoy exercising because you are amazed that your body can still run & ski & dance. Life's great!

Okay, lets start at the beginning.1) My bones started acheing years ago and started breaking about 4 years ago. 2) I don't have a bath tub only a shower much to my disstress. I was so upset when my husband pick out this house. We had sold ours in Tombstone Arizona and were moving back to Oregon. We rented this house in 2005. I have kinda learned to live with a shower but I am always on the lookout for an old clawfoot tub that I can put on the back porch. 3) I am on regular pain killers twice a day so that aleves the Aleve. 4) I have 14 grandchildren that are all out of state so I don't get a chance to babysit or enjoy them. 5) I have become obsessed with my house and I don't know why as I never have any company hardly. I guess its for my own comfort and my sweet hubby's. But thats okay. I have become a real homebody so to speak. 6) Skiing, died when I broke my knee and ankle. I do good to walk anymore. Heheh. Its not as bad as it sounds. I am really quite happy and content with my home, family, dog and bird. My garden keeps me out of trouble and my needle work and gourd beading keeps me focussed. So, I'm not complaining just can't believe that I am already going to be 60. When did that all happen. hehe

You gals are funny. I'll be 71 this year. Everytime I catch a glimpse of myself I try not to believe that it's me. I just can't work at things all day like I used to do. Three or four hours is it. I just do something worthwhile every day so I feel good about it. Sometimes it's just having to finish that book. LOL

LOL... last year I was having a conversation with a ranch woman who was well into her 70's close to the 80 mark... She said "Yep I was doing pretty well until that bull I was wranglin' broke my neck last year.. Now I get a little stiff...."


YIKES. At almost 50 I need a crane to get me off the floor if I sit down there....

Ginger

willowwind, that is so true. I am sure with my liver disease that my deteriation speed maybe a little faster. I am just happy when I finish what i set out to finish. I try not to set my goals to high so that I don't set myself up for dissappointment.
Then when I accomplish more then I set out to do its a real bonus. Yee Haw.
I don't feel all that old my body just doesn't want to cooperate some times. Hehe
Jan