Happy Hunting!

Had to laugh when I saw Miss Callie all comfy on Maine Man's hunting clothes....washed with scentless laundry detergent, hung to dry, in a tote with pine needles.

Honestly, I am not much of a hunter! I would never make any effort if it was not for Maine Man. It is just not in my blood. I think if I shot a deer it may be but for now that is just how it is. I do go out a few times of year and then I call it good. I do enjoy being in the woods but between having absolutely NO sense of direction and my self-diagnosed ADD ;) I don't stand a chance!.

Last year I saw a deer in the woods for the first time. I was quite excited. Even tried chasing after it. Needless to say it escaped being shot by this big bad hunter. This year for the first time MM had me try out his tree stand. I assure you it was not the one above. He had me climb 20 feet up on measly pegs nearly 6 feet apart onto a platform that was way to small for my liking. I told him the only way I'd use the stand is if he built a large deck around it. The next night when I came home from work still dressed in scrubs the kids had me jump on the 4 wheeler. They took me outback to see my surprise. A little whining goes a long way! That how the stand above became.

Wish me luck because I SURELY need it!

Potpourri

“This is the true joy in life, to be used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, to be thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap. To be a force of nature instead of a feverish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am a member of a community and as a member it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can before I die. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch that I want to make burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”
George Bernard Shaw

I came across this over at Super Hero Journal and had to post...hope she don't mind!




I was tagged back in September by Coast Rat and I am just getting to it and I am going to break the rules....yes I am a rule breaker all the way! What fun would life be if you followed all the rules? I am suppose to tag 6 others but if you want to play along, it is up to you. The deal was that I share 6 random things about myself.

1. I have never flown in a plane!

2. I had to kill an animal today for the first time.

3. I worked as a waitress in high school and nursing school.

4. I work out primarily for my mental health.

5. I am not scared to say I am sorry when I am wrong and I stress that to the kids. It is ok to make mistakes just recognize and live up to it.

6.I love being a Mom!



Lastly a tag Callie got from YD's

Again please join along if you want!

Please answer the following questions:

1) What breed are you?
German Short Haired Pointer

2) How old are you?
I think I am around 4 or 5, who keeps track when they are having this much fun?

3) What is your full name?
Callie

4) Do you have any nicknames?
Naughty

5) Where do you usually sleep?
Right where my human mother's legs are suppose to go in her bed. She has to sleep sideways in order to accommodate my position of comfort, isn't that sweet of her?

6) What is your favorite thing to do?
RUN and bird hunt with my human dad aka Maine Man

7) What is something unusual/interesing about you?
I like to go to bed early and sleep in but when I am up I spend most of my day outside, weather permitting. I put some mileage on during the day. I usually will not even stop to be patted if I'm outside. Oh yeah, one more thing.... I am a female and I hump, some say that is "unusual".

8) Who is your best friend?
Maine Man

9) Did you go to obedience school? If so were you "TOP DOG" or did you flunk out?
I can't remember if my previous owner brought me, I think not! I was a handful when the fine folks from the Achorn Farm took me in. I would take off for HOURS and HOURS and Maine Man nearly stroked out screaming like a crazed man. Our new neighbors thought he was psycho and so did I for that matter. I was just excited that I could finally run for miles and miles and all the new scents around here, I just couldn't help myself. Then Maine Man came home with a collar with some prongs sticking out and lets just say I never ran off again. He doesn't even have to use it any more, I hear the beep and I come running!

10) Can you do any tricks?
Not really unless stealing butter off the counter counts. And, I am one hell of a good bird dog...that should count for something!

Can you guess who got skunked?

Yes...Callie the Naughty at 9:30 tonight after I had just walked through the door after a long day of work and errands. First thing I did was call my neighbor even though it was after 9, that is usually my cut off for night time calls. They have a kennel with a self- service pet wash but....after 4 rings I assumed they were in bed. Sorry Dawn I was desperate. Then I googled "skunked dog". Lots of info popped up and they all had a similar recipe as the one below and they unanimously said tomato juice is an old wives tale.

Mix one quart of Hydrogen Peroxide (3% solution) with a ¼ cup of baking soda and a squirt of dish soap.

I thought great, I have all the ingredients then I read this one article that said use only fresh hydrogen peroxide because old stuff turns to water. I pulled out two "old" bottles and sure enough they had turned to water. I never knew that, you learn something new every day.
Note to self, always have fresh hydrogen peroxide in the house!

Regardless, I donned my gloves, pants, and boots, and hose and went at her with some stuff John suggested that he had out in the barn. Then I used a washcloth with baking soda and detergent when I finally let her in. Thankfully the little devil only got her head so it was not too hard of a job.


Ok, next topic. I need some advice on growing herbs, this year is a first. I have cilantro, basil, dill, parsley, and mint. I have used a good share of it cooking but a bunch went to seed before I knew it. What do you do to keep up with it, cut and dry, but will it grow back?...I just have no idea! I know I am going to need LOTS of cilantro when my tomatoes ripen for salsa making so I planned on planting more.....HELP!

Laying chicken are up to 8 - 10 eggs/day. It has been over a week since I bought any. We consume quite a few. Leah makes a 6 egg omelet in the skillet almost every morning.
Even one of the "injured" chickens laid one for a first today.

Lastly, I wanted to mention some sick ER excitement I had today. Electricity....a wonderful thing. Kinda wacko but I love defibrillating people. Well today we had a middle aged gent code not once but four times...we got to juice him 4 times. That is what I like most about the ED....things that get you adrenalin pumping. About 1 hour later I felt suddenly exhausted, my high had worn off.

Summer Fun!

Preparing for a messy adventure.

The final product!

I sure am glad we have a shed to do make a mess in.
We all had fun dying anything we could find that was white.

We had 6 colors...red, blue, black, green, yellow, and purple.

We colored 10 t-shirts (I had bought for the kids to split)
7 recycled shirts
1 pr socks
1 pr of shorts
and 2 white blankets
We used up 100% of the color and we had a great time doing it!

A few quick updates:

Animals

Level 1 trauma chickens are recuperating. They are eating, drinking and getting about good. Just hoping infection does not set in. John thought the barred rock may have been a little warm. Anyone know what the normal temp is for a chicken? If that is the case we will have to treat her with some antibiotics.
John clipped a bunch of the chickens wings to prevent them from flying over the 4 ft fencing.

Naughty dog fell off the front of the boat as it was idling , she went right under the boat. She was out with John and the kids fishing. She was attempting to bite the water and lost her balance. No injuries sustained.

Cornish Rocks are going in the freezer this week. Not sure yet if we will be doing it or not. If we can find someone on last minute notice we will bring them in, if not we may just harvest them ourselves.

Sick Partrige, one with the eye infection is cured and no longer in quarantine.

Goats think their Houdini. Trimmed their hooves. Need to take some more pictures, they are getting big. I have been researching some Goat Soap recipes, it is going to be a while but it doesn't hurt to plan ahead.

Garden/Kitchen

Planted celery, more corn & cukes, and mulched around plants. Lost some pepper plants. John worked in it more than me!
Made another batch of Rhubarb crisp. I used 3 different recipes and I like the last one I made the best. I am thinking about freezing some Rhubarb. Anyone have good luck with that?
Lastly, I posted a good recipe on our group exercise blog http://fit4life08.blogspot.com/
for Almond-Cherry Energy Bars if anyone is interested.

Pool is going up July 4th, yeah!!!!!

She's up to no good again!

Today was a crazy day in the ER. I worked out in triage for 12 hours. That is a long time sitting in a small room listening to patients ailments one after another. John called me in the midst of madness and this was our conversation.

John: Hi, where is the thread and needle?
Kim: I don't know, I'll have to call you back.
John: Ok, call me right back!
Kim: I will, bye!

15 minutes later...the phone rings in triage and I see it his him again so I pick up.

K: Hello
J: Where did you put the needle and thread, I saw you with it last!
K: I cannot remember, what needs to be sewn so urgently?
J: Callie (aka naughty dog) got a hold of two chickens and I can see the trachea on one, it's pretty bad.
K: Maybe you should take them out back and.....
J: I think I can save them!
K: I'll help you fix them when I get home, I'll call you back I am still with patients.
J: Sorry!

I apologized to the Mom & son I was with and they were looking at me funny so I briefly told them the scenario, although feeling badly about the injuries they were quite amused by our conversation.

John called my cell as I was leaving work to let me know that he had already sutured the chickens filleted necks. He said they just laid there and let him do it with needle and thread and then he applied neosporin.

What to do with the pesky dog that is always causing problems? As the picture above the hens have been jumping on there box them flying over for a brief escape from the pen. They've been doing this for a while now and she has never bothered a one.

John told me he'd kill me if I posted this picture but you have to have some fun and I thought it would be appropriate to post with this story. He not only sews up lacerated chicken necks but he can really sew. I am not very good, I have a sewing machine but my buddy Mary has borrowed it for the last 10 years or so. Anyway, I bought a Gap bag at a lawnsale and it had a small rip and handy dandy John sewed it up for me. Quite the man, ain't he! :)

An Afternoon in Pictures

Can you guess what Naughty Dog is playing peek a boo with?

OK...it's time to play name that flower since I haven't a clue.

Do you remember when you use to be able to do this?

She has finally over come her fear

Wild strawberries, my favorite!