SNOW DAY!

No school today, here, or anywhere around here.
Current temp: 5 degrees
Wind chill: minus 15-20
Wind gusts: up to 60mph
Road conditions: treacherous/hazardous

The sight of cardinals trying to feed in the high winds:
priceless

PUERTO VALLARTA...OR BUST!

OK, so Christmas is over, so the snow and bitter below zero windchills can stop, already!
We have had the never-ending snow for so long, I have to look at old, summer garden pictures to even remember that there is grass under all of this!
The poor hens and Albi have been penned up in their little hen-house for so long, they are pecking at each other for lack of anything better to do!
I dare not open their little chicken door, as it will only let in frigid temps and blowing snow!
So I go in every morning, cooing and fawning over them, with lots of scraps accumulated in the previous 24 hours. Plus, some scraps that were not quite ready for the chicken bowl, but, come on... I have some heart!
So, rice that was not quite ready to be tossed, lettuce that was still quite edible, even by MY standards, and some raw oatmeal tossed in for good measure! At least they have food to comfort them!

The poor chickadees and goldfinch are at a loss!
The snow keeps filling up the entrances to their bird feeders, which I diligently go out and shake a couple times a day. I have taken to just tossing out a quart of seed, and letting the juncos, doves, and sparrows just have at it!
Unfortunately, we also have hawks. And more than once have we come home to see blood and feathers from an unfortunate hawk/dove encounter...the dove being the obvious loser.
All this to say, I have had quite enough of this snow and bitter cold!
So...I have spent the day perusing the world wide web, for all-inclusive vacations to any place that is warm year round.

What I came up with is: Puerto Vallarta!!
More explicitly, the Dreams Resort and Spa.
Oh yeah. I know what I'm talkin' 'bout!

Round trip tickets and a 7 night stay at this all-inclusive resort located on the Pacific Ocean: around $3000 for 2 adults.
You betcha, I'm takin' Farmboy!
All inclusive: round trip air-fare, room, food, 24 hour room service, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), pools, kayaking, etc.
Did I mention food???
Did I mention drinks???
Did I mention $3000???

Did I mention: PASSPORTS???
OF WHICH WE HAVE NONE???

Guess what I am going to do this week?
Apply for my passport!!!

Where would you love to vacation to get warm and cozy this winter?

SAM, THE HAM

Gina and Sam, Christmas Day

Krystal, one of our daughters, is currently a student at a local cosmetology school.
She left one of her mannequin heads in the garage over Christmas break, and Sam found it.
The picture speaks for itself.
Sam doesn't really know what he wants to do with his life. He has always loved costumes, and would often wear old halloween costumes throughout the year. The neighbors never knew "who" would show up at their door. A Power Ranger, Batman, or Sonic the Hedgehog!!
He tried out for a part in our towns Civic Theatre a couple of weeks ago, and got a small part in the musical, Cheaper By the Dozen.
Watch out Hollywood!

Aren't kids fun?
We have 5, and each one is so very different from the other, one would never believe they were siblings!

WHISKEY...GOOD FOR WHAT AILS YA!

Yesterday a nasty tickle in my throat began bothering me and making me cough.
After rubbing Vicks Vapo-Rub(see previous post from Nov. maybe?) on the bottoms of my feet, and encasing them in toasty, thick socks, I managed to get a decent nights sleep.
This morning, however the tickle and cough has attacked with a vengeance.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Now I had to call in reinforcements.
A shot of good whiskey. (give or take a shot)
A teaspoon or so of honey
A tiny squeeze of lemon juice
And warm it all up in the microwave.
Not so tasty, but it is pretty much halting the cough....
and after drinking this down, even if I DID cough a bit, I don't really care!
So, now it is off for a bitty nap. (tho it is not even noon yet!)

How do YOU manage when you get attacked by sickness?

HOT TIME, WINTER IN MICHIGAN!

We have been having incredible weather here in the midwest this week!
On Monday, it hit 64 degrees! It was just what I (and the chickens) had been waiting for.
Time to clean out the hen house.
So I shooed everyone out into the yard, and began shoveling the s...!
Normally, once the hens are let out, they scatter all over the yard.
But...when cleaning out their house, they are too curious, and usually end up sticking around to see what I am up to.

Here they are, all nosy and happy!
As soon as I am finished, they have to rush in and inspect my job.
They scratch around, running here and there, jumping into their nesting boxes to check for fresh straw, and just generally throwing a party!
I am happy to do it for them.
They are good to me all year, with an abundant supply of fresh eggs.
But mostly, they are pure entertainment.
Far better than anything on the boob tube, if you know what I mean.
(except, of course, for The Biggest Loser and American Idol...but that pretty much goes w/o saying!)

I have been very busy the past few weeks, with my grandson home for Christmas break for 2 whole weeks! I have been missing everyone, and hope to get back on the blogging track real soon!