February 28th

The last day of the month.
Don't know about you, but in my little world, it seemed to fly by.
February is the shortest month, but it really seemed much shorter to me.
I guess its because I'm older.
Over the hill,
A senior citizen,
A fossil.

I looked up some memorable things about today in history
or pop culture,
but none were really Blog worthy.

Here's a couple so you can judge for yourself.........
1) today was the final MASH episode in 1983
2) it's National Sleep In Public Day - who in hell came up with that?
3) it's also Snack Food Month.
Hmmm.
I guess I can get behind the snack food thing.
I do happen to have several "snacks" on hand.
I tell myself that they are for the kids, but, I have been known to indulge.
OK!
Maybe overindulge is a better word.

In searching out the snack angle for this post,
I came across this tidbit.
(has nothing to do with snacks, it was in the recipe area)

as usual, I'm informative ;)

 

On to the chickens.

In a side note,

the mallard couple is still hanging around.

The female hasn't yet chosen a spot for her family.

In the past, they used a quiet spot in the front yard,

but last year, 

the mother left the nest, and never returned.

Sadly,

We had to destroy her clutch of eggs because they rotted.

I wonder if this female is one of her previous babies and the site is imprinted.

The male is very protective.

He'll allow her to eat the chicken feed while he stands guard.

Funny,

I haven't seen him eat anything at all.

They still fly into the backyard, but I'm not sure it'll sit well with the hens if the female

lays her eggs back there.

 

I'm watching out the back window.

There's a whole head of cabbage hanging in the coop.

The girls are pecking at it.

They absolutely love cabbage, kale and broccoli.

As well as, blueberries, strawberries and bugs.

 

In closing,

I was watching TV a couple of days ago.

There really isn't much to choose from.

As Newton Minnow said 50years ago in a speech to the FCC

"TV is a vast wasteland".

and it still is.

As I was scrolling through the crap,

I came upon these gems.

You can't make this hilarity up!

Thought I'd share........

There was a couple of movies on an obscure channel,

One was called, "Attack of the Killer Donuts".

It was billed as a horror movie.

The description of it said,

"A chemical accident turned ordinary donuts into bloodthirsty killers.

Now it is up to a group of friends to save their town from the fried fiends!"

And this Oscar worthy entry...

"Rabid"

This also was billed as a horror movie.

Its description says,

"Surgery leaves a Montréal motorcyclist with a bloodsucking

appendage in her armpit!"

After laughing at the absurdity of bloodthirsty donuts and armpits,

I started to wonder.......

How did they pitch these ideas to a producer?

What "real" actor would sign on to this?

(and this will be on their 'permanent records')

How did it EVER get greenlighted?

How is either of these things a problem?

Just have a Hazmat team destroy the donuts

and

incarcerate the MD quack who implanted something in her armpit!

(Oh, and offer the unfortunate victim some plastic surgery to rectify it)

Problems solved in a few seconds.

No need for a feature length movie.

Lastly....

No.

I did not watch them.

Yes.

I was tempted.

After all.

Who can refuse carcinogenic fried fiends and appendages in hairy armpits?

 

February 23rd

Today is International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day.
I sincerely do appreciate them,
(as does my dog).
As a matter of fact,
I just gave her one.
She seemed quite appreciative. :)

And.......
On this day in history, in 1455, the Gutenberg Bible was first produced
using Johannes invention.
And......
In 1954, kids in Pittsburg elementary schools were the first to receive
Dr Jonas Salk's new Polio Vaccine.
And.......
Today is George Frideric Handel's (of Handel's Messiah fame and others..) birthday.
He was born in 1685.
And.......
Remember the Alamo! Today in 1836, a 13 day siege began to gain independence from
Mexico.
And I'll bet you thought February was a boring month.

Isn't it wonderful to have information like that at the tap of a finger?
When I was a kid,
I had to use our badly out of date Funk and Wagnall's that my
Mom picked up new editions weekly at the local Winn Dixie.
We've become used to things appearing as if by magic, on screens sometimes so small
even my bifocals can't see the print.

Sometimes I miss "the good old days".
Take lunchboxes for instance.......
Now they are soft sided.
Sandwiches smash, containers open.....
I loved my old one.

Now this thing was indestructible.

A kid could even stand on it!

In a pinch, it could become a ninja weapon.....

Just saying....

Not that I'd condone that sorta thing.

Sandwiches still could get smashed, but it was awesome!

 

And speaking of Polio Vaccines,

in the 1960's these sugar cubes were

the way most kids were inoculated.

Maybe that's where Timothy Leary got the idea..........

Again,

just sayin'

 

 

I miss some of the old things.

Even with an electric computerized cash register, kids at Wendy's counters

still can't make change.

I learned on one like this at my Uncle's corner grocery

 

 

It was a work of art.

This picture is almost like it.

When you pushed down the large keys,

a beautifully printed number popped up.

You had to make change yourself.

Amazing,

imagine that, relying on the old brain

Instead of a calculator.

 

Speaking of calculators.

At a job I had,

I used one like this daily.

I got very adept, very fast, on this machine.

I loved it!

But,

We had to keep the tape.

It was our "backup".

 

I was out and about the other day when I saw a Tesla.

Yes.

A Tesla!

A lot like the one they put into space........

Its a beautiful car.

I just wonder if there's a learning curve if an oldster buys one.

Would we have to attend a Tesla Owners class?

Would there be a test?

If we fail, do we need to refund the car?

Just gimme a simple car.

My first was a VW Beetle

Pacific Blue.

Loved that car.

Sadly, I was in an accident with it and it was totaled.

Looked a lot like this cutie.

No rack though.

I changed tires, a battery and even helped

to install a new muffler.

Easy car to drive.

Easy to repair.

A regular "people's car".

Nudge....

Get it?

I understand the reason that we need to get away from fossil fuels,

and I currently drive an SUV,

But my "Bug" was still my favorite,

even with no air conditioning!

 

(Segue)

Spring is bursting out!

I'm seeing that beautiful pale green color everywhere.

There are 2 seasons I love,

Spring and Fall

because of the colors.

creeping sedum and dusty miller

creeping sedum and pansies

pink dianthus

 

Some of the plants are coming back.

Small green buds are sprouting on the trees and in the garden.

I saw 3 bumblebees yesterday.

I just hope the hens don't catch them.

As I've said,

they eat anything.

 

We also saw a Mallard couple scoping out prospective nest sites.

I hope they choose our yard again.

Baby ducks are just too cute!

 

Its just the squirrels,

they are cute,

but

They are disliked by the menagerie,

and fed by the CEO.

The hens were clucking up a storm earlier.

Its raining, so I didn't think much of it.

They didn't calm down, so I finally went out to check.

Henny and a squirrel were fussing at each other.

Henny's feathers were all fluffed up

and she was squawking to the top of her little chicken lungs.

The squirrel had both arms in the air for some reason.

They were squared off like a couple of MMA fighters about to

take each other down.

Then the sisters got in formation behind Henny.

It looked like OK Corral.

Standoff!

No clucking.

No noise,

Just fluffed up feathers and a stark still squirrel,

You could almost see the squirrel make a wise decision.

He looked in both directions,

decided forward into the breach was unwise.

and made a hasty retreat.

The hens did more clucking.

I'm sure they were bragging to each other about how they were gonna

kick squirrel butt.

Then they spread out to forage.

After all,

A hen's gotta eat!

 

'

 

 

 

February 11th

Ever notice how some things look alike?
I'm not talking about an exact doppelganger, just similar.
Like when you look at something and it reminds you of something completely different.
I have couple of examples......
I submit these for your approval

This is one of those Cube looking cars.

Not the best design in automotive history.

And

I think it looks

like this.......

Yes, an orthopedic shoe!

Not a stylish shoe either.

 

How about these other examples?

 

A New Lexus.

Stylish car, right?

But....

Doesn't it make you think of this?

The Predator's "grill" is the same,

The designers must be Sci Fi

Fans.

 

 

And

the fact that humans are hardwired to see "faces"

in inanimate objects.

Well,

now that you know this,

my chest of drawers was winking at me just the other day.

(or maybe I'm psychotic)

 

February is kind of a slow month for this blog.

Nothing growing,

Everything is brown or dead.

 

Mardi Gras is almost upon us,

And Valentines Day,

As is Easter

And April Fools Day.

Can't wait till spring.

 

Chicken facts:

 

 

1)Chickens go into a trancelike state when they asleep at night.

2)Chickens can recognize up to 100 faces. - that means they surely know us!

3)In ancient Rome, there was a saying "you were raised by a hen". It was a compliment.

4)Chickens have been known to live for up to 10 years.

5)More chickens are raised for food (approx. 8 billion) than any other animal and are killed at 2 months of age.

6)Chickens are highly intelligent and can learn quicker than dogs.

 

 

Chicken funnies.....

 

Have a sunny side up day!

;)