Its a weird short week and I’m still feeling a little emotionally raw. Still grieving a bit I think but I can breathe a bit easier these days. Noticed I’ve been a bit snappish and feeling extra tired so I think probably I’m on the cusp.
Tuesday: Mice moved into the garage while I was gone (downside of the good weather) War commencing but I’ll need to move a bunch of stuff out of there this weekend so they have less places to hide (and less expensive organic duck food to eat ;n;)
Wednesday: I saw a beautiful perfect red tailed hawk when I opened the back door this evening. it was so close, just sitting on the deck railing (probably looking for the rabbits that live under the deck!) and perfect, looked right out of the bird book. there’s something so magical about seeing wildlife just going about your day, one of my favorite things about living in the woods on this mountain. What a delightful surprise!
Got to 5k on the treadmill tonight before I got hungry and tired. Onwards and upwards.
Thursday: Pulled the pork and beef bones (from the Vietnamese market!) out of the big freezer, roasted them with dinner last night (dumpling lasagna experiment which my wife liked but I didn’t love – the GF dumpling wrapper wasn’t doing it for me, not toothsome enough) and put them in 2 big pots of water this morning during breakfast prep to cook down all day. Will take out 2-4 whole chickens (from the meat bird rooster adventure last year) from the big freezer for another round of broth. Trying to make some space for a Costco run this weekend or next plus we have big plans to do a huge canning project soon to make some quick foods for my wife’s cousin who is now a single mom and widow.
looked out the window before lunch and my drakes were chasing each other around the yard. too few ladies for them at this point, though we have 8 more female ducklings arriving in May. I have plans to set up a roosting box with fake eggs soon to try to convince 1 of my adult ladies to feel the call of motherhood. having them reproduce without my input would be a great step towards off grid sustainability – no electricity for an incubator or a brooder PLUS no more sending $200+ to the hatchery every spring. fingers crossed!
Part of my hatchery order this year includes some bantam hens who I’m hoping will hold up to their reputation of higher than average broodiness and great mothering skills. That way, worst case scenario, I could stick duck eggs under them and let them go ham. I don’t actually love eating duck eggs… but I do love eating duck…
Still haven’t made a decision on whether or not I’m hatching quail this year. Step 1: Need to put my hands on my big incubator that fits 150 eggs and see if it still works.
Friday: TRAGEDY!! I tripped going up the stairs to the office and spilled my diet coke. It was the last one š
I’m slowly working my way through my very neglected to do list. I called my doctor’s office to make an appointment for an annual physical and they were like “…no.” So I guess I’ve got to put that off until April.
I did get my grocery list for tonight done. Not a full shop, as I have to make a meatravaganza trip to Costco and that’s like a full day commitment. (The Costco is not close and then I have to spend several hours breaking down/ storing the huge meat packs for our 2 person family size) Maybe tomorrow!
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