That Cat!

Let's check in on William Jake. We haven't have annoyed him in a little while.

There he is, in his house...

William!

William Jake!

Man, that kid's got the good life!

Meet Albert Einstein

Noooooo, it's not this Albert Einstein!! Although, the two look eerily similar. Take notice of the hair... you'll see what I'm talking about.

Albert, come show everyone your cute little face... the boy never stands still!

Ok, this is as good as it's going to get right now. Little Al doesn't understand the camera yet like Pumpkin does... she gets irritated with it... and me!

Everyone, meet Albert Einstein Seehafer! He is a 3 month old Polish Rooster (Joe was a Polish-Silkie.) He hales from Lebanon Tennessee from another great family, like Joe's family. I have found that "Chicken" people, in general, are good people to know. I have gotten to know four great ladies, Judy (from the Meet-Up Group), Tess (Joe's mom), Cindy (Tess's friend who, along with Tess helped me through the difficult time when Joe was sick) and Holly (Albert's mom). These women, who didn't know me from Adam, emailed me great advice and knowledge, remedies for chicken sicknesses and diseases... AND all around moral support! Thank you girls!! The chicken community is a tight nit group who stick together and are very welcoming of new chicken families!

The girls are ok with him... there is a pecking order that happens every time you bring a new chicken and rooster in. I really hate that time. It makes me want to protect the one being picked on but you can't. It's kinda like a right of passage. Joe went through it and he proved himself as head of the house! Al is going to have to do that too. He will, when he grows a little more... until then, I'll still keep my eye on the girls and their behavior! JD is pretty passive. She is ok with him. He tends to hang around her. In this picture she looks like she saying "what the heck is he doing?"

For the meantime, Al finds that having a little running space between him and the girls works really well... either that, or a door.

Welcome home little Al!

Farm Photo Gallery

Brian and I headed up to Bethpage Tennessee to see this one farm in mind. These are some pictures of the farm land near and around the area.

Take a deep breath. Can't you just smell that fresh country air?!?!

I just love old barns. They can make the most beautiful sceneries to photograph.

No, this is not Madison County... like every other woman, I love that book! It made me cry. This covered bridge is on State Road 231. It's actually someone's private drive way.

You can't really see it but the house is straight ahead. The bridge entrance frames the house in the back ground perfectly.

I can't tell you how many times I asked poor Brian to turn the van around so I could get a picture. This little donkey was one of them.

The farm we went to in Bethpage was just not right for us. We did end up "free stylin'"... that's what Brian calls it when we just drive around looking. He got that term from Mike and Frank from "American Pickers" on History Channel... great show by the way! Here's the website...
http://www.history.com/shows/american-pickers

It actually turned out to be a nice Sunday outing.

Back to Farm Hunting

On the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again

On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again

On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turning our way and our way

Is on the road again
I just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again

On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turning our way and our way

Is on the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again
And I can't wait to get on the road again

"On the Road Again" written and performed by Willie Nelson

Welcome, Autumn!

Fall has got to be the best season of all times... of course, that's my opinion. As usual, I went crazy with mums!

I've got them on the side porch...

and the front porch!

They are everywhere!

These are last years mums planted next to the herb flower bed on the side of the house.

I've got to figure out where to plant this years mums, next year! Lots to do this fall!!

Last Day of Summer

Today is the last day of summer. I was curious on what happens on these days... first day of spring, summer, fall and winter. I know we studied this in high school (many, many, many years ago!) My memory it's what it use to be, so I headed to Wikipedia for an explanation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox

An equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equator. The term equinox can also be used in a broader sense, meaning the date when such a passage happens. The name "equinox" is derived from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night), because around the equinox, the night and day are approximately equally long. It may be better understood to mean that latitudes +L and -L north and south of the Equator experience nights of equal length.

At an equinox, the Sun is at one of two opposite points on the celestial sphere where the celestial equator (i.e. declination 0) and ecliptic intersect. These points of intersection are called equinoctial points: classically, the vernal point and the autumnal point. By extension, the term equinox may denote an equinoctial point.

An equinox happens each year at two specific moments in time (rather than two whole days), when there is a location on the Earth's equator where the center of the Sun can be observed to be vertically overhead (in astronomical terms, the subsolar point), occurring around March 20/21 and September 22/23 each year.


Goodbye Summer, until next year. We'll miss you.

As Summer into Autumn slips

As Summer into Autumn slips by Emily Dickinson

As Summer into Autumn slips
And yet we sooner say
"The Summer" than "the Autumn," lest
We turn the sun away,

And almost count it an Affront
The presence to concede
Of one however lovely, not
The one that we have loved —

So we evade the charge of Years
On one attempting shy
The Circumvention of the Shaft
Of Life's Declivity.

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

"Felt of Dreams" Di Summit - Fiber Artist

Di Summit is one of my truest and dearest friends that I've known for years. I am always in awe of everything she makes and it's ALL by hand. She has wonderful ideas and when they come to fruition, it's just simply incredible! These are some of the new pieces, I mean, characters that Di has needle felted...

"Bijou"... a sweet puppy that is ready for adoption!

"Scout"... another sweet dog, house broken and ready to go home with you! I love brown dogs!

"Wall Street Willie"... I love the newspaper! I can just imagine him with a british accent.

"Sweet Pea"... seamstress assistant extraordinaire... love the little thimble!! Where does Di get them?!?!?

"Sissy"... have binky, will travel! Sissy is my favorite!!!

I had to take two pictures of her so you could see Sissy with her binky... CUTE!!

And of course, this one is my most favorite. Di made this specially for me! She's the sweetest little baby chick!!

These are all for sale. If interested in any one of these incredible characters (except my sweet baby chick), you could email me and I will forward it to Di to get in touch with you OR the cast of felt characters are located at Gas Lamp Antiques where Di has them in a glass cabinet space.

Gas Lamp Antiques
100 Powell Pl #200
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 297-2224
Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 12pm-6pm
http://www.gaslampantiques.com/

I love all of them Di!! Thank you for letting me share them with everyone!! Love you!!

Preliminary Report in for Joe

Here are the girls in their roost. They are trying to help me clean house... yeah, right.

We got Joe's Preliminary Report in from Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Regulatory Services Division-Laboratory. We read it as Joe did die of Marek's Disease. Here's some of the verbiage:

Internal examination reveals that the sciatic nerves are markedly asymetrical with the left sciatic nerve being approximately three times the width of the right sciatic nerve. In addition, the spleen is diffusely enlarged to approximately two times its normal size and is reddish purple on cut section. No other abnormalities are seen at necropsy.

DIAGNOSES
Fair flesh, fair adipose deposits
Fair postmortem condition
Asymetrical sciatic nerves
Splenomegaly

Comments:
The asymatic sciatic nerves are a classic indication of Marek's Disease. Ancillary tests and limited histopathology are pending.

Marek's Disease in a nut shell... good simple explanation from:

http://www.millerhatcheries.com/Information/Diseases/marek_disease.htm

MILLER HATCHERIES

Marek's Disease in Chickens

In an economic loss, Marek's disease is a most important malady of chickens. It often causes severe death loss in pullet flocks and has been a major cause of condemnations at the broiler processing plant. Generally, chickens under 16 weeks of age are most often affected.

Cause
Caused by a herpesvirus, the disease is often characterized by abnormal cell growth in the peripheral nerves and central nervous system. Hence, the common name for one form of Marek's: fowl paralysis. In addition to the nerves, however, the disease also may cause lesions on visceral organs and other tissues, including feather follicles of the skin. The most prominent lesions may be tumors on the liver, kidneys, testes, ova, spleen and lungs. In such cases, nerve swelling may not be involved.

How Marek's Disease is Spread
Chicken "dander" from feather follicles spreads the disease. The virus also is excreted in the saliva, and the virus probably enters the body through the respiratory system. Transmission via the egg is not significant.

Signs
Some chickens die without any clinical signs of Marek's disease. Most of the affected birds will have some degree of paralysis, although chickens with the acute form may not show this condition. Those with paralysis may die because they are unable to reach feed and water. The first indication of infection is a variation in the growth rate and degree of feathering.

Lesions
Swelling of the peripheral nerves, particularly of the nerves of the leg and wing, is often noticeable. The visceral organs may contain tumors ranging from microscopic size to fairly large. Such tumor lesions may be confused with those of lymphoid leukosis without a qualified laboratory diagnosis.

Prevention
Tumor formation from Marek's disease can be prevented through vaccination. Salsbury MD-Vac, a vaccine of chick-embryo tissue culture, is recommended. Vaccination at one day of age usually protects birds through their lifetime. There is no treatment for Marek's disease.

Now it also said:

FECAL FLOTATION
Results: POSITIVE

Comments:
A few coccidial oocysts consistent with Eimeria species were observed in the sample.

I had to research what coccidial oocysts/Eimeria species were.

From internet:

What is it? Coccidiosis -- Coccidia, Coxy, or Cocci -- is a disease of poultry caused by a
protozoan-type parasite. This parasite lives and multiplies in the intestinal tract and causes tissue
damage. This damage can interfere with the food digestion and nutrient absorption, as well as
causing dehydration and blood loss. The tissue damage can also expose the bird to bacterial
infections, like Clostridium and Salmonella. Diseases that suppress the bird’s immune system
may act with coccidiosis to produce a more severe problem. For example, Marek’s Disease may
interfere with the development of coccidiosis immunity and Infectious Bursal Disease may
exacerbate a coccidia infection.

Plus I also read... it's a good write up...

http://www.clemson.edu/public/lph/ahp/disease_links/images/coccidia.pdf

Let's talk chicken poop! I never saw signs of that. The girls and Joe's poop ALWAYS looked healthy. Up until the day Joe died, his poop was the only thing that looked good on that little rooster. I never saw blood or any abnormalities. I ALWAYS keep an eye out for that. It a good way to see signs if your birds are sick.

Here's a great link with pictures of healthy chicken poop and sick chickens poop... it's actually interesting...

http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0

The girls seem fine other then they are molting, feathers are everywhere! The new feathers are coming in and thick on them. Bumblefoot is healing, we check that every other day. We're still fighting the body lice. The girls have no sign of live adult lice but have lice eggs attached to the base of their feathers below their vents and on their neck. Their poop looks in the normal range, still eating and they are ripping up the tomato plants in the beds... seems good to me. They are ALWAYS curious of what I have in my hands... that how I get them to come to me so I can catch them to look at them. They still haven't figured that out yet.

By the time Brian and I study all the information on diseases and parasites, I think we're going to specialize in chicken/rooster health! We are definitely learning!

Catching Up with the Giant Pumpkins

Well, it was the end of the pumpkin plants a couple of weeks ago (that's when these pictures were taken.) The summer sun was just too much for the poor plants.

The Atlantic Giant Pumpkins grow better up north with cool weather. This summer down here in Tennessee was just way to hot for plants, animals and humans!

This pumpkin is from the second plant that was under the peach tree. It had more shade so the sun didn't beat down on it so much. It lasted a bit longer than the other pumpkin plant out in the direct sun.

This one Brian estimated to be around 375 to 400 pounds. It also had a very weird shape to it. See the bottom of the pumpkin, it looks like it didn't grow out.

Brian said it was the ugliest pumpkin he's ever grown. I thought it had character!

This is the other pumpkin from the main pumpkin plant. Brian cut it in half to see how thick the walls were. There's where it gets it's weight! He did get some seeds from it for next year's plant.

Brian also want to show everyone what Squash vine borers do to the plant's vine. The adult bug lays it's eggs on the underside of the plant's leaf. The eggs hatch and the larvae makes it's way inside the plant. Pesticides are not effective once they are in. The larvae then feeds on the insides of the plant, which eventually kill the plant. Brian see signs like discoloration on the vine to know where those larvae are. The brown looking areas are where they go in and probably are still near there. He's cut out a few larvae in his time of growing pumpkin plants. The bugs will attack all varieties of squash plants, not just giant pumpkins!

With all the problems and challenges Brian faces growing these giant pumpkins, he still loves these beauties! Someday I'll be blogging to y'all about the 1500 pound pumpkin he grew. That will be a happy day for Brian!

Early Sunday Morning

We wake up every morning at 5am, even on weekends. When you have animals, they never let you sleep in, especially Bubba. His stomach is my alarm clock now. That was Katie's job but Bubba thought he'd fill in for her.

This Sunday morning, after the feeding of the animals, Brian wanted to head to Old Hickory Lake to run his remote control boat...that little boat can do up to 60 mph and faster!

There was still morning fog on the lake. It was just beautiful.

I started to walk around the lake and came up to this group of birds just enjoying the quiet...

and then it was time to go.

It was very peaceful. I was just missing my morning coffee!

A Thoreau Quote

"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."
-Henry David Thoreau

Afternoon Sun

I caught these two sunning themselves in the afternoon. The sun was coming in from the open windows. I had ALL the windows open this past Saturday. Here's Angel in the kitchen...

Here's Josie in the back bedroom... she was only sunning half of herself...

Boy, that was such a nice day.