MISTER or MISS?

Okay, here are Pip and Pearl, my Ameraucana's: Pip on the left and Pearl on the right. Here's the thing. My friend Becky came for a visit last week to see my "girls" ( she is from a fourth generation farming family) and these words came out of her mouth, "oh I see you have a ROOSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!! " as she pointed towards Pearl. "See those tail feather's- those belong to a ROOSTER". Oh, Lordy. Becky spoke the words I have been dreading, but dared not utter. Please don't misunderstand- I have nothing against roosters, I just don't want one. This is a girls only club, no boys allowed!

Now, I'm still not 100% sure. Pearl has not made a "crowing" sound, has not picked on anyone, but there is something about those tail feathers that has me worried. Pearl's tail feathers appear more erect and fan like than Pip's. So, all you wonderful chicken keeper's out there, got any advice? I have a feeling I'm going to need it!

ISLAND BOUND

My Bean bag is packed and I'm off to the island, see you later in the week. My DH is on "chook" duty. Say a prayer, Amen.

THE COG RAILWAY

The Mt. Washington Railway uses 7 steam locomotives and 2 that run on bio-diesel, one new this year. The train departs from the western side of the mountain and is a six mile ride up. On a clear day you can see for miles. Hold on, though, it feels like you're going straight up!!

July 3, 1869 Old Peppersass became the first cog-driven train to climb Mt. Washington. Nowadays it takes 1,000 gallons of water and 1 ton of coal to make the trip with one of the steam locomotives. At no time are the locomotive and passenger coach coupled to each other. The locomotive pushes the car up the track and remains in the same position for the trip down. On the way down, one of the crew mans the passenger coach brake to assist in keeping control. It's a great ride, surely one of a kind! Here's a shortcut to the Cog's website. Enjoy:

http://www.thecog.com/

THE GRANITE STATE

When it's a beautiful sunny day and your husband is on call, ( no, not a physician ) you take advantage of the situation and head out to the great outdoors. For us it was a day spent on Mt. Washington, located in New Hampshire. Mt. Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States, with an elevation of 6,288 feet above sea level. Mt. Washington holds the all-time surface wind speed record of 231 miles per hour dated April 10th 1934. We drove to the summit which is 8 miles of winding twists and turns. ( not for the faint of heart ) The air temperature was 54 degrees perfect for hiking numerous trails and enjoying a picnic.

Yup, you guessed it those are train tracks. Also pictured is the auto road and hiking trails.

Another means of travel to the mountain is by Cog Railway. More to come on that tomorrow!

THE EVENING SKY

There are subtle signs of fall approaching. The days are becoming shorter, the night sky with a hint of pink. Leaves are starting to change and crickets are taking on their evening song.

THE FLUME

Saturday we woke to a lovely sunny summer day and opted to forgo chores and take a field trip. We headed to Franconia Notch, New Hampshire home of the Flume. The Flume is a natural gorge extending 800 feet at the base of Mt. Liberty. The walls of granite rise 70 to 90 feet and range 12 to 20 feet apart. Every year hundreds of feet of the Flume's pathway is removed due to large amounts of ice build up on the walls of the flume gorge. Ice can become 3 to 4 feet thick and rise up to 80 feet on the walls. The pathway is rebuilt every spring to enable visitors to walk this lovely trail. The hike was 2 miles, lots of spots for photo opts, and the mist of the flume keeping you cool along the way.

Yes, thats me in the black shirt, see my hair is gone!

Honey, take the darn picture we're holding up traffic!

What a beautiful day, um honey, did you close the coop door?

EVENING STROLL

Ali from Henbogle left a comment on the blog I wrote in regards to letting my girl's out for the first time. It seems her little" ladies" decided to pack their purses and head to the local post office. That got me to thinking, goodness, I hope Gladys doesn't get any ideas, like maybe "the grass being greener on the other side." Gladys, oh Gladys I have blueberries! Your favorite. (A little bribery can go a long way.)

A LESSON ON CHICKENS

I am not a fan of physicians, okay I said it. God knows I have seen my fair share and I am truly grateful for their care and knowledge, but it's something about their bedside manner that just doesn't sit well with me. That being said, I had a followup appointment with my Primary Care doctor yesterday. She jumped right into the subject of the big "M" as in "menopause" and being an "empty nester." I guess she feels the two go hand in hand. Oh, I say I'm not an empty nester, I have ten "chooks" residing with me. Chooks, what are chooks she asks. Hen's I say. What do you do with all the eggs? Oh, no eggs as of yet, my girl's are still to young. Isn't having a rooster rather noisy, no rooster I say, just girls. No rooster, how do you get eggs? Did I just hear that correctly. Well lookie here, I am going to teach the good doctor something today. I explained no rooster was involved in egg production however, if you desired chicks the process of rooster fertilization,with the end result being a chick. The look on her face, priceless! The look on mine, pure satisfaction! I informed her on my next visit I would bring her a dozen eggs. I'm no fool, I do need to remain in good standing with my doctor. I can't wait to see the look on her face when she opens the carton and sees the range of egg colors. I just hope Pip and Pearl come through for me!

FREEDOM

The girl's called a "pow wow" last night. Gladys led the discussion and presented their grievance. Hum, I thought what could this be about? Living conditions? menu? nope. No complaints on the "home front." The girls really appreciate the new additions to their menu; fresh organic lettuce, tomatoes and blueberries. No complaints about the housing conditions, I was informed how much they enjoy "fluffing" in the fresh pine chips. However, it appears after their accidental act of freedom last weekend they would really appreciate a little more time on the" loose." So, this afternoon I opened the coop door and watched the girls march one by one to outer freedom. They looked, listened, grazed and then the wind blew. It was all over, they all marched back to the safety of their coop. I think I heard a sign of relief, oh right, that was me!

"CHOOKS ON THE LOOSE"

Hon, will you let the girls out? Those were the first words of the morning to my husband, it was around 7:00 AM and he was off to purchase his morning newspaper. My feet touched the floor about 7:45AM came downstairs had my orange juice and looked out the window expecting to see the girl's- no girls. I thought it strange, but it had rained the previous day and night, I figured they were not wanting to get their feet wet. 8:30 AM still no appearance from the girl's, I say to my husband, somethings not right. Out the door I go, as I get closer to the coop I realize the pen door is open. Okay, maybe they are still on their roost, please still be on the roost. No such luck. Honey, the girl's are gone, gone as in flown the coop. The first thought that entered my mind was, okay Winslow has been in the yard since coming home with DH, we heard no barking. Winslow barks at everything. Good sign. No feathers in his mouth, no feathers in the yard. Another good sign. Then I thought about the very large fox that trotted up our driveway the day before. Bad sign. Could one or some of my girl's been this morning's breakfast. I scan the yard, look up in the tree's, and then call out "Gladys", "girls", "Gladys". To my amazement here they come. One by one they trot out from the woods behind their coop. Oh happy day, all ten with feathers intact. In the pen they go, pen door closes, I double check feathers and toes, we both breathe a sign of relief. That was enough stress for one day. And I thought we were empty nesters!

VACATIONLAND

Today was a picture perfect day here in Maine. My husband and I took advantage of the weather and drove up the coast to a small town called New Harbor. It is home to Shaw's wharf where they serve local seafood. My DH had to have his clam fix and has always been pleased with the food here. I was quite happy with my Strawberry Poppy seed Salad from Panera Breads. Shaw's wharf is also the location where scene's from the movie Message In A Bottle, starring Kevin Costner and Robyn Wright Penn were filmed. The sun was shining, the fragrance of salt water in the air, scenery breath taking, all I can say, Maine The Way Life Should Be!

A RAINY DAY PROJECT

Rain is predicted for this evening and into tomorrow. It sounds like a broken record around here. So, upon hearing this I decided it was time to pull out a rainy day project. I usually rug hook in the fall and winter season but, with the weather being so dreary and cool, it just feels right to start hooking again. This is a rug design by Sharon Perry, I have changed things up a bit and put my primitive interpretation on it. I'm calling it my Winslow Homer rug; that is Winslow, taking time to smell the flowers. If the weather continues on this way here in Maine, I should have this rug finished in no time. Then what.

OH HAPPY DAY

Can you guess what these flowers have in common?

Did you guess- that's right, their bug free! Oh happy day!

And this is the naughty boy who has been digging in the bug free flower bed!

AN ENGLISH SURPRISE

One of the things my husband and I enjoy is driving along the back roads of Maine. We are famous for taking dirt road detours and sometimes never know where we might end up. Last weekend we were driving through the town of Edgecomb; enjoying the countryside scenery when off into a field I spied a telephone booth. Not just any telephone booth- an English telephone booth. I had my husband turn the car around so I could take a photo, Jenny Wren who resides in England needed to see this. The booth was empty of it's contents, standing lop sided, but remained British proud. We have no idea how it came to be, but it was a delightful discovery. It just goes to show; always take the back roads when you have the opportunity, you never know what you might discover!

THE WAR IS ON!

Okay, no more plucking and dropping into soapy water, this is all out war! I've pulled out the big guns!

GOOD SATURDAY

The sun came out this afternoon and I put the finishing touches on the front of the coop; a yellow tin star and a basketful of Daisies. I had to give it a little"chick" effect. The girls huddled together and all were in agreement they liked the "girly "touch.

Lots of sunbathing and dust baths going on this afternoon, the temperature reached 80 plus degrees. It finally feels like summer has arrived in Maine.

My DH (Demon Husband) only kidding, put together the girl's nesting boxes. We are prepared if nothing else. There is not an exterior access door to the boxes. This morning as I was reading a favorite blog, one of this blogs hen's was killed by a raccoon. Those critter's are very crafty ( as we have experienced) the raccoon unlocked the box, killed and decapitated the hen. I am not taking any chances. I want to be able to count all ten heads in the morning!

I never realized that "Hens and Chickens" had the ability to flower like this. These came from my parent's home on the island. I transplanted them about ten years ago and this is the first time I have noticed blossoms. Who knew.

The Cone flowers are beginning to open; these are called Tiki Torch. I love the vibrant color, it adds a nice pop to the flower garden.

The Blue Lace Cap Hydrangea is also making an appearance. Hydrangea's, especially the color blue, are one of my all time favorites. And finally the blueberries are starting to ripen. There won't be enough to make jam this year as the shrubs are only a year old, however, maybe a pie. Life is good!

FRIDAY MORNING

The morning began with fog and mist; but by noon, The Irish Eyes were smiling,

The Lily's were saluting the sun,

And Winslow Homer was just plain hot! But hey, he's not complaining!

PURE EVIL

I made a deal with the devil this morning, I mean the notorious Japanese Beetle. The beetles have my permission to devour any or all of my Rugosa Roses as long as they remain far away from the rest of my flowers. It remains to be seen if they hold up their end of the bargain, I am holding up mine.