Rural Renewal

The day after our chicks arrived we had a wind storm that knocked our power out.  We don't have a generator, or another resource for power.  They need to be kept between 90-95 degrees for the first week.  Each week the temp goes down 5 degrees.  They had been shipped the day before, which is tremendously stressful on their little bodies.  So how do we keep them warm? 

The "heater" after the lights went back on.

In the "old" days...they would put them near the fire.  Not an option here.  Turn on the car, crank the heat and leave it running.  A waste of gas, and resources.  Bring them to a friend who has power...that was an option.  What I did was start the kettle on the gas stove and boil water.  I filled a small hot water bottle, and a lidded casserole that Bob and I had made in ceramics.  They immediately huddled next to the casserole which I refilled every hour until our power went back on.  Farmer Suz rises again.

The other thing that happened was a real eye opener. No internet, no power in the shop, no lights.  So I took the entire NYT Sunday paper and read it by the window.  Streams of visual images came to my brain.  I began to sketch in my sketchbook, as I do every morning during my quiet time.  I felt a calm come over me that lit a light bulb in my consciousness.  So I have decided to not turn my computer on one day a week.  Sundays probably, as I have the Sunday paper delivered. 

Seeds started in Jiffy Pots...new to me.

So let's hear it for "Rural Renewal" instead of "Urban Renewal".   I think our culture is out of balance, and it would do this Homosapian good to unplug from time to time.  Gardening, the chickens, and eating my own grown food was a start.  I loved the satisfying feeling of reading by the light of the window. 

Thanks for reading.  Each day is a gift, open now.

xo,

Suz

Chicks Are Here!!!

She fell asleep as I was taking the picture.

They arrived  early,  again.  A shared order with my neighbor, Wendy.  I was almost ready...so Bob and I scrambled to move the nursery in the yard, get the light set and watched the thermometer rise.  The wind instantly picked up.  I caved, and we brought them inside, in the kitchen.  Much easier to maintain the constant temp for these crucial days.  Since they came on St. Patty's Day, I think I will name them Irish lass names.  Please feel free to leave your Irish name suggestions in the comments.  They will be red in color, so how perfect to have 6 red heads on St. Patrick's Day.

Nothin' cuter than new peeps.

Happy St. Patty's Day!  Thanks for reading.  

Each day is a gift. Open now.

xo,

Suz

One Week Till Chicks

Red Star Production Hen

My wonderful chicken loving neighbors and I are sharing a chick order from Murray McMurray. .  I decided to get "Red Star" production hens.  I have never had them, and I want a good source of eggs for my laying flock.

Today I went and bought organic chick starter and tomorrow I clean out the nursery aka rabbit hutch that has served me for many a chick.  They are due the 19th, my grandson is due the 24th for a visit.  I hope at 13 he's still lovin' the peeps. 6 girls flyin' soon.

Can't wait to have chicks, and a new breed.

I'll keep you updated.  My co-gardner Karen will be planning, planting, and working on part of the vegetable garden. It's so nice to have another farmer around. We are seed starting in these Jiffy pop up peat pots for the first time also. I got 12 artichoke plants from a woman in California...I am nervous.  I have lots of photos to take. :-)

Thanks for reading.  Each day is a gift, open now!

xo,

Suz

He's Coming Home

He's home!!

A quick update on the "million dollar kitten" Figgy.   We ended up taking him to the Vet Friday afternoon. He looked worse.  We transferred him to pet hospital  so they could keep him overnight on an IV, and providing a "smorgasboard" as the Vet said.  The Vet at this hospital is a Sage in our town.  He took his own films and said he saw nothing, all chemistry good.  This is the same hospital we took our Columbus to when he passed.  So I took a deep breath and whispered over and over in Figgy's Ear: "you're coming home, and getting well."

They called this AM and said he can be picked up later this afternoon!!!!!!!!!!! 
He's eating on his own.  Looking alert.  Woop!

Photos to come.
Thanks for reading. Each day is a gift. Open now!
xo,
Suz

Figgy Update

2 AM: on my lap

It's Friday morning.  I spent the night forcing fluids on the hour, so Figgy doesn't dehydrate.  Fluids include honey water or chicken broth.  Fausto now comes up to him and licks the top of his head.  Buddy is staying very close.  Today there should be an improvement, if there is going to be one.  It's been a long time since I have nursed this sick of an animal.  He just wants to be close, and so I am sitting with him on my lap most of the time.  I feel connecting through touch is imperative.  As cats tend to isolate themselves when sick, or dying.  I am constantly talking to him to keep him in the now.

I just tried some plain chicken baby food on my finger.  He actually licked his lips, so I put some in a teaspoon and he licked it all up!  This is the most encouraging  sign in 4 days.

Thanks for reading. Each day is a gift, open now.
xo
Suz

Figaro Makes His Mark

Fausto and Figaro: morning 1

I am here to tell you that it doesn't take very long to become emotionally attached to a new pet.  Last December I blogged about getting 2 kittens for Bob.  If I count correctly, 79 days ago.  When we returned from our NY trip, I noticed our black and white kitten "Figaro" didn't sleep with us.  His brother and Buddy couldn't be close enough.  In the morning I saw he was not well.  I called the Vet who saw him immediately.

My lap barely held 2 kittens and the Mac.

105.5 temp, lethargic, and dehydrated he spent most of the day on a cold pack.  Blood work showed no Feline viruses, that was a relief.  The rest was sent out to the lab. Coming back with a high white count, and antibiotics were started.  The origin of this infection, has yet to be determined. Keeping Figgy stable and dehydrated is my mission at the moment.  Chicken broth warmed, and fresh water every hour kept me up for a good part of the night.  I went to bed early in hopes to recharge my batteries.  But "Figgy" needed closeness, and slept under my chin in between liquids.

Buddy licking the top of Figgy's head before napping together.

Sadly when Figgy arrived home from the vet, Fausto began to hiss and growl at him.  Smelling different was enough to erase the howling for his brother most of yesterday.  Amazing, eh?  Hard for me to believe that he didn't know him.  Figgy wanted to be close to Fausto, but got "the big growl" and slunk away.  Fausto has lost his playmate, and apparently I am the new one.  Figgy watches with his front paws tucked under him as Fausto makes flying leaps from furniture, attacks the dogs tail, and chases the white ball toy.  Then Fausto decides it's time to bite me: fingers, shoes, shoe laces, calves, elbows, pony tail, anything will do.  Finally last night I gave him a little neck nip like Figgy does.  :-)

Figgy and Fausto napping in the kitchen.

We don't know if Figgy will recover, as the source of this infection is still unknown.  So for now I will continue to make the chicken broth, rice mix for him.  Force fluids, and monitor his temp.  I will also continue to be Fausto's playmate...who is sleeping on my lap as I type.  These were supposed to be Bob's cats, remember?  Haha.  What was I thinking?

Thanks for reading. Each day is a gift. Open now.
xo,
Suz

It's Been Awhile

Meteorite Heart Pendant featured on blogs.

February is a short month, and this year it flew by.  I was fortunate to be featured on several shopping blogs: "Apartment Therapy" and "Geek Sugar" that drove up the demand for meteorite pieces.  A humbling social network moment for me.  I am still filling the last of the orders. We met the man who I buy meteorite from in New York last weekend.  He brought me the last of his pieces.

I've been fortunate to meet some great local machinists.  Their jobs sway in the breeze as India, Mexico, and China continue to suck work from the USA.  These guys have treated me with respect, and helped to build my business.  My source for meteorite lost his local machinist who used to cut the meteorites from whole chunks into slices. He'd been to Tuscon for the Gem and Mineral Show, and was sitting with whole meteorites he couldn't cut.  So this "woman, girl, chick" called her local boys, and they were more than happy to help.  Amazing, eh? Lesson learned: next year go and get my own damn meteorite and get it cut myself.  :-)

CNC Machine

What these men and their CNC, 100 ton presses, EDM cutters, Lasers, Water Jets, and 3D printers can make would blow your mind.  They are our modern unsung heroes. They are in short supply here in the USA.  Recently CNN had a segment on the "Top 10 Jobs the USA Can't Fill."  #1 is Machinist.  Sadly the reporter could not pronounce the word "machinist." Not only do we not have enough of them, but we can't even pronounce the word correctly.  We have a glut of college graduates who can't make anything.  Whose bright idea was it to do away with Industrial Arts in the high schools?  As a maker of things, and married to a NYU graduate of Industrial Arts this subject is one of my sore spots. 

EDM Cutter

CNC 5 Axis Cutter

I did not start out to write a blog tonight about machinists. I will tell you that the kittens are sleeping on "my" chair with me, and it's getting a bit crowded.  They are young teenagers now.  Continuing to act like wild jungle cats at times.  Nightly they snuggle in bed with us.  All the seeds are here for the garden. Onion sets arrived while we were in NYC.  Artichokes should be here tomorrow, and asparagus following.  Irrigation, and permanent cover for the garden are this spring's tasks.  The edible landscape I designed will replace the grass and ornamental bushes in the guest house yard.  Did I mention 6 new chicks arrive the 19th?  I chose production reds from Murray McMurray.

Trying to type with Fausto and Figaro. :-)

I hope I can keep you posted about all that is happening.  I am a bit overwhelmed as I move into greater production of those outer space rocks, and other items for my Etsy shops.  I am dusting off my wood working tools, and New Mexico Spring Winds permitting, I'll be outside making garden items.

Thanks for reading. Each day is a gift, open now.
xo,
Suz