Crazy Like a Fox

Maybe not crazy like a fox but more like craziness from the fox.

I have been in bit of a downer since we lost our last hen, the past week. We have had them picked off one by one for about three months.

In my mind, I felt it hard to complain when honestly I knew better. This isn't my first day around chickens and I totally understand what varmint they attract. 

We had a few things that me and the old man did not agree on and as a result we are now without chickens.

I initially wanted to keep the chickens pinned up. 

That was a little bit of selfishness on my part as am an avid barefooter. Now I am an avid 

flip-flopper. I also like to think I can have a little garden spot. 

Now a little garden spot has to be fenced in. 

but...

Mostly, I remember what a fight it was to keep creatures of all kind from killing them.

When I was growing up, Daddy bought about a hundred through mail order. They had a large coop and a large, too large pen. Daddy had worked on covering the top but never quite got that completed. A lot of difference was the fact that there was quite a few rooster(too many).

Roosters aim to take care of their hens. We also had several good old country dogs.

 With all that there was still one or two that would get picked off along the way.

~~

Once we started turning our girls out they were very pleasant to have scratching and pecking around.

 but they did not have a rooster and we had become without a dog some time back. 

So the poor  girls where defenseless.

Nothing is so sad as looking at a coop with no hens.

I should have set some traps when we lost the first hen.

I was thinking possum or raccoon. 

There is no shortage of those around here either but instead we have foxes.

You see her looking at me looking at her.

I was surprised how they weren't  scared of me and Jack 

and what about Shabby Cat?

She was quite bothered by them but they didn't pay her much mind at all.

When I thought it was just one and it went on into the woods, 

I began to hear it call(that's what I say it was doing) the others in. 

She made a chirping barking sound and it was very similar to a bird. 

It had probably been out there doing this many times in the evening and 

I just mistakenly thought it was a bird.

It's eating something here but we haven't had a hen in almost two weeks.

I think they have a stash they are coming back to.

We found some chicken feathers laying around that wasn't there before.

I'm thinking it's time to get another dog, a good outdoor dog. Maybe set some traps until then.

we had talked about getting some more chickens.

First, I think me and the old man better get handle on the situation.

~~

Thanks for stopping by and sharing in my woes of the day.

In all things ...

BE BLESSED  

A Bam Bam Weekend

Wow, what a weekend. 

You know that I say that with all honesty since we are already looking down Tuesday.

This was my weekend to work. I am on a every other weekend/12 hour shift kind of a schedule.

This is where is should share Allen Jackson's song, Shift Work. 

I am not a person who hates work but I do feel it causes me to miss a lot. 

I can be easily drawn into a fit of frenzy trying to fit everything in and not miss what's going on.

This weekend, I was feeling terrible cheated.

~~

Saturday, I was knocked out of the 5K Bridge Run again this year.

 I honestly was aiming to make this run. 

It would have meant getting off at 7:00am and booking it to register by 8:00am until the realization that my daughters 4H meeting was so early that there was bearly time to punch out and get her to the Rotary Field in time...mmmm..dang..(that's the nice version, I was really pissed about it)

My sister was planning a family get together at her house for her stepsons birthday.

 I had to just send the kiddos down the road with Mama and Daddy. There was no way to make it back and get to work on time. 

I did fit Jack's ballgame in and dosed  a little on the couch before hand. 

but..

Sunday was Father's Day. How am I going to work that out?

I didn't work much of it out at all. No time spent with my Daddy

 but I did manage to make over the old man(hubby)  some before going to work. 

I gave you all of that information to get down to one of the highlights of Sunday, Bam Bam Ribs. 

I apologize for not sharing a picture but just put to mind a rack of spareribs dripping with sauce.

Sauce on your hands, sauce around your mouth and dripping off of a few elbows,

and silence at the table. 

Silence at the table is how you know you've hit a winner recipe. 

Anticipation can get folks talking before eating and 

offering of thanks will have them talking after the meal.

but..

Silence at the table  is the true sign of praise. It takes a lot to shut this crowd up

and for that reason, I'm sharing this recipe.

~~

Sandra Lee's Bam Bam Ribs

Makes's 4 servings

Roast: 1 1/2 hour

                   4      pounds meaty pork or beef ribs

                   1/4   cups + 2 teaspoons steak rub 

                   1      cup ketchup(Heinz)

                   1/4   cup apricot preserves

                            (She suggests Knott's but I used Smucker's. They don't sell Knott's in Stuart, VA)

                   1/4   cup packed brown sugar( I used Domino)

                   2      tablespoons chili-garlic sauce

                              ( Lee Kim Kee is suggested but I used Kikkoman Spirachca hot chili sauce)

                   1       habanero chile, seeded and minced

                   2       tablespoons red wine vinegar(Pompeian)

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil; set aside. Cut ribs into individual portions. Place on baking sheet and coat with the 1/4 cup steak rub. Let stand 15 minutes. 
2. Roast ribs for 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine all remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Keep warm.
4. Remove ribs from oven and reduce oven temperature to 325 degree's. Allow time for oven to cool to temperature.
5. Liberally brush ribs with sauce and return to oven. Continue roasting for 1 hour, basting with sauce after 30 minutes. Remove from oven and brush on remaining sauce. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

         *These ribs really had a kick to them. If you don't like it hot try omitting the habenero chili.*

~~~

As always, Thanks for stopping by.

Be Blessed!

Feedsack bags and Lockets

Let me introduce you to my love for old feedsack or flour sacks.

 I'm not sure why I love them so much but I do. 

I also should warn you that along with the love of those sack and items made from them 

that I also have a tendency to get attached to things.

So goes with my feedsack back I purchased last May.

I purchased this from on Esty from the shop AllMyGirlsBoutique.

I was so pleased with this bag that I have toted it and washed it until there's 

virtually no picture or words left but I still like the bag.

I was going through some of my jewelry and I came across the pictures

of my children that had been put on a necklace or bracelet.

I have never really worn these after the first because basically I have a lot of children

and it would be just too much.

It has always seemed a waste to have bought them except for the fact I have a hard time turning down pictures or keepsakes or my babies. 

So I thought I would dress up my worn out bag...

My chains are all different and a couple I had to put on another chain 

because they were necklaces.

I even put the one of my that Mama had given me quite some time ago.

I may find me a new old bag or find a better way of doing this

but for a quick bit of whimsy, I'm ready to take on the errands of the day.

Thanks for sharing in my eclectic and crazy fashion.

(I guess that can me called fashion)

Be Blessed!

Just Chillin'

Just Chillin" with my boy on a hot

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY