Frankie brings rain to DC

Frankie is coming into town tonight for a few days.

While the weather has been sunny and 95 for a few days, we are expecting nothing but rain the whole time she is here.

Last year she was here this same time - and we had downpours the most of time she was here. She definitely brings the rain with her.

An old green method - line drying

So - I decided that since I have so much wind, and hot hot weather (it's April and 95) that I needed to use a clothesline.

When I mentioned this to a friend the response was

"Is money really that tight?"

We associate clotheslines to poverty. There is no thought to the environment, or the wear on your clothes.

Take a look at what a good clothesline will cost you ... and you might change your mind.

I purchased a hoity toity Australian clothesline. After reading about them for weeks - seems the Aussies are the leaders.

I wanted one that only had one pole, and that was removable and sturdy. This one cranks up, and then spins in the wind, with a 10 year guarantee. I had a tough time getting it level ... it's close.

I dried my first couple of loads on it this weekend. They say the average house will save 50cents for each load you hang out. It's going to take me a few years to "break even" - but I'm also not putting about 4 pounds of CO2/load into the enviroment - and whats the price of that?

I bought mine here

Ugly chickens

My chickens are getting their feathers ... and they've lost their cute puffy chick look.

When worms fall from the sky

It was a damp day today, so I went out and found a large "glob" of worms hidden under some leaves and debris.

I placed them on top of the wire, and watched as the chickens found them. By the time I got the video the feeding frenzy was over - but a few still get them.

My chickens are going to think that worms come from the sky, not the ground.

Goat babies are born.

This year she had three!

It's quite damp and cold today so we were there to help dry them and warm them up.

If you listen closely - you can hear one of them.

Chicken Update - 2 Weeks old.

Chicken Feet

Most of us know that chicken feet look like this...

But some of my crazy chickens have feet that look like this! He has a few extra toes, and feathers!

They have gotten taller this week. Seems like their legs have grown two inches. They are also starting to look a little rough. They are starting to get their feathers in.

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They are now able to get out of the baby pool. Yesterday I took the top off to clean it, and then I had to chase a chicken around the garage.

It's a Sapling Garden

The county had a tree sapling purchase. Since they were so cheap, I bought more than I should have.

(and you had to buy them in bunches of 25 or 10) It didn't occur to me that I had to plant 70 trees. We decided that it was better to plant them all together and transplant them again in a year or two. Ollie was eating the sticks (deciduous trees) as soon as we were putting them in the ground.

This way I don't have to mow around each little tree, and gives them a little bit of protection from the deers.

Its certainly a long term investment.

Update: Baby Chicks

Okay .... so these baby chicks are much more work than I anticipated. They are nasty little things. I'll spare you the details. They have about doubled in size this week.

This one reminds me of a Siamese cat.

I will admit that I have spent a fair amount of time just watching them. They already have little personalities, and I think I can tell which are males. I'm guessing we have three, and a maybe a fourth (or a really bitchy hen).

This will be a feather footed one - she has down on her feet.

Do not try to count... there are no longer 31