Monthly Archives: May 2013

Farmer Creek

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A typical Kansas thunderstorms usually starts late in the afternoon on a hot humid day. Wylie and I had just put the chickens into their coop as it started raining.

A typical Kansas thunderstorms usually starts late in the afternoon on a hot humid day. Wylie and I had just put the chickens into their coop as it started raining.

It was a wonderful rain, lasting all night and we had just a little over 3 inches of rain.

It was a wonderful rain, lasting all night and we had just a little over 3 inches of rain.

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The usually dry Farmer Creek was out of its banks.

Low water crossing. Do not enter when flooded! It has been wonderful getting rain. The lakes could still use more rain.

Low water crossing. Do not enter when flooded! It has been wonderful getting rain.

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Storm Bag and the TIV2

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So many days with the forecast of severe weather, I thought it would be prudent to put together a "storm bag". I assembled it very quickly last night with the threat of severe weather headed our way. My "storm bag" included my billfold, phone charger, iPad, 2 bags of treats for Wylie, Wylie's food, and his leash. I looked up the basic disaster supply kit on FEMA's website. I need to add a few more items to my "storm bag". It's really something we all to think of!

So many days with the forecast of severe weather, I thought it would be prudent to put together a “storm bag”. I assembled it very quickly last night with the threat of severe weather headed our way. My “storm bag” included my billfold, phone charger, iPad, 2 bags of treats for Wylie, Wylie’s food, and his leash. I looked up the basic disaster supply kit on FEMA’s website. I need to add a few more items to my “storm bag”. It’s really something we all to think of!

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This is the Tornado Intercept Vehicle also known as TIV2. For the last couple of days they have been in Kansas chasing tornadoes and they have been kept busy. They were actually IN the Smith Center tornado and then the next day they were at the Bennington tornado. The forecast for Kansas includes a chance for severe weather again today, but the TIV2 crew was getting ready to head south to Oklahoma today.

This is the Tornado Intercept Vehicle also known as TIV2. For the last couple of days they have been in Kansas chasing tornadoes and they have been kept busy. They were actually IN the Smith Center tornado and then the next day they were at the Bennington tornado. The forecast for Kansas includes a chance for severe weather again today, but the TIV2 crew was getting ready to head south to Oklahoma today.

What’s Happening

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I love mint, but it is too invasive to plant in the garden. This year I put my mojito mint in this beautiful orange ceramic pot. Mojitos are my favorite summer drink, looks like with all this mint, I will have LOTS of mojitos! I planted the colorful ornamental peppers and a yellow canna to further accent the pot.

I love mint, but it is too invasive to plant in the garden. This year I put my mojito mint in this beautiful orange ceramic pot. Mojitos are my favorite summer drink, looks like with all this mint, I will have LOTS of mojitos! I planted the colorful ornamental peppers and a yellow canna to further accent the pot.

I planted a white water calla lily, a chameleon plant and papyrus around the bubbling rock.

I planted a white water calla lily, a chameleon plant and papyrus around the bubbling rock.

The baby House finches are hatching. They look like little fluffy dandelions. A couple of days ago we had a storm with 60 mph winds, and I was so happy that they were able to ride out the storm.

The baby House finches are hatching. They look like little fluffy dandelions. A couple of days ago we had a storm with 60 mph winds, and I was so happy that they were able to ride out the storm.

Coop

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The chicken coop is still a work in progress. The fencing crew sat the poles and after a couple of days were able to put the fence up. The gates should be in this week and they will also put the barb wire around the top.

The chicken coop is still a work in progress. The fencing crew sat the poles and after a couple of days were able to put the fence up. The gates should be in this week and they will also put the barb wire around the top.

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I planted honeysuckle along the fence on the north side of the chicken pen. Honeysuckle are excellent cover for fences, fast growing, attracts hummingbirds, and so fragrant. I chose 3 different varieties, Hall's Japanese, which has whitish-yellow flowers, Goldflame honeysuckle with a beautiful purple to deep pink buds open to golden yellow tubular flowers that are bright pink outside, and Mandrin honeysuckle that are orange red flowers with pale orange interiors. What hummingbird could resist that!?! Luckily I didn't have to dig the holes, Austin (the fencer) used his Cat skid loader with a post hole digger. Thank you so much Austin!

I planted honeysuckle along the fence on the north side of the chicken pen. Honeysuckle are excellent cover for fences, fast growing, attracts hummingbirds, and so fragrant. I chose 3 different varieties, Hall’s Japanese, which has whitish-yellow flowers, Goldflame honeysuckle with a beautiful purple to deep pink buds open to golden yellow tubular flowers that are bright pink outside, and Mandrin honeysuckle that are orange red flowers with pale orange interiors. What hummingbird could resist that!?!
Luckily I didn’t have to dig the holes, Austin (the fencer) used his Cat skid loader with a post hole digger. Thank you so much Austin!

Sporting Clays

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Spent the afternoon shooting sporting clays. It was a beautiful calm sunny day. The targets were friendly and had a great time. It had been a year since I had shot. Quite a change from when I shot all the time. I use to shoot weekly and could shoot a case of shells a day. My favorite gun to shoot is a Ceasar Guerini 12 gauge. I'm not left handed but I shoot left handed because my left eye is dominate. It wasn't an easy switch, but I'm glad I made it, because I can line up with the target better. Some say I should shoot handguns left handed, will have to give it a try. Today I shot 72% not too bad for a Grandma

Spent the afternoon shooting sporting clays. It was a beautiful calm sunny day. The targets were friendly and had a great time. It had been a year since I had shot. Quite a change from when I shot all the time. I use to shoot weekly and could shoot a case of shells a day. My favorite gun for sporting clays is a Ceasar Guerini 12 gauge. I’m not left handed but I shoot left handed because my left eye is dominate. It wasn’t an easy switch, but I’m glad I made it, because I can line up with the target better. Some say I should shoot handguns left-handed, will have to give it a try. Today I shot 72% not too bad for a Grandma

Thursday

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Our neighbors chickens are really producing some beautiful eggs. I can't wait for our hens to start laying. Some of these eggs are almost the size of goose eggs. Love fresh eggs!

Our neighbors chickens are really producing some beautiful eggs. I can’t wait for our hens to start laying. Some of these eggs are almost the size of goose eggs. Our chickens are 2 months and they will start laying at about 6 months. Love fresh eggs!

I used some of the eggs to make a spinach, onion, mushroom and cheese frittata. I also plan on making an angel food cake this weekend.

I used some of the eggs to make a spinach, onion, mushroom and cheese frittata. I also plan on making an angel food cake this weekend.

I have been watching a pair of House Finches building a nest in the evergreen just outside the window in the great room. How exciting to see that there are 4 eggs in it.

I have been watching a pair of House Finches building a nest in the evergreen just outside the window in the great room. How exciting to see that there are 4 eggs in it.

The little chicks are really growing up! They are enjoying being out in their temporary yard.

The little chicks are really growing up! They are enjoying being out in their temporary yard.

Moving into the Coop

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The little bantams were the first to move into the new coop. When I moved the larger Red hens, there were a few battles. Wylie even got involved in some and got pecked on his nose.

The little bantams were the first to move into the new coop. When I moved the larger Red hens, there were a few battles. Wylie even got involved in some and got pecked on his nose.

Wylie keeps his flock together.

Wylie keeps his flock together.

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Wylie enjoys when it's treat time for the chickens. I didn't know he liked lettuce! All of the chickens will take the treats from my hand. The chickens (not Wylie) especially enjoy meal worms and the earthworms.

Wylie enjoys when it’s treat time for the chickens. I didn’t know he liked lettuce! All of the chickens will take the treats from my hand. The chickens (not Wylie) especially enjoy meal worms and the earthworms.

The crew building the fence for the coop will be here next week. The bantams are the only ones that I let free range. Wylie keeps a close watch over them.

The crew building the fence for the coop will be here next week. The bantams are the only ones that I let free range. Wylie keeps a close watch over them.