An Evening with the Critters

 Rascal likes to be on top of the chicken run. He especially likes it when sparrows have gotten in and are having trouble finding their way out! 

 Buffy has started bringing her chicks out of the coop. It is so fun to watch them run around with her.

I love the way they seem to disappear into her feathers when she is sitting.

 Somehow I caught Samson looking quite grumpy.

The dogs can't keep their eyes off Bella! She is in Dave's lap. School is out here for the summer. I have a long "To Do" list as usual. Rascal and Bella are starting to play with each other, but I just haven't managed to have my camera handy when they choose to play!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Sharing the love!

Everybody wants our love and attention!

Honey has accepted Beasty! Life is good.

The dogs had to go for their rabies vaccinations this morning. They didn't even know they got poked! It was also suggested that they need the distemper, parvo, corona combo vaccine every 3 years since parvo is common in our town. OUCH that would be another $20 per dog. I was told that the vaccine is sold at feed stores for $7-10. THAT is much better.

After watching the lady give the dogs the rabies vaccine, I thought, that looks easy enough. I can do that. I checked the dogs records. Lexi wouldn't need it until next year. Honey needed it. So I went to the nearest feed store and purchased it. I started getting nervous when they gave me a hypodermic with a long needle for a subcutaneous injection. Also, there are two vials. One is a liquid that has to be drawn out and injected into the other vial that is a powder. They are mixed and then re-drawn out into the syringe. That wasn't so bad. It was the long needle for a just under the skin injection that had me worried!

My baby brother (37 yrs old) came to the rescue. He dropped by on his way home from work and coached me through it.

Honey never even flinched!

Y'all come back, just watch your backside! haha!

Lorilee

Rainy weather visitor!

After over 6 inches of rain on Saturday morning, we have an abundance of "puddles". There is water standing in the pasture along our back fence. I'm guessing that is where this visitor came from. We can really hear their croaking in the evenings.

I opened the gate and shooed it out with a broom!

Y'all come back,

Lorilee

Visiting Squirrel

I noticed this squirrel on the privacy fence. It didn't take long for him to decide the chickens weren't a threat, and head to the bird feeder!

The squirrel ate a few minutes and then fell or jumped from the feeder. He was soon noticed by the chickens.

When one chicken sees something, it seems they all see it! Soon they were all checking out the squirrel! He attempted to ignore them.

He did a great job pretending he wasn't surrounded by chickens.

Lexi wanted to "check out" the squirrel too!

The hens soon lost interest since he was too big to eat!

I let the dogs out! The squirrel high-tailed it back into the safety of the tree! The dogs did not loose interest like the chickens. They kept "watch" until we brought them in for supper!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

8 hens and 1 dog

The other day I was feeding my girls a treat and Honey (my dog) joined them begging! I had one dog and eight chickens jumping for goodies! When the goodies were gone, Honey continued to sniff around looking for a tidbit. The chickens would come running when she seemed to find something.

They entertained my 23-year-old son while I cut his hair on Monday evening. On Tuesday morning, my 14-year-old son awoke with headache, fever and cough. I had almost 1/2 my afternoon students absent last Friday(many with the same symptoms). The morning class had only one absent! The good news is that we have been getting rain the last two days!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

My Assistant!

Honey thinks that I can't do a thing without her assistance! She follows me in and out of the house and from room to room like a shadow. She sleeps against my leg while I am blogging. She watches me from this bed while I sew. It drives my husband crazy!
I plan to have the casserole tote tutorial up soon. I am also planning new curtains. That will be something else to share!
Ya'll Come Back!
Lorilee

Dog Days!

Lexi and Honey spend their days sleeping on the sofa and looking out the door! They really love the new door. The old door had a curtain across the window that blocked the view. This one has blinds that are easily raised and lowered. Windex is required frequently for the nose smears!

The hoards of white-wing doves on the birdfeeders are entertaining. Every so often a squirrel comes to check out the feeder. Some mornings, there is a rabbit in the yard. A dog's job is never done!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Feathered friends? Furry Onlookers!

GASP! What do my little eyes behold?

"Well. Fluff my feathers! I never would have guessed!"

"Oh boy, toys for me to chase!"

I can't believe it. Peeps!

"We want to play too!"

"Who invited them?"

"We're not too sure about this. Our box wasn't SO bad."

"Wow, the scratching is great out here!"

I showed my sweety my photos and text. He rolled his eyes and called it "hokey". Oh, well, I can't impress everyone!

I haven't put the peeps out with the big girls full time yet. I let them spend most of the day on Sunday in the big girls' run with a separate area fenced off to hide in! I didn't let them visit after school today because we had thunderstorms. I did try to get Aretha and Ethel to go into the coop before the rain hit. They didn't cooperate. I caught one and put her in the coop. When I turned to pick up the other, the first would run back out. After nearly slipping and falling in the wet dirt, I gave up. I knew they would go in when the rain started. I just wanted to keep the inside of the coop dry since the wind was blowing into the doorway.

Ya'll Come Back,

Lorilee

Word is spreading!

The other day, I looked out my back window to see one squirrel in my bird feeder and another on my bottle tree. Word is spreading, I usually have only one squirrel filching sunflower seeds!

The squirrel on the feeder left, so the second squirrel decided to take his turn!

Almost there!
Yummy!
MMM mmmm good. My two fierce hunting dogs have now seen the squirrel. They are about to knock down the back door in their excitement to get that squirrel.
Aww, they just missed him! He escaped up into the branches of the tree. I walked out to try and get a photo of him chattering at the dogs. He scared the daylights out of me when he jumped out of the tree, hitting the ground with a loud thump about 10 feet from where I was standing and running to the fence.
With my attention span about the same as Lexi's, (The dog not pictured because she lost interest so quickly) I soon noticed something new of photographic interest. Awesome, lichen on a water hose! I'd say I'm easily entertained!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Ahhh, the weekend!

By the time Friday evening comes around, I am pretty tired! It is nice just to kick back with my laptop and trusty side-kick, Honey! Although, this Friday, my laptop was hijacked! Well, my son and his friends were using it!
It is a pretty Saturday morning here. It is warm and the sun is shining. The only negative is that it is extremely windy.It is definitely a blustery day.(That makes me think of Winnie-the-Pooh) My windchimes are sounding lovely! The birds are beginning to come to the birdbath and feeders--sparrows, white-winged doves,bluejays,goldfinches and cardinals. I am at the table with my cup of coffee, newspaper and laptop! I have the whole day ahead of me! What should I do first? Hmm, the laundry hampers are overflowing, the floors are filthy, the dishwasher needs to be emptied, Honey could stand a bath, there is a pile of ironing! Plenty of choices. No chance of boredom! Especially with 3 teen-aged boys intent on paybacks for tricks on each other while sleeping. First, Brian and James put shaving cream on Cody when he was asleep. Next, Cody and James walked to Wal-Mart just to get pies to put on Brian while he was asleep. Finally, Cody and Brian put shaving cream on James when he just fell asleep. They have been awake most of the night. Was that the front door I just heard. Could the "extra" boys be leaving? Happy dance time!!! Peace and quiet for a little while at least! I wonder if a "Quarantine" sign would scare them away. Nah, I doubt they even know what that means! I better enjoy the next few hours!
Ya'll Come Back!
Lorilee

Camera Crazy in the yard!

I was a little camera crazy out in the yard. I just couldn't stop myself! So I have still more photos from the sunny day! The Cypress Vine does not like cold weather. We have had a little cold weather in South Texas. It is growing on an old gate from my Great-grandmother's home.

I love my old implement wheels.

Since there are not many blooms this time of year, the textures and shades of green are more noticeable--Fern with Vinca.

Lexi seems to think life is more interesting OUT of the yard. She spends much time sniffing under the gate!

Ya'll Come Back,

Lorilee

A Frenzy of Projects!

I mailed out the invitations to the cookie party that my sister-in-law and I have each year--well this is the 5th year! So I guess I better get busy on the prizes and favors, not to mention the menu and MY cookies to exchange!

Oh yes, and I need 32 mini stockings for my Pre-K students. I better get busy cutting out and sewing those!

Don't look so forlorn, Honey. I will have time for a belly rub soon! You are getting to lounge on the one and only quilt that I have made!

I have made aprons as prizes for the "Most Spirited Outfit" and the "Best Presentation of Cookies" each year. I decided to try one of these patterns this year. Can you tell that my least favorite part of sewing is searching for the pieces for the apron that I am cutting out? I prefer to dig through them ONE time.

Back to those stockings. They are sewn. The "cuff" is just a strip of felt hot-glued around the top. Time for a break to admire the pedicure I gave myself the other evening.

Meg at Whatever posted a wonderful gift idea. She made crayons with silicone letter molds that are meant for baking. I was wandering through Target and found a Christmas silicone mold. I tried these this evening. I think they are precious! My sweety was even impressed when I showed them to him! Thanks Meg!

I am also finished with my students' stockings. They will hold a crayon (if I can get enough made!) and a wooden spinning top that flips over as it spins. The stocking is a great size for a Christmas tree ornament. I have been making these for 23 years. I started out making them for my oldest son's cub scout group. I made them the colors of each years uniform kerchief.

I have started the prize aprons. In the past, I made Christmas aprons. I decided to make "anytime" aprons this year! Well, I fell in love with this fabric and decided to make "anytime" aprons!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee

Family Time!

We celebrated Thanksgiving with my husband's younger sister and her family. Gramma and Grampa were also there. I wonder why when I point the camera at my kids, they clown around!

My niece and nephew smile nicely! It is probably to be blamed on upbringing!

Nephew, Ryan, was happy to begin filling his plate! We were all right behind him, no shyness here!

Yummy! Mixed Berry, Pumpkin, and Pecan pie!

This is China, one of three dogs they have. Her eyes are gorgeous!

She is a large dog. The male, Yukon, is ginormous! He also has those gorgeous blue eyes!

Ya'll Come Back!

Lorilee