Quiting smoking sucks....

Gosh, I keep appologizing lately, but I am just not able to keep up.
I have NO get up and go. and I am sooo tired.
Just another thing to chalk up to the chantix. Plus I am in a REALLY bad mood ALL the time.

Matter of fact, it reminds me of easter 2 years ago. But I know that I will NOT be in that situation again. EVER. But it still scares me, the simularities. I blamed it on the Chantix then too.

But I am in a really bad mood all the time, dont care about anything, and I am not craving cigerettes. Its just because I know I am quitting, and I dont want to. Its like telling me that in 2 weeks I will no longer have food. You'd be grumpy too.

Everythin grates on my nerve. More than before. and I have worse memory than ever. I know I am scatterbrained, but its getting rediculious.

I am down to 11 standard chickens (that the chicken you THINK of when you think chickens. Rhode Island Reds, Buff Orpeningtons, Ameriucanas, large breed chickens) I put 16 out there, but slowly I have managed to loose a few. What I think is happening is, They get into the hog pen, and a hawk sweeps down and gets them. And it happens between 3 and dark. Because everytime I have lost one, the last time I seen them all was anywhere from 3 to 4pm.

Yes, the pigs COULD be getting them. BUT I have had a few go into the hog pen and the hogs mostly ignored them. PLUS, aside from a few feathers, and I mean VERY few, there is no evidence. The hogs would leave at least a few feathers. And there is no feathers, bones or such in their droppings. I have checked.
I have set up the game camera to catch it all. BUt so far, all I have caught are some bluebirds, REdbirds, and me or the kids or the dogs.

When it first happened I told BR I wanted to totally ENCLOSE the coop. When we moved the hogs feeding/bedding area into half the coop, we just put up the hog panel, which the chickens can walk right through, So I wanted to go up to the ceiling with chicken wire. Keep them out, at least until they were older, and a little bigger.
Instead he said 2 feet of wire across the bottom would be sufficiant. So, after I lost 4 more, I decided I wanted a run, for the chickens to get OUT of the coop into. The coop is NOWHERE big enough for those 11, plus the 11 I have in the house. Not since we cut it in half.

THis went on for a week or so. Finally, I told him, I was just going to take two posts, sink them in the ground and nail up some chicken wire. I had that roll of 6 foot left over that BR didnt want to use. Since he belives I am incapable of anything that requires a hammer, nails and a small amount of intelegence (and this project requires a VERY small amount) he decided that a tactic other than ignoring my request was needed. He at least had to humor me for a few minutes.

So, down we went. We measured, Did that stupid theoryiagim triangle thing, or what ever its called, to get the measurement for side C so it would be square, and we hemed we hawed, we discussed and BR said it just wouldnt work. And even though I knew it would I said "Okay".


He said the posts would only be 5 1/2 foot tall, the wire was 6ft.
I said it was okay if it stuck up over the posts a few inches.
He said the ground went up hill, it would never pull tight, and look crappy the whole time.
I said it would be fine, I was just keeping in a few birds. and They wouldnt care if it was wavy.

He wondered if we had enough of the 50 foot roll left. I told him I reckoned we had about 35 feet.
How did I reckon on that?
well, the 3 or so feet that was all messed up when we got it at the start of the roll, the 7 or so feet that was cut off to put on the first wall we did-- but not used, because it was too much work and I ended up buying a 2 ft roll and a 4ft roll instead, and the 5 or so feet we cut out to make those 2 foot peices that we put in the weekend before.
So he decided to roll it out. To show me there wasnt enough. It measured at 36 feet almost exactly.

okay, there is 36 feet, how did I plan on using it?
12 feet down, 10 feet across (the width of the coop) and 12 feet back up.

It would be hard to cover that on top. plus, he didnt want the 6ft wire coming up to meet the 5ft coop on the backside. It would look crappy.
SO:
14 feet down, 6 foot across, and 14 feet back up. but since we had more than the 35 or so that I thought we had, we could do 15 down and back. The wall runs the back 4 feet of the coop, and wire runs the other 6, and its only dropped 1/2 foot at that point.
Plus, the deer netting that I planned to buy for the top comes in a 7 foot or 12 foot width...


He asked about a top.
I told him I planned on getting deer netting. He said this would trash it up. asked what the hell deer netting even was, how I was going to attach it.
He asked about what it was made of, how thick it was, if I even knew Lowes had it.

I said I had no clue, others used it, I had heard good things, and apparently its a pretty common item. Lowes website said they did indeed have it at the store.

He asked about getting INTO the run, (because we are coming off a wall that is ONLY chicken wire), I told him I was just going to put a small 3 foot tall door on hinges coming off the existing post on the left side the coop, making a 2X4 frame and latching it.

that would never work. something about not enough room (its 4 6 feet there, and I wanted the door 2 foot wide, plus it would swing towards the other wall and lay flush.

I said just a gap. like we used to do on cow pasture. I wouldnt need in there often, so just a post I took out of a hole and moved to the side with wire attached would work find. It could be tied back when it wasnt in use and noone would be the wiser.

He would NOT have a 'gap' on his property. That was the stupidest thing ever invented. Thats why they make gates.

He said just to make it open. Well, the new run is in NO way varmit proof. The coop has issues at the rafters where you could throw a good sized cat through, BUT I plan on covering that with hardware cloth.

of course when he pointed out the coop wasnt varmit proof either, and I pointed out I was going to do the hardware cloth, he said I was 'junking it up'

Personally, I dont care if it would embarress Fred Sanford, as long as I get fresh eggs and the occasional rooster hatched out to butcher and eat.

He told me I should just cut their wings. LIke I said I was going to. Well, that only works a little. They can still jump...

So I went into the coop, sent Brett after my sissors and started cutting wings.

That took about 15 minutes. And I was done, with birds jumpin everywhere. so I started back to the house, he decided that he would just humor me and do it. Actually he said he was doing it so I wouldnt be cranky and mean all day. I wasnt. I could care less. I dont make the money, I dont have to work 2 full days to pay for all the chickens and the pen. If they all die in the next week, thats just sweat off his rear. All I did was take care of them in the house.

Now, I do like them, and I do want them. But, I am trying my hardest to treat them as what they are. LIvestock. For a simple reason. They WILL die. They WILL be killed, they WILL get eggbound, prolapse, change from cute fluffy litte chicks that are supposed to be pulletts into a full fledged rooster and have to be culled. Its life.

Oh, back to my chicken house saga... IT seriously took 45 minutes to put the posts in the ground, and the wire up. But I came back to the house a little early. Bow was throwing a fit, trying to help, wanting me to hold him, and since BR was doing something he didnt want to do, for reasons that wernt really there, he told me it was best to just take him back to the house. Instead of me being in a bad mood, it was now him.
I had stayed out for a little while, and helped with 2 of the 3 sides. Since the posts were only a foot in the ground we couldnt stretch it very well. it would pull over one post to stretch to the next.

"see its just going to fall apart"
but 2x4s would brace it up.
I put them on my list.

We had baseball practice that day anyway. So, I rounded up the boys once he was done, got them dressed and we started into town. Planning on running by lowes and getting my deer netting. It comes in a 100 foot roll 7 feet wide and my run is 6 feet wide, and not near that long.

BR was even nice enough to cut me the hole in the wire where my door will be. I like to think that maybe he realized I am not such an idiot after all. This is not the case, but sometimes I like to think it. He chose to cut it directly in the middle of the wall. and of course we didnt have the 2X4's for a frame, or the material for a door yet, but maybe we would get back from practice with enough time to get it done. we will have to use a 2x4 on the expanse of the wall now, to give it some stability. instead of just using the footplate and the corner post to come off of and make a door. Plus, we will have to fiqure out what type of door to use. we no longer have room to open and latch it flush, like a normal door. and opening it from the bottom with hinges on the top will take some well thought out planning. I asked about it door being INSIDE the run, opening it out there, maybe cause there was more room. But that was shot down and making no sense.

We practiced till pert near dark. The team left before we did. BR stayed an let Hoover, then BRett pitch. BRett is only pitching because Hoov wanted to.
Hoover didnt do too hot. Once everyone left, he settled down and improved vastly. But still needs some massive practice. He wont get any better until he has it. And I dont want him on the mound cause he THINKS he can pitch. There are enough of those kind of kids out there.
He has a long way to go, I dont expect a strike every time, but I do expect them to make it over the plate. Plus, for some reason he is a little more sensitive than anyone else in the family. Maybe he took after me. And if he gets too discouraged he wont ever do it again. But with that brat you walk a fine line between babying him, and discouraging him. Now with Brett wanting to pitch, it will put him off of it forever. He just automatically gives up when Brett decides to do what he is doing. he knows he will never be as good as Brett, which is not true. He is just younger. And Brett pays more attention. Picking things up quicker. And trying harder. But, hoov doesnt think like that. he just sees it 'come so easy' to Brett and quits. I would just let him quit, but I know how much I regret not ever being involoved in anything. If he didnt enjoy it, I wouldnt let him do it.

During practice I had ran the bases for the kids. This made 2 things VERY obvious. 1. I am VERY slow. B. I am NOT in good shape. oh and one more. There are a few kids on the team with attitudes that I would like to pinch their little heads off.
This, combined with me not liking kids anyway, is why I would NEVER be a coach. For anything. Seriously, I was running the bases, and one kid said to me "you better run fast you lazy hussy, Cause I am gona throw you out" and later "I dare you try to get a point on ME, I'll knock you on your ass"
Yes, There was a chance for me to cream him. I was running home, the ball was close, and he was RIGHT in my way. But instead I didnt. Oh I wanted to. SOOO badly. and I could take his momma when she started to run her head. BUT, I dont want my children to suffer for my temper. Instead, he dropped the ball, and I touched the base. It wasnt as satisfying, but it still was good.

Mine didnt make any spectacular plays, or just shine like a new penny. Mostly Hoover played with the rock clods in outfield. Brett did pretty good. and he was able to tag me out once. But he screwed up at shortstop as much as he did good. (which explains his position in the next game...) BR played 3rd base, a few parents had to play positions, because we were 5 kids short. seems to be about the same 4 or 5 kids each time that dont show up half the time. Mostly the infield. which doesnt help us much on games... LOL


They are both rusty. It doesnt matter how much you get out and throw with them here, there is no 1st to 3rd situation, or bases loaded, pop up into outfield, cut off man and catching it for a split second tag. You have to do that in the kind of practice we had Sunday. I can work them till I am blue in the face, but until they are IN that place on the field, they cant actually PUT it to good use. Then, of course, they act like they have never even seen a baseball, dont remember any of the fundamentials, have no drive etc. There was a time or two that I wondered if they could even catch a cold, much less a baseball.

Of course, it still leaves batting. On Friday night, Matt was knockin some GREAT balls. THEN on Saturday before their game, he couldnt hit the broad side of a barn. Some had to do with the pitcher. It was nice, over the plate, right handed floaters on Friday. Saturday it was his daddy, hard, fast, lefthanded, hit it or get hit balls.
Neither of these really help them in a real game. Cause I have seen VERY few of these kids that are just what you'd call accurate. They are more like Charlie Sheen on Major League.

Anyway, once we got home from practice we didnt have time for the chicken coop. I just had to pray that nothing found that hole and used it to kill my chickens. Of course, I had put them back in their brooder for the night, so we were almost safe.

Monday, I did NOTHING. OH wait. On Saturday my TV went out. Its one of those stupid big screens. so when the projection bulb started telling me it was nearing the end of its life back in Sept, I told the place I got it from. They would order me one.
So, when it started turning off on me on Saturday, I tried to call. they were closed on Saturday. and on Sunday. So I called Monday morning. In a few days they would come and get it. It would take a week or so, they had to ship it off.
Ahhh.... It Doesnt work that way.
I told them that they had KNOWN it was going out since September, told me they were ordering it, KNOWING it had to be sent off that entire time, and I had already been with out a TV since Saturday.

So they said they would come and get it around 9pm. Fine. I asked about a loaner. They actually said "You dont have another one you could bring into the living room for a week or two?"
OKAY. yes, technically I DO. BUT if I wanted it in the living room, I wouldnt be PAYING OUT THE NOSE for THIS ONE!

OH and to top off the wonderful expeirience. They couldnt tell me WHEN. just between 'now and 9' well BR's box fan had went out on Sunday night. We had JUST laid down, got almost asleep and it got real quiet.
Like it does when the lights go out. BUT the TV was still going. Then it hit us. the fan had stopped. OMG. And I SWEAR I have NOT touched it. at all. The other morning, he was getting up and going to work, and I still had an hour before I had to get up, so I asked him to please turn it off.
He said "huh?" Like I was speaking a weird language. I told him to please turn it off. My throat was already sore, and it was cold enough. He looked at me like I had 3 heads and turned it off. Mumbiling something about me bitching if I was hung with a new rope.

I am really suprised he didnt ask me to run to walmart right then. Of couse, he probebly didnt because he didnt want to have to deal with Bow in case he woke up. SO, I needed to go to town and buy him a new fan. BUT had to sit here. Plus, I needed to clean. When baseball starts we dont do much around the house.

I mean think about it. the kids get home between 4:30 and 5. they have homework, they have chores, they want to play, they want to practice (on nights we dont go in), they have baths, and of course supper. THEN they have to be in bed by 8:30.

Its literly a constant race to get anything done.
And I am not the bestest housekeeper in the world. I mean it took me two hours to untangle all the wires under the table the TV sets on. Then I had to dust. Dusting is NOT my forte. PERIOD.

And since I was covered in the crap anyway, I decided to do the ceiling fan. I guess its put in pretty good, cause I bet there was 3 pounds of dust on it. if you keep them spinning all the time, you dont see it.

back to where I was....

So, I cleaned all day. THen when BR got home I was feeding the pigs and trying to get chickens BACK in the coop. They had found the hole for the run. I dont know HOW they hadnt been picked off by the hawk. Its open from one end to the other.
And they were NOT happy about coming in. We put a board over the hole. Till we have time to get it fixed.
OH and baseball. our first game was Saturday.

Brett played center. which NOW he has decided he hates. I swear, this kid is driving me nuts. first he loves it. Now he hates it. But he has seen how fun it is to play infield. Matt was right field. They didnt see any action, but Brett hit, he ended up scoring a point, Hoover struck out. which I expected. No matter how many balls he hits in practice, he is gona strike out in a game. He lets his head get in the way.
Then BRett sat the bench the other 2 innings. We have 11 kids, each kid has to play 3 offensive and defensive outs. OR a full inning. So Brett was the unfortunate one to sit the bench this game. But he still got to bat. We bat through the lineup whether they are on the field or not.

They had stayed ahead of us the whole game. we were batting last and the score was 4-3. Brett got on base, hitting in the tying run.
THEN he ended up coming home!
we won 5-4.

I screwed up the books pretty good. It was SOOO cold and miserable. I have to sit in the stands to keep the books, so I can see the ump, and the wind was blowing, there was no sunshine, and I swear I froze my rear off.
But even better than me just screwing up the books, the other team found an idiot.. I mean a new recruit, to keep the books, and when she asked what to do, he said "go find Mrs Byerly, she will show you"... so in addition to screwing up OUR books, I was able to screw up another teams too!! that takes true talent.

Yesterday we had another game. I also needed to go to town and pick up a few things. I still hadnt gotten BR's fan. and belive me, he was letting me know. Not throwing a fit. But more of a "I sure didnt sleep well last night" "I wish you had been able to go to town today" ...
So, we got to the feild late, the kids just wouldnt get it together. I was trying for supper, they were late getting home, I needed to leave, and to be honest, I refused to get off the couch until they got my entire living room floor cleaned back up from the hour and a half they were home.
anyway, we get there, they warm up and I found my place in the stands. I had taken Rayley. and she was good. I opted to leave Bow with my mother in law. I hated to do it. I know she has to get up at 4:30 to get my father in law off to work. But I just didnt want to go with all 4 with out any outside help. BR was stuck in the oil fields, working.

My two were back in the outfield. They had been given a refresher course on backing up 2nd an 3rd on sunday at practice, so I hoped they would at least help out, instead of sitting there like a bump on a log. Keep them energized and in the game.

Hoover did miss a popup. I was NOT happy with that. But I expected it. BRett batted second in the line up. He got a decent hit, well it really wasnt. but it was a hit. Anyway, he was thrown out at 1st.
Then in the second inning around 5th or 6th Hoover batted. We had an out already, I knew this was the second one. but he HIT it. It was an infield popup. but the kid missed it! He got to first base. I was SOOO thrilled. I even had one of the moms go and check that Brett and him didnt trade jerseys and that was Brett batting again.

He stole second on a wild pitch. He has been on base before. But not that often. Like I said, he doesnt hit in a game very much.
Our side was retired with him stranded on second, but it didnt matter. I was just thrilled he hit it.
Brett went back up again in the 3rd. Maybe Matt is batting closer to 9th... I dont know. that crap doesnt mean anything to me. anyway. he hit another bobbler out there and was thrown out at first again. I wasnt in the postition to see what he was doing wrong. the ump was in my way, but its obvious he is not following through, or is not stepping well. Either way, he needs to work on it.

We lost, 7-3. and I was once again entrusted to make the books as FUBAR as possible. I suceeded. Not that there was ever any doubt.

Once we left I still had to get the fan. I needed like 3 things from the store, but my kids were wound up tighter than an 8 day clock, so it was all I could do to keep them lined out. I was ready to kill them before I left. There was a guy in front of me. Laughing at their anticts. I reckon he was about my age. Cowboy hat, boots and a button up shirt.
After I threatened to duct tape them to the wall and leave them for the second time, he said "looks like you have your hands full"
I smiled and said "yep, its a good thing the really bad one is at home right now"
he laughed, and Rayley said "she's right, Bow makes us look like angels, but she said she would end up beating the snot out of us if she had to deal with us all at the ballpark in addition to the other 500 idiots that would be there tonight"
Okay, I DID say this. But she didnt have to REPEAT it!
He laughed, and said "it was full up there tonight" I agree'd and disentangled two of the kids that were fighting over something.
As I was putting things on the belt, finding things I DONT buy and setting them to the side, I came across bacon bits, artichoke hearts and fried onions, in my head scratching confusion I was failing to watch them out of the corner of my eye, he laughed at something. I turned around. The boys were trying to pull Rayley in two. Not being mean, just seeing who would win the tug of war. She was laughing up a storm.

I nicely told them that if they didnt stop, I was going to beat them right there, and then pray that walmart called CPS on me.

About that time, I was looking at the gum. BRett asked me why I was buying gum. Since I forbid them to use it. I said "Its NOT for you. its for me. Because I am smart enough to NOT spit it out where someone steps on it in their stocking feet. and I REALLY need a cigerette" The guy laughed and said "I bet you do" I told him that I was TRYING to quit, but they were just trying to send me to an early grave. We got to talking about tabbaco going up, and he wished me luck with my quitting.
Then he walked off, I saw the handcuffs. and the gun. He was a cop. All I would have had to do was pop one of them right up side the head. Then I would have had a good nights sleep. BUT NO. I had opted to wait till I got them in the truck to read them the riot act.

When we got there I asked what in the hell was with all the crap that was in the buggy. They wanted to play a joke on me. I swear it was all I could do not to laugh when I found the stuff. I seriously thought about buying it. and making them eat it. You wouldnt belive what all they put in there.

I went and got Bow, and we got home at 10:20. BR pulled in about 10 minutes later. I was trying to get them fed again, kinda washed up and in the bed. Plus, I needed to unload the dishwasher, fix my supper and throw something together for BR.

I was going to fry chicken- had it all thawed out, but it wasnt condusive with such a late game and noone being home to eat it right out of the frying pan.
I ended up making frozen Burritos for the kids. Then I made me two. I had the stove turned down to 3 for mine, because I was still unloading the dishwasher, and getting sidetracked by the heathens. Well thats when BR came home.
He saw the burner was turned way down, and thought I didnt realize it, so he turned it up to 8. Then he left to get undressed and wash up. He apparently said something about it, Brett heard him, but I didnt. Before I knew it my burritos were burnt to a crisp.
But instead of him making me two more, I just ate those. they were tough as shoe leather, but since I didnt get to sit down to eat them until about 11:45, and hadnt ate all day, it was at least filling.

We have to practice again tonight. at 7. The boys discovered this morning that they are out of jeans. so they have laundry to do when they get home. if they dont get it done they wont go to practice. Hell, half the other kids dont come anyway. I can honestly say I have never done that. skipped practice on purpose, but shoot. they should be smart enough to fiqure out the outfield. I take that back. They aint. But, if the half the team doesnt show up for practice, why should mine?

THey need the practice. And they need more than they can get here. They really do, They need the situation practice, they need more than us just saying 'when the ball is hit, and you are here, you do this'. so I will go.

I know, I am just agervated. But the truth is, I am NOT going to dig for their laundry. I have a laundry room. Thats where you put it and I will wash it. Its bad enough I have to dig for BR's. And usually get asked "where are those jeans I had on Saturday?" I say "in the closet, I washed them"
"they wernt dirty, they were JUST getting comfertable"
Of course the things I DONT wash, are the ones that really need it.
But I really will not dig in their room for clothes to wash. they will either help me a little, or I will simply take them OUT of baseball, and 4-H.

As it is, I have other things going on for ME. The Friends of the NRA banquet is coming up, I am helping on that committee, and the NWTF one is coming soon too.

OH and we did get that loaner TV at 8:47 monday night. a 60 inch something or other. some fancy crap. It aint no better than my 52 inch. and its not really bigger. its only like 4 inches longer. its just a little taller. We turned it on, and I realized that crap had changed in the 3 days I couldnt watch the TV. Donald Trump fired Dennis Rodman, The president fired a CEO, congress is still a bunch of MO-RONS, and even France and Europe thinks we are becoming too socialist...


of course since everything happens in 3's. My tea maker broke. Now we go through about 2 gallons of sweet tea a day. and my pitcher that goes with my machine, it cracked. At first it was just a small crack on the very bottom. Some leaked out onto the counter, but if I didnt let it sit there after it brewed, then it just made a small mess. Then it got this large crack down the side, so it just basicly pours out what ever liqued you put in it.

I tried to super glue it, to no avail. So I have to go back and buy a new one of those today.

At least 2 of the 3 appliences that decided to die this weekend were under 25.00.


Bow is really starting to tease, he will pretend to do what you tell him not to (sometimes, other times he just does it...) and then smile and laugh. and he LOVES to blow kisses. Still no words. Other than "eh!" This just annoys everyone in the family to no end. But, you can tell him anything and he will go and do it. Tell him its time to feed, he will bring you YOUR shoes. and try to open the door. Ask if he wants a sippy, he will go and get a cup. he is smart as a whip.
Of course BR has always said that babies are born genuises, we just make them dumb as we raise them.

I promise to try to write more often and shorter blogs. I have been meaning to do that lately. But life gets in the way. Or I know I dont have anything to say, and then I fill it up with mundane crap.

Insert well thought out and funny title here.

Nothing exciting has happened. BUT, I decided to revisit a few hours of my day with you.
This is what I like to think is the typical day with a 1 year old and a 4 year old. If its not. Please dont tell me otherwise. I prefer to belive that I am as equally tortured as all other moms out there.

I havent felt real chipper the last few days. I started taking chantix again, trying to quit smoking. Well it makes me nausiated, gives me a headache and basicly makes me feel like crap.

Bow took a decent morning nap today-which he should have, he got up with me to get the boys up well before dawn... During which I tried to sleep, but didnt because it was the only time I could get some stuff done.
When he woke up he managed to get a hold of a cookie. I have a box of them, that I am feeding the hogs, its left overs from the fundraiser. Its now in my living room floor. smushed up.
Then he was still hungry, so I made him a peanut butter sandwich. While I was makin this, he pulled the bread off the counter. When I turned around and saw it, leaving the butter knife in the peanut butter, I told him no. then went to pick up the bread. Dusting off the peices I could and throwing the rest to the hogs.
In the meantime, he had crawled up on the table, getting the knife out of the peanut butter and was proceeding to attempt to lick it.
but he couldnt fiqure out how. So, he had peanut butter in his hair, on his forehead, his chin, and even his ear.
I took that away from him, put him back on the floor, and started to smear the peanut butter again.
He jumped down and went and found a juice box thing the kids had brought in from school the day before. He wanted to drink it. So, I got a sippy cup, was sure to let him watch me pour it in, and attempted to put the lid on it. He acted like he hasnt drank in days. Grabbing it. There was a tug of war for a few seconds. You'd be amazed at how strong a year old kid is. Especially when he has a hold of one handle on a cup that is full to the brim of sticky blue liquid. I couldnt jerk it, I couldnt pry his hands away, I just had to talk him out of it.

Finally, I got him all set up. went to pick him up to put him in his chair and as I picked him up I noticed that his butt was bare. No diaper. I wondered how long it had been gone. And then my question was answered when I took a step to bring him back into the livingroom to put a new one on him.
So, I threw a papertowell on the puddle and headed back to the livingroom.

Luckily, as I reached around to find the duct tape, he was able to jump up and run off. Where he ran STRAIT to my bathroom, to stick his hands in my toilet.

Finally, I got him washed, dried and duct taped and tried to tie him in his high-chair, he DID not want to sit there. He wanted in Daddy's chair. So, I let him go there. I sat down to drink some tea.
BR called in the meantime, so I went to get the phone. Bow followed me in here, with his sandwhich. pushing his fingers through the bread, and opening it up to lick the peanut butter out of the inside. I never let the kids eat in the living room, so back to the kitchen we went.
Anyway. I called my mother, told her I would be by to pick up Rayley with in the next two hours. I just wanted to get Bow fed. and I was going to pick up some sprite. She wanted to know if I would get her a pack of cigerettes while I was at the store, and said she was just getting Rayley out of the bathtub, so she would be dressed.

It wasnt long until the tea was not setting well. I sat there as long as I could, Finally I had to rush to the bathroom. While I was in there, puking my guts up; Bow finished his sandwhich and decided to eat the hot sauce and doritos that was sitting on the table, from earlier in the day. I had poured it and ate some during one of the times I was feeling a little better. I like spicy stuff when I am nausiated for some odd reason.

He was eating it, with the chips, with the rest of his sandwhich, with his hands, and with gusto. By the time he was done it was all over him, the table and the chair.

He had to have a bath. But I just didnt feel like kneeling over the bathtub and letting him soak me.
So, I grabbed him up, and took him in my bathroom, I was going to shove him in the shower, and myself too. Since I had peanut butter in MY hair, and pee on my foot, and hotsause all over me.

I turned on the shower and he stuck his head in. It was still ice cold, so he squealed, and took off running. I had to chase him down. in the meantime he grabbed up my duct tape, I guess he was going to hide behind it. So I took it and tossed it to the side, grabbed him up, squealing the whole way, and brought him back. I started to undress and he started using my shirt to wipe off his hands. Apparently the peanut butter and hot sauce was too messy for him.

In we got. I bathed him, then he sat and played in the water while I washed my hair.
about the time I had soap in my eyes and water all over my face, the shower door opened. Out went Mr Nekid, to promptly pee in the floor.

I got rinsed off, proud that not only had I managed to get soap on most of my body, while washing his squirming butt, BUT had managed to wash my hair. This SELDOM happens in the same shower. sometimes not even the same day for me.

Of course then it was time to get dressed, dried off and a diaper on little monster. He had to have a fresh one, because he had already wet the one that he was wearing during lunch.
Back to the living room with him. To put the diaper on him, I got it on and realized the duct tape was not in the basket with the diapers. So I got up to get it. He took off. stripping his diaper as he went. back to the kitchen, where I had not gotten that mess cleaned up.

I grabbed him up. Diapered him again, duct taped him, and seriously concidered using more on his hands, then went to clean the mess up.

My mom called in the meantime. Was I coming and bringing her cigerettes?

I told her I was coming soon. It hadnt been an hour yet. That was fine, just dont forget the cigerettes. I was trying hard not to puke, needed that sprite that I would be going to get, and if I could make it down my bumpy driveway with out chunking my cookies again, I would remember.

I just wanted to sit for a few minutes. At this time I got the bright idea that since Bow was playing quietly I would clean and paint my toenails. SO, I went and picked out a funky color. Pumpkin Orange. I decided to do a french manicure wiht it. SO, I was painting my toenails, Bow was bouncing around. and he got into the turkey calls. I cant stand the sound of a turkey call, its like someone grating their nails on a chalk board.
I jumped up and got him out from behind BR's chair, and started back to my nails. I got finished right about the time Bow fell and hit his head, while trying to climb back behind BR's chair.
He quit a few seconds later, then I was done with the tips, so I set the brush in the polish on my computer desk.
Its a portable one, that my laptop sits on. In front of the couch.
Well a commercial with music came on, Bow started dancing, and then decided to take off running, smack dab into the back of it. knocking the polish off on the couch, I still had my foot up in my lap, kinda sitting indian style, but with my foot on the other knee that was up. SO, the polish landed UNDER my rear, kinda between my thigh and the couch.
I had my brand new work out pants on. just got them on clearence at walmart, You would have to know me, to know JUST how much I LOVE a good pair of work out pants. And I will NEVER buy them. Cause I aint payin 12 bucks or more for a pair of lounge pants!
ANYWAY, I had BRIGHT orange nail polish on my PANTS, and MY couch, pouring out, UNDER my butt.
Bow was NOT hurt. and I refrained from hurting him.
Matter of fact, he bounced right back up, and while I was still in shock and just letting the polish pour everywhere, he climbed up on the couch, trying to get into my lap. Just laughin and wanting kisses.
getting blood all over my shirt as he climbed on top of me. He had busted his lip. He never even knew it.
I jumped up, threw him to the side and tried to scrub the polish out of my pants. It wont work. and now I cant just throw on some to go to ball practice in.

I wiped it up off the couch. Luckily after 4 years of kids, its consistantly stained, this one doesnt stick out.

I realized about this time that a massive dose of the smell of fingernail polish was NOT what my almost gone nausia needed. And the phone rang. I looked at the caller ID. I guess my 2nd hour had started. I was SURE I said an hour or TWO.

Alas, I decided that no matter how bad I felt, I needed to go then. Before I ended up not being in such a good mood.

I got dressed, brushed my still wet hair, and went to get Bow dressed. He was playing in some fake makeup that Rayley has.

I washed him up, found his clothes after stepping on 3 matchbox cars and a sweet gum ball in the kids room. If you have never seen a sweet gum ball, you need to google it. Its a seed type thing that grows on sweet gum trees. And its about the size of a wallnut, perfectly round. with these perfect spikes coming off of it all around. Hard, Sharp, spikes. This piece of natures bounty is what the mace of midevil times is fashioned after. Except they were not able to construct something so cruel and dangerous out of mere steal, God has the design down to a science though.

So, on my way OUT of the room when I yelped and reached down to assess the damamge to my tender foot, I apparently dropped Bow's shorts. But didnt realize it until I had his shirt on him and was looking for them. I went back to try and find them. I was fairly certain I had gotten them. I remembered, the shorts and shirt didnt match. But I didnt give a rats ass either.

SO, I head back into the temple of destruction, and yes, there sat the shorts. in the general vicinity of where I had found the innocent sweet gum ball. Of course it was no longer there. I had thrown it on their bed. THEN pulled their covers up over it.

But I was afraid it had friends. SInce you cant see the floor- at all- you dont know what is under the peice of paper, T shirt, socks, blanket, and various larger toys that you kick out of the way. I braved it, got the shorts, came back in and went to put them on him. He had decided it was a good time to change a dirty diaper. The one I just put on him. And dirty it was. But it was no longer ON him. SO, I cleaned that up. THEN I put more duct tape, another diaper and the shorts on him.

Finally we made it out the door.
To the store. Where of course the total was 10.18 and I had only brought in a 10.00 bill and my checkbook. I wasnt putting back either of my sodas, so I wrote a check.
I had forgotten that I had taken my cash out of my checkbook and put it in my wallet. So when I just grabbed up the checkbook, I was still thinking I had a 20.00 and a 10.00. Of course, when I put the 20.00 in my wallet, I had decided I had lost the 10 someplace, since it wasnt readily avalible... Oh well. Typical.

Then I went to mothers to fetch Rayley. 5 minutes later we were back home.

and most of that was time spent driving UP my driveway. the rain is never nice to it.

I was starving, so I asked the kids if they wanted anything to eat. No, Rayley didnt. Bow always wants to eat. I decided on Apple slices and peanut butter. Again, I asked. No, she wasnt hungry.

I cleaned my apple, walking back and forth across the kitchen from where I was laying it on a plate, to the hog bucket, that is on the other counter. Bow followed every step. With his 'ee' 'ee'. Which I have guessed means 'eat'. I walked back and forth. peeling, coring each quarter, and cleaning up. I talked to him the entire time. Being a good mommy.

Then I returned to my plate, to put peanut butter on each slice. while Bow proceeded to get a chair, push it to the hog bucket and dig out what he wanted. Throwing the rest on the floor. I had put the last of the hot sauce in there, the doritos, the apple peal, and the rest of his sandwich.

I turned around, stopped him, cleaned him up, and sat him on the floor. Then tried to clean the floor. That wasnt working. I shoo'd him out, but he went around the table at some point I reckon.
Then I went back to putting peanut butter on the peices. Its not that easy. it doesnt like to stick.

and I heard the sound of sand hitting the floor from about 12 feet away. Where my laundry room is. So, I went in there, to dig him out of the litter box, for the 4th time today. (the other three were BEFORE his little nap this morning) This meant I had to sweep up the floor again, wash him up again, and only after that could I eat.

I took him to my bathroom to wash his hands, then I set him down, dried him off, and decided I was now soaking wet, so I walked into the closet to change my shirt. I heard him walk out. So I found a shirt, glad he wasnt in the toilet and headed back to finish making my apple.

I got the 5th peice done and Rayley starts screaming, bloody murder, a blood curdiling scream that would wake the dead. I dropped my apples and took off running. Now Bow was screaming. Then I heard "LET GO! ITS MINE!!" and "AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG" I walked in, Bow had her little makeup tray, that I had told her time and again to get OFF my makeup table, and was digging in with both hands. She had ahold of the edge and pulling with all her might.
I disentangled them, reminded Rayley that I had told her time and again to put it up, and told Bow, once again, that he was NOT supposed to play with her make up.

He followed me back to the kitchen, saying 'uh' the whole time. That is the extent of his language skills, "ee", and "uh".

I finished my apple slices, leaving two without peanut butter, to try and keep the mess Bow made to a minimum. Then we went into the livingroom to sit down. I hadnt gotten the first bite half way to my mouth and in walked Rayley.
"that sure does smell good, what did you say it was again? peanut butter and apple? I love peanut butter, and like apples pretty well too"
So, I handed her the slice.
Bow is pointing at my plate saying "ee" "ee" and I give him a slice.

I reach down for another, and Rayley says "gosh, wish I had told you to make me some"
So I gave her another one. Tossing one in my mouth quickly so I at least get a bite. Bow dropped his. So I picked it up, blew it off and handed it back.

I was still chewing and Rayley says " You should mke this more often mom"
lookoing at me forloinly.
I gave her another.
Then it was Bow again. "ee" "ee"
before I knew it, there is one left.
Rayley says "those sure were good mom, But I am going to let you have the last one. I wont even ask for it"
I just handed her my plate. Telling her to put it in the sink when it was empty.

Glad she wasnt hungry.

She came back through. and sat beside me. Bow was finally on the floor playing, not in my lap for the first time all day (that I had been sitting) and she says
"you look awful comfertable mom"
"I am Rayley, I am wore out"
" Oh "
"why?"
"a drink sure would be nice right now"
So, I got up and got her a drink. Then saw the mess made by Bow, who was feeding the dogs as I made the drink. I swept it up.
and when I went to put up the broom in the laundry room, guess who I saw?
Yep. Bow. in the litter again.
this time he ran like a scalded dog.
I finally got all that done. Came back in here, sat down and Bow climbed in my lap. Sans the diaper.
I dug out another, gathered up the duct tape and went to work. once I was done, had wiped his snotty nose for the 87th time today and was trying to enjoy my cold drink, he decided he needed to go down for a nap.
I guess that being told no and getting swatted all day is quite exhausting.

As I type this he is laying here nursing, with one hand in his diaper, going to sleep. Just in time for the boys to walk in the door from school.

Once they get here, its time to cook supper, finish up homework that Brett has been trying to get out of all week, and practicing Matts pitching skills. I will be catching for him, because Brett is going to get that homework done, come hell or high water.

Then its time to slop the hogs, put the chickens to bed, clean the kitchen, eat supper, reclean the kitchen, and supervise baths.

So, there is a few hours out of my day.
I never did get that nap.
I am just glad that Bow and Rayley were on their best behavior today. As bad as I feel, I couldn't have dealt with them being whiney, all over the place, clingy, or worrying me to death all day. Cause there are days that I literly think they could worry the arms off a rag doll.



******************
The boys did get home, promptly woke up Bow and I told Brett to get his homework done and Matt to find his cleats.
He looked for 45 minutes. throwing himself around and being a general pain. He was very tired from getting home at 10:30 last night and getting up to go to school before 6 this morning.

Finally we found the shoes. I tried my hardest to catch for him. He is doing SOOOO good to have never tossed a ball across the plate. BUT it is impossible to catch a fast ball, coming at your head, when you are trying to watch and keep Bow from getting in the way.

SO I got a brain storm. I went and got my cooler out of my truck. Just the normal rectangle type. and set it on end infront of the plate. I told Matt to get 5 balls and throw them at it.

I went over to where Bow was, he had found the tractor by now and was sitting in the seat, pretending to drive, pointing at me, pulling at me and saying "UH" "UH" he wanted to go for a ride. But I watched Matt for a few minutes. He started knocking down the cooler with about every 3rd pitch.

Thats not a very large area. smaller than the strike zone he has.
I decided it was time to feed the hogs, told Bow thats what we needed to do, so he started off for the hog pen.
I went in and got the slop. We fed them, then went to put the chickens to bed. They are still in a cage inside the coop at night. I was squatted down in front of it, petting one, and Bow was squatted in front of me. He got excited, jumped up, hit me in the mouth with his hard as chinese arithmatic head, DIRECTLY in the mouth. busting my lip. which then bled. like a stuck hog.

I calmly stood up, grabbed him by his grubby little hand, he needs a bath, badly, and told him it was time to leave.

To the house we came. Where Brett is no longer doing homework, and Matt is no longer pitching at my blue cooler. Instead Brett has a bat, and Matt is pitching to him.
This is why you cant leave them alone. they always get a 'good idea'.

It started out that Brett was just holding a bat and standing there. So Matt knew a kid was there. it would help, they told me.
THEN BRett started sticking out the bat, just in a bunt, and they were counting it as a perfect strike.

Now, as I sit in the house, typing this and pretending I dont have SOS* to make for supper, I can hear the crack of the bat, and the scream of a kid hollering, while another screams and says "that one was a strike TOO!"
I am waiting for the fight to start. Because start it will. One will get hurt, usually BY the other one. One will get mad, not just upset, but 'bite a nail in two' mad, and they will end up rolling around on the ground fightin tooth and nail. or coming in here, slamming the door, and rewaking up the snoring and oh so cute, although dirty, child I have in my lap., just to tattle on the other one. When if they had just done what I said, there would be peace in the world.

Anyway, that up there was from about noon till 3. The kids were home by 3:30.


Oh and before anyone asks.
*SOS
(shit on the shingles)

as much ground sausage as your family would eat in a meal, browned (hamburger meat will work just fine) I use 3 or so pounds.
drain and set to the side
make some cream gravy. Heavy on the pepper. (cause thats how you make cream gravy. 'enough pepper to tickle the innards'
Make some toast, or biscuts. (I am using some of the hamburger buns left over from the fundraiser)
put them on a plate, pour the SOS over them.
You can add a few veggies if you want. We are going to have some peas that were left over from the other night**.

and there is a poor mans supper.

There shouldnt have been any peas left over. I made pork chops, smothered, Mashed taters and biscuts. And had already made the peas and put them in the microwave to keep warm. We were down to eating the last of the biscuts with syrup for dessert and Rayley said "mom, I never got no peas!!" in her 'you hate me and mistreat me all the time' voice.
BR said "there isnt any"
the boys echo'd him.
and it dawned on me. I had set the table and left them in the microwave. So, I have a huge pot full of peas to eat. and tonight sounds like a good night to eat them.

Some people live and learn, some people just live.

Its been a while, and its been a busy week. Last week was spring break. Which meant that I was busy chasing kids. I did go to town by myself on Tuesday. I was able to shop alone. It was nice. I was able to get 90.00 worth of stuff at walgreens and paid 4.00 Out of pocket. I will be getting 3 of that back in rebates. Not bad for a days work.
I only saved about 30.00 at walmart. But thats to be expected.

I only went grocery shopping and ran some erronds, but, still barely made it home in time to get the kids back to town for practice and our 4-H meeting. While I was at practice a friend of mine who we are in 4-H with called me. She was in charge of the BBQ sandwich fundraiser. She had called the sherrif, and he was going to cook the meat, for us. Kinda. But she needed help. So she asked if I could meet her at 7am the next morning.
Of course I said yes.
So I met her, another lady, our sherriff, who I have known for years, and one of the county commisioners. We had to cut the fat off 24 briscuts. Then he seasoned them, and threw them on the pit. It was a really nice pit. But he had to go to work. He is the Sherriff after all. So we were left with the briscut. The commisioner stayed with me till about 11. Then he had to leave too. Not a big deal. I can manage a BBQ pit. I just had to keep it at 350 degrees.
We finally got them off at around 4. Then we put pickle slices and onion slices in ziploc bags. by then the briscuts were cooled off and we ended up getting the rest of the fat out of them, slicing them up and putting them in the fridge. we didnt need them till Friday.
Thats when we had to meet back there at 7am to put in the sauce and get ready for the sale.

The sale went okay. I had alot of fun. We were in a grocery store parking lot, so when we needed something we ran in there. At one point I took a few kids to the bathroom, and one of them got gum. Well, Matt snuck around and got him some too.
On the way back, I realized it and took it away from him. There are more than one reason I dont let them have gum. First and formost, getting them to brush their teeth is like...well.. pulling teeth, and two. you never know where you will find it.
PLUS they hadnt eaten yet.
So, he got mad at me. Granted, the kid had been up till 11 the night before.
I had forgotten to make cookies until 9. And I had to make a few batches for the sale. Then we all had to be up by 5:30 to get ready. Anyway, he went missing. Finally we got to looking for him. It was VERY hot outside. Well into the 80's. and this is where we found him.


Yep. he is under my truck. Asleep.
We let him sleep till he rolled out into the sun, We were afraid he would burn. This kid has always had the ability to fall asleep anywhere. Standing up, sitting down, eating. He is my sleeper.


Once it was over though, I had to rush back home, because although I had brought the boys with me, we hadnt brought their uniforms. We had a few things to do before we came back home.

We had to go to walmart, then lowes, and a few other things. On the way home, because I was proud of the boys for not being too awful bad, I let the boys have the gum. It was a package of hubba bubba or something. Strawberry flavor. I told them they could have it, if they promised to brush their teeth the minute we walked in the door. They swore they would.
I dropped them at the driveway, told them to get their gum out, brush their teeth, and get dressed. NO fighting. They swore. I went and picked up Bow at my moms.
I got back, we had almost 20 minutes to get ready and get gone.
They were almost dressed. then, I found Bow some new clothes and shoes. The boys were sent outside to fetch some stuff out of my truck. Instead, Brett comes running back in. "MATT BROKE HIS LEGS!" "I SWEAR HE DID!!"
"okay, where at?"
"the driveway!! I was riding my bike and he was running beside me, and I flipped adn he fell, now he cant walk"
"okay, calm down. Watch Bow, put his shoes on him and I will go and check"
So I start down there. Brett is right beside me. I told him to NOT put him down in his stocking feet. I didnt want his socks all dirty. I got down to Matt. He had fallen, and scrapped both knees, and his palm. I helped him up and told him what an idiot he was. Then I look over and Bow is patting him on the head. IN HIS STOCKING FEET!
I told Brett again to pick him UP.
I helped Matt to the truck, told HIM to buckle in Bow, went back in to get him some ice and got in the truck, Still full of the stuff I had told the boys to get out of it, and I started to back out of the driveway. Bow was in the backseat saying "ewwww" and pulling at a HUGE wad of gum on his sock.
After I got him some NEW socks, and HIS shoes, and again we left.
We didnt quite make it back to town in time. We were a little late for practice. Oh, I would have been there on time, BUT, when I stopped at the store to get some ice, my cell phone rang. it doesnt work here at home, adn the store is close, but this time it miraculously worked. THANK GOD! it was my mother in law. She had Rayley already, she had taken her to the park with the daycare, and kept her. Anyway, she said instead of me dealing with Bow at practice to bring him over. So I turned around and hauled butt back to her house.

Saturday we spent redoing some wireing on the chicken coop. Since I had put my older chicks out and lost 2 the first day. I think it was to hawks.

The kids came in and brought me some of their 'finds'. Its never fun when they just show up with stuff.

I have never seen a lizard quite like this one.
its blue on bottom...



and of course, Rayley had to show off hers.



But here is their real treasures. A bucket FULL of various nasty creepy crawly things.

Oh well. The chickens at least enjoyed them.



Matt was the 'getter' of most of these. I am not sure why I dont have a picture of him and his lizard. Although he kept putting it on Bow, I really thought I took that picture.





Then we went back to practice. We had a scrimage, and 5 kids showed up. 2 of them were mine. Brett played catcher, and Matt shortstop. Till they told Matt to pitch. This kid has never set foot on the mound. Yes, his daddy was a pitcher, BUT, just in the last month has Matt actually started throwing the ball where you could catch it. We havent spent time learning to pitch. This is his first year on a kid pitch team. They put him up there, he threw a few across the plate and they realized what they had done. NOT spent anytime coaching him. So they pulled him off, put him back at shortstop. He was so mad, and embarressed. I understand that. I was mad and embarressed for him.
they started warming up a new pitcher, and Matt and Brett were staying warm on the field by throwing the ball back and forth. Brett was on first. Matt was zinging it to him. it was hitting the glove with an audable pop. So Brett knew he was mad. Plus it was VERY accurate.

Thats a good indication that Matt is not happy, when he hits you so hard with the ball that it hurts. We have to fiqure out how to piss him off before he starts each game. Especially when he is pitching.

Sunday I planted a few flats of tomatoes, and we cleaned out BR's truck. Then he took Matt out and showed him how to pitch. The kid might be pretty good. As long as he will THROW the ball, as hard as we KNOW he can. Like I said, getting him mad might be a good idea.

Finally today they went back to school. It was really quiet around here.
even once they got home. I was on the phone with BR when they drove up. But they never came in. Then Brett busted in the door and said "MOM!! Get your camera!! You gotta see this snake we caught!"
Yep, here I was frying pork chops, trying to get supper ready. And they pulled another stunt.


So, I told him to hold on, Very calmly I might add, and turned off the burner on the stove.
Then I grabbed up my camera and headed outside. Not really sure what I would find.
I walked out to a snake, belly up, in a coil, hissing up a storm. It was TICKED OFF!
I still had BR on the phone, and was trying to tell him what it was. I really had no clue. But fiqured it was just a chicken or rat snake of some sort.

But it did have a flattish head.

So I flipped it over. Just a brownish color on top.



Yes, that is Bow, diaper and all. Him and Rayley had ran out to meet the boys when they drove up. On the way into the yard, they had heard Darla barking her "I have something cornered bark" (like the time she had the HUGE, TERRIFYING, and Heartattack inducing Toad Frog... ) and they went to investigate. THey found MR Spreading adder.

So, Bow and Rayley were out there to help them. and I was constantly telling the boys to keep him back. He has no fear. Kinda like Rayley the time the boys left her outside with the snake and the baby chicks while they ran inside to get me.

I wanted a better look, so I picked it up with a shovel and took it to the kids playschool table.

All of them were right behind me. Screaming at me to not kill it. I dont know what they think I am going to do with it, but, I DONT want it getting my chickens. PERIOD.



Yes, she is in a snow white dress, has rings tied around her neck and is all dressed up for some wonderful snake catching fun!!




I put a bucket on top of it, and a brick, and told the kids to come in and do their homework. I told BR (who I was STILL on the phone with) where it was, and that he would just have to identify it when he got home. I told him it was about a foot long.


When he got home we went out to feed the hogs and he told me he had already seen it. He doesnt like snakes at all, so he was quite perturbed at me for failing to mention that it was as big around as 3 fingers, and he said it was HIGHLY pissed when he picked up the bucket.

Now tomorrow I have to deal with it. I will kill it in the morning and feed it to the pigs. They should enjoy it, and then I know it wont be getting my chickens. or a kid.

The whole time I was growing up, I heard from my grandfather, "dont bite a snake" meaning watch where you are going. And I have always said it myself to my own kids. But I dont think they get the same meaning out of it.

Oh well... They'll learn, and live, or just live....

the mistakes we make.

Gee, its been a while.
Hard to belive that my herd of mo-rons hasnt done anything blog worthy lately. And yes, mo-rons run in herds. Oh, you can find one out there alone everyonce in a while. But they are not inclined to do something totally stupid with out a group or herd to egg them on.

BUT, the truth of the matter is, they have been homebound for about a week. school and then home. And no playing outside. First it was because of the MOUNTAIN of laundry that they drug out of their room. THey had to wash it all. (a week later and there is still about 3 loads), 2nd because they havent actually cleaned their room. They have stacked things up. in piles that are threatening to tumble over at any second. Trapping and possibly maiming small animals, unsuspecting children, and ME.

and then in the later part of the week, it decided to rain. Not a nice spring rainshower. A nasty coldfront, with lots of hard rain. Which I refuse to complain about. My taters needed it. And Uncle Gerald just got my beans and corn in the ground. He plants earlier than I prefer. I dont like to plant till Good Friday. But he is old. and Bored. So, he planted.

Bow is becoming interested in the toilet. not the way he HAS been interested, but he has added that he likes to take off his diaper and sit on it. And he takes off his diaper to pee in the floor.

I am NOT ready to potty train. THe kid cant or wont talk yet. AND he still loves to play IN the toilet. Putting things in to see if they will float, draging things out. And NO, I dont encourage this behaviour. But I do catch him at it from time to time. He can open all the doors in the house. So there is really not much stopping him. And even the best mommy (which I am NOT) has to pee or cook or clean every once in a while.

Rayley did get to go to daycare this week. She was THRILLED! There is a little girl up there that she adores. She is a little older than Bow and Rayley has decided she would make the perfect sister. She would like me to get one like her. I would be scared of getting pregnant again. Because my kids have this inane ability to wish for a sibling and I end up pregnant, BUT I am putting my trust in Cutting, Tying and Burning. Please no horror stories about that miraculiously growing back.

We got progress reports this week. Matt has one B. BRett has a 67 in Launguage. and a 70 something in Reading. Come to find out, its because of AR. AR is where they pick books, have the kids read them, and then they take a test. They get points for their right answers, and at our school the PTA (somehow that stands for Pam and Michelle. We are the only ones who really do it all-but I wont get off on that rant) supplies a store full of goodies for the kids to 'spend' their points on. LIke cash.
Well, my kids are seasoned to think that they deserve something, for everything they do. Since Tests and pesky class work doesnt give points, He is more interested in reading a book and aquiring these points.

Well, I had to work the store. Which I did. BUT, when I found out WHY Brett was failing. -He rushes through his work, not actually double checking it, or rushes through a test, not finishing the back page, so he can read another book.- I forbid him to read anymore. AND took away Baseball.
Well, BR was home, so he is the one who brought up taking away baseball. Which I am completely behind. During my tirade I also told them that they were NOT to request ANY money for ANYTHIN else. EVER. When we pick the garden this year, DONT ask me for a dime. When I tell you to clean your room, dont ask what its worth. I explained that the roof over their head, food in their bellies, and clothes on their backs was payment enough. NOT to mention all the running I do for baseball. We skipped an important step in raising them. So, I am going back to basics. As little kids, I would give them 'jobs' and pay them. I thought it would give them a good work ethic. I was wrong. It made them crave money. And when they would get it for birthday or Christmas, or a buck just because grandpa wanted to, it showed them they didnt always have to work for it.
I hope its not too late to change them. They need to learn that you do things you dont want to do, for things other than money sometimes. I mean I dont get a dime for wiping their dirty butts for years. or snotty noses. And we wont even discuss when they puke everywhere.

At school they also get points for going to the music concert to 'spend' in class, and put in a drawing for bringing their parents to public school week. Other classes get points for finishing work, to buy more crap, and for being good all week.

When I was in school, We didnt get points for NOT getting your name on the board, we got our butts whooped FOR getting it on there. It was quite effective. Now we pay them to do the RIGHT thing.

Of course as I sit here right now, the boys are doing one of their baskets of laundry with gusto, because BR told them to hurry and they could go out and shoot their bows.

Matt did ask this morning how much I was going to pay him if he got the laundry finished and folded today. Then I looked at him sideways and he realized my threat from yesterday. He just looked at me. Gave me that crooked smile and said "awww mom, your love is enough."

I didnt buy it.

Honestly, I have not ever paid them for every little thing. Really I havent. But, its pushed down their throats on such a constant basis, family, their friends talking about it, and the school paying them to DO schoolwork, that they just EXPECT it.

I really dont know if homeschooling isnt a valid answer to all that I am dealing with?

Oh and I am ready for it to warm up enough at night to put my older chickens out. I am TIRED of the smell. Chickens STINK. BADLY. At this age they do 2 things. Eat and get rid of it. So they can eat more.
Oh and water. ALOT of water.

I am debating on putting them in the coop for the day, just to see how they like it.

I will close with a perfect example of Hoovers HIA syndrome.
I had taken their load of laundry out of the dryer, and brought it in here. Sat it downand said "fold and hang these up"
Then I went tomake donuts. (yes. I even make them. They aint light and fluffy, but they are there. Sweet and gooey and fried. I dont own can biscuts, so we make do with my biscut recipe. )

Well, we got done, I came in here and had said twice that they needed to finish the load.

Matt was sitting on the edge of the couch-he'd been holding a pair of jeans for about 10 minutes, looking lost. So I said
"Hoov, if your done with your load of laundry, put on your shoes and go outside."
His face lit up. He jumped up. Threw the clean jeans on the floor and ran around gathering up his boots out of my living room floor. (which was also on their chore list. TO get their CRAP out of my livingroom floor)

BR and I looked at each other. THen BR said "Matt, do you think you are actually SUPPOSED to go outside?"
"well, it aint rainin and mom said I could"
"Matt, think about it. when has your mom ever just offered for you to go and play outside, and she did have the smartass tone that we should all know so well"
"btu she said"
"yes, what exactly DID she say? Repeat it word for word"
"uhhh... hoov, get your boots and go outside... so I was."
"what ELSE did she say?"
this is where we get the blank look...
Finally he thinks.... real hard.. you could see the pain this caused.

"ohhhh... she said 'if your chores are done, go and get your boots'.."
"right... adn DID you get your chores done?"
"oh, well, I thought she meant if I was DONE wanting to do my chores, then I could go outside."
"Hoover, when has this EVER been the way it works?"
"well we go outside all the time with out doing our chores when your home"

And here is Rayley's 'DUH moment ' of the day.

She walked in here crying, holding her head. So Brett is behind her.
"she was walking backwards and hit her head on the wall that sticks out"
"Rayley"
"yes ma'am?"
"has that wall ALWAYS been there?"
"yes..." (she is in the 'forgetting ma'am stage..)
"so, how did you hit it?"
"I dont know"
"did it just jump out and get in your way?"
"yes ma'am"
"rayley, you and I both know that you had your head in your rear and backed into the wall, therefor its NOT the walls fault that you have a bump on your head. You need to go and appologize to the wall"
"mooom, your so silly"
So I kissed it better, told her to pay more attention and get ready to go outside.

Then she ran into her dad. And started to rub her head and say it was hurting. Turning on the tears.
"what did you do?"
"NOTHING!"
"What did the boys do?" Cause we ALL know its always their fault...
"NOTHING!" "oh well, Brett hasnt finished the laundry yet"
"thats not what I meant, snitch. What did you do to your head?"
"NOTHING, I done told ya!!" she said with a stomp of her foot "the dang old wall jumped out and hit me in the back of the head, THEN, jumped back"
"is that right?"
"YEESSSS, and mom actually wants ME to appologize to the wall!"
"well maybe you should, cause then it might not jump out and hit you again"
"oh... "

Now we are on a quest to find their mud boots. We will find them sometime next week. When I find another corner of their room they 'forgot' to clean..

We dont rent pigs

I told BR that I was going to paint that on a sign to hang on the wall of the coop/pen.

He smiled and said: "Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop"

I agree with Gus (and BR for that matter) 100%. But need to add "or Chickens".

Please tell me you know the movie this came from. PLEASE. I really think this is the best movie of all time. I have seen grown men cry when watching this movie. and I have watched it at least 300 times, and STILL cry. But I laugh too.

The pigs seem to be doing great. I did have to worm them, and although I wont get into that, it was discusting. worming them was easy. I just put the wormer on their feed. Picking up the end result was not fun. *shudder* And I have had to do some pretty 'interesting' stuff in my life with animals. But this did take the cake.

Oh and they are officially spoilt. They MUCH prefer scraps to their food. So now I just have to get a good steady supply of scraps. they will come up to you now and eat out of our hands. And are always tugging on my shirtails. I havent managed to teach them to sit yet. But I am still trying.

The chicks are doing great. the new babies are all still with us, not a problem with them at all. Other than: we are out of moths. Seriously. I reckon my kids have caught and fed them every moth in a 5 mile radius.

Remember how Bow was SOOO sick? Well, I got him the antibiotic, but his fever broke right before we got to the DR. I gave him a few days worth of meds and then, like clockwork, he gets a severe red rash after 5 minutes of being outside on Saturday. All that time, money and worry, and it was 5th disease. I KNEW it was. I had already diagnosed Rayley. But he was just running the fever longer, and then with him being so cranky and whiny, I let all common sense fly right out the window and rushed him to the Dr. All for a childhood illness that every kid gets, cant be fixed, cured or even 'helped' and is just more of an annoyance than anything.

Friday was my 'big day'. I went to the kids school for the 7:30 coffee with the superentendant, that didnt go so well. Of course, when he walked in and shook hands with everyone he said "Nice to meet you I am Dr. ...... " and then when it came to me it was "Hey Mrs Byerly, glad to see you again, its been awhile"
Now, when you KNOW the superentendant on a first name basis, AND he can tell you its been a while, you aint livin right...

THEN, he went down the table, welcomed everyone, asked if they were familier with everyone, etc. and he got to me. He said "Its great to see these new faces (there were 4 others there), and of course MRs. Byerly. First of all, lets see if y'all have any questions or concerns, Just speak up. Mrs Byerly knows how this works, if y'all dont know her, she is a very familier face around here, in the PTA, and always willing to let anyone know how she feels about something."

The parents brought up differnt things they didnt like going on. Then of course there was the talk of uniforms, he brought up that some folks had left the district because of them. (our district is VERY upset about the lost kids. it means less money and they are trying to get them to come back) and one parent said "maybe the undesirables, we dont need them anyway" and there was the "everyone needs to learn to conform" comment To say I was livid is to put it mildly.

Anyway, I was as nice as I could be. and I really didnt throw a fit. I said my peace and left. To head over to the firestation, so we could get a start on the fundraiser.

I spoke on the radio, begging people to come out and buy a plate lunch.
Twice.
Unfortunatly, we were only able to sell less than 200 of the 1000 links. I am very disapointed. And it wasnt because of money. The resturants were ALL full. The fast food joints were packed. The fire Dept said they had not seen one this bad.

Of course, there was another fundraiser going on too. They were selling their plates for 2.00 more than ours. They didnt do too well either from what I hear. The Sherrifs Dept had put it on.
We worked our butts off, from 8am to 3pm (not including all the stuff BEFORE hand) for about 1500.00. We are just so thankful that everything was donated and there was no money to pay for the stuff out of the amount raised. There is no way that BRidge City will be able to do a thing with 1500.00.
I just feel so very bad. Even our little piddly newspaper wouldnt help us out with advertisement. Just talking about it depresses me.
But once we were done with the fundraiser, I had to pick up the kids at daycare, run home, and run back to town for 5:30 baseball practice.

While I was sitting there my phone rang, it was the school.
Hoover calling - at 3:18.
"mom, can you come get me, or bring me some shoes. My boot fell apart"
"Matt, why did you wear the boots that have the sole coming off? I told you I am taking them back, they are defective!"
"I dont know"
"well, school is out, just get on the daycare van and come on. I am waiting on you"
"but mooooom"
"I love you Hoover, hurry up" and I hung up.
Okay, if I had been at home, I would NOT have driven in to give him a pair of shoes so he could leave the nurses office to get on the daycare van. SECOND, If I was IN TOWN, I wouldnt drive 20 miles home, and THEN, 20 miles back, after having to wade into the toxic waste dump to find shoes. I seriously am not sure I would survive a trip in there.
Seriously.
They showed up and home we went.
Of course, the 87 times that I had told the kids to make sure their baseball stuff was clean and ready hadnt been heeded. They couldnt find ANYTHING. I had done up all the laundry, but I cant snap my fingers and make uniforms appear. And I refuse to walk into the toxic dump and find something to wash.

Of course, we had to run to walmart to get cleats. Cause Brett had outgrown his, and although his old ones were the right size, they were 'hurting' Matts feet. 2 new pair of cleats. At least I have 2 pair to donate to the team this year. Practically brand new ones too. Maybe someone can use them. When we finally got to practice, I went to unload the team water.

Somehow I became in charge of it. Oh yeah. Cause noone else would do it.

I had already filled it up with ice that I stole from the VFD. So I was good to go. Till I got back there. Now, this cooler has ridden in my truck for years. I take it out when season is over. so far this year its been in there 2 weeks. and its never tipped or spilt.
BUT today, it did. It was BONE dry.
I had to jump back in the truck and run to the store for water and ice. When I get back the kids are split up into groups. Due to new rule this year concerning pitchers and catchers, the coaches want at least 5-6 kids trained for one or the other position. Matt picked pitcher. Now, he does have a good arm. and has gotten amazingly accurate this year. But I dont know if he is pitching material.

Brett on the other hand, the one who LOVES to pitch, chose catcher. Which means I have to buy a cup and jock strap. It was also suggested I buy a catchers mitt. Pitching is cheaper.
I will get the cup and jockstrap. But he will borrow the team mitt until he gets REAL good. and I dont hear him whine about his knees. EVER.

Saturday we had a scrimage at 3 but the boys and BR went out and cleaned up the yard some before we left. And he and I discussed what we needed to do to build a pen for the boar hog. He cant stay in with the sows. We didnt plan to raise them when we designed and built the pen. We just planned to buy a few a year, hold them for 6 months and butcher. But since they are harder to find than a needle in a haystack, we had to change our plans.
The boys were able to find their uniforms easier this time. Since I had made them wash them the night before. The kids got to pick where they wanted to play, since our coaches have been working on technique and not putting them in positions yet.

Matt played short stop and Brett 3rd base. Brett has never played 3rd base, and honestly, this kid is good at centerfield. I am not one of those "my kids are GREAT at baseball, and you better play them here" or "how dare you not give my kid the position he wants" But, to not put Brett in centerfield is just weird. he is hell on a popup. And has a good arm. He can throw it in from the outfield to the pitchers mound.

Matt on the other hand has played shortstop, and isnt awful at it. He can do it, and when he tries he is actually good. One of the first balls hit went right to second base, and then into the outfield. SO Matt ran to be the cutoff man. The batter was rounding second when he got it so he threw it to Brett on 3rd. and they got him out! I was SOOO proud.
Now the kid that hit the ball is one of my friends sons. So it was kinda funny. When I talked to her later, she said that her 6 year old daughter got on to her because she was cheering Brett and Matt on when they made the play.
It was a perfect catch and an even better throw. I was so proud of Matt. because in the past he was a border line 'why is that kid even out here?' player. I think he might be coming into his own.

Brett did well too. He remembered to tag the runner and not just the bag, and was in position - ready to catch it. Not bad for never playing that position. The next inning they switched them. This confused me. But Matt did shock me. They were tossing the ball back and forth, warming up, and 2nd base threw a ball to Matt. He caught it at 3rd. Then threw it to 1st. Hard and without the 1st baseman having to step off the bag.
I almost fell off the bucket I was sitting on.

Shortly there after we had almost the same play as before. Differnt kid, but another friends son. This time, Brett did get the ball, on the cutoff throw. Matt forgot he was playing 3rd, and didnt cover the bag.
But, Brett also could have tagged the runners since they were so close to him. Then, the last play of the night was a pop up to second, hit by the kid BRett and Matt had worked together to get out. Brett was still SS and ran over, snagged it right out of the air and ran around the base with his arms up. While the kid on third tagged up and scored from 3rd. It was a GREAT catch. BUT he forgot there was a runner. Since it was only the second out they were awarded the point.

Thinking back on it, the only two player assisted outs were done by my kids. I didnt realize that till now. This is not a good thing for the team.. LOL Cause SUPERSTARS they aint...

When my friend called me later that night she did tell me that her son was mad cause both of his at-bats resulted in him getting out. I laughed and told her "what do you expect when you have a powerhouse like the Byerly Boys out there?"

Thats when she told me about her daughter getting mad at her for cheering them on when they caught the balls. She said she had to cheer them on, they did damn good on the plays! LOL
She of course knew I was kidding.

Once the scrimage was over we went ahead and practiced. BR helped with Batting, and he really enjoyed it. He would do good as a coach, but says he doesnt want to deal with the parents. Our coach told him "I think Michelle can handle the parents" They really dont know me. OR BR.

our philosophy is: If all you want to do is gripe about how its being done, pack up and leave. Thanks for the donation to Little League.

Kind of a "dont let the door knob hit ya where the Good Lord split ya" type of attitude.

I did run the dugout. I dont think I can really do this during games. These kids are going to have to get used to some rules.

I swear, they are like drunk monkeys in there.

Which reminds me, I am going to have to do a lineup poster. I have done one the last few years. Its the best idea I have ever seen. you write all the kids names on peices of posterboard, then put velcro on them.

Then you get a half sheet of posterboard and put velcro there. you can change it when the lineup changes, but you have it in front of you. Hanging on the fence with carabiners.

Its been a lifesaver more than once!!

OH and thats one of my rules. those bat bags come with a hook for a reason. to hang on a fence. There are boxes for your helmet and your gloves and a PVC pipe with cut outs for the bats. NOTHING gets thrown on the ground. PERIOD.

I told the kids this about 5 times. then, when we were done, and the kids were gathering balls on the field, I found a helmet right in the way. I flipped it over, and it had a number 6 on it. Since my kids are lazy, they had been sharing a helmet. Brett had worn it last.

So, I picked it up, walked to the fence 200 feet out and dropped it. Then told Brett to go and get it. He thought I was picking.

I wasnt.

he did go and get it. and on my way back, I noticed that about 4 kids picked up gloves they had just thrown down.


In the years I did run a dugout before I had a philosophy:
If their momma's dont like the way I run a dugout, they can get out of the stands and run it themselves. I also have a rule about cups. Not because I dont want to have to continue to buy cups, BUT I dont want a bunch of trash everywhere. I give you a cup. your name is in it. Dont break it, dont throw it down, dont loose it. If you do, you get one more cup. a pink one.
After that, your mom can supply your cups if she wants you to drink.

There are 12 kids on a team.
Thats 12 bats,
13 gloves (theres a catchers mitt)
12 caps 12 helmets,
12 bat bags 14-16 cups (coaches too)
and usually 16-18 batting gloves ( mine dont use them, they were started as a joke in major league and not always nessasary, plus, I feel they need to learn to 'feel' the bat first)
plus the catchers gear and various other peices of random equiptment.

The person in charge of the dugout should not spend all their time keeping up with it all. They deserve to watch the game too. They are am in charge of getting the kids on the field, making sure shoes are tied, caps are on, (or helmets if they are batting) keeping them from fighting, getting them out in the right order, gloves are on, that noone leaves the dugout before they are batting, that noone is getting hit with a bat they snuck in the dugout.

This year I might keep the books and keep up with the pitch count. You cant worry about someone tripping over a helmet and breaking a leg. or getting beaned upside the head with a bat.

I have done the books before. Its easy but at the same time hard. I am scared that I will screw it up. It actually matters in this league. We all know that I am ditzy.



Anyway, we practiced till 7:30. Then came home. where I told Brett I wanted to see his helmet and bat bag. They have been using Matts.
They looked for a few minutes and like most of their missing stuff (like the belt last week) it had grown legs and walked off.

I made them a deal. If I walked in and found the helmet, or bag or both, they had to promise to clean their room. BOTH jumped at the chance for ME to search. and let them off the hook. 5 minutes later I stepped on the helmet.

At that point I declared myself the winner and told them to go to bed.

When they woke up the next morning they 'forgot' about the deal. At noon their dad told them to get started. At 8:30 they quit and ate supper. It wasnt that bad, they just goofed off that long. They wanted to say I didnt find the bag so they didnt have to clean. What they didnt understand is
1. they were GONNA clean, no matter what
B. I could care less if he has a fancy bat bag. you aint gotta have it. You can tote a glove, bat and helmet.

They still have some more to clean in there, and Rayley did very little of hers. She thinks she can ignore me and I will ignore it. But she is in for a rude awakening.

They didnt get to shoot their guns, their bows or practice baseball with their dad any. ALL day. I didnt get to put in the waterline, get more of the yard cleaned up, or finish any of the other outdoor chores.

And their dad told them if they dont finish it tonight, there will be no baseball practice on Tuesday. And I am one of those moms that feels if you dont go to practice you dont play. Now we are not playing right now, but, if/when we start, I hold them to that.

BR and I did a few things, fixing the brooder a little better, messing with the hogs, and a few other little projects. And he made Breakfast for all of us, then helped me with supper. I HATE deboning a chicken. Its just so greasy and nasty. LOL

And he threw together the cornbread while I was rolling out the dumplings. Both the meals we made yesterday will cost me less than 10 dollars this time next year.

For Breakfast we had
13 pancakes (real pancakes, not a silverdollar sized one.)
2 lbs bacon
15 eggs and
a gallon of milk

for Supper it was
Chicken and Dumplings
Cornbread
Peas
Sweet Tea

For both of these meals, I will only have to buy salt, pepper, Syrup, Flour, Cornmeal, baking powder, buttermilk, milk and butter. Matter of fact, it will cost alot less than 10.00

Just the staples. Everything else will be grown or butchered here. Picked or raised by us. The thought of this THRILLS me.

AND we will eat on that pot of dumplings for 2 more days. at least. with some of it going in the freezer for a small meal later.

Breakfast of course was gone in 20 minutes. Every last crumb. There is very little that I love more than bacon and eggs.



Now, I fiqured out that my camera will take a video. There is nothing cute or video worthy going on. BUT, I decided to test it out. Not sure if this will work or not. Here is Rayley. Supposed to be cleaning her room. I dont know if you can hear her or not. of course, she was abnormally quiet while I had the camera out. And she didnt even know I was taking a video. She thought I was waiting to take a picture. I did a 20 minute one, but there is no way it would load. so, then I tried two that I took after the long one. From about 9:30 till well after 5 I tried. So now I give up.

Maybe I will fiqure it out. Or maybe you cant do it on dial up... ?? I dont know.

Why encouragement is frowned upon in my house

As I was unpacking groceries today, Rayley was in there. She was watching me put them up. Then she opened her mouth.

"mom, you shouldnt encourage a four year old to eat chili"
"come again?"
"I am really just a kid, a baby really, and adults shouldnt encourage children to eat things that are not good"
"I didnt say you had to eat the chili"
"well, you bought it didnt you?"
"yea. But not for you."
"well thats just mean"
"beg pardon?"
"to bring food in here and flaunt it in our faces, then not let us have it"
"Rayley, please leave the room"
"why? I thought you liked spending time with me"
"Dont think honey, its not good for you"
"ohhhh like chocolate?"
"yep. go play please"


Now, when 'encourage' came out of her mouth I was a little flabergasted. Then 'flaunt' ? She is FOUR. I dread conversations in a few years.

I have been sorta busy lately. We have finished the hog pen, chicken coop and built a brooder. The hogs are fun to watch, and have become a little more socialble. I encouraged BR on the hog pen..

Plus, I have been spending time doing this Fundraiser for Bridge City. Its Friday and we have 1,000 links to sell. My need to be involoved in everything encouraged this. No, not really, well, yeah... But it really is a good thing.

We started baseball and its already tiring. Again, I encourage them to play, it doesnt take much, but I still allow it... Brett and Matt seem to really be enjoying their coaches this year. I am thrilled with that. And I think that 4-H shooting sports will be starting soon. And something else I encouraged..

Matt told me a story about school the other day. Their school is surrounded by woods. Their playground has no fence, it just is a cleared off spot behind the school with a wooded area behind it. Well he told me that him and 2 of this friends decided to check them out. One of them chickened out pretty quickly, the other one was not too thrilled with it, but went into the woods with him anyway. He said he didnt go far, but did see the back side of a house and it had a fire in the chimney. He said it was really cool and he would love to play back there more. It would be more like being at home. I dont encourage this. But I guess giving them free rein here at home sorta does...

I told him NOT to go back in the woods. I meant to mention it to the principal today. But forgot. I went in for a regular PTA meeting, to be followed by a District meeting, and then off to walmart for shopping, the feed store for wormer, and to pay some bills.

before my first meeting even got started my mother called, Bow was even more cranky than he had been. And she couldnt get his fever to go down. While I was on the phone with her, the Post office called me.

I had ordered chicks and they were shipping today. Wend. I even called yesterday morning and added a poster to the order, and they confirmed Wend as my shipping day. Well the chicks were in. They had hatched early so they were ready to be picked up. BR encouraged me to get chickens.

I left that meeting, went and got the chicks, got the wormer, came back for the second meeting and then ran by the Dr office. I needed an appt for Bow. He had been running the fever at night for about 3 days. But not during the day. Although he was VERY clingy. More so than usual. THey told me to be back by 1. with him. Oh great. It was 11:30.

So I ran to walmart, with these cute little chirping birds in the truck. I wasnt worried about them, cause it was in the low 70's today, and they need to be 95-100
*. I got my few things, jumped back in the truck and hauled butt BACK home, a 20 mile trip, to get Bow. Halfway there I realized I had forgotten Rayley at Daycare. Now, she was with my mother in law, and, usually she doesnt go to daycare, its just a special treat. Any other time she would have been with my mother and Bow. I dropped the chicks off with mother, ran back to town, and on the way there happened to look in the rear view mirror. Bow was standing up, looking out the back glass. His carseat was still latched, he just wiggled out. Having 4 kids, numerous projects running through my mind and enough animals to start a freakin zoo encourages memory loss.

So I got him back in, went to the daycare and got Bertha Sue, and to the Drs we went. His throat is very red, and his ears are getting red. Not an ear infection yet, but close. So off we went to get his meds. Murphy encouraged this. because he knew I was going to be running all over hells half acre this week. Tomorrow I was supposed to hook up the trailer and drive to town to pick up all the sausages, bread and enough bottled water to fill a swimming pool. But not I cant.. WHo will?? Volunteers are not just running out our ears. Especially ones who can hook up, pull and back up a trailer...

Then I got home, slopped the hogs, toted water the 150 feet to their pen and started fixing the chicks up with a new spot.

I have a hurt chick that is 3 weeks old. But I was hoping I could put it back in with the others, cause she was in the new bannies cage. That was a no go. So I brought her back over. The new chicks LOVED it. They think she is their mom. She is only a few weeks older than them, but since she is a standard breed and they are bantams there is a size differnce. They just pile up under her and go to sleep. I ended up putting them in a differnt cage, and giving the larger birds more room in the brooder. We had built it to divide. But I couldnt get it hot enough. The older birds are down to 85*, so its well over warm enough for them.

I thought I had done good. Till I walked over there for a look. They could get OUT. well CRAP.

So I had to put chicken wire over the outside. They are SOOO cute. and sooo tiny.

I dont have any cute antidotes, or anything from the kids. so instead you get pics of the chicks.

I havent slept in days, Bow is NOT a good sick baby. And its already late. :)

Yes, I know her neck looks bad. Its cause she got pecked on. If chicks or chickens see a scab or blood they just peck at it till they end up killing the animal with it.



This is two of the chicks I got today. The bigger one is a standard breed. A Black Jersey Giant. He is gona be my rooster.
The second one that is 'talking' to him is a bantam cochin. They are the same age. Cute huh? I wish I had something to compare the size with. The bantams head is about the size of a decent size marble I reckon.


--
Here are the babies all under the 3 week old hen.


How many do you count here?

Count again. I can see 5. and I know there is another behind her. the other Jersey Giant. It has her wing picked up.

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Here they all are trying to get under her.
I am worried some will end up smooshed by morning. Baby chicks are bad about that.