It's been a while since I actually posted anything, hasn't it? So...updates!!

#1: Savannah is getting MARRIED!!

His name is Scott (and I'll skip the last name 'cause that's just what I do) and he lives in Florida. :) He came up recently and it was "made official" (even though it was anyway) and the date is set, April 30. 

#2: The kitchen is getting remodeled. At last. :) I regret me that I have no pictures handy for you, but this is the cumulative amount done so far--the new counter tops (butcher-block) are down along with the installation of the new (old, but refurbished) farmhouse sink (it is awesome!) In addition, we now have a dishwasher! AND most excitingly--the carpet has come up. Not that it "came up" all on it's own, but Daddy and Mama got it out. I stayed away as much as possible as the first day ended up aggravating my lungs and stuff so badly that Mom "ordered" me to bed the following day. (I really was hacking and wheezing.)

#3: I've been sewing (see #1). We've attempted three different styles for bridesmaid dresses and this last one is going to do the trick, we think. I actually just made the bodice rather than the entire dress, but it worked so nicely that I turned it into a wearable shirt (in fact, that is what I wore today!)

#4: We had the delight of visiting with two of our 'brothers' over lunch...

It's always a joy to see these guys (and Caleb, who wasn't able to make it). They were exhausted because they had stayed up much to0 late due to a gig they played the night before! I wondered if Dan was going to drop off to sleep a time or two...(shoulda had a black coffee instead of a tea, brother...) Ah well. Teasing aside, I look forward to seeing them again at the end of April... :)

#5: We are supposed to be playing in our church's recital here in a couple of weeks--but I suspect all three of us girls need to practice a little harder. :D I haven't played as much this past week as I did the week before...perhaps next week I will get back into playing every day again.

#6: I FINALLY took my birthday present from two years ago out a few days ago...

She shoots nice--and for some reason I decided to call her "Jenny". Daddy rigged up the holster on a cross-chest strap...so I carry it backwards for my shooting hand. Essentially, I cross-draw with the off-hand and then cock her with my shooting hand. My best group was about 2 inches across (I guess I was standing between 8-10 feet away?) Most of them (though I only shot three cylinders) were more like six or so...call that gun-handler error. With the steel case ammo, I had to removed the cylinder and knock the shells out with a cleaning rod. Daddy told me that I probably wouldn't have the problem with brass case. Definitely need more practice with the beefy "Jenny", but so far I can say that I like it. :) (No doubt about it...I like a handful of a revolver.)

Church tomorrow...adios for now!

I have sad news...this will probably be the last installment of the Chicken Chronicles for the rest of the year. I am no longer the happy owner of ANY living chickens.

The story goes like this:

I closed the birds in last night, nice and snug so I thought. Alack and alas! I went out this morning to feed my dozen feathered creatures only to find all but one of them laid about in various positions of rigor mortus. The living bird was clucking incessantly, distressed. She even let me pick her up without any fuss.

I quickly spotted the entry (and likely exit) of the evil, marauding mink . It was up high in the southwest corner. The chicken wire, which never was secured overly well in that position (from the outside it's at least four feet up) was pushed in. The overall consensus is that the nasty varmint was so irritated at being foiled in his plans to get at the birds since Wednesday that he took his revenge. (I don't know if we're the only ones, but we have gathered that mink are rather nasty creatures like that.) Only one bird had had any consumption done on it. Head and neck. That is all that these dirty mink eat--the head and neck down to the shoulders. At least coons eat drumsticks and thighs and more. It's not such a wanton "waste" of meat that way.

Daddy feels really bad about it because he had given brief thought to that upper wire and decided to do nothing. I hadn't really even given it any thought at all...but one must remember that it was cold and after 9 pm when we came in the other night. Besides, who would have thought that a mink would be so determined that he'd climb the side of the coop?? Not I. Especially when there are fat mice and voles around all over the place. 

Well, anyway, I sadly hauled my dead birds off and tossed them into the field. Neither one of us felt like butchering cold stiff birds. The pitiful clucking of the remaining hen was about to make me cry so I went in. Funny thing is, I wasn't mad. I got mad the last time the mink got into them, but I think I was almost in shock this time...

Anyway, I said I didn't have any birds left in the beginning, didn't I? Well, it's true.

I was busy washing the lunch dishes when I happened to look out of the window and see...a blame mink trying to pull my LAST bird through the fencing!!!!!!!!

She was already dead. I knew that. But I started spluttering (more or less) and my heart rate went right through the roof. I dried my hands in a flash and lunged for my revolver (I keep it rather handy frequently). I didn't take time to put on a jacket and barely took the time to shove my feet into my boots.

I barreled out the door, screaming, "DADDDEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!" (He was in the shop.) "He's there!!!"

Or something to that effect. I never let up my sprint until I got to the corner of the barn where I ripped my .22 out of it's holster, just in time to hand it to Daddy, who'd come running right behind me. He had his semi-auto out. We switched guns since his was a little excessive for the skinny rat which had lifted it's head to observe us calmly. I wanted Daddy to shoot it since he's a better shot than I am, besides which I was shaking so bad that I wasn't sure I would have been able to control my breathing well enough for a good shot placement. However, if Daddy hadn't come up when he had, that dirty animal would have found himself staring down a .22 barrel held by a very irate female...

As it is, at least one of Daddy's two shots hit him (I didn't exactly see it because I had stepped away...my .22 is pretty loud and I had no earplugs in). Daddy and I re-exchanged guns again and Daddy told me to go around to the back of the barn. The mink had gone inside (there are tunnels under the barn walls into the back portion of the barn. We had a rabbit die in there last year...but that's another story.)

Anyway to shorten this story, we discovered that the mink (or minks) have been living in the barn this whole time. We found the nest and burrowings...but no mink, dead or alive. However, we did smell the musk. That dirty rat was probably cowered underneath something within pistol range the whole time. Anyway, I hope that a stench arises back there very soon. Still, I may go "hunting" once a day for a while after this...as is, we placed one of the snap traps in what appears to be the main entrance and then I brazenly put the live trap directly in front of it. I would take a great deal of satisfaction in drilling a mink after this...

And that, my friends, is how I am now no longer head dominionist over a flock of fluff brained birds. I think I'll rather miss the silly things. Yup...there went the egg bill back up a notch or two again...

A few days ago, I was bemoaning to Mama that I never seem to have enough handkerchiefs. I have practically gone through Granddaddy's pile, but I left a couple for his use.  I do not want to use the antique ladies hankies that I have in my drawer upstairs because I don't want to rip them and the fabric is rather delicate...besides, the ladies hankies are a little smaller than this allergy ridden lass needs. 

Well, yesterday, I found this on my desk:

I decided to finish stitching the doll dresses I was making before starting on this project...and that took me all afternoon. (Daddy and I butchered the rest of the roosters yesterday morning.)

Therefore, I got around to it this morning, after an early rising (I actually saw the sunrise, if it could be called that this morning as overcast as it is) to help get Grandpa off the floor, breakfast, dishes, and running slops out...

By the way, if you thought that material was a shirt, you are right.

I started by using the seam-ripper to remove the buttons and then the pocket. I cut out the back of shirt--it was from the back that I would get my handkerchiefs.

Next I took one of Daddy's hankies, pinned it on the piece of shirt, and cut out around it, leaving room for a narrow rolled hem. Then, I cut out a second one with more of an "eye-ball" measuring because I could not get two of the same size out. The second one is actually rectangular whereas the first one is square.

Once I got them cut out, I ironed them and pinned a scrawny rolled hem.

That took a little while. :)

After that, I stitched them (of course!) The corners were the only hard part--I'druther not have anybody closely inspecting them...the stitches are kind of wiggly! :D

And there you have it; quick and easy. And usable....

Well. It was a busy, full day. I ended up with a sunburn and being so completely wiped out by the end of the day that I wonder if I should have just gone on to bed and skipped the fireworks. I am dehydrated today (didn't have anything to drink at the market this morning) and therefore somewhat under the weather. However, that does not slow down my enjoyment of pictures and such...so hang on. There are going to be a ton of photos on this post!

Leading up to July 4th, I just thought I would dress like a normal person and not do my usual attempt at 1770's get up. Well, laying in bed that morning, I completely changed my mind and within an hour, I was scrounging in my Rubbermaid "reenacting box" in the basement. I pulled out some of my petticoats and my blue, small check skirt (I discovered at some point during the afternoon that it had a hole in it!). Pairing that with my linen blouse that I made for Reformation Day last year and Katherine's wisk, I looked okay, though not fully historically accurate. The crowning success was the result of Katherine's matter-of-fact statement, "I get to do your hair."

Now THAT was accurate!

She busied herself about that while I typed up the Declaration of Independence (see yesterday's post). 

I decided to do this 'differently'--check out the slideshow(s) below!

Once my hair was up, Daddy, Aunt Terry, Katherine, and I went out to make some noise! (What is Independence Day without blowing holes in cardboard??)

We were called into lunch sometime after twelve and then went back out after lunch for some more fun. I quit before everyone else did because my left wrist started hurting on me and I thought it would probably be wisest to stop before things got worse. 

So I went and sat with Mama and Aunt Laurie (she and Uncle Dave came all the way from the east coast for the day) for a while...

After a while, Katherine and I went in to see Grandma and Grandpa...when I walked in there with that hair do, Grandpa gave me this funny look and asked, "Do I know you?" It was hilarious!

I am rather drawing a blank on what we did (or at least I did) between this point and supper...but after supper we went out doors and sat around...talked...took pictures...acted goofy, etc. (The below pictures loaded rather scrambled...)

I do remember something that happened--now that I think about it. It was one of those "I have talent" moments that have been rather frequent of late. I had three eggs in each hand...I came in the door, stepped on my hem and ended up falling down, roughing the skin off the front of my left ankle (how does one even do that??), cracking my left knee into the floor, and get this--NOT A SINGLE EGG GOT BROKEN!! I was flabbergasted that I managed to balance those eggs and not drop them. It was weird... :P

I stayed up to watch the fireworks even though I was exhausted (and sunburned--that is what I get for not wearing a hat), and did not feel very good. The fireworks were not as spectacular as some I have seen in past years, but they were still pretty.

I suspect that I may be dealing with a little sun-poisoning today, but I don't know for sure...I just haven't been well all day. But I worked my market (slow as it was--typical for 4th of July weekends) and did okay.  

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the pictures...sorry this wasn't as interesting as I had intended on making it, but one loses one's train of thought when they have to wait long periods of time between 'tales' because the pictures are loading. :) 

I had a good day yesterday overall--even though it wasn't exactly a "normal" Independence Day. I hope you did too!

I worked on my coon hide today. I took the pillow off the footstool and used the metal frame to work the hide over. I didn't get it near as pliable as I could have; partially because my hands and arms were getting a little tired and partially because I'd actually rather have my bag, which I'm going to make from the hide, a little stiffer than not.

After working it, I rubbed some saddle oil into the leather part...once it really soaks in, I might take it back to the stool and work it some more, but I'm not sure about that. Anyway, somewhere along the way in the next two weeks, I need to trim it and actually make the bag. I know exactly how I want it to lay out. I'll probably end up making Savannah stand at my elbow for moral support. :D

No pictures...sorry. However, I can explain that.

I was out riding. The cows didn't feel like rotating at the moment, so I went ahead and rode around to open/close the gates into the wood. When I reached the north gate into the trap (y'all would benefit from a diagram when I talk about all these different gates! :D), I happened to notice a round, grayish, furry hump wandering around across the fence in the back 40.

I debated for about half a second as to whether I ought to ride on around to the wood gate (which is not wooden) and go after that familiar looking bump from there, or should I go through the fence (five strand at this particular place). I think I was already putting my earplugs in before I had completely made up my mind.

I was down off Snip in a matter of seconds and in a few more I was through the fence. I had lost sight of said raccoon by this point (due to the height of the grass), but generally knew where he was. As I eased around I slipped my revolver out of my holster and cocked it, so when I located the coon, I was ready.

He was presenting his rear end to me, but he turned slightly broadside and I let him have it. He streaked to the right and as I pulled back the hammer again I followed him with my muzzle. Right before he disappeared into a clump of grass I squeezed off another shot.

I found him moments later at the foot of a tree in spasms. I shot him again through the head. I'm postive that all three shots made contact. I'm actually impressed that I hit him on the run.

What is really weird though--I don't remember sighting. I know I did, but I don't remember doing it. It's almost creepy when you're that familiar with your gun. I also don't remember paying attention to the back drop, but that's ingrained in me too, so I probably did.

I was also impressed with Snip. He stood right where I left him the entire time. He might have acted up some the rest of the morning, but he was practically perfect for that episode.

I thought I'd better share a picture of my new hat. There were only about four in my size left and each one was different. I wanted to make sure that mine looked different from Savannah's. One I attempted to try on would not fit on my head because the band was so oval! There was one with the more classic "Western" look, but since I couldn't see what it looked like on me (they could stand to put a mirror back there for those of us who are vain enough to want to know how terrible we look in our favorite hat... :D), I settled on this one. It most certainly hasn't been sweat on enough to really fit my head perfectly (that happens after a few months), but for all that it sits pretty well.

When I was checking out, I told Justin, "I've been planning all year to get myself a new hat for my birthday--and even though that's a couple months off, I decided to go ahead and get it. This is my town hat!" He agreed that that sounded fine...that's his job you know. This is the same young man who told Philip, "Yeah, I don't wear one [cowboy hat] either...." (Though as you know, Philip went back and got one--looks good in it too!)

I killed my fifth raccoon yesterday morning. I would have gotten number six this morning only the trap stuck again so he managed to eat the bait and stroll right on out of there. Bah!

I'm off here in a few minutes to mail a box for Savannah and pick up some things for me to finish tanning #4's hide and for a salad we're taking to the A's tomorrow. Our SCV/OCR season starts up tomorrow evening with a cookout/meeting.

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary...oh, wait...why I am quoting the Declaration of Independence??

Anyway, as I was saying, sometimes things don't always work the way you plan...take yesterday for example. I was going to mow the pasture (get started on the job at anyrate). Instead, I ended up finding out that I can drive the Caddillac afterall, and butchering the rest of my chickens. I had ten left, a coon having gotten in and massacred the other seven. With a little help in deciding from my Mum, I figured I might as well butcher the remaining ones so I didn't just feed them to the coons.

Nevertheless...I decided that I shall keep right on trapping and killing coons. That way when I get more chickens (which is the plan--after I get a better coop), I won't have to worry about them as much.

I made a spur of the moment decision either last night after I went to bed, or this morning before I crawled out of bed, that I was going to skin and tan the hide of the next one I caught. There were several factors leading to that--first, I just thought it would be neat if I could, second, I've been asked if I were going to make a coonskin cap out of any of them, and third, I got told yesterday that I am a "jack of all trades"--to which I responded, "I try to be!" Somehow, all those illogical reasons compounded into a nutty desire to skin out and tan a coon...

I haven't the supplies to finish the job (yet), but the coon is now skinned and the hide safely tucked in the fridge.  *Warning...if you think coons are "cute" and "adorable" and "innocent" don't look at the following pictures. If it helps any, the thing didn't smell sweet. (My hands still smell rather "coonish".)

I sharpened my knife before I started, but by the time I got done, it needed to be sharpened again.

My clothes went straight into the washer when I came in.

Now, I'm off...I'm doing the grocery shoping today (both human and bovine)...so I have a busy afternoon in store. See ya!

Good morning, dear readers! I am pleased to say that I killed my third coon this morning!

Like the previous two, this one was a male. He was smaller than the other two (sounds almost like I'm working my way through the male half of a raccoon family...) I'm guessing this one weighed between 5-10 pounds.

Methinks I put sweet feed in the trap again tonight--maybe I'll catch another one.

That's right. We got to shoot twice in a single week!!

Cousin Butch came down and took us to Slim's per usual. Unlike usual, I had something other than salad. I just didn't want salad today. I had some very tasty and greasy ribs. And yes, I ate the 'steak fries' that came with them. I also had two very good cups of coffee.

Also as usual, we hit the "range" after coming home. I broke into one of those 'antique' boxes of .22 shells. They didn't like my revolver very well, the cartridges getting stuck in the cyclinder. That ammo was also pretty dirty.

I cleaned my guns immediately when we finished. I have a very, very bad habit of putting it off, so like I told Butch, "I'm trying to break that habit." Anyway...we had a wonderful time (we always do when Butch comes)! I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Also of note, this day, August the 9th, 2013 (Happy Birthday, Mama!!!!!!!!!!!), I killed Houdini, Jr.
Another male coon of less size and weight than Houdini, this one did not hiss at me--but he kicked and wheezed and blew blood out his nose a whole lot longer than the other one. I put a second bullet through his brain even though I'm sure the first one killed him simple because I wanted to see if that'd stop his death throes sooner. I don't think it made any difference. I'm also pleased to say that he went straight to the trap last night rather than first raiding the coop. So...I still have 17 birds left. One of which is apparently turning broody.

And...just one more thing. I wanted to share this picture of this tiny little tree frog. Please ignore the fact that my fingers look crazy weird and just look at the frog. Isn't he cute??

I'm still thinking about hauling the weed-wacker out of the barn and seeing if it works...if so I'll weed-wack around the house and the barn.  Sooo....see ya around! :)