2012 March 28 — Patchwork Times by Judy Laquidara

The Other Sick Chicken

March 28, 2012 · by JudyL

When I was a kid, we’d go to my grandma’s almost every weekend. I loved spending time with the chickens. I can remember that my grandma had one that was lame. I can’t remember the details but she didn’t move very fast and I could always catch her and hold and pet her. As she got older, she had more trouble getting around and then we went to visit and that chicken wasn’t there. I remember that my grandma wouldn’t tell me what happened to her but I knew that it wasn’t good.

We have this poor little chick. She’s the same one we had isolated before.

She eats . . way too much! She’s always at the food bowl. She’s so chunky but she’s also just not shaped right. When I pick them all up, the others, even the ones that eat plenty, are real scrawny when you feel under their feathers. This one is like a little balloon almost ready to pop! She’s pooping just fine. She’s way too short and the others run over her . . not even trying to be mean but she just can’t move very fast.

Today she kept chirping very loudly . . I think she’s in distress but I don’t know. When Vince came home, he cleaned out the hospital box and put her in it so at least she’s not getting run over by the others.

I don’t think she’s going to make it. I know that’s what happens on a farm. When there are animals, there are losses. It still breaks my heart. To lose two chickens in a few days is not easy.

And, so we don’t end this post on a sad note, here are my five little bantams.

They are so darned cute. They’re nosey, they’re fast, they seem to have a purpose to everything they do. They’re always in a hurry. I could sit and watch them all day. They’re still in my sewing room and I’m so ready to make the sewing room a chicken free zone!

· Filed Under: Home & Garden · 5 Comments

Garden Update

March 28, 2012 · by JudyL

My garden is coming along fine. Going to the plant store, which is also the fruit/vegetable stand, is as tempting for me as is going to Tractor Supplyl when there are baby chickens there.

Yesterday I bought ancho peppers, tomatillos, tabasco peppers, chili peppers, and finally they got in some Roma tomatoes. I’m still waiting for them to get more cucumber and squash plants. Once I get those planted, I think I’ll be done buying plants. I’m still waiting a couple of weeks before planting the cream peas and okra seeds but other that, I’m just about finished planting.

I’ve planted onions, potatoes, 26 tomato plants, 6 eggplants, 6 zucchini, 6 bell peppers, 6 tomatillos, 6 tabasco peppers, 2 chili peppers, 3 ancho peppers, radishes, cantaloup, watermelon, green beans, purple hull peas, beets, carrots and that’s all I can remember!

· Filed Under: Home & Garden · 33 Comments

Six Little Fig Trees

March 28, 2012 · by JudyL

When I posted a while back about being so excited to find a fig tree, a blog reader wrote me about a fig tree that she has that was a cutting from her Aunt Vivian’s tree. She started the fig tree from the cutting over 20 years ago and even though her aunt is now gone, she is still remembered every time they see that fig tree.

Nancy, the blog reader, was so sweet to go out and get cuttings from her tree, soak them in Vitamin B1, then surround them in damp peat moss, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and send them to me.

See the bluebonnets blooming in my flower bed in the background?

Actually, I could have sworn she sent me 7 trees and I planted 7 trees but I only found 6 trees yesterday when I was taking pictures. I’m so confused. How could I lose a fig tree? I looked around and didn’t see a 7th tree anywhere. Maybe there were only 6 of them to start with. All of them have new growth sprouting. Nancy told me her fig tree produces big black figs. Yum! I can’t wait. I’m thinking I’ll give one of these trees to my dad and one to my neighbor and keep 4 for myself and then I can always take cuttings off those for anyone else who might want Aunt Vivian’s fig tree.

Thank you so much Nancy for all you did to get those cuttings to me and for sharing a part of Aunt Vivian’s fig tree with me.