Sunday, January 06, 2013
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Troubled with little meeces
We have had a mouse problem again recently. Caught 2 in the wine closet a month or so ago. Rich saw one running across the kitchen floor a few days ago. I saw one in the bathroom. Little tiny thing. So the other night Rich set 3 mouse traps. He put one in the wine closet, one outside the bathroom door, and one in the kitchen behind the garbage. He uses peanut butter in the traps. Next morning there was one mouse in the wine closet trap, and the other 2 traps had been licked clean of the peanut butter without setting them off. So yesterday morning he re-set them with fresh peanut butter.
Yesterday afternoon we left home about 3:00 to do a little shopping and then go out to dinner for Dan's birthday. When we got home, about 9:30 pm, we checked the traps. Only problem was, the mouse trap that had been behind the garbage was completely missing. Sometimes, you know, the mouse drags them a little ways after being caught, so we looked all around. Couldn't find. Then, mystery unsolved, we went into the office/tv room and turned on the light. This is what we saw:
Dear Miss Poo Poo the cat now not only brings the mice inside to play with and then abandons them, doesn't catch them again herself, and then raids the mousetrap! Or maybe she was trying to rescue it again.
Yesterday afternoon we left home about 3:00 to do a little shopping and then go out to dinner for Dan's birthday. When we got home, about 9:30 pm, we checked the traps. Only problem was, the mouse trap that had been behind the garbage was completely missing. Sometimes, you know, the mouse drags them a little ways after being caught, so we looked all around. Couldn't find. Then, mystery unsolved, we went into the office/tv room and turned on the light. This is what we saw:
Dear Miss Poo Poo the cat now not only brings the mice inside to play with and then abandons them, doesn't catch them again herself, and then raids the mousetrap! Or maybe she was trying to rescue it again.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
What are the chances?
I just had to blog about this. Newberg is weird. We went for a walk tonight about 8:00 or so. We walked up through Jacquith Park, from Main Street over to College Street. Then we continued on over to Meridian, did a little loop, and were walking down Meridian just a little north of the railroad tracks. We saw some other people coming, and from a distance it just looked like a couple with a baby carriage. As we got closer, we realized they had a huge cage on wheels, and inside was a great big blue Macaw. I didn't take any photos, but it looked just like this:
We stopped and talked to the people. They have had him about 5 years. They got him from a woman who got him as an egg, hatched him and raised him. Then she got divorced and moved to a tiny apartment and couldn't keep him. Very interesting and very cool to see him. He was beautiful!
So then, we continued down Meridian Street to downtown, turned right, and stopped at the Voodoo Martini for a drink. When we left there, we were walking down the sidewalk and there was a couple with a truck and a food cart. They were putting everything away for the night. The passenger door of the pickup was open, and sitting on the door, was, a big blue and yellow Macaw. Just like the other one. So we stopped and looked at him, told them he was the second one we had seen tonight. They know of the other one.
Then we went to Naps, bought milk, and came home.
Amusing.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Great Great Great Grandparents
We are in Staunton, Virginia tonight, home of my great great great grandmother, Julia Ann Sowers, who married James Turner Barclay in 1830. They lived in Monticello, where my great great grandfather John Judson Barclay was born. Later, they lived in Scottsville Virginia, in this house, where we went this morning:
Dr. James Turner Barclay was a trained pharmacist, medical doctor, and the first minister of the Scottsville Disciples of Christ church in 1846. Dr. Barclay continued his ministry and lived next door in the Barclay House until 1851 when he went to Jerusalem as his Church's first missionary.
The church next door to their house (visible on the left in this photo) is now the Scottsville Museum, which was unfortunately not open today.
Dr. James Turner Barclay was a trained pharmacist, medical doctor, and the first minister of the Scottsville Disciples of Christ church in 1846. Dr. Barclay continued his ministry and lived next door in the Barclay House until 1851 when he went to Jerusalem as his Church's first missionary.
The church next door to their house (visible on the left in this photo) is now the Scottsville Museum, which was unfortunately not open today.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
One Tiny Green Egg Today!
I have been remiss in keeping this blog updated regarding the chicken population at our house. The last time I posted about chickens, I believe, was last September, when we had our lovely Victoria, the big white hen, our little Mary, the little white banty, James the bad rooster who ran back and forth between our house and our neighbors, and James' two babies, the Things.
About a month after that post, I think, we lost our little Mary to a raccoon. We finally figured out that the old bathtub we were using to water the sheep and goats was attracting the raccoons, and then the chickens were easy prey. One day we found a pile of little black and white feathers that was all that was left of sweet little Mary. So that left us with only one hen, Victoria.
We looked on Craigslist and found someone in Nehalem with 2 little Old English Game Hens for sale, and decided to try them. A day trip to Nehalem and we brought home these 2 tiny little red hens. They are smaller than banties, and as cute and sweet as they can be. We named them Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice. But we can't tell them apart, so we just call them The Princesses. It's really hard to get good pictures of them, but here is one sort of:
These little hens turned out to be the sweetest little things ever. They are super friendly. They follow Rich around all day. They are right there when we are digging in the garden so they can get worms. They lay little tiny white eggs.
Then the Things turned into roosters, and started following in their father's footsteps, literally, so we had 3 roosters running back and forth between our house and the neighbors. Ridiculous! We found a farm in Oregon City that took in stray roosters, and one day Rich loaded them all up in the car and took them to their new home. We haven't missed them for even one second!
Then, we decided we would get some new babies in the spring. Before we left for Panama we put in an order to pick up when we got back. We got 10 baby chicks of assorted sizes and colors on March 10.
We lost 2 babies - one died one of the first nights, not sure why. Another one was lame and we thought she might make it, but she didn't. So that left us with eight, after two weeks. The feed store had some Cuckoo Marans, which we had wanted but were not available at the hatchery, so we got two of those, hens for sure. Then when they all got bigger and were out running around in the yard, one got killed by a dog that was passing by with it's completely irresponsible owner. Rich hit the dog in the head with a brick, so hopefully did some damage. That left us with 9 new ones and the 3 older ones. Then 2 of the babies turned into roosters - Alfonso and Gonzalo, formerly Leticia and Maria Mercedes. Alfonso Leticia was really obnoxious, and we found a new home for him on Craigslist. Maria Mercedes Gonzalo is actually quite a nice little rooster who is actually learning to do his job of keeping track of his hens.
So we have zillions (it seems) of little chickens running around. Everywhere we look there are chickens!
We have:
One black banty with red feathers on her neck, named Raven. She is a special little pet.
About a month after that post, I think, we lost our little Mary to a raccoon. We finally figured out that the old bathtub we were using to water the sheep and goats was attracting the raccoons, and then the chickens were easy prey. One day we found a pile of little black and white feathers that was all that was left of sweet little Mary. So that left us with only one hen, Victoria.
We looked on Craigslist and found someone in Nehalem with 2 little Old English Game Hens for sale, and decided to try them. A day trip to Nehalem and we brought home these 2 tiny little red hens. They are smaller than banties, and as cute and sweet as they can be. We named them Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice. But we can't tell them apart, so we just call them The Princesses. It's really hard to get good pictures of them, but here is one sort of:
 |
| Bad chickens in the house: Victoria, The Princesses, and The Things. |
Then the Things turned into roosters, and started following in their father's footsteps, literally, so we had 3 roosters running back and forth between our house and the neighbors. Ridiculous! We found a farm in Oregon City that took in stray roosters, and one day Rich loaded them all up in the car and took them to their new home. We haven't missed them for even one second!
We lost 2 babies - one died one of the first nights, not sure why. Another one was lame and we thought she might make it, but she didn't. So that left us with eight, after two weeks. The feed store had some Cuckoo Marans, which we had wanted but were not available at the hatchery, so we got two of those, hens for sure. Then when they all got bigger and were out running around in the yard, one got killed by a dog that was passing by with it's completely irresponsible owner. Rich hit the dog in the head with a brick, so hopefully did some damage. That left us with 9 new ones and the 3 older ones. Then 2 of the babies turned into roosters - Alfonso and Gonzalo, formerly Leticia and Maria Mercedes. Alfonso Leticia was really obnoxious, and we found a new home for him on Craigslist. Maria Mercedes Gonzalo is actually quite a nice little rooster who is actually learning to do his job of keeping track of his hens.
So we have zillions (it seems) of little chickens running around. Everywhere we look there are chickens!
 |
| From left, Sophia, Margrita, Irene, and Gonzalo's tail. |
 |
| Irene, Sophia, Raven, Gonzalo, and a Princess in the front. |
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| Gonzalo, Margrita, Sophia, and a tiny bit of Irene |
 |
| Raven, Irene, Sophia, Gonzalo and Tua |
1 Red Auracana named Sophia. She looks like Elizabeth that we lost last year.
2 Cuckoo Marans, name Juana La Loca and Tua La Loca
2 white banties, one yellowish named Margrita, and one mostly just white, named Irene.
One black banty with red feathers on her neck, named Raven. She is a special little pet.One grey banty with red feathers on her neck, named Christina.
Gonzalo the Rooster
Victoria
The 2 Princesses.
Victoria lays nice big brown eggs.
The Princesses lay cute little white eggs.
And today, Irene or Margrita laid a little tiny green egg. At least we think it was one of them, because Rich thinks he remembers seeing one of them in the chicken coop nesting and cackling with the rooster fussing over her.
More to come, we hope!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Taming the Sheep and Goats
We are a little slow.
We have had these 2 goats, Eos and Nyx, for 2 years, and the little wild miniature Cheviot sheep, Percy and Grizel, for almost 2 years.They kind of run wild back there in their big field. We have used all manner of trickey over the years to catch them when we have to comb the goats, trim hooves, or shear the sheep. They will come into the inner yard and their shed when we are feeding them, but very cautiously, and usually they hang back until we are headed back to the house. When we need to catch them, they seem to know, and they won't come into the inner yard at all!
They have lots to eat out in their field, and we occasionally give them some hay as well. So the little bit of grain we give them every evening is really just a treat.
To shear the sheep this year, we had to catch them late at night last Monday when Rich fed them. We did this by attaching a long rope onto the second gate, and pulling on it from the patio to close the gate after they were inside eating. We have been trying for a couple weeks to catch them like this, and it took this long. Then they had to be penned up all day Tuesday until I got home from work. It took 2 hours to shear each one. I did better than last year, though!
So after that insanity, I finally had a brilliant idea! The grain is a treat, so let's treat it like one! They only get it if they come close and eat while we are there. We open the gates, put our plastic lawn chairs right there, put some grain in a bucket, line up their bowls, and put just a little grain at a time in the bowls. We started thursday night, and Eos was the only one brave enough to eat. Friday night, Percy and Grizel got some, plus Eos got some corn chips that she ate out of Rich's hand. And last night those 3 were a little braver. Nyx is still hanging back. She wants to come get some so-o-o bad, but she is just too shy and nervous. It's kind of funny, because usually she butts everyone out of the way and eats her fill before letting them in. The hair on her spine stands up on end, and her tail is straight in the air. But I bet within a few nights, she will be right there. She can hardly stand it!
Our plan is to do this at least a few times a week all year, and then they'll be so tame they'll be easy to catch at combing and shearing time!
We have had these 2 goats, Eos and Nyx, for 2 years, and the little wild miniature Cheviot sheep, Percy and Grizel, for almost 2 years.They kind of run wild back there in their big field. We have used all manner of trickey over the years to catch them when we have to comb the goats, trim hooves, or shear the sheep. They will come into the inner yard and their shed when we are feeding them, but very cautiously, and usually they hang back until we are headed back to the house. When we need to catch them, they seem to know, and they won't come into the inner yard at all!
They have lots to eat out in their field, and we occasionally give them some hay as well. So the little bit of grain we give them every evening is really just a treat.
To shear the sheep this year, we had to catch them late at night last Monday when Rich fed them. We did this by attaching a long rope onto the second gate, and pulling on it from the patio to close the gate after they were inside eating. We have been trying for a couple weeks to catch them like this, and it took this long. Then they had to be penned up all day Tuesday until I got home from work. It took 2 hours to shear each one. I did better than last year, though!
So after that insanity, I finally had a brilliant idea! The grain is a treat, so let's treat it like one! They only get it if they come close and eat while we are there. We open the gates, put our plastic lawn chairs right there, put some grain in a bucket, line up their bowls, and put just a little grain at a time in the bowls. We started thursday night, and Eos was the only one brave enough to eat. Friday night, Percy and Grizel got some, plus Eos got some corn chips that she ate out of Rich's hand. And last night those 3 were a little braver. Nyx is still hanging back. She wants to come get some so-o-o bad, but she is just too shy and nervous. It's kind of funny, because usually she butts everyone out of the way and eats her fill before letting them in. The hair on her spine stands up on end, and her tail is straight in the air. But I bet within a few nights, she will be right there. She can hardly stand it!
Our plan is to do this at least a few times a week all year, and then they'll be so tame they'll be easy to catch at combing and shearing time!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Newberg is Happening!
We went for a walk downtown last night. Friday night. Not an Art Walk Friday. Walking through town, we could hear live music coming from TWO separate venues. The Coffee Cottage, of course, with it's little crowd of regulars. And then, where else? First Street Pub.
I think it used to be the little pool hall. Now they have live music on weekends. Allen's band played there last weekend. You can't see it very well in my stupid little video - I didn't know how to do the video thing right on my iPhone. But it gives you the general idea.... Also new in Newberg is Voodoo Martini, Newberg's newest wine bar. More than a wine bar. They must have martinis too.
We haven't been there.Lots of other wine bars downtown. So if you haven't been to Newberg for awhile, you might want to come for a visit.
Friday, April 30, 2010
We're in the News Again!
This beaver dam is in the creek that goes under the dip on our street. When I was walking to the gym last night they were filming the video associated with this article.
Be sure to look at the comments and read the letter from Pennsylvania.
So stay tuned for any updates. Save the beavers!
Be sure to look at the comments and read the letter from Pennsylvania.
So stay tuned for any updates. Save the beavers!
Monday, February 22, 2010
It's Raining in Boquete Panama
We have been in Boquete since Saturday afternoon. We finished at our language school in Panama City at 12:30 on Friday. Then we took a cab to the bus station and right away got on a bus for Santiago, in the Veraguas province. After at least a 3 hour bus ride, we arrived in Santiago which seemed like a bustling town. We spent the night at a silly hotel (La Hacienda). It was right on the InterAmerican Highway, so not close to downtown, which was sort of disappointing, as we might have enjoyed seeing a bit of the town. We were tired, however, and the hotel was pretty nice. They supposedly had Mexican food in the restaurant, so we ordered chile rellenos. They were midwestern housewife green peppers stuffed with hamburger. I sent mine back and they brought me one stuffed with cheese. Edible, but not a chile relleno! Good coffee in the morning, then a cab to the bus station to catch the bus to David. Different bus station than the one we arrived at the night before. We got out of the cab and hustled on to a smallish bus for a 3 hour trip to David. When we got there, right away we found the buses to Boquete - old refurbished school buses from the US. Another hour and we arrived in Boquete mid afternoon. We saw a sign on the side of the road for our hotel, so asked the bus driver to stop and let us out there. We only had to walk about a block.
Boquete is REALLY nice. We were surprised at how nice it is. It is not overrun with gringos - it appears they all live up on the hillsides somewhere and sort of keep to themselves. I need to take some photos of the downtown tomorrow morning - just realized I don't have any. Our hotel has beautiful grounds and a toucan who would not let me take his picture this morning.
Yesterday we did a great tour up over the mountain on dirt/gravel roads to the Bocas del Toro province and a cacao farm run by Ngobe indians. It was amazing. Maybe another post about that later.
Today, we left Boquete about 11:00 am and took a cab up the hill aways to a trail head to hike up to a waterfall. It was about a 2-3 mile hike up to the waterfall - took us a couple hours. It was an amazing misty cloudy day - probably typical cloud forest. It was just astoundingly beautiful. We had directions and a hand drawn map of where we were going. We thought we had come to the wrong place as the trail sort of ended in a pile of logs and rocks, but we kept going, picking our way over the rocks, and then all of a sudden saw the waterfall. I just tried uploading my photos to Picasa, but the internet connection is too slow.
Here is one. The photo doesn't do it justice. The waterfall was barely visible through the mist.
All day we could hear the illusive quetzal but never saw one.
When we were done with the hike we decided to walk the 9 kilometers back down the hill to Boquete. It also was wonderful. The road went past small farms and coffee plantations. It was a great hike - saw way more than we would have in a cab.
Then we went to Bistro Boquete for dinner and cervezas. It started raining while we were in the restaurant. Walked back to the hotel in light rain, and now sitting on our balcony playing with computers. Rained harder while sitting here. Now the frogs are singing. In the morning there are a zillion birds chirping and singing and flying around the yard here. Red ones, blue ones, yellow ones and hummingbirds. Hard to get photos.
Anyway, more posts later about the rest of the trip. Tomorrow afternoon we do a coffee tasting tour, going to three small plantations. Then Wednesday we go to Pedasi, down on the Azuero Peninusula, for 4 days. It will be a long bus riding day.
Boquete is REALLY nice. We were surprised at how nice it is. It is not overrun with gringos - it appears they all live up on the hillsides somewhere and sort of keep to themselves. I need to take some photos of the downtown tomorrow morning - just realized I don't have any. Our hotel has beautiful grounds and a toucan who would not let me take his picture this morning.
Yesterday we did a great tour up over the mountain on dirt/gravel roads to the Bocas del Toro province and a cacao farm run by Ngobe indians. It was amazing. Maybe another post about that later.
Today, we left Boquete about 11:00 am and took a cab up the hill aways to a trail head to hike up to a waterfall. It was about a 2-3 mile hike up to the waterfall - took us a couple hours. It was an amazing misty cloudy day - probably typical cloud forest. It was just astoundingly beautiful. We had directions and a hand drawn map of where we were going. We thought we had come to the wrong place as the trail sort of ended in a pile of logs and rocks, but we kept going, picking our way over the rocks, and then all of a sudden saw the waterfall. I just tried uploading my photos to Picasa, but the internet connection is too slow.
All day we could hear the illusive quetzal but never saw one.
When we were done with the hike we decided to walk the 9 kilometers back down the hill to Boquete. It also was wonderful. The road went past small farms and coffee plantations. It was a great hike - saw way more than we would have in a cab. Then we went to Bistro Boquete for dinner and cervezas. It started raining while we were in the restaurant. Walked back to the hotel in light rain, and now sitting on our balcony playing with computers. Rained harder while sitting here. Now the frogs are singing. In the morning there are a zillion birds chirping and singing and flying around the yard here. Red ones, blue ones, yellow ones and hummingbirds. Hard to get photos.
Anyway, more posts later about the rest of the trip. Tomorrow afternoon we do a coffee tasting tour, going to three small plantations. Then Wednesday we go to Pedasi, down on the Azuero Peninusula, for 4 days. It will be a long bus riding day.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Baby Chickens and Coyote Worries
I don't know if I mentioned that James the rooster is a father. Neighbors had a broody hen, so they put 4 eggs under her, fertilized by James, of course. Then, 3 weeks later, 2 eggs hatched out and the little babies went running off, so mama chicken got off the nest to chase them, and meanwhile, the other 2 that hadn't quite hatched yet, died. So mama took good care of the 2 wild little things for 3 or 4 weeks, and then we moved them over to our house. This is because Sandy felt bad that we had ended up with only 2 hens and a crazy rooster. So she figured maybe we would get more hens this way.
We brought them home Saturday night, Sept. 12. We have an old rabbit cage, so we put them in that to keep them safe from the big chickens and cats and predators and stuff. We carried them in the cage into the chicken coop, and they slept in the cage all night. In the morning, we carried them out of the coop, still in the cage, and put the cage inside the bird-net covered cold frame, inside the chicken yard.
That evening, Sunday, we went for a walk, and got back about 10 minutes after chicken bedtime. Rich headed right over to the neighbors to fetch James (which we have to do every night), and I went out to put the babies in the coop. Only they weren't in the cold frame. Then I heard peeping. They were already in the coop. They had escaped from the cold frame and found there way into the coop.
The next day, Monday, we forgot about the cold frame and just locked them in the chicken yard. Rich was home from work, and went out early afternoon to check on them. They weren't there. They had escaped and were in the tomato patch. He found where they had escaped from and fixed it, and we fixed the cold frame and used it a few more days, but more and more it was apparent that they were just ready to be "free range chickens." Rich was working at home all last week, so it worked okay. This week he had to go back into the office, so we thought about leaving them locked in the chicken yard. The logistics of keeping them in and still figuring out a way for the big ones to get into the coop to lay their eggs was too complicated, so we just decided to let them roam. As Rich said, they are probably roosters anyway! So, Monday, Tuesday and today they have roamed free with no problems. The big ones have pretty much accepted them. And amazingly enough, James has started coming home on his own. For 2 or 3 nights Rich has gone over there and when James sees him he heads over here on his own. Tonight I went out at chicken bedtime and he was already in the coop without Rich having to go over there at all.
Then, we were in the kitchen getting dinner ready, and Daryl came over to tell us that Lena Fisher (across the street) had a coyote in her yard at 9:30 this morning. So now we're all freaked. Rich is going to stay home tomorrow. Lyda's have Larry the Llama, which helps probably, and the people behind us now have horses and at least one dog, which also helps. But it is quite freaky and now we are worried about the sheep and goats, as well as chickens.
Baby chicken photos - they are having a dirt bath in the bean patch:
And here they are hanging out with Victoria hoping for some grapes to fall on the ground:
And in their safe place in the garden:
I am calling them Thing 1 and Thing 2. They will get real names when they become hens or roosters. My guess is that Thing 1 is a hen and Thing 2 is a rooster. I think the reason James has started coming home on his own is that he knows at least one of them is a rooster and he is not willing to give up his territory. It isn't because of fatherly hormones.
They are so cute and so adventuresome, it will be hard to give one up if he is a rooster. Don't know what we will do....
And did I mention that they fly? The cat sort of chases them and they fly across the yard. At night, they fly up onto the roost and up to check out the windows in the coop. They fly way more than the others did or do.
We brought them home Saturday night, Sept. 12. We have an old rabbit cage, so we put them in that to keep them safe from the big chickens and cats and predators and stuff. We carried them in the cage into the chicken coop, and they slept in the cage all night. In the morning, we carried them out of the coop, still in the cage, and put the cage inside the bird-net covered cold frame, inside the chicken yard.
That evening, Sunday, we went for a walk, and got back about 10 minutes after chicken bedtime. Rich headed right over to the neighbors to fetch James (which we have to do every night), and I went out to put the babies in the coop. Only they weren't in the cold frame. Then I heard peeping. They were already in the coop. They had escaped from the cold frame and found there way into the coop.
The next day, Monday, we forgot about the cold frame and just locked them in the chicken yard. Rich was home from work, and went out early afternoon to check on them. They weren't there. They had escaped and were in the tomato patch. He found where they had escaped from and fixed it, and we fixed the cold frame and used it a few more days, but more and more it was apparent that they were just ready to be "free range chickens." Rich was working at home all last week, so it worked okay. This week he had to go back into the office, so we thought about leaving them locked in the chicken yard. The logistics of keeping them in and still figuring out a way for the big ones to get into the coop to lay their eggs was too complicated, so we just decided to let them roam. As Rich said, they are probably roosters anyway! So, Monday, Tuesday and today they have roamed free with no problems. The big ones have pretty much accepted them. And amazingly enough, James has started coming home on his own. For 2 or 3 nights Rich has gone over there and when James sees him he heads over here on his own. Tonight I went out at chicken bedtime and he was already in the coop without Rich having to go over there at all.
Then, we were in the kitchen getting dinner ready, and Daryl came over to tell us that Lena Fisher (across the street) had a coyote in her yard at 9:30 this morning. So now we're all freaked. Rich is going to stay home tomorrow. Lyda's have Larry the Llama, which helps probably, and the people behind us now have horses and at least one dog, which also helps. But it is quite freaky and now we are worried about the sheep and goats, as well as chickens.
Baby chicken photos - they are having a dirt bath in the bean patch:
And here they are hanging out with Victoria hoping for some grapes to fall on the ground:And in their safe place in the garden:
I am calling them Thing 1 and Thing 2. They will get real names when they become hens or roosters. My guess is that Thing 1 is a hen and Thing 2 is a rooster. I think the reason James has started coming home on his own is that he knows at least one of them is a rooster and he is not willing to give up his territory. It isn't because of fatherly hormones. They are so cute and so adventuresome, it will be hard to give one up if he is a rooster. Don't know what we will do....
And did I mention that they fly? The cat sort of chases them and they fly across the yard. At night, they fly up onto the roost and up to check out the windows in the coop. They fly way more than the others did or do.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Happy Birthday to Me
My birthday is tomorrow. 61. Remember when we thought 30 was old???
Rich and I saw Julie and Julia friday night. It inspired me to do my blog more. Then I was trying to think of something I could write about, and I thought it would be fun to try to go to every restaurant in Yamhill County and write a review. You know, sort of like cooking every recipe in Julia Child's cookbook, but not quite so hard. Although going to some of the restaurants would be hard. Haven't decided all the rules yet. Like I know fast food is out, but how about all the little dives? But who knows, we might discover something wonderful. But there are lots of restaurants to eat our way through before we have to decide about the dives. Although I wouldn't want to save them all for last. Hmm.
So last night Sue offered to take Rich and me out for my birthday. I have been driving past this hideous building in Dundee for about a year now as they built it, too close to the road, and then that awful ugly style with fake looking stone and wood and you can't tell if they are going for the italian villa look or english tudor. All mixed up. And this one seems especially ugly. Everytime I drive by it I notice it and feel almost offended at it's ugliness. A realtor office opened at one end of it, and it looks like a bank is opening at the other end. I figured it must have been the realtors that built it. Then, maybe a month or so ago, a little sandwich board sign appeared on the sidewalk in front of it, announcing the Farm to Fork restaurant and the Red Hills Inn. Intriguing. So I looked them up on the internet. Even more intriguing. So I suggested to Sue that we go there.
The wine list is fantastic. We had the 2005 Domaine Trouvere Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. Fabulous. Tannic and fruity. I had this wonderful little dungeoness crab stuffed home made pasta thing. With buerre blanc. Rich had the duck, and he wants to go back every day for a year and have duck. And Sue had melt in your mouth scallops. The salads were delicious as well. And the desser
ts.
I had the Espresso Soaked Vanilla Bean Cake. More like a cake/pudding. Yum. I wanted to lick the plate. Rich had the Vanilla Bean-Mascarpone Cheesecake, and Sue had the Raspberry Napoleon “Dynamite”. What can I say? This place is going to be hot. It doesn't even matter anymore that the building is so ugly. They don't take reservations for parties of less than 6 unless you're staying at the hotel. They told us when we called that there would be no problem getting in at 6:30 or so. We got there at about 6:15 and were the last ones to get seated. They do have a wine bar also, so I suppose if you had to wait for a table you could sit and drink wine. But it is a leisurely dining experience, so you might have to drink lots of wine. My recommendation is to get there early. I'm going to want to go back there before I go to all the other restaurants in Yamhill County.
Sue told me that Hope went to Amherst with Julie Powell. They were friends, even.
Today we did the usual working in the yard attempting to make a small dent in the amount of work that needs doing. Then we went kayaking. First time this year that we have used our kayaks. We put in at the dock in Champoeg,
kayaked down to Buttville, and back. The dock at Champoeg is very high off the water and it was really hard for me to get in. Rich had to have his boat outside my boat and stabilize me. I couldn't reach down far enough to get a good grip to balance myself. Then, when we got back, getting out was not even possible. I had to go over to the muddy bank and get out there. Fortunately there was sort of a worn trail so I could climb up to the dock ramp. Steep and muddy, but possible! I had to toss my rope up to Rich so he could pull the boat over to the dock and get out. A nice paddle though, but lots of power boats. Everyone was out skiing and tubing.
Rich and I saw Julie and Julia friday night. It inspired me to do my blog more. Then I was trying to think of something I could write about, and I thought it would be fun to try to go to every restaurant in Yamhill County and write a review. You know, sort of like cooking every recipe in Julia Child's cookbook, but not quite so hard. Although going to some of the restaurants would be hard. Haven't decided all the rules yet. Like I know fast food is out, but how about all the little dives? But who knows, we might discover something wonderful. But there are lots of restaurants to eat our way through before we have to decide about the dives. Although I wouldn't want to save them all for last. Hmm.
So last night Sue offered to take Rich and me out for my birthday. I have been driving past this hideous building in Dundee for about a year now as they built it, too close to the road, and then that awful ugly style with fake looking stone and wood and you can't tell if they are going for the italian villa look or english tudor. All mixed up. And this one seems especially ugly. Everytime I drive by it I notice it and feel almost offended at it's ugliness. A realtor office opened at one end of it, and it looks like a bank is opening at the other end. I figured it must have been the realtors that built it. Then, maybe a month or so ago, a little sandwich board sign appeared on the sidewalk in front of it, announcing the Farm to Fork restaurant and the Red Hills Inn. Intriguing. So I looked them up on the internet. Even more intriguing. So I suggested to Sue that we go there.
The wine list is fantastic. We had the 2005 Domaine Trouvere Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. Fabulous. Tannic and fruity. I had this wonderful little dungeoness crab stuffed home made pasta thing. With buerre blanc. Rich had the duck, and he wants to go back every day for a year and have duck. And Sue had melt in your mouth scallops. The salads were delicious as well. And the desser
ts.I had the Espresso Soaked Vanilla Bean Cake. More like a cake/pudding. Yum. I wanted to lick the plate. Rich had the Vanilla Bean-Mascarpone Cheesecake, and Sue had the Raspberry Napoleon “Dynamite”. What can I say? This place is going to be hot. It doesn't even matter anymore that the building is so ugly. They don't take reservations for parties of less than 6 unless you're staying at the hotel. They told us when we called that there would be no problem getting in at 6:30 or so. We got there at about 6:15 and were the last ones to get seated. They do have a wine bar also, so I suppose if you had to wait for a table you could sit and drink wine. But it is a leisurely dining experience, so you might have to drink lots of wine. My recommendation is to get there early. I'm going to want to go back there before I go to all the other restaurants in Yamhill County.
Sue told me that Hope went to Amherst with Julie Powell. They were friends, even.
Today we did the usual working in the yard attempting to make a small dent in the amount of work that needs doing. Then we went kayaking. First time this year that we have used our kayaks. We put in at the dock in Champoeg,
kayaked down to Buttville, and back. The dock at Champoeg is very high off the water and it was really hard for me to get in. Rich had to have his boat outside my boat and stabilize me. I couldn't reach down far enough to get a good grip to balance myself. Then, when we got back, getting out was not even possible. I had to go over to the muddy bank and get out there. Fortunately there was sort of a worn trail so I could climb up to the dock ramp. Steep and muddy, but possible! I had to toss my rope up to Rich so he could pull the boat over to the dock and get out. A nice paddle though, but lots of power boats. Everyone was out skiing and tubing.
Busy times in Newberg!
Just to catch up!
Newberg Old Fashioned Festival was a couple weeks ago. We didn't go to the parade of course, but we were thinking about going to the fireworks. Then Alan, across the street, told us his band was playing, so we decided to walk down to the park to hear the music and then go to the fireworks. We ended up sitting next to our neighbor Emil and his son, and in the row behind Alan's whole family - brother, sister, grand kids, et al.
I tried to get a good picture, but Alan is the drummer and he was way in the back, and the guitar guy kept stepping in front of him. You can sort of see in these photos...
.
Last weekend, Kaylee came to visit us. We went to Champoeg to the Saturday Living History event. They have these every weekend in the summer. This one was Grain Harvest Day. Wheat and corn. The kids got to grind the wheat into flour and the corn into cornmeal. Then there was a churning demonstration, and to top it all off, they baked fresh cornbread in a dutch oven over a fire and we got to sample it with fresh churned butter.
Here's Kaylee grinding flour:
Then we went for a hike, about 3 miles each way, to Butteville, for ice cream at the famous Butteville Store. Kaylee says next time we have to ride bikes!
Newberg Old Fashioned Festival was a couple weeks ago. We didn't go to the parade of course, but we were thinking about going to the fireworks. Then Alan, across the street, told us his band was playing, so we decided to walk down to the park to hear the music and then go to the fireworks. We ended up sitting next to our neighbor Emil and his son, and in the row behind Alan's whole family - brother, sister, grand kids, et al.
I tried to get a good picture, but Alan is the drummer and he was way in the back, and the guitar guy kept stepping in front of him. You can sort of see in these photos...
.Last weekend, Kaylee came to visit us. We went to Champoeg to the Saturday Living History event. They have these every weekend in the summer. This one was Grain Harvest Day. Wheat and corn. The kids got to grind the wheat into flour and the corn into cornmeal. Then there was a churning demonstration, and to top it all off, they baked fresh cornbread in a dutch oven over a fire and we got to sample it with fresh churned butter.
Here's Kaylee grinding flour:
Then we went for a hike, about 3 miles each way, to Butteville, for ice cream at the famous Butteville Store. Kaylee says next time we have to ride bikes!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Chicken Sadness
I was in Ashland last night. When Rich got home from work he couldn't find Elizabeth anywhere. When he was headed over to Lyda's to get James at bedtime, he saw a pile of red feathers in the yard next door. We think a hawk got her. She wasn't laying yet, so while the other 2 were in the nest, she was probably out wandering around by herself. She was so sweet. Makes me glad I was nice to her. After we got home from Scotland we were picking blueberries. She was hanging out with us, very quietly so she wouldn't have to let the others know where she was and share. Every time a blueberry dropped on the ground, she nailed it. I dropped a whole bunch on purpose for her.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Chickens
So at the time we left for Scotland, as you will recall, we had only recently discovered that we actually had 2 roosters, and only 3 hens. They were all pretty much full grown, but not fully mature. The roosters had only just begun to crow. They all hung out with each other all day in a little group. Henry was a really sweet rooster and would almost let us pet him.
While we were in Scotland, the roosters came of age. When Sarah and Shawn showed up on June 30, Henry charged them. He came up behind and pecked at them a few other times as well.
When we got to the Newark Airport, we had a voice mail from our neighbors, Jack and Sandy Lyda, the ones we got the chickens from in the first place. They said one of our roosters had found his way over there and wasn't leaving. So we called them and said we'd talk to them Monday evening.
When we got home, we learned that Henry had gotten so aggressive he essentially chased Jane James away. Jack was bringing him back over every night and putting him in our coop, but first thing in the morning he would run lickety split back over there. They have several hens, but they really didn't want a rooster, and quickly got rid of the few new chickens they kept that turned out to be roosters.
So, big dilemma. I didn't know what to do, as I really liked both of them. Before we left for Scotland they would come and crow at my window to wake me up. When I went out to the yard they came running, in a happy friendly way.
Now, Henry started coming up behind me and attacking. Okay, Henry, enough was enough. I put an ad on Craig's list and last Saturday morning gave him away to a very nice couple with a big farm and 6 hens. An email from them confirms he is happy and his new hens like him.
Big bad Henry before he went to his new home:
So, back to the James problem. We tried keeping him in the coop Sunday morning, but about 11:00 or so, Victoria was crazy to lay an egg, which she likes to do in the hay bin of the sheep house (yes, at least 2 of them started laying). So Victoria found a hole in the fence and got out, and James was right behind her. He then went running as fast as he could (which is REALLY fast) back over to Lyda's. So Rich has been going over every night and getting him and putting him in the coop, again. In the morning, Rich lets them out of the coop when he leaves, and then I go out and feed them and let them out of their yard when I leave. Monday, James was gone in a flash. Tuesday, he hung around and ate a little and was still here when I left for work. When I got home, he was over in their yard, but I could see him from our sheep yard. I called him and he responded to my voice. I lured him over finally - he jumped through the fence and raced back over here. I was amazed. But then, within probably 3 minutes, he chased down each one of our hens and had his way with them. They were not happy ladies.
Then, he ran back over to his other girl friends.
Tuesday night and Wednesday night we went and got him. Rich brought him in to the house so I could give him a talking to on Wednesday night:
Tonight, we went over to get him, and he was actually outside of their fence, looking like he was on his way back over here! So I called him and Rich followed behind him, and he actually came home and ran into the coop by himself. So we might be making progress!
Except I put an ad on Craig's List earlier in the evening. No responses yet. I guess we'll see what happens.
Meanwhile, Mary (the banty) is laying one perfect little tiny brown egg every day, and Victoria is laying a slightly bigger brown egg about every 2 - 3 days. Elizabeth, the red auracana, has not started laying, or is hiding them. They will be green. I don't think she is laying yet.
Chickens are fascinating. We are having fun with them, even though....
While we were in Scotland, the roosters came of age. When Sarah and Shawn showed up on June 30, Henry charged them. He came up behind and pecked at them a few other times as well.
When we got to the Newark Airport, we had a voice mail from our neighbors, Jack and Sandy Lyda, the ones we got the chickens from in the first place. They said one of our roosters had found his way over there and wasn't leaving. So we called them and said we'd talk to them Monday evening.
When we got home, we learned that Henry had gotten so aggressive he essentially chased Jane James away. Jack was bringing him back over every night and putting him in our coop, but first thing in the morning he would run lickety split back over there. They have several hens, but they really didn't want a rooster, and quickly got rid of the few new chickens they kept that turned out to be roosters.
So, big dilemma. I didn't know what to do, as I really liked both of them. Before we left for Scotland they would come and crow at my window to wake me up. When I went out to the yard they came running, in a happy friendly way.
Now, Henry started coming up behind me and attacking. Okay, Henry, enough was enough. I put an ad on Craig's list and last Saturday morning gave him away to a very nice couple with a big farm and 6 hens. An email from them confirms he is happy and his new hens like him.
Big bad Henry before he went to his new home:
So, back to the James problem. We tried keeping him in the coop Sunday morning, but about 11:00 or so, Victoria was crazy to lay an egg, which she likes to do in the hay bin of the sheep house (yes, at least 2 of them started laying). So Victoria found a hole in the fence and got out, and James was right behind her. He then went running as fast as he could (which is REALLY fast) back over to Lyda's. So Rich has been going over every night and getting him and putting him in the coop, again. In the morning, Rich lets them out of the coop when he leaves, and then I go out and feed them and let them out of their yard when I leave. Monday, James was gone in a flash. Tuesday, he hung around and ate a little and was still here when I left for work. When I got home, he was over in their yard, but I could see him from our sheep yard. I called him and he responded to my voice. I lured him over finally - he jumped through the fence and raced back over here. I was amazed. But then, within probably 3 minutes, he chased down each one of our hens and had his way with them. They were not happy ladies.
Then, he ran back over to his other girl friends.
Tuesday night and Wednesday night we went and got him. Rich brought him in to the house so I could give him a talking to on Wednesday night:
Tonight, we went over to get him, and he was actually outside of their fence, looking like he was on his way back over here! So I called him and Rich followed behind him, and he actually came home and ran into the coop by himself. So we might be making progress!
Except I put an ad on Craig's List earlier in the evening. No responses yet. I guess we'll see what happens.
Meanwhile, Mary (the banty) is laying one perfect little tiny brown egg every day, and Victoria is laying a slightly bigger brown egg about every 2 - 3 days. Elizabeth, the red auracana, has not started laying, or is hiding them. They will be green. I don't think she is laying yet.
Chickens are fascinating. We are having fun with them, even though....
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Our Cousin Jeanne
Today we drove from Inveraray to Campbeltown. On the way, we decided, based on a blurb in the guidebook, to stop at an old Abbey that was also something to do with the Macalister Clan. It sounded like an interesting place with nice grounds.We arrived and parked. Then we went up to the door and you had to ring the bell, which we did. A woman answered and asked if we wanted the tour of the house. We asked how long it would take and she said about 45 minutes. We sort of hesitated, as we were somewhat anxious to get to Campbeltown, thinking maybe the distillery would be open, even on Sunday. She sort of scolded us for being in a hurry, saying, "Americans are always in a hurry." Then she added, "I'm an American." Sue then said, "Of course, because we can understand you." Then Sue explained that we had spent a lot of time in Stonehaven researching our Barclay heritage. The woman looked at us strangely, and said, "You aren't Barclays, are you?" As it turns out, she is also a Barclay. Traced back to the same line as us, earlier than the Barclays who went to America. She has been in all the places in Stonehaven, including the mausoleum on the Ury Estate that we were unable to find. And she had pictures. She is the widow of the last Macalister Laird, who died a couple years ago.
So she invited us in to join a tour with two ladies that she already had in progress, and then she said she would show us her Barclay information. So we joined the tour of this beautiful house, with all kinds of mementos and artifacts and stuff. Then she showed us this room:
So what we learned is that she is 81 years old, from the east coast of the US and lived in California for a long time. She met her husband at a gathering of the clans, and married him in 1985 or so. She is a hand quilter and a collector. She took us into her private part of the house and showed us all her Barclay information, and made some copies of things for us. In her living room, she has heart things hanging on the walls (Sue has some photos of those that I will upload later), Country Living magazines, collections of duck decoys, and quilted stuffed hearts. It was uncanny. More photos:
Baba made several quilts of this very same pattern. Sue and I both have one somewhere.
More of Jean's quilts:
And finally, the three "cousins" together:
So she invited us in to join a tour with two ladies that she already had in progress, and then she said she would show us her Barclay information. So we joined the tour of this beautiful house, with all kinds of mementos and artifacts and stuff. Then she showed us this room:
So what we learned is that she is 81 years old, from the east coast of the US and lived in California for a long time. She met her husband at a gathering of the clans, and married him in 1985 or so. She is a hand quilter and a collector. She took us into her private part of the house and showed us all her Barclay information, and made some copies of things for us. In her living room, she has heart things hanging on the walls (Sue has some photos of those that I will upload later), Country Living magazines, collections of duck decoys, and quilted stuffed hearts. It was uncanny. More photos:
Baba made several quilts of this very same pattern. Sue and I both have one somewhere.More of Jean's quilts:
And finally, the three "cousins" together:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Ancestral Home
In Stonehaven, Scotland, we are finding out lots of information about our Barclay ancestors. This is a photo of the house on the Urie estate, occupied by our Barclays in the 1600's and 1700's. This house is not the original built by the Barclays, but is built on the same site and we think must have some of the original on it somewhere. It is currently being restored, but work has stopped due to lack of funds. More on all this later when we get photos sorted out and stuff. We tromped all around this estate. Had to park on the outside and walk through. Working on uploading some photos to Picasa album but too late tonight. Tomorrow we head to Aberdeen and then a very roundabout route to end up in Pitochry. We're going to check out the Towie Barclays on the way. Distantly related somehow.
But we know for sure that our Thomas Barclay who went to America in the 1700's is the son of David Barclay of Cheapside who founded Barclay's Bank.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
The Scottish Army Recruitment Center
After a fun Saturday night out in Stirling observing the men dressed up in kilts, Rich thought it would be fun to join the Scottish Army because part of the deal is they give you a kilt.(I'm on a lousy internet connection. More later when we get somewhere with a better connection.)
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Bye Bye, George
Since we got rid of that big goat we had, Capricorn, George has become progressively more obnoxious. He butted the other goats and wouldn't let them eat. The last straw was earlier this week when he pounded against the gate in their shed that separated the goat/sheep area from the grain and hay storage area, until he had successfully broken the latch and opened the gate. He let everyone into the storage area, where they ate a bunch of alfalfa, trampled the chicken feed bag, trampled the hay and straw and made a big mess. They also left goat and sheep poops on the platform of the new chicken coop Rich is building, which is attached to the goat/sheep shed. Plus, his little hoarse voice has been growing louder, and he has been more demanding, and starts yelling at us at about 3:00 to be fed, and doesn't stop until we feed him his molasses coated grain. Enough was enough. I put an ad on Craig's List and sold him for $15, to a good home in Carlton where his companion animals will be a horse and an old dog. Too bad so sad for George, who we loved and hated at the same time. But it is a relief to have him gone. The other animals behave much better!
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