About Me

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I am a 42 year old woman that is about as happy and content as one person can be. My husband of 21 years and our 15 year old daughter live on five and a half acres out in the country. We moved from the city four years ago and never looked back. I homeschool our daughter. We also love our animals. Our daughter has a miniature horse and two rabbits. We also have a border collie, two cats (again), two pot belly pigs, four peafowl, three emus, 2 llamas and an undetermined number of chickens, lets just say ohhh about 200. I have many breeds, from layers to fancy chickens. I love poultry shows, I love fowl in general as I have come to find out through having more than just chickens. Chickens will always be my first love though. I do show some of my birds occasionally.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Flowers To Plant, Changes To Make, School

Shelby and I had a great first day of the 8th grade yesterday. The first day is always the toughest for kids, even in homeschool. Getting back into a schedule is not always easy after a carefree summer. I do understand that, as I had a carefree fun summer myself. Now it is time to get down to it and do the work though. I am really pleased with all the materials I have for this school year. Quite a complete curriculum if I do say so myself. Here is a run down just to give an idea of what we did and will do. All of the workbooks are geared specifically for the 8th grade of course.

Vocabulary Workbook (Wordly Wise)

Grammar Workbook

Spectrum Math Workbook

Spectrum Science Workbook

other materials include National Geographics Map Essentials, Elements of Literature (her first story right off the bat, a favorite of mine, Rikki tikki tavi)There are questions and work to do at the end of each story. We are also using those Handy Answer Books I bought off Amazon. We started in the History and Science one yesterday. Every six weeks we will alternate the Science, Biology, and Physics books. These should last maybe the rest of her school years. We will also have sewing, crafts, cooking, home ec type things. Things everyone should know how to do. I still have the biggest book of every animal species known to man I think, that we will continue to use throughout school years. So many children know so little about nature and its surroundings anymore. I want Shelby to be very knowledgeable about animals and their habitats. We both enjoy this book a lot.

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I do some of my best thinking when out on the mower riding around, looking off into the distance and smelling my fresh cut grass.

I have been trying to think of a way to make myself and my animals happier. Mostly we are talking of the pigs and the goats. Mostly the pigs. You see, pigs are very strong. They are also always on a constant quest for an easy meal if let loose into the yard. This inevitably ends badly. Pig noses are VERY strong. The can smell that chicken feed inside the pens...and they can bust open a pen like they were made of matchsticks. Pushing on the chicken wire til the wood breaks of the staples and wire can't take it anymore. This of course makes me very angry and scares the chickens in that particular pen pretty badly. There is just no need for this. I feed them well, too well. So you may ask why I think they arent as happy as they could be.

When we got these pot belly pigs I had to make a quick set up for them. They had plenty of room for their size at the time. Now, they really need to roam, to be put on pasture. For many reasons. One, they need the exercise badly. Two, being put on pasture would really cut down on the feed bill. Three, I think they would be happier. So how to do this, mowing, thinking, mowing thinking.

The obvious answer is to fence off the chicken pens. You have to remember the determination and hard-headedness of a pig is a force to be reckoned with. I could give them the back three acres to roam, but put a fence up to keep them out of a small forbidden zone, and they will try to go there everytime.

Yesterday we went to Lowes and got a 330 foot roll of hog wire. It is the same kind of wire that was used to back the wooden fencing put up around our back half of the property. It is very strong. The problem is, pigs get their nose under things and pull up. So you better have some good posts in the ground, and have that fencing tied down good to the posts. I am really hoping they will just go on out back and eat grass...but you know what they say, wish in one hand and !!!! in the other, and see which one fills up the quickest. We will see. I intend on giving them a run for their money.

Ultimately what I am looking to have happen is to have the two goats, the three emus, the horse, and the two pigs on pasture next Spring, which will really cut down on the feed bill. You see, when I feed the chickens, everyone wants to eat their food. I guess it is really tasty stuff. Its always a battle to get in the gate and set the food down in the chicken pen without being run over and trodden upon with those extra mouths trying to get some of the good stuff. To solve this dilemma, I told Ian its going to be all layer pellets, all the time, for everyone. Less waste with pellets too.

The ultimate goal here is to cut down on the feed bill. The back half used to be leased to a local farmer that grew bermuda hay, so that is what grows back there. Perfect for everyone to be eating.

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I have a very silly chicken. Her name is Belle. She is from the chickens a friend of mines sister gave me that she could no longer keep. She has never conformed to living with the flock. Even when I had them all locked up together for two months, this did not sway her. She has gone back to being a front yard chicken. Her and Bubba are a solid pair and hang out alone, together all day, with the occasional visit from Gabby, who never really fit in to the flock herself. She is different, and has a lot of personality. Belle hides her eggs from me. I have found them under the front porch in some ivy before. I am sure there are places I have not found as of yet. This time, she has decided to deposit her eggs on the cement floor of the garage...next to the paint cans. Now why she decided this, I couldnt tell you. But here she is, and here is where she has put her eggs.

 

 

 

 

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I was going to post a few pictures of some plants I need to get into the ground, mums and lantana, but photobucket is just really fighting me today, so I will try again later.

I have so many projects swirling around in my head right now I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. I need to get out there and DO something instead of thinking of so much to do at one time!

Have a good Tuesday...I will try and do the same. :)

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like Shelby has a full schedule ahead of her. I love the fact your making sure she undertands about animals and their habitats.

As for the pigs. My stepfather used to catch wild boars (there are a few areas of Fla. they roam wild) and pen them up. Talk about determined and nasty...ugh...We used to dig 2-3 down and bury the fencing. You can get steel fencing that can't be bent. A little more money, but it keeps them in.
(Hugs)Indigo

Anonymous said...

Sounds like Shelby has everything she needs for her Homeschooling ~ I am certain she will know everything there is to know about nature with you as her teacher :o) hope you are able to sort out a place for the pigs I have heard how strong they are ~ Ally x

Anonymous said...

I'm exhausted just reading what you have to tend to ..and home schooling to boot!  Belle is a funny hen tho...I guess she likes to keep your mind sharp, or she just likes to play hide -n- seek!  LOL
cindi

Anonymous said...

Look at her little egg next to the paint can...awwww, how cute!!!  Physics, Biology ~ are you kidding me!  My gosh I wouldn't know the first thing about teaching any of that.  Hats off to you for being so daring.  Good luck with the pigs, I've heard they can be very clever & hard to keep occupied.  It sounds like you have your work cut out for you.  
xxx
Lisa

Anonymous said...

It sounds like you have a very good Curriculum going there.  It all sounds very interesting.  It's so hard to get back in the routine indeed.  That is so funny about your chicken Belle.....reckon why she does this???  I bet your animals would be happier on the pasture, & I bet you would too...because of lower feed bills.  It sounds like a win ~ win situation.

Hollie

Anonymous said...

Belle is very pretty and smart too. I know how strong hogs can be. We watched a wild hog break out of a trap one time. We couldn't believe it was that strong. Paula

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you both will have a busy schedule. Hope you figure out something for the pigs. Janie

Anonymous said...

I'm glad Shelby had a good first day of school.  Bella the chicken is funny.  Linda

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