What an adventure!

Whew!!! What an adventure this morning putting the aprons on the three girls! This is what Rachael's back was starting to look like thanks to amorous Stew Pot.

Hard to see Eva's back, but hers is the worst.

After corralling Eva inside the hen house, shutting the door, turning the heat lamp on low so I could see and after several failed attempts to catch her, I finally wrangled her. She was not happy! Not knowing exactly how to put the apron on I'm sure it took longer than it should have. Ever so gently I put it on, adjusted it and let her go.

Jan wasn't any easier than Eva was. But eventually on hers went too.

Rachael was the real handful. I felt so bad, but ended up catching her by grabbing her tail feathers as she darted by. She fought a whole lot more than Jan and Eva did. She even got in a couple of pecks on my hand!

Surprisingly all three took to wearing them right off. Stew Pot isn't so sure of those 'things' on their backs and has yet to get intimate with them.

Eva still doesn't want out of the coop so she is still inside wearing her apron. Rachael and Jan wanted out right now, so out they went.

For those of you who have put the aprons on your hens, how long do you keep them on? Do I need to take them off every night and 'dress' them every morning?

As I was putting the aprons on, for some reason the thought crossed my mind as to what our ancestors would say about putting clothing on our hens!

Until next time.................................

Catching up

Oh my gosh it has been a few days since I posted. A lot has been going on. To try to put it in a nutshell, our toilets backed up and had to call a plumber. Thank goodness it didn't cost a fortune. Turned out it was a clog in the main line going into to the septic. I ordered some hen aprons or hen saddles as some sites call them. Pretty impressed with the fabric. Appears to be a canvas which is nice and sturdy. Stew Pot is getting overly amorous with the three Americana hens. Poor Eva will not come out of the coop and now Rachael and Jan's backs are beginning to show signs of, um, too much lovin'!

Tomorrow morning the girls will get to try on their new clothes. Not going to attempt to put the aprons on in the middle of the afternoon. Going to have to wait and catch them a bit off guard in the wee hours of the morning. Should be quite a show!

On Sunday we drove up North to look at a an older truck I can use to haul hay and grain and whatever else I need. Yes, I have a truck now, but it is a newer model and to be honest I started processing the expense cost of if and when it breaks down. An older vehicle can be worked on here at home whereas a newer one has to go to the mechanic. Between paying a mechanic plus the parts, well, it is not cost effective to keep my truck any longer.

I have named the 'new' truck Monroe. He is going to work out just fine. And the best part, if something breaks down, it won't cost an arm and a leg to repair! Yay!!

Also, I have been on the search for another dog. Not a Boxer. I love the Boxer breed, but after losing Rose, well, no more Boxers. I have been to the animal shelter several times now looking for 'the one'. So far, nothing...yet. Some nice dogs have been there, but either they don't get along with cats, which is a must, or they don't get along with other dogs, another must. Several times a day I search Craigslist, but alas, nothing there either. I know in my heart when the time is right, 'the' dog will be there waiting. Somewhere, someplace, 'the' dog will be there.

The weather forecast keeps saying we are going to get snow. Um, not yet! So, if all of you who don't want the snow, please wish it here. We need it!!

Until next time...............................