I was going to take the chicks out to the chicken house last night and put them under a sitting hen, but the 3rd one had just dried so thought I’d do it tonight, and voila, there’s a 4th little one this morning. We’re going to a family wedding on the other side of the State shortly, and will be back very late, so I’ll probably only sort the chicks out tomorrow. I found the hen with the 2 chicks in the side yard last night, but couldn’t see the hen with the 1 chick. The 2 chicks are already much bigger, so I’ll not put the newbies with them. Hopefully I can find a hen to take them so that I don’t have to set up heat lamps, food and water for them. I saw the geese trying to peck at the 2 chicks, and mum was having a fine time trying to divert them. Geese are arseholes towards the young of other species. I’ve seen them do the same to the ducklings.
Yesterday I managed to flatten one sand scoop into the front garden on the North side of the lounge, and nearly finish weeding the rose garden. Maddies’ garden is looking good, although it looks as if Rosco has decided it’s a cool place to lie and scratched an indentation for himself, destroying the creeping phlox in the process. It was perfect when I watered earlier, and then when I went back to pull the few weeds, saw his destruction. I’m blaming him although I didn’t actually see him lying there. It could have been one of the Border Collies.
My stained glass classes start start again next week, the caming class. I’ve measured the glass doors I wish to replace and have looked at various designs but haven’t made a final decision yet. I’ll wait until I see the glass options at the shop. Leaning towards an antique Georgian design, but have seen some modern pieces that I like too, and even some coloured ones that I’ve taken a fancy to.
The 4th of July was very quiet here as Herbie worked a full day and only got home late. We didn’t go kayaking as I was cooking - hamburgers and a custard strawberry tart.
Last Sunday we went out to Morrison Lake to Angels’ and enjoyed pontooning around, and even went swimming. Herbie didn’t have any pain on Monday, so decided we should swim (or float with pool noodles) as it made him feel better. He checked membership at the YMCA, they want $100 buy-in and $90 a month for the 2 of us which is rather steep just to use the pool. I suggested we get a State Park pass and go to Seesions Lake down the road from us. This wouldn’t work for the Winter, but $16 vs a couple of hundreds is a no-brainer. After driving down to our designated DNR customer service office in Plainfield (later discovered we could have bought it at the local Secretary of States’ office) we went and bought 2 kayaks from Menards - they were on special of $60 off each. I wanted a sit-on one, Herbie a sit-in one. They were sold out of the longer ones, so we got 10’4” ones, no colour choices either - mine’s lime green, his is red. We’ve been out a couple of times, first kayak around then swim a little off the beach, and then kayak back to the boat slip.
Sunday - this afternoon I fished the hen that hatched 2 chicks, one yellow the other black, out of the cows water trough in the lower barn enclosure :(. I saw the 2 chicks this morning on their own, and at about 2 weeks old, they can’t defend themselves without a mum. So tonight, after putting the grain out for the poultry, I took the torch and went looking for them. Found them in the chicken house, and caught the little black one quickly, took a little longer to catch the other. Put them in the pockets of my dress and brought them inside where I popped them into the trough we set up for the newly hatched chicks from the incubator. Herbie brought the trough inside for me, and I put newspaper at the bottom, then straw, and chick feed while Herbie did their water. Also taped the feather duster to the side so that they could hide under it - surrogate mum :).
Yesterday we went to the family wedding just next to where I used to live in Grand Blanc, way South of Flint. Herbies’ cousin Marys’ son, Chris was getting married to Jennifer at the Country Club at the Woodland Golf course. It was a very elaborate affair, and the bride was the happiest one I’ve ever seen. She was just bubbling over with joy :). Must have cost a fortune, open bar, the actual wedding outside on the driving range, 3 course buffet dinner with sirloin steak, 2 kinds of chicken, green beans almonde, roast potatoes, mac ‘n cheese, after a choice of 2 salads, one more traditional with croutons, the other loaded with blue cheese and pecan nuts, followed by wedding cake cupcakes and other kinds of cupcakes with yummy centers, and cookies. There were Godiva caramel chocolates on all the tables too - I ate lots of those :). Visited with lots of Herbies’ cousins, whom I’d only seen previously at family funerals ! Herbie was the only one there from his branch of the family. I pointed out to Herbie that I was wearing the least amount of bling of anyone there ! Just my wedding ring and diamond studs I always wear. We got home after 11pm, Herbie drove.
Today we went kayaking again, first time in the middle of the day. While we were waiting our turn at the boat offloading dock, realised we’d forgotten our water bottles. So drove back home to get them. Can’t paddle for long without hydration. Fortunately we live just 2 miles down the road. Herbie was hoping his eldest daughter would drop by on their way back home from camping on the families property in Sterling.
Back home I seared some venison steaks while Herbie picked lettuce, and we made salad topped with venison. I found a balsamic vinegar mister spray in Aldis’ when we did the grocery shopping this morning, so we tried it. Worked very well. Unfortunately it’s not a refillable container.