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.

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.

Today is my last day at work!

And I'm going to be late....

More later!

Yippee!

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.

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!

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!

From left, Sophia, Margrita, Irene, and Gonzalo's tail.

Irene, Sophia, Raven, Gonzalo, and a Princess in the front.

Gonzalo, Margrita, Sophia, and a tiny bit of Irene

Raven, Irene, Sophia, Gonzalo and Tua

We have:

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!

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!

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.

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!