Thursday, August 8, 2013

Has there been any Snakes in Your Hen House?

      Although it's much later than last year, we did have a snake in the hen house just the other day! Everything seems to be happening later this year: snakes, butterflies just lately coming to the butterfly bushes, figs ripening, blackberries, etc. Isn't it amazing how the weather affects everything? How about your area, has the weather affected your harvests and such?

      Speaking of snakes, the hubs ran over a Timber Rattler just a couple houses down from ours, the other day! I walk right where he was lying! You can be sure I'm watching my step and maybe changing my route a little! Do you ever see snakes on your property?
Thank goodness, when we were tromping around in mud and grass, that we didn't step on or see snakes, while visiting the longest yard sale! I found a couple of items priced good, but mostly everything was way too high! Like shopping at an antique store or regular store; just doesn't make sense! You'd think these people would want to get rid of all that junk the last day at the last hour, but NO! They'd rather see if they can swindle, I mean make some cash, but all the while they are packing their junk, I mean stuff up to haul it back from wherever it came from. I don't mean to have an attitude, but you'd think that if someone drives several hours to set up stuff in the rain for four or five days, they'd rather not have to pack it up and haul it back! I sure wouldn't want to! We usually don't go because of the high priced junk, but we thought we'd see if it had changed any. It had, the prices were high and the junk was worse! I probably won't go again. When I say junk, I mean pieces with a part missing or a chunk broken off, broken stuff! Most of the stuff I saw should have been thrown away a long time ago. O.K. enough with my complaining! I enjoyed being with my hubs riding around in the country in spite of it all!

      We're having a birthday party here Saturday for Lala, I mean Layla. Win calls her Lala, and it's so cute! Layla turned three this week and is having a Minnie Mouse party. I'm making a banner using my Silhouette and I hope it turns out cute! I'll have some photos next time I write so ya'll can see how things turned out. I'm working on different craft projects a little at a time and will share them with you as I finish them. Ya'll stay cool and dry! Blessings from Bama!

Here's Ran opening the door, carefully!

And here he is, just your common chicken snake! At least that's what we call him here.

He wants to get out of there!

Jack cautiously approaches the snake, but the snake has no time for him!


The snake is rapidly exiting the property!

Randy gives him a little something to remember us by so maybe he won't come around again!

Some of the booths we visited at the longest yard sale.

More booths at the yard sale.

We walked across the street and got a couple of faded patio umbrellas to put out for the party.

I didn't know my white irises would bloom again in August! They are so pretty in person!


My poor peaches!


The whole tree is like this!

The apple tree looks great! Rubi jumped up and got her an apple after I took this photo!

I hope the apples stay pretty with all the rain!


The Timber Rattler Randy ran over. Sorry about all the guts!


All my nectarines fell off the tree like this, sob!

Raised beds full of weeds and blackberry brambles.

These are nectarines, yuck!


The bean vines are covered with beetles, and so are the cucumber vines.

What once was a path to the gate!

Something to brag about, figs!


About to cook and make preserves.

Three jars from this batch.

Yummy Ghiradeli cookies!

Four jars of preserves from this batch.

Winterlynn is reading me the story about the Five Little Monkeys.

Got the smile on for the camera!




19 comments:

  1. Snakes! Yuk! I sure don't like them. My peaches are not amounting to anything either. Nancy

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    1. So glad you don't have to deal with them Nancy! Sorry about your peaches! I guess dry weather affects them too!

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  2. We have had snakes too and I make sure to make lots of noise when I go out to the chicken yard or to the goat bin. The rain has not been good for our garden although our figs and blueberries loved it. I picked a little beans and peas in the rain yesterday just so I ould get the in before all the rain turned it into a big mud hole again.

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    1. That's a good idea! I'll try that next time I go out there! Amazing how some things love the rain, and others, not so much! Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. Our snakes up here are not poisonous (sp?). The usually skoot away too fast and don't bother us. The skunks on the other hand have been terrible! My daughter walked into the barn around dusk and right in the doorway was a hissing bouncing skunk. She screamed and they both ran the other way - thankfully. I found a nest of cat food where it must have been living....once cleaned up and junk moved out - it is gone. I have had like 15 - 20 chicks missing this summer - he must have been it. The longest yard sale has been on my bucket list - but, if it is like you say - forget it. I usually get the other vendors mad at me when I set up at a show - "antique show and sale" - I don't want to show it I want to sell it. I'm known for my reasonable prices. At the last flea I set up at...another vendor came up to me and said..."Jacky, no one can beat you on your prices" Well, they could if they wanted to sell it. I'm fortunate because I buy in quantity so I can sell cheaper. Your cookies look so good---I get weighted in today. My first weigh in since the fair! Blessings from Ringle, WI.

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    1. Be glad your snakes are not poisonous! I have never seen a skunk on our property, but when we first started clearing the land, I knew one was close by. The dogs keep the critters ran off so at least I don't have to worry about that! That's what I'd do too! Yea, the skunk probably ate the chicks. Well, that's my experience with the longest yard sale. I've only been from the beginning point and driven into the next county. It may get better the further North you go. It's not all bad, I did find a couple things priced good, just overall not what I'd expect. I would love to see some of your stuff! I know you don't have any junk! Thanks, the cookies 'were' so good!

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  4. We have been saying the same...everything seems at least 2-4 weeks later than normal. We have yet to find snakes in our henhouse, but we also had Timber rattlers - we live in WV. Our figs are still quite tiny. I love all the pictures!

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    1. Hi Kate! Your place is so beautiful! I love the woodland area where you live! It's so serene! Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. I wonder why your peaches and nectarines are just rotting away like that. There must be some reason. I hope someone comes on and tells you why(so I will know in case it happens to me). We don't let the chicken snakes go here, because they remember where my eggs are and they come back. We have been lucky this year and not had a single one and we usually have 4 or 5--something about closing off the back shed with the pallets. The pens are off the back shed and I guess the snakes don't like the pallets or maybe it is because I don't have any baby birds in there chirping this year. Your figs look wonderful. I wish I could get mine to produce fruit. My garden is just about a total fail this year except for 4 cucumbers and some basil. There are a few tomatoes out there but I mean like only 5 of them on six plants. You would think all the rain we had would help this year but it didn't. I really hate gardening here.

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    1. Hi Becky! I think it's because of too much rain, but I'd love to know for sure! Oh rats, I didn't think of that! That may be the one we had last year! They only come around for a few days each year, so far. Could be. Oh the figs are doing so well! They loved the rain, and they get plenty of sun. We are going to prune it back this fall since I can't get to the figs on the higher branches. The honey bees are even enjoying them! I don't mind letting the honey bees eat some! Gardening hasn't been that great here, but I'm determined to have a successful garden! Maybe next year? I hope you find a nice place to have a garden soon, Becky! Have a nice weekend!

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  6. Hi Bama Girl! Yikes! Snakes! We have not seen any here in our new location, but when I lived in Brownsville, california (many, many years back) we lived near (very near) one of the largest dens of rattlers in California! Yikes! I killed 14 that year...they were everywhere! (my cousin used to raise them!) Saw nary a snake in Coos Bay, Oregon, and ditto for Idaho! :)
    Happy Birthday Lala! Hope it is a fun one...and, what birthday isn't fun for a 3 year old with such a great Auntie and Uncle around??? Love your "life in pictures"! Hugs, Cheeryshirley

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    1. Hi Shirley! Oh! That would not be fun, a den of rattlers! Thank goodness you don't have to deal with them now! The birthday party was a huge success! Thanks, I'm so glad you enjoy reading!

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  7. Hi again, You said on the comment you left on my blog that you make the blackberries into juice. I wondered how you do this? Do you just smash them or do you heat them on the stove with a little water for awhile? Thanks! Nancy

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    1. Hi Nancy! Thanks for your question! Here's where you can find the answer: http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_07/extract_juice.html I hope this helps! If the berries are really juicy, they won't need to be heated.

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  8. Good Morning, friend! Love the picture of your apple tree. We have had so much rain this year, I'll be able to do some canning soon! Blessings! Anna

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  9. Hi there! I'm Heather and I was hoping you would be willing to answer a quick question I have about your blog! My email is Lifesabanquet1@gmail.com

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  10. Yes to your question about snakes - though not so much here on this property. We have a lot of copperheads in our area and before I married Tom he'd seen some (and killed some) on this property, but thankfully I've seen no poisonous snakes since I've been here and only a few non-poisonous. I HATE snakes. In the chicken coop - maybe one, but on the farm I owned before, there was a 10 foot black snake that loved the barn and you'd never know when he'd make his appearance in the chicken's area. *shudder*
    Sounds like the little one's birthday will be fun. Show us pictures of what you make! It was a terrible year for our garden this year, coupled with I just didn't feel like tending it. It's like fall here today! LOVE it! Have a great weekend!

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    1. Oh Copperheads are the worst kind to have! We've been very fortunate not to see any on this property, but the hubs ran over one on this street the other year! Yikes! A 10 footer! Thanks Lisa, you too!

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