A Bully in the Hen House

bul·ly

NOUN

1. a person who uses strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker.

   
   

VERB

1. use superior strength or influence to intimidate (someone), typically to force him or her to do what one wants:

There is a bully in the hen house at Turkey Creek Garden!!  What's worse is that she is one of my favorite chickens! I didn't realize that Dolly was a bully until, due to the recently passing of Tanya (God rest her soul), I introduced a new hen to the flock. Meet Connie, named after country music's Connie Smith. 

Connie's name at her first home was "Sofa". I keep forgetting to ask Kathy about the backstory on that.

Connie is an Americana and was given to me by my good friend, Kathy Davis. "You need a chicken that lays blue eggs", Kathy said, and Connie's eggs are a pale shade of aqua blue/sea foam green.

So I had done my research on how to introduce a new hen to the flock. Connie had to be kept separate from Dolly and Patsy for the first week. The following week I let them out into the chicken yard together and there was much puffing of feathers and loud, raucous squawking as the girls began establishing a new pecking order. The old hens did chase Connie, but she soon found a safe hiding place behind the compost bin.

As the days went by, Connie came out of her hiding spot more and more. Patsy, the Barred Rock, was fairly tolerant of the new girl on the block, but Dolly, the Light Brahma, began to enjoy her role as top hen, and soon we had a bullying situation on our hands. Dolly had to be isolated!! I threw together a make-shift pen far away from the chicken yard and put her in solitary confinement. She also received daily bullying lectures.

After a few days in "time-out" Dolly calmed down; she needed to brought down a notch or two. Then I started letting the three of them free-range in the big garden. With so much space and so many more sprouts and bugs to eat, Dolly seemed more intent on eating than bullying. Connie is laying regularly which is a good sign, so I think we have gotten over the hump.

Yesterday in the heat of the day, I took them out some cold cantaloupe and I was pleased to see all three hens run up together and happily feast on their little snack.

Now the only lingering problem is roosting. Dolly and Patsy don't want Connie on the roosting poles. I tried adding a partition, but that didn't work. So right now Connie gets the coop and roosting poles all to herself at night, and the other two are sequestered to a roosting pole down in the run.

Sooner or later we've got to figure out the roosting situation. I am hoping the girls will do this on their own, but we'll see. Until them I am keeping a close eye on things!!

I let the girls each pick out the quotes for today's post.

Bless their hearts!

Love ya'll,

Shelli

Connie

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much. ~Mother Teresa

Dolly

Be bold, be bold, and everywhere be bold.  ~Edmund Spenser

Patsy

In union there is strength.  ~Aesop

Paper Cuts

My awesome sister, Carole, who is always up for an adventure signed us up for a paper cutting event at her public library. Now you may think that's not much of an adventure, but when you hear that this event was for graphic designers from the Mobile area and that we were the only two nongraphic nondesigners who attended, well, then you understand why it was adventure!!

You see, everyone loves Carole - neighbors, church friends, hospital coworkers, everybody!!! She is so well liked that she gets invited to random stuff like graphic designer club workshops, but the best part is she goes!!! And this time I got to go too!

The workshop was conducted by Suzanne Sarver, the author and illustrator of the book Birdie. The book's picture is at the top of this post. Her illustrations were made of 3d paper cuttings, and they were just so cool! 

She had assembled the basic tools we needed for our first foray into this art form, and after a power point that gave step-by-step instructions, everyone got busy. Paper cutters use Exacto knives rather than scissors. This almost drove me mad! The pictures are built from the background up to the foreground, and a 3d effect is created by using foam tape between layers. 

By the end of the afternoon, we had each completed a project.

Carole, a pathologist/cytologist, recreated cancer cells as they look under the microscope. My photo does not do the 3d effect justice.

I made a Turkey Creek Garden greeting card.

Although Carole and I were pleased as punch with our achievements, it was obvious that the people sitting around us were true artist.

For paper cuts that will take your breath away check out this link:

http://www.designsponge.com/2013/02/25-amazing-papercut-artists.html

Love ya'll,

Shelli

All art requires courage. ~Anne Tucker

Sunday Schoolisms Plus #23: The Second Half Truth

Another half truth from Adam Hamilton’s book Half Truths. These are direct quotes from Mr. Hamilton’s book and represent only the tip of the iceberg. If they speak to you, please buy and enjoy the book in depth.

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

  “We can pray and pray, but we also have to do some work in the process. God blesses us with brains, strength, and wisdom.” “All these are God’s gifts to us, but it is up to us to use them. So we pray-and we work.”  (Read 2 Thessalonians 3 10:12)

“We don’t sit around waiting for God to miraculously right the wrongs in society. As Scripture reveals over and over again, God works through people. We are the instruments God uses to change the world.”

“Now, however, I’d like to suggest two important senses in which the saying is fundamentally unbiblical. First, this phrase is sometimes used as a way of avoiding our obligation as Christians to help others, of doing our part to love our neighbors.”

 “In the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25) and the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), Jesus tells us that God judges us not only by our faith, but by whether our faith led us to a greater compassion for the poor and needy.”

“There is a second sense in which, thankfully, the idea that God helps those who help themselves does not capture the truth of the Bible. Sometimes we can’t help ourselves, not because we are poor or destitute or without resources but because we have descended too deeply into sin or despair.”

 “Thanks be to God who helps those who work and pray. And, even more, thanks be to God who helps those (like all of us, sometimes) who cannot help themselves.”

                                                               

Joanna's Cookies

The women in my family are practical, and practical women know that you need some "go to" recipes that are fast, easy, and require only a few ingredients, but are delicious. I've given you the recipe for Leslie's cake, one of our staples; today I'm sharing Johanna's cookies.

Johanna's Cookies

Betty Crocker Butter Pecan cake mix
1 bag Heath Bar Toffee Bits (chopped)
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil

Mix all ingredients. Drop spoonfuls onto parchment paper lined cookie sheet. 
Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes. Cool completely.


Do you keep a picture of your favorite recipes in your phone? Oh, if you don't, you should start!!! That way when you are out running errands and remember that you have promised to bring 4 dozen cookies to church tomorrow, you've got your ingredient list right there with you!!

Love ya'll,

Shelli

Purses or Handbags?

Do you call them purses or handbags? Maybe the word you choose depends on your age; maybe it depends on the price. Recently, as I was scrolling through the Yahoo feed, this headline caught my eye.

Women have abandoned a longtime wardrobe staple — and that's terrifying news for Michael Kors, Coach, and Kate Spade

As I read the last designer's name a distant memory was suddenly triggered in my mind and I was transported to the streets of New York City. My sister and I were running down a side street away from Times Square where undercover policemen were blowing whistles and the bootleggers that we had just bought our Kate Spade knockoffs from had gathered up their bedsheets full of illicit merchandise and were running for the hills. 

Later that summer I was purchasing something from a little upscale boutique, and because I rarely enter upscale boutiques, I was overcome with the need to prove to the clerk that I was worthy to shop in her fancy establishment.  I proudly set my "Kate Spade" bag on the counter to remove my credit card when the Kate Spade name tag (which should have been sewn on, not glued) fell off and landed gently between the two of us. The clerk looked down at the tag and up at me. Her eye brows rose up to her hair line and her eyes slowly glazed over with a haughty look that said FAKE.  

Maybe that's why I was so excited yesterday to buy four purses/handbags for $20. That's $20 for all four!!!

They're reversible!! The one on the left is black with a brown reverse, and the other is taupe/nude with a grey reverse. Now because they are reversible, they have no pockets for storage and that may kill the deal for you, but because they are from Wal Mart I just ran over to the school supplies and bought me a couple of pencil bags to store stuff in. 

But most importantly they're legal and won't give me nightmares about being chased down the streets of NYC by the police or strangers with bedsheets.

Love ya'll,

Shelli

Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don't want to impress people they don't like.

-Will Rogers

Sunday Schoolisms Plus #22: The First Half Truth

Before we get started with this post, I just want to restate how much I adore my Sunday School class. Recently Carolyn, our faithful teacher, encouraged us to study a book by Adam Hamilton entitled Half Truths. Here is an overview from the book's back cover:

     "They are simple phrases. They sound Christian - like something you might find in the Bible. They capture some element of truth, yet they miss the point in important ways. Join Adam Hamilton in his search for the whole truth by comparing some common Christian sayings with the wisdom found in Scripture."

The weekly topics (half truths) were...

     1. Everything Happens for a Reason
     2. God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
     3. God Won't Give You More Than You Can Handle
     4. God Said It, I Believe It, That Settles It
     5. Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin

In the book, Adam explains why it was important to him to scrutinize these phrases.

     "Here's why it is important to examine these particular half truths: I think they can sometimes hurt people. I think they can lead people to conclusions about God that are not only untrue but that may push some people away from God. Some of these half truths are used to avoid careful thinking about complex issues. Some are used to justify our own biases or prejudices. Some, when spoken to others, can bring pain." 

I thought you might be interested in these half truths and so for the next five Sundays we will focus on each one. But as I have said before in these Sunday Schoolism posts, none of this is my interpretation. I am not adding my two cents worth- except for the awesomeness of my Sunday School class. I am doing my best to condense down to the main points and am directly quoting the author. If these highlights set you to pondering or disagreeing, buy the book and delve deeper! Here we go...

Everything Happens for a Reason

"When something bad has happened and we're trying to help someone through a difficult time, we say 'It was meant to be.' "

"If we extend this logic, we can arrive at some extremes that seem silly:
          'God meant for my team to win (or lose) the World Series.'
And we can get to some very troubling questions:
          'Does God really want little children to die in a school shooting?' " 

"Though Christians share a belief in God's providence and sovereignty, they often interpret these concepts in very different ways. Some tend toward a view of God as micromanager, involved intimately each day in every detail of the world's operation. Others believe that God follows a hands-off approach, like an absentee landlord who created everything and then stepped away to let the world run itself. Still others believe the truth is somewhere between the two positions."

"Yet God superintends. God wrote the laws of nature. God has a will and plan for humanity. God guides us by the Spirit through the Scriptures, in church, as we pray, and through other Christians. God strengthens and walks with us. We are called and empowered to be God's hands and voice in the world, but God does not force us."
"He (Ray Firestone) once shared a quotation with me, which he said he found helpful in dealing with suffering, particularly after the death of his wife in a car accident. I have found it helpful too:

         Suffering is not God's desire for us, but it occurs in the process of life.

         Suffering is not given to teach us something, but through it we may learn. 

         Suffering is not given to punish us, but sometimes it is the consequence of our sin or                  poor judgment.             

         Suffering does not occur because our faith is weak, but through it our faith may be                     strengthened. 

        God does not depend on human suffering to achieve his purposes, but sometimes                      through suffering his purposes are achieved. 

        Suffering can either destroy us, or it can add meaning to our life. "

(Read Romans 8:28) "Many Christians know that passage by heart. But let's look at what Paul doesn't say. He doesn't say that God makes everything happen for a reason, or that whatever happens was part of God's will and plan. Rather, he says that no matter what happens, however bad it may be, God will somehow bring good out of the situation for those who love him. God will force evil to accomplish good."

Quick Road Trip

 James and I took a quick road trip a few weeks ago up to El Dorado Arkansas for an antique show. While there, we passed the courthouse, a classic example of art deco architecture. We pulled into the parking lot so we could take a minute to admire the building's details when this sign caught my eye.

 Their adoption of the courthouse's landscaping reminded me of all the projects our Master Gardener group has implemented here in Lincoln parish and the fun we have getting together to weed, plant, and improve on those projects- not to mention the pleasure our projects bring the public. 

As I scoped out their efforts, I could hear the echo of discussions about plant selection and see the impression of gardening friends meeting in the early morning hours on the day of installation. What fun!

                                                               Love ya'll,
                                                                 Shelli

While the spirit of neighborliness was important on the frontier because neighbors were so few, it is even more important now because our neighbors are so many.

 ~Lady Bird Johnson

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. 

~George Bernard Shaw

Just Juice

This post is about muscadine juice, but I thought we would start with........

 the latest picture of Olive because

that's just what grandmother's do, right?!

 Anyway, the muscadines are beginning to ripen and we picked some scuppernongs last week. We have made wine and jelly in past years and it's a lot of work. This year I was just not in the mood for doing either, and retired people have the luxury of doing things only if they are in the mood to do them!!

My Master Gardening friends told me that I should just put up the juice now and then I can do whatever I want to with it later, so that's what I did.

 Washed grapes are chopped up a bit in the food processor.

 Most websites I read recommended adding sugar to the chopped grapes, but muscadines are so sweet already that I decided to skip this step. The chopped grapes are covered with water before putting on the stove, but remember that the more water you add the more diluted our juice will be.

 Then the grapes are boiled to release the juices. 

 The juice is strained from the mash.

At the second straining, through cheese cloth, the juice's signature pink color is revealed.

I froze the juice in 1/2 cup and 1 cup amounts so it will be easy to thaw for recipes. I used 1 cup of juice for delicious muscadine glazed pork chops for supper. I have found recipes for muscadine vinaigrette, muscadine glazed cheesecake, muscadine sorbet, and muscadine syrup to flavor tea or lemonade.

This treatment of our grapes has been really easy and leaves us with more options for its use. In a few weeks our old timey "black" variety of grapes should be ripe and it will be time to juice again!

Love ya'll, 

Shelli 

You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces

 — just good from fresh ingredients.

 ~Julia Child

My mom said the two most important kitchen utensils are attached to your arms... you cannot mix up meatballs with a wooden spoon, get in there, get your fingers dirty!

 ~Rachael Ray

Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.

 ~Harriet Van Horne, "Not for Jiffy Cooks," Vogue magazine, 1956

Sunday Schoolisms Plus #21: Meekness

Here are some of the author's thoughts on the concept of meekness from Lord, Only You Can Change Me, by Kay Arthur:

• Meekness implies submission to God.
• Active submission is choosing to accept God's ways without murmuring or complaining.
• The meek are those of gentle behavior, loving and submissive.
• Meekness is not weakness but incredible power under the control and guidance of God Himself.
• Meekness does not get angry at what is done to it, but meekness gets angry at what is done to others.
• Meekness is a sure cure for bitterness.

Manure Tea

As much as I revel in August's reclusive slothfulness, there are things that need to be happening in the garden. The big vegetable garden has been on its own since the third week of July, and it knows this.  At some point, which is dependent on tomato productivity, weather patterns, heat index, and scheduled guests, I walk out in the cool of the morning one day and announce, "OK, guys, this is it", and the garden knows that I am done with it for the year. Then the rabbits, graveyard grasshoppers, slugs, fungi, molds pass the word that the gardener is finished battling them back and in they rush. I will let them have their way with the plants before turning the chickens out into the garden. Then it will literally be a free-for-all. I had no idea that the chickens would be such great partners in preparing the garden for next spring, but they eat bugs and devour weeds with impressive efficiency.

Meanwhile the circle garden is patiently awaiting its upcoming fall planting. The flowers have run their course and have been removed and the soil is being refortified with manure tea. This tea is made with chicken manure.

In a five gallon bucket with a lid, I put 1 part chicken poop mixed with 3 parts water.  Then the "tea" soaks for a week in the sun. Next it is poured into the beds of the circle garden. There is enough manure left at the bottom of the bucket after pouring off the tea that I am able to refill the bucket with water for another pour. 

Chicken poop is very potent due to the fact that chickens don't urinate. This means that all the nitrogen that would be in their urine is in their poop. This leads many gardeners to burn their plants by using chicken manure improperly. Chicken poop in its solid form must be cured for months before adding to the garden, but chicken manure tea can be used within a week because the manure is diluted.

I have been adding a tea application to the circle garden for two weeks and will make a final application today. Recent rains have helped nutrients from the manure infiltrate the soil, further diluting the potency, and heat from the sun is cooking up a nutrient rich soil. I will let the soil cure for another month before planting in mid to late September. Although chicken manure is nutrient rich, it can also carry some nasty pathogens. For that reason, I won't use this tea after planting. 

As you can imagine, applying manure tea is an aromatic chore. I try to do stinky garden jobs late in the evening on weekdays so that my neighbors won't be subjected to unpleasant smells while sitting on their porches, enjoying company, and barbecuing. But last week my mind was somewhere else and after mowing the yard, I decided to make a tea application before going in the house to clean up. Totally oblivious to the fact that it was Friday, I poured on the malodorous tea. About that time, Fred and Ethel broke into urgent, noisy barking and baying as a black, stretch limousine pulled into the driveway of our neighbors closest to the freshly fertilized garden. Their obviously momentous event was about to be perfumed by Mother Nature......

I just ran into the house and shut the blinds 

Love ya'll, 

Shelli

"If the grass on the other side of the fence appears greener... it must be all the fertilizer they are using."

-  Kevin Rodowicz

 "Over fertilized plants may be beautiful but are otherwise useless, like people whose energies are devoted so completely to their appearance that there is no other development."

-  William Longgood

"The earth neither grows old or wears out if it is dunged."

-  Columella, circa 45 A.D. 

"Sometimes you have to step in it to learn how to avoid it."

-  Anonymous

August and January

Ahhh...August! I have come to love August in the same way and for the same reasons that I love January.

First they are both months where people are going back to school and I'm not.  For thirty-three years the first weeks of August found me up at the school house getting my room ready for the new year. Although I have nothing but fond memories of those times, frankly I don't want them back!! I feel the same way in January when after a hectic Christmas holiday everyone heads back to school without me and I, well I get to stay home and wallow in luxuriant laziness.

Secondly, both August and January have terrible weather. It is awesome to blame the brutal heat of August for my retreat from society. I become a hermit, not leaving my house for days on end!!  I position myself under the ceiling fan with movies, craft projects, crossword puzzles, and writing assignments nearby.  The only difference between August and January is that the ceiling fan is off and the fireplace is on. Weather becomes my excuse for living the life of a lethargic recluse!!

In fact, the only things happening at Turkey Creek Garden this time of year are those that happen by themselves -

growing butternut squash,

drying corn stalks,

preserving hydrangeas.

So here's to August and her sister month, January..... the months that allow me to revel in being a slothful, reclusive, retired school teacher!!

Love ya'll,

Shelli

Retirement is wonderful. 

It's doing nothing without worrying about getting caught at it. 

~Gene Perret

In retirement, every day is Boss's Day and every day is Employee Appreciation Day. 

~Terri Guillemets