Winter

Winter

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Odds and Ends


One of the places that had become increasing more chaotic and a terrible place to visit was my chicken coop. Having three roosters had made the hens edgy and bad tempered. There was noise of fights and squabbles and not the peaceful coop I enjoy. My largest rooster had come of age. When they start staring with unmoving eyes and planning my demise it is time to call for a end to this. Ben and Megan, have wanted to learn how to butcher chickens so they came yesterday and took two of my roosters home. They told me yesterday they would do it this morning.


Except, this morning when I got on Facebook there was a picture of my rooster looking like a store bought chicken all bagged up. He dressed out very nice. I admit to feeling a bit faint. You know you raise these chickens, and I know I totally put out of my mind that chickens are made, well you know from chicken.

Today, peace reigns in my coop. California passed that law that chickens now have to have so much space to live. Here so many chicken farmers have gone out of business. Eggs are now costing 50 cents per egg. My hens are worth their weight in gold.



I wanted to share with you one of Ron's latest projects. He loves these stylized horses. He decided that he was going to try and make one. It was a perfect day, it was cold and rainy and we had a fire going in the fireplace. I think it is just the coolest thing. It is a sculpture of a Greek Horse.


He is making another one now. When our oldest daughter was young and in art class, her teacher took me aside and told me that she saw things in 3D. I had never heard of that. I always pondered where she must have got that  gift and now I realize it is from her Dad. I watched him and he was making the armature and he can do the same things that I used to watch her do with her hands. She is a sculptor among all of her other things she does.

So far so good on this day in January. Having my coop be peaceful again is a wonderful start to the new year. I hope your new year is off to a good start as well. This has been the nicest week.

~Kim~

" The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time."
---Abraham Lincoln---

19 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

what a cool sculpture! what is is made of - looks metal!

and i'm glad you were able to reduce your rooster population. :)

Debbie said...

oh I don't know if I could do that.....and yet, I LOVE eating chicken!! a very cool sculpture!!

Nancy said...

This was just the most interesting post. I loved reading about your chickens and how unruly they were with the males around and sending the males on to their destiny. The horse your hubby sculptured is beautiful; there is so much talent in your family. God blessed you with creativity in abundance. And on to those gorgeous photographs...Your peaceful week has shown up in your post....

Rugs and Pugs said...

That Greek horse it too cool!!! I just love the folkiness of it.
Hugs :)
Lauren

Three Sheep Studio said...

Nothing like a peaceful chicken coup !
Ron's horse is very striking ! Looks like you have artistic talent throughout your family. ;)
Rose

Nellie said...

In Barbara Kingsolver's book she writes about her extra roosters winding up on the rotisserie! There was a neighbor gathering for the special occasion! I think it would be good to have some chicken and dumplings from the effort.:-)

What a talented husband you have! Great looking horse!

Enjoy the week-end!

xo Nellie

Kim said...

I saw Meg's post earlier and I wondered...... I am just in awe of Ron's talents. That is incredibly beautiful. Sometimes I just stare at my bonsai and look at how small, intricate and perfect it is.

Velva said...

I know it must be a weird feeling when you see your chicken bagged up-no doubt it will be delicious on someone else's dinner table.
The horse is very artistic, very pretty.

Happy New Year!!

Velva

Anonymous said...

I am also very curious about Ron's materials and method. It looks like cast metal, but what would I know! You make it sound like he did it one day....

Gumbo Lily said...

Roosters. I had four this fall and reduced them to just one Speckled Sussex rooster. The coop is peaceful, he is content and protective rather than always fighting and pestering the hens. One rooster is enough, isn't it?

Love your husbands Greek Horse. I, too, am curious about how he did it. Do you allow him to do guest posts? Ha! Your family is very artistic. What a gift!

Blessed January.

Catherine said...

Dear Kim. Wishing you a Happy New Year.

Kessie said...

You felt a bit faint? Haha, oh no! I thought he looked just like the ones you buy. Also, 50 cents an egg?? That is crazy!! It's cheaper to raise the chickens!

Kathy ... aka Nana said...

50 cents an egg? That's crazy!

I love your husband's horse ... what material did he use to make that? He's such a talented man ... you are so blessed.

Kerin said...

Hi Kim
Gosh.. such a nice piece by Ron! He is talented!!

I am glad that there is peace in the coop again, and I agree with you .. .your eggs are worth having chickens! I cannot imagine paying 50 cents per egg.

~K.

Julia said...

Ron is a talented like my granddaughter. I imagine it's made with clay and glaze. It's nice that he's interested in those kind of creative hobbies. A great stress reliever. He did a great job.

I'm glad peace reigns in the coop again.

We're having a snow storm with freezing rain today.
Hugs,
JB

Pom Pom said...

Wow! Ron IS an artist!
So, no more roosters? They seem to upset the happy henny balance.

Joy said...

50 cents an egg?? Wow! I get my fresh farm eggs from my sis in law and she charges $2 a dozen, she is probably losing money considering all the expenses, but she loves her chickies. I've helped 'dress' chickens before... yuck! I remember as a kid, my mom cutting the head off a chicken and it ran around blood spurting everywhere--it even ran towards me and I was screaming! I prefer to buy them in the store so I don't have to think about killing them.

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Oh my goodness 50 cents an egg. I have always heard how expensive California was and we would starve if I had to pay that much for eggs. So glad you are able to have your coop peace and enjoy the fruit of your labor...eggs. My dad stopped having chickens because my siblings would cry when he went to butcher them...LOL
Your whole family is talented...so are you!!!

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

Ron's horse is amazing. I can't imagine having a talent like that. You two are so good with your hands. You also, with your beautiful needle work and hooking.