Jail Break!

 Apparently Paducah has had a jail break! In the ongoing saga of the Hamburg hens, they have made a jail break! They escaped through an aperture in the top of the "jail" in which they have been ensconced by one BillyeRuth White! Yesterday she reported one egg, but failed to include the information that the jail contained zero hens! She finally found them perching on TOP of the jail among the branches covering the top of the wire pen. She reported that the hole was quite small, so she was confused about the possibility of their escape through that place. However, after discovering them settled among the leaves and branches, she snagged the ones she could reach and placed them in the chicken house with her own hens. Some of the hens were unreachable from BR's positioning and refused to be pressed off the top of the jail by prodding. So this morning BR found those hens just happily prancing about her barnyard in all their glory. She let the other hens out of the chicken house to discover that her hens and my hens did not like each other at all! And her hens were bigger than the ones from my house. Of course, it would not take much to get a hen bigger than a Hamburg. But the Barred Rock, the Rhode Island Red, and the Wyandotte were not all that small. Well, the Wyandotte is a runt, but she lays nice eggs. Anyway, after this jail break, not only will BR be doing an egg search every day, she may be doing a hen hunt as well! With the tendency of the Hamburgs to roost high, she may have tree hens before the year is over.

Have not heard any more from Charlie Anderson. Left a message on this phone log, so maybe he will get back to me if he can. Not sure the number is for a cell phone or a house phone, so that might make a difference since he was in the hospital when he sent the last message. Guess all we can do is pray for these folks like Charlie who have come down with this virus. AH! Charlie sent a picture captioned "Still masked." At least we know he is still among the living! I don't really know any of his family except for Mark Ogle, so it is not like anyone could tell me how he is doing. He has two sweet little dogs that will be glad when he gets to come home!

Cooked up some carrots, broccoli, peas, and mushrooms today. Pretty good eating, but would have liked to have had some beef with it. So, sent in an order to Walmart today that should be here sometime after seven tonight. Still forgot the big tub of vanilla ice cream and French vanilla liquid creamer, but can't depend on an old woman's brain to remember everything. 

Made some mozzarella cheese today. Cindy Jones brought over a couple of jars of milk and some cream. The cream is going to be sour cream when the lemons get here, but the cheese is done already. Hardly ever drink milk any longer, but love to have cereal and milk or cream gravy once in a while. But some folks are kinda picky about cereal--like me. Can't stand that fruity stuff. The kids got used to having oats, honey, and "shtuff" for cereal years ago. Funny how things change in your diet over a period of time. But then, seventy some years is a pretty good space of years for such changes. 

Jerry got himself a used lawn mower and has been mowing his yard. Alongside the road looks nice and neat, so maybe he can cut down the jungle in his yard before this thing craters. Can still hear it running, at least. Of course, he had to come over and use tools for working on it. But that is ok, too. Not really a problem as long as he puts them back. He can't leave anything over at his house because folks he has visiting over there take anything that is not nailed down. Such great "friends."

Was going to take a nap earlier, and two dogs wanted to play. Finally got them to settle, and then the nap bug disappeared. Oh well. Maybe by the time the hens are put away, things will be better for sleeping anyway.

Have the kettle on for hot tea. Love hot tea weather. This is chamomile and lavender. Most of the tea bags in my tea box had to be trashed. They get old or they get bugs--or both. One of these days will find a good place to buy tea bags again. Use to get some at Cash Saver. They were fresh, believe it or not. That was a good little store. Hated to see it closed. It was so convenient. Can't imagine what folks do who can't drive to a store or have one within walking distance. But from reading about "food deserts," it is not that unusual for some cities to not have anything like a grocery store for miles. Good time in some places to learn to grow food in containers or something!

Jerry came over to ask me to wash his "dress" clothes so that he could go downtown for an appointment. The pants had bleach spots on them which reminded me that Walmart had zero bleach for purchase. Is that wild or what? Anyway, he brought me some bleach that he had bought somewhere that was concentrated. He carefully pointed that out to me. Seldom use bleach, but have a sleep shirt that needs bleach. Wondering how concentrated bleach is going to react to cotton/synthetic material. Hmm. May have holes to wear unless the bleach is diluted before putting my tee shirt in the washer.

Have been playing a game on the computer called Hidden something or other. The idea is to find things that are hidden in the pictures within a certain time. It can be a little nerve wracking if the things are really hidden. But it is fun, too. Half the time the things don't look like what one would expect, but can't be totally discounted as being the things they ask for. Just different. It reminds me a little of what Lance had to contend with when he was in kindergarten. They would be asking for the letter M for  mittens, and he was thinking the picture was for gloves. We never called anything mittens! 

Need to hack down the sunflower bushes out front. They no longer have any pretty flowers on them. Seriously doubt if the birds will eat the seeds on them when they can just go out back and share with the hens! Have no idea how much the wild birds eat, but you can bet it is almost as much as what the hens eat--at least the grains.

Talking to Connie this morning, and she said that Rebekah was thinking of leaving tomorrow for Maryland. If she goes, Connie is going to miss her. They have finally had a chance to get to know each other better and seem to like each other. About time! They are so far apart in age and have never really been around each other since Connie left for California and Rebekah left home at 16. Their circumstances have never been good for getting to know each other. So this has been good for both of them. 

Think this is going to be a good week to just stay at home. Connie said the Covid count for WF just keeps getting higher. Not sure why. But it is not that difficult for me to stay at home. Have to go get blood work done Wednesday, but that is it. Class at the Zone can wait awhile. And my Kindle just gets books online so easily--no contact with anyone! Whatever is in the air right now--Colorado smoke or whatever--has caused me so much trouble that not going out is an easy decision. Hope that others have that decision made as easily and economically.

Whatever good thoughts you can have and blessings you can consider, these are good things to hold on to right now. You are loved.