Friday Stuff

Ugh, a short heatwave in the 90's has come early to our area. So, this is a good day to work on my PP Pop blocks. Once I figure out sizes to cut fabric pieces the project really takes off.
I sewed these yesterday, so far sew good. Glad I had stocked up on lime green, it pops the Pops. (Ha, ha).

Chicken stuff- Meet Boyd
Neighbors hen raised one chick for a few weeks and then left it (normal hen mothering). Boyd is a cross from white Leghorn Roo and black Australorp. He was lonely so we put him in my coop with bigger chicks.
When Boyd is big enough he will go back home with neighbors gentler flock. It will be interesting to see how the black marks develop on Boyds wings.

The hen waterhole is great for the sudden jump in temps these few days.

Resourceful hens have figured out they can get a cool damp dirt bath if they excavate close to the waterhole.That big rock was in their way so they scratched around and moved it! LOL

Polish chicks just keep growing their head feathers.Females sport a nice big well groomed pouf. Roosters have unruly long head feathers. UH-OH, these two are growing some pretty wild head toppers!

Dear Smudgie has the right idea about hanging out.She is under the ceiling fan enjoying the constant breeze.

FNS & Chicks

Last night was FNS. I try to sew a little every night, always keep a project next to my machine.Here is what I did last night- Several years ago a guild friend gave me scraps for kitty blocks. I found the scraps yesterday and decided to cut some kitty parts. There were nice patriotic fabrics, brights and kids novelty and muted fall prints. Kitty blocks are an on-going project with me. (One of my fav blocks).
Kitty ears I cut like prarie points and tucked a little fold. These are fiddly to work with and sew down but I like how they end up looking.

Chick Update
Here is the Sussex cross chick. She will be a full size hen, fluffy ears and beard are from her Silky dad. (No crowing yet and the comb part is not bright red so I assume a female). She fussed and struggled to get loose. DH had to take the pics for me.All speckled like her mom and just as wild.

Cochin Silky cross chick. Her skin is black like the Silky rooster and feathers are so soft. Her mom donated the curly part. She's gonna be small like her bantam mom too.She was really mad and struggled like the speckled chick. Look at all those curls.

Last week I collected plants for a small garden. Not sure where to put a garden, out front or back. The roaming roosters out back will have to be fenced in first but I'm leaning towards a backyard garden. Tomato, cukes, yellow squash, herbs and lantana.

Stop Being Mopey

Time to get past the grief and out from under my snuggle quilt.I want to thank those who commented and sent emails with kind words about Simon's passing.

Decided to get back quilting with May's AboutQuilting Block Party (Lotto). This month it's greens with cream background, Monkey Wrench (from Quilter's Cache).
Cutting is my least fav part of quilting.

Once I was sewing the blocks went together fast.
Finished the blocks last night, six to enter and two extra donated to sweeten the winners pot.

Life is going on outside. Chickes are growing. Hens are very busy doing hen stuff. Here is one days worth of their hard work. I have some vege plants to pot up, will share in a later post.

Simon Is Gone

He passed to the Rainbow Bridge early Monday morning, he is there with his old buddy Macho. That is Simon (below left) in his younger days, around age seven. Macho and Simon lived with us in town, we lost Macho just before moving to the Whetstone area. Simon was my saddest project, rescued seven years ago. He came to us very thin, shaved to a nub, covered in tic bites. Both ears were sorely infected, he was anemic and had an awful toenail fungus. Several vet visits and time erased the look and symptoms of abuse.
After Macho was gone Simon was Chelsea's babysitter and company. Chelsea was a handful for Simon, he did not want puppy play.
Recently the "two old guys" claimed beds nearest our sofa. They were mostly always there....
Dining together.

Sleeping close.

Simon had a long life and we hope the last half was his best and happiest with us. Fourteen years was a good run.
Farewell to our one-eyed handsome "Pirate Poodle".

Fire Smoke and a Sad Note

Winds blowing fire smoke towards our house Thursday night. Winds change direction, sometimes our sky is clear. We decided to go into town for pizza so we could eat smoke free. Chelsea is really excited to go too. She loves a ride to anywhere. LOLYou can see how dark the sky is as we leave the Tombstone Highway.
Fire smoke over Huachuca Mountains closer to town, not as thick. Fire has been burning behind the mountain ranges, towards Sonoita. Acres and acres of burned grassland on the old Empire Ranch. No telling when it will be put out.
Found this old photo of Chelsea as a teen puppy. The silver was still coming into her hair (silvers are born black). She was a riot as a pup, still is as a girl aged 6 yrs now.Diamond string quilt in background (gifted to my sis).

On a sad note- Old Simon (our apricot poodle) is not doing well. This is last week, he props himself to stand steady. Now we help him get up and steady him to walk.

I think Simon has reached his end of days. Sad times are coming soon. Please say a little prayer for Simon.

New Block Project & Pet Stuff

Been looking for a simple project since the string blocks are finished. Remember this pattern? It was in QM magazine, a Project Linus pattern.I still have some lime green for background.

Fabrics for the pops. I guess they look like ice pop colors. Reminds me of hearing the icecream truck as a kid. It was in my grandma's neighborhood every summer day. We were allowed to have a treat on Fridays.Haven't seen one of those trucks for a long time.

Patch and Zoey. Zoey is sleeping in late today.Patch got out last night, she will sleep on the bed all day.

I've been busy grooming poodles. Chelsea is finished, complete with a bath.She is so shy when the camera comes out.

Wonky got his hair cut too, but still needs a bath. He's not happy about it-He acts like he is cold at night!

Polish chicks still come inside to sleep in their box. Funny how all of a sudden their head feathers are growing.No sign of a comb so maybe both are hens (I hope I hope I hope !!!) ?

Spiked String Blocks and Chicks Update

Worked on the spiked string blocks as time allowed. All blocks are finished and sewn into rows. Now just sew rows together and add a border fabric. Then it goes into closet with others waiting for quilting.

Hot day (almost 90 with slight breeze) so the hens enjoy water. Leaves on Mesquite trees are coming in so it looks like spring for sure.
Hen waterhole "downstream". I run the water a few minutes several times a day. Those hens love scratching in mud and sitting on cold dirt.
I found Golden Laced Polish chicks on CraigsList a few weeks ago. Here are the two I purchased at one week old. They have been living in the box until feathered and now both go out with Frizzie's chicks during daylight hours. They grow so fast! Frizzie's chicks are looking very mature.

Caught the speckled chick napping. Little head is tucked almost under wing.The coloring is really going towards the Mille Fleur rooster color. But the chick has an extra toe so we thought white Silky roo was the dad and Speckled Sussex was that chicks mom. Confusing, but will be a pretty chicken when all is said and done.

Smudgie watching me, waiting for her bit of canned food before bedtime. Mimsy and Patch are around the corner, waiting too.

Dear Wonky never met a food bowl he didn't like.Nom nom nom !