August 28th

 

Hurricane Harvey, a category 4 storm, has wreaked havoc on the Texas Gulf Coast.
They've been inundated by flood waters and have at least 8 deaths attributed to it. Now the blasted thing is heading back out into the Gulf, heading toward us as a tropical storm. Not a scenario I'm liking.
As I'm typing this, we are under a tornado watch. Its been raining all day. Some minor street flooding and small "lakes" in the yard, but nothing crazy. Several pumping stations in New Orleans aren't even up and working. Typical. The ineptitude of the local politicians is beyond comprehension. Seems that nothing ever changes.

I love watching the rain.

Here, it's collecting on the leaves.

 

 

 

 

The Bird of Paradise is dripping too.

Such a weird looking plant.

Kinda reminds me of the combs on the chickens!

 

 

Speaking of chickens.

These silly birds are playing chase in the rain.

Pepper at the top and Nugget, are soaking wet.

They've been running around the yard playing in the rain.

The other girls are crowded together in the coop.

They are probably talking about how nuts their sisters are for getting soaking, sopping wet!

 

 

Most Golden Retrievers love water, not Leia.

She's not gonna get wet unless the urge to pee or poop is so great that she can't hold it any longer. There have been times where she actually got a urinary tract infection from holding pee in so long!

Ruh ro!

 

But, thankfully she just went out to potty, rain and all.

Awwww. So, who's a good girl?

 

Another obsession of mine is Game of Thrones. The series is on its second to last season.

This last episode of season 7 was the best! No spoilers from me, just watch next season!

It'll be winding up the series.

If you haven't seen it before, catch up on HBO, its worth it.

 

 

I downloaded an app on my phone......

 

So, I turned the short one into a white walker

 

Take care with this weather.

Remember, we've been down this particular road before.

God Bless Texas!

 

August 20th

Today is Eclipse Eve. Hopefully I'll get to see some of it tomorrow. I hope its not too hot for the momentous event. It's pretty early in the morning and already the temp has climbed to 90 degrees! It takes your breath away. I don't know what we did before air conditioning...... swelter in it I suppose. Fans can only do so much of pushing around hot air. Not an ideal situation.

The hens and I have decided to make today "Beatle Tribute Sunday"!! Yay!!
We have recorded tributes to several of their songs for your listening pleasure.  The problem was that, although we were all enthusiastic about singing and clucking, it simply wasn't harmonious. To be precise, it wasn't even recognizable as a song! So, to our regret, we are only going to use the photos. (The hens will try to do better when we do our Barbra Streisand tribute.)

So, without further ado........


                                            Introducing, Flock of Hens "Beatle Tribute"

(cue the fanfare!)

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

 

Get Back

 

 

Come Together

 

I Want To Hold Your Hand

 

 

 

With a Little Help From My Friends

 

 

Penny Lane

 

 

Blackbird

 

 

They are all taking their curtain calls and basking in the applause.

"Thank you, Thank you very much!"

 

The girls and I hope that you've enjoyed our tribute.

 

They were hoping to break into show biz.

Sadly, I had to have a frank and honest talk with them......

 

Not gonna happen on this planet chickadees!

 

Au revoir, hasta luego , athio,  

till next post

 

 

Curtain call, 1 more time!!!

One last tribute......

(Hazel wanted a solo)

 

Carry That Weight

 

August 17th

  Ever forget why you went into a particular room or where the thingamajigs is? I'm sure that everyone does, but, it makes me leery about the possibility of the big "A".....Alzheimer's.
Just this morning, I was searching for my name tag for work. (I'm still working, on an as needed basis). Anyway, I'm usually good about putting things back in their respective places, but I just couldn't locate the damned thing. I looked high and low, contemplating if it could have entered an alternate universe or been stolen by a pack of Trolls whose aim in life, is to possess a crappy picture of me with my name on it. It eventually turned up in the "low" area, on the floor of my closet. (See! It was the Trolls! I must have surprised them in the attempted theft!) My memory isn't as sharp as it used to be and you know, my memory isn't as sharp as it used to be............  :)
This exercise in futility got me to thinking. I don't feel all that old. Although, I'm not stupid enough to think I don't look this old. In my brain, I'm still probably 30. Ha! Ha!
I hate it when I see an old person and I realize that, Holy Crap!,we went to High School together! Then, I secretly keep eyeballing them to see "how old" they've gotten, while I, on the other hand, have aged so well.  (I did say that I feel like 30 in my brain - OK, I'm delusional, sue me.)
I still think that 1970 wasn't that long ago and 1990 feels like yesterday.
I try to watch what I eat. I try to get exercise, and get enough sleep....... wait! I can't even write this drivel! Since I've partially retired, my days are spent being lazy. I waited a looooong time to be lazy, so, by God, I'm gonna be lazy! My idea of watching what I eat, is to read the contents on the side of the package. Whoa! That can be a science experiment in itself! So many unpronounceable ingredients and preservatives. Well, I guess, at my age, preservatives are probably a good thing. I do get enough sleep, though. Naps are a plus too, underrated as they seem to be.

Old person humor.....

 

 

 

See? What'd I tell ya about naps?

Always a good idea

 

 

 

In other news.....

 

I was outside discussing the state of the world (our backyard) with the chickens. They seem attentive enough, but I seriously think they may be exhibiting ADHD. I diagnosed this condition previously, due to their inability to remain focused (unless I had an insect in my hand) and the rapid head movements.

They never stay until I'm finished with the discussion. They just wander off. While I'm still engaged in my discussion! Honestly! So rude!

Actually, I shouldn't even call it a "discussion". That implies that there are two-way conversations. Nope.

Only me.

Talking to myself.

As usual.

 

Nugget

 

Sandy (Col. Sanders)

 

Nugget - again (I think she's giving me the stink-eye)

 

Henny (Hen Solo)

 

 

Oh, yeah, they talk a good game, clucking and chirping while I wax poetic, but they are secretly thinking of loftier pursuits.

Like eating worms,

And chasing tree frogs,

And the dog.

 

I can see it in their beady little eyes.

They simply don't listen to my speeches.

Reminds my of my kids.

It always happened during one of my lengthy explanations.

They'd get this far away look,

 a kinda glassy eyed stare,

and I knew.....

I'd lost them!

Too much information.

TMI, reared its ugly head again.

 

 

August 10th

Today was the first day back to school. The kids were so excited to begin another year. Wondering who was in their class. Wearing their new uniforms and shoes. Those smiling faces were so cute this morning.
I remember those times too. The smell of a new schoolbag and new books, not to mention the mimeographed sheets that the teachers handed out.
That was decades ago! It's almost hard to remember back that far sometimes.
Back in the "olden times", school started much later than the second week of August.
We went back at the beginning of September,
and walked 10 miles,
uphill both ways.......
in a hurricane.

The rain is still happening almost every day.

A few of those days, there was even some street flooding.

This shot was taken today at 1:30pm. You'd never know that, because it looks so dark. I swear, I thought I saw a shark in those clouds!

 Sharknado 6, The Sharkalypse!!!

 

 

The sun did peek out a few times, so I snapped this "reverse shot" of the puddle on the cement (pond) patio.

But, about an hour later, the rain started up again and I had to get indoors quick.

The wind was blowing the rain onto the patio and everything was getting wet, including me.

So, I took this picture from the kitchen window. A small lake was beginning to form.

The chickens were huddled under the patio table in a feathery bunch. Nugget, however, braved the wind and water, to sample the plethora of small snails coming out to escape the lake in the yard.

 

 

 

That's Lucy and Ethel waiting out the downpour.

 

 

 

During the lull in the rain, I was hand feeding the girls some dried grubs. Obviously, Nugget thought I was taking way too long, so, she helped herself!

 

 

Yesterday, the kids and I made some macadamia white chocolate chip cookies. They were so good. I made 2 dozen. They were so good, there were none left this morning.  :(

 

 

This morning, we made Leia Heads.

That's our version of refrigerated dough biscuits.

Rachel used blue food coloring to make the face.

Then, we cut them open and put butter and a piece of sliced cheese.

Yum!!

 

Here's the real thing. See the uncanny resemblance?

She's the best dog ever!

She is a once in a lifetime dog.

If you happen to get two dogs like her in your life, as I have, its like winning the Powerball and the Superbowl  all in one!!

 

 

The rain stopped.

I had put a pan out to catch some rain water for the birdbath. I emptied what I caught into the bird bath, but they didn't play in the water.

They played in the empty pan.

I wonder if they see the irony...... ;)

 

 

 

Thought for the day.......

 

I dream of a world,

where a chicken can cross a road

without her motives questioned.
 

 

Chicken Fun Facts:

Didya know?

1) There are about 25 billion chickens in the world.

2) Chickens were probably first domesticated around 8000 BC in Asia.

3) Chickens are very clever and can be housebroken and use kitty litter.

4) Chickens are the closest living relative to T Rex.

5) A freshly laid chicken egg is 105 degrees Fahrenheit.  

6) And lastly....... the chicken actually did evolve before the egg.

 

August 1st

Today is World Wide Web Day and National Raspberry Cream Pie Day too. Although, I partake of the charms of the WWW pretty much daily, I have never, in my life, tried a raspberry cream pie. I don't think I've ever seen one either...... I'll seek to rectify that omission.

Back to the WWW, or at least, back to this blog entry.

It seems that everyone is talking about the solar eclipse on August 21st. In the New Orleans area it will peak at 1:29pm, when the moon will obscure 75% of the sun. That's going to be quite a bit. I plan to be outside looking at the eclipse through a pin hole in cardboard and a mirror. I don't want any further damage to my eyes.

My son will be in Oregon to get one of the best views.

 

The garden isn't doing so well lately. Plants have been destroyed by caterpillars and other bugs. Sadly, several of the tomato plants didn't make it through that onslaught. The ones that did, look healthy so far.

 

I was going to the patio to read, but the minute I opened the back door, the girls came running. They are so curious. Their incessant clucking makes reading kinda impossible.

So, I decided to talk to them.

They weren't interested in the upcoming eclipse, so I tried a joke.

They weren't interested in the reason chickens cross roads. So I tried another one. Why do chicken coops have two doors? Because if they had four doors it would be a chicken sedan...........   crickets....... Is this thing on?

My attempt at humor was lost on their little pollo brains.

 

All seven girls were sitting under the table or under my chair. Sandy was the first to get bored. She went snooping around the yard for bugs when she saw a grub in the grass. She brought it onto the patio. Probably to show it off to the others. They are vindictive like that. Not into sharing at all.

The rest of the girls jumped up to get a chance at that poor small bug. They broke the land speed record for chickens!

They all eyed it, licking their lips - (OK, so chickens don't have lips. Well, they eyed it like kids about to eat a Happy Meal).

 They eat like hippos with tapeworms. 

All that eating = pooping.

 Its part of the "circle of life"

Sandy waited till the other girls were almost there and scooped that tasty grub up!

 Like the seagulls in Finding Memo.

Mine! Mine! Mine!

(see how I finessed Disney into that?)

 

 

 

Ethel and Lucy on bug patrol.

I think the phrase "eagle eyes" is a misnomer.

"Chicken Eyes" is more appropriate.

 

 

 

For the love of Elvis!

They never stop eating!

They are looking for earthworms while the CEO attempts to turn over the compost.

Oh, well, all that natural food makes for great farm fresh butt nuggets! (Eggs)

 

Night is coming on.

The girls are walking back to the roosts.

 They look like prisoners coming in from the yard.

Single file.

 

I'm getting tired too.

Ya know, I was born to be wild!

(but only till 9pm or so.....)

G'nite