The Kirk that they don’t want you to see

In case you don’t follow me on twitter, you may not have heard that I recently finally figured out a name for my ducks outside. (the adults)

 

The female we’d just been calling ‘duck’ for a while became “Smedley Ducker” (it was just too funny NOT to get used.)

 

As you may recall Smedley was a part of the ill fated group of ducklings from last spring. She has been through a lot in the past year. She survived the first culling by raccoons with just a bit of a limp, and then survived the later culling by an unknown predator that left her re-injured and limping again.

 

Shortly after she recovered from that I got her a ‘friend’ who was supposed to be a female *insert my snort of derision for the idiots who sold me the duck here*  turns out? Not so much. That female was in reality not only NOT a Blue Swedish(like Smedley) but also NOT a female.

He? Is an Indian Runner(a duck that looks like a wine bottle on legs) and very much a male.  The pair of them live out in the chicken yard with the 20 + regular chickens we have. He? Is interested in every single one of them.

 

As you can see Kirk is tall, dark and handsome (every woman’s dream duck ;) ) but he seems to forget that he is a DUCK and they are CHICKENS and have their very own roosters should they feel the need to get frisky. Of course he usually forgets this right about the time company shows up to the house and is wandering around the property looking at the various critters.

Its ALWAYS fun to explain to strangers WHY he is chasing those chickens. Especially when those strangers tend to be little kids.

Last weekend Kirk and Smedley became the proud parents of two new ducklings(that were ‘imported’) a gorgeous little Blue Swedish, and a handsome little Rouen. 

The Swede is on the left the Rouen on the right.

We also picked up 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes, 2 Arucanas/Americanas (the green/pink egg layers) and 2 Marans.  These 6 moved outside today along with the other two blue Swedes that I picked up about a week and a half ago. (Pictures of the group are from right after we got the new Swedes).

 

Ducks, ducks everywhere, yet not a duck to spare

 

    Today saw the arrival of two new ducklings to the poultry clan. They join the other two ducklings who are already chilling in the cage with the chicks and are yet un-named. So this will bring us to a total of 6 ducks.

4 Blue Swedish

1 Runner(seriously he needs some therapy)

and a Rouen.

 

Ought to be an interesting mix.

 

Neither of the older two ducks are named as nothing has quite seemed right(even though I’ve had the older swede for almost a year now) so any suggestions are welcome.

 

Oh and if you recall last year about this time:

 

If this post doesn’t get me the Google Pervs nothing will

Ah yes, living in the country is normally an idyllic lifestyle full of croaking frogs and quiet nights.

 

Until something like yesterday’s incident occurs.

 

Now that its spring it was time to officially start mowing the field and get in on all the excitement.

 

I was making the first pass of the field and was approaching our light pole that is in the field(on the side of the road) when I noticed *SOMETHING* attached to it.  I was still a good distance away and saw that it was brown and figured it was a way ward leaf or something that’d blown onto the pole.

As I started getting closer I noticed something ODD about the item- it was triangular and more importantly cloth.

 

It wasn’t until I was up close that I saw what it was:

 

 

Oh yes, that is a THONG nailed to a pole. Its not just any thong though, its a leopard skin one…

 

 

I went on my way mowing, since I didn’t have anything to remove it with on the tractor. When I was finished I ran back to the house and got the crow bar, to take it off.

 

Get back out pry the nail loose enough that I can take it off the pole using the crow bar(is NO way I was touching it *shudders*) and decide that instead of taking it to the house I’d just “dispose” of it in the woods across the street. (Frankly I’d much rather see the neighbors have to deal with it than take it to the house).

So I’m getting ready to cross the street with the thong on the end of the crow bar, when I hear a Car coming. Stop to wait and of course the car slows down, and the driver gives me one of those “WTF?!” looks when he sees what I’m holding.

 

I’m pretty sure that the neighbor now thinks I’m some kind of odd perv or something standing on the side of the road with a thong on a stick. Ought to be fun this summer when we have our open house ;)

So many posts I could be writing but instead I’ll write this one…

I love my British friends.

 

See they know what I like and they send me wonderful care packages. I love getting mail, but i love it even more when that mail is either laugh out loud funny or filled with chocolate and other goodies.

 

My first British care package arrived sometime late last year. It had a short funny story that one of my awesome friends Barcardi wrote for me. I’ve carried that thing to many an event where I knew I might need cheering up and it has helped to keep a smile on my face.

 

Then at Christmas she sent me another lovely care package filled with chocolate and presents for the wee one. Not just any chocolate mind you, but the GOOD British Cadbury’s (and yes there is a difference from American Cadburys).  I’m a sucker for chocolate.

Throw in an adorable bear for the wee one and I’m a goner.

 

The end of last month another friend Mirth sent me a care package chock full of Wagon Wheels:

 

Which are similar to the American Moon Pie but 100 million times tastier. She also sent me a LOL picture, but I am too stingy to share it(because frankly it’s a personal running joke, and would take far too long to explain). Lets just say it is totally fun and I grin every time I look at it.

Same day the WW’s and the LOL picture arrived I also found a new little friend in the mail:

 

That is a pewter squirrel pin that my good friend Sam sent me.

 

So imagine my surprise the other day when I went to the mailbox and found from Barcardi an envelope chock full of English Cadbury goodness. I’ve now hidden it away in hopes that this time it lasts me more than 2 days. Though with a night like tonight that is doubtful.

Just a quick update

I just wanted to let you all know that yes, I am still alive. I hope to be blogging more now that the 2009 CLE/CWS is over and done(yesterday).

As far as I know preliminary data suggests that overall everything went well. The pre-registration number was around 680 as of Wednesday so I’m sure that we had more then that but I haven’t heard a final count yet.

Overall I enjoyed teaching again this year though my advanced class was a bit difficult. I had one of those students who decided that everything I taught was wrong and that it was *their* job to inform the others of the error of my ways.

I was glancing at my searches and had a few rather interesting/funny/what the heck ones jump out at me from the last couple months.

• uncensored cg gallery from mama club
• weather in resloute
• what is something slippery / something slippery
• joe biden powerpoint
• agoat the bomber part 1
• what is a proverbial horse / proverbial horse

The oddest search term that led to my blog has GOT to be:

• watersink uk so named as water sinks through ground walk

 

Hope that all of you are doing well, and I hope to be back with in a few days with some new photos that I’ve been playing with.

Just to give you a preview of what you’ll see:

 

Meetings, Schedules, and general crazy abounds

So as you may recall earlier this year I taught and helped to host the CLE/CWS for one of my volunteer organizations.

There are several branches of this organization, and one of the other branches does/did something similar the CLW that is traditionally held in October.

 

This year they didn't have enough time, energy or resources to put it on so it has been shifted into a YoCL for 2009.

I had heard that they were having a hard time getting people to help their committee so I said that as a Board Member I would step up and attend and assist them in anyway possible.

Last night was our 3rd meeting and it looks like it is going to be a great year for them and their program(aside from the budget cuts county wide).

 

Though being involved in both CLW AND CLE/CWS has become a bit challenging.

First of all there is the similarity of names(workshop vs. expo) and both have meetings semi-regularly.

This week was an interesting challenge in that both committee's had meetings the CLW last night and the CLE/CWS tomorrow night. I also still have class until Dec. 2nd and get to juggle that in as well.

Squirrel Fiction is now live

Just wanted to say that if you want to check out what I've been doing lately this is probably the place to go.

See a number of months ago I got involved in writing for a group of my friends the "Squirrels" over on the Dgeek forum.

Originally I was planning on just writing one story and calling it quits. Then I discovered how much fun it was to write the stuff(as you get to intermix real people into fictional situations). So I kept writing it.

The I discovered Photoshop and started making banners and art for fun.

Nikki and I were creating so much content that it started to overwhelm her personal blog where we had been publishing so she set up the New home of Squirrel Fiction.

Squirrel Fiction Network is a fun place to drop by have a good laugh and kick your feet up. So if you feel so inclined to- drop by say hi! But be warned our inner geeks are out in full over there :D

Another day shift

Today we did a spot cut, and sunk a truck in the mud. By the end of the day I was completely surprised that we had trucks driving out to us, as the field was QUITE muddy!

For the random picture today I bring you:

A small angry cat!

Random picture week...

Since I am in the process of switching to day shifts this week(and probably part of next week) will be random picture week. I will dig into my files upon files of pictures, and find some random shots to post here!

 

Now for something, slippery, slimy and all together ooky

A while ago I promised a friend that if/when I got a chance I would snap a picture of some of our larger slugs around here.

Now I live in the northwest and we are known for our rain, but right now it is our 'dry spell' *shhh!* don't let that out! So it is rather hard to find slugs.

That is until the other day, when I came home and found this little beauty lounging by my front door. Now I apologize for the cruddiness of the pictures but they were both snapped with my cell phone after a loooong night at work, then breakfast.

I estimate that he when fully stretched out was probably 6-7 inches in length.

The Great Zoo adventure

Today was a really long day. It started out not so great and ended pretty blah. See I was woken from a dead sleep by the toddler at 7, and shortly after I got her resettled in her bed, the phone rang. It was my grandmother calling to inform us that she was CERTAIN that she was dying or having a stroke and that we must come NOW. *sighs* so my mother headed off to her house and I went back to bed expecting to get another 2 or so hours of sleep. Instead Kenzie slept in until nearly 1pm.

Since I'd been up since about 10:30 I'd basically gone insane from staring at the same four walls. So I decided we needed to get out and do something. At first I figured we'd go to the mall and wander around for a while perusing the shops and all the great wonders. When Kenzie awoke I hurriedly dressed her and loaded her in the car anxious to leave. We started driving north with my awesome Canadian station blaring out my favorite country tunes. Next thing I know I glance around and realize that 'hey! we're in Bellingham, What the????' (for reference Bellingham is about 40 minutes north of me, the mall is 10 minutes away).

So since I didn't want to go to the Bellingham mall and quickly thinking on my feet I decided that we should just hop into Canada and go to the zoo. We hopped onto the Guide heading for the border whizzed through the border(though thank you Mr. Border Guard to be the first to question me about wether or not I really was allowed to have my child) and headed up the road for the Greater Vancouver Zoo(convinently located 10 minutes north of the Aldergrove border crossing).

We arrived at the zoo, and are cruising through the parking lot when my phone rings. Its my sister calling to inform me that they are on their way to pick up Howie(my grandmothers dog) as she was being admitted to the hospital. Of course while she was babbling on to me I'd found a prime parking spot, and parked and had pulled out my wallet to get the money to pay and what not. I hung up with my sister flipped open the wallet, and realized the only money I had was four 1 dollar bills. No check card, nothing. So I had to give up my primo parking spot, turn around and drag my sorry butt back to the states.

Though the trip was short lived, it was nice to be back in Canada again. I LOVE it up there, the atmosphere just recharges me.

Oh and my grandmother? She's fine, just a stress attack.

Random Picture Saturday

On a sadder note, I received a phone call this evening informing me that last night we had a 'masked marauder'. Apparently it killed Slowpoke, and 2 of the ducklings(I don't know which two as I'm not currently home to Id them). More to come be sure to tune in tomorrow.

More things I have learned recently

In an effort to better myself I have been approaching new tasks, and tackling them. Most I have not had a chance to photograph, but there have been a few I did.

Some things I have learned recently:

* How to turn off the water to a sink, and remove the trap in effort to locate a lost item.

* How to almost kill myself in one fell swoop. Just breathe cotton balls.

* How to explain the scar on my arm in new and more humorous ways(I tried to pay for gas but apparently they only accept LEFT arms).

and last but not least:

* How to install a new toilet seat!

Something I learned to do yesterday

Make two-tone Jell-O!!!

Step 1: Start with Jell-O pack 1

 

Step 2: Boil 2 Cups water

 

Step 3: Empty Contents of Package into Bowl

 

Step 4: Wait for water to boil

Step 4a: Be bored Make designs on Jell-O (OPTIONAL)

 

Step 5: Add 2 cups boiling water to Powder

 

Step 5a: Stir:

Step 6: Stir in 2 cups cold water:

Step 7: Refigerate 2 and a half hours or until firm BUT tacky

    

Step 8: Repeat Steps 1-5 with Jell-O Pack #2

Step 9: Pull out Cooled Jell-O

Step 10: Pour Second Jell-O mix slowly and carefully over 1st:

Step 11: Cool 4 hours, then remove and assume you have failed as the Jell-O appears purple(apparently I lost my color lessons)

Serve:

Reason #274 you don't leave toddlers alone....

You should NEVER EVER EVER walk away from a toddler who has a red marker and paper on which to color. She will invariably eat the marker and make it look like she is bleeding, thus freaking you out.