The perfect storm...and a few additional tidbits

Late Saturday in to Sunday
Some very significant show fall 

Winter in CO has officially arrived in all it's glory. This being the first significant storm this year, last year was very dry, the roads to the Nugget Ranch were treacherous and beautiful at the same time. This morning after picture reminds me of how my pantry is stocked and is there enough food in the house until the route is clear!  I know...totally over thinking! It's likely travel will be rough and muddy for a few days. Here in CO, it's melts quickly, but on country dirt roads?  Muddin' anyone? Believe me, 7 to 8+ inches of snow brings on a whole set of new challenges out here. Walking being the first challenge! Trudging as I like to call it, takes a great deal of effort and can be exhausting should one be hauling water to the Nuggets or wood to the house. I will tell you this...it takes a lot longer to get chores done in the morning, not only because you are freezing to death, you are also worried that the Nuggets may have frozen over night. However...I did learn that, depending on who you ask...A chicken can give off approximately 10 BTUs of heat, for me that's 50 total BTU's produced in the coop at night, which is approximately 14.6535535 watts. I don't think that would powering any small hand tools, but I am hoping it will keep them warmer at night as the temperatures plummet. I heard some advise for Lisa at Fresh Eggs Daily that to create extra heat in your coop is to simply....Get more chickens! I'll have to keep that in mind :)

Some clever modifications had to be made to ensure the coop was warmer and free of drafts and wind. (it blows like a mutha effer up in here). I like to call my Nugget housing somewhat "Ghetto Chic" Check it out...all the tarps!

this looks more like an old trailer in a trailer park :)

Inside is pretty snow and damp free

Just looking at this makes my actually laugh out loud

The Nuggets are doing just fine. I have very cold hardy breeds and am very happy I chose them. With warm oatmeal or groats in the morning with nuts and dried fruit..and a little homemade scratch at night..the Nuggets will be just fine. I also, covered their combs and wattles with Green Goo to protect them from frostbite. This stuff works great for all animals and people too!!

A friend said to me the other day..."They will handle the cold much better than we will". Truer words my friend truer words. We got this.  The girls will be turning 26 weeks old tomorrow and I have three laying an egg a day most days!

Red, Kaylee, Zoe and River (top left to right)
Red started laying 10/25 and hasn't missed a day!
She was injured by a predator and I thought she wouldn't
lay at all for a while, but she has healed up and is my best layer!

She is so photogenic..She make me look like an actual photographer
Love my Kaylee

Inarra..my buddy

River...hates having her picture taken...just look at that face!

Butts up...means happy Nuggets!

In other news..since it snowed on Jayne's birthday, I played outside in the snow with him more than I would normally, being his birthday and all..Lost a few balls, but he absolutely love being out there!

Happy happy pup! One year old 

Frapping in the snow and tormenting Mr. McCorgipants was on tap for the day

How do I judge snow fall measurements?
It was Corgi High!!

Just to finish up for today..(got some chores) I'll leave you with some pictures from the Nugget Ranch~

Fresh Dog Frap Tracks

Spanish Peaks

Home made Scratch Day

My gifts from the Nuggets
daily bits of pure joy

A most fluffy butt <3 td="">

~Until next time~

A little rant.

I am so tired. Can I just say that? It has been a rough few days with my pain issues and general anxiety. I can't quite put my finger on the problem other than I am so fucking tired. Some days I feel I could sleep for a week and others I can't sleep at all. Is this an age thing? I really don't know and I have spent hundreds of nights trying to figure it out and frankly....it's just to much stress for me. My body doesn't respond well to stress. I get sick, I suffer from chronic pain all over my body and some days find myself incapacitated, so angry and just plain bitchy.



 With that being said...I do carry on here at my wee farm even though I can barely lift a rake and not feel pain. So, I have decided that the only person that can fix me is me. Doctors are no help at all as they just say "it's all in your head" or "Here, try these anti depressants...WTAF? really. I am not going to go on mood altering drugs just to see if they "might" work. If I was imagining all of this, why does it seem so real? My new doc here in the SOCO doesn't believe in pain management. I intend to talk to her again about it...But, I think doctors are afraid now to prescribe anything other than non-narcotic mood enhancers. I get that. Opioid addiction is running ramped in the country. That being said... I want to ask...can you help me with some alternatives? PT? I don't know. So, with the lack of help in this department it's time to try a more aggressive herbal approach, and Ayurvedic solution. It will take a lot of research and patience which I seem to be lacking at the moment. But something has got to give here, I am not living like this any longer. It's just too hard.

On a lighter note...

Please hold. Must get some chores done before my back says no....

I promise a more positive post very soon~

Until next time 🙏

Namaste

All the things update!

Morning Fetch with the boy

As you can probably figure out I am terrible at keeping this blog up to date! Right? Living out in the sticks and on a large piece of property keeps you extremely busy because there is always SOMETHING to do. I have realized that after long days of working around the house, the coop, raising a puppy, five chickens and all the things, I am just too damned tired to sit in an uncomfortable chair and write. It's been a steep learning curve for sure. Most days my back is screaming "WTF have you done to me"!! So today I am taking a little break from chores and contributing a update on what's been going on 'round here. 

In about three weeks, the boy, Jayne will be one year old! Seems like yesterday I brought him home to live here. He has grown in to a beautiful, however, handful of crazy boy and keeps me on my toes for sure. He is my special boy, and I love him like crazy! He and Reed have their moments here and there where they scuffle but, for the most part Mr. McCorgipants loves his brudder~

My name is Jayne and I am a fetch addict

The boys are becoming the best guard dogs and chicken herders that I am very proud of them and can't really love them any more. They always keep me company out here in the boonies. It can get quiet and lonely at times, but I always have my boys! We have some wonderful conversations.

He'll always be my main man

I'm up between 4 and 5 am every morning...I must be at the coop by sunrise, but Jayne has other plans. He is my alarm clock every morning. He pulls the covers off and barks incessantly until I am out of bed. One cup of coffee and I'm off to do chores. Time for the Nuggets to be fed.

First place I head everyday.
This particular day it was 17 degrees
Winter came a bit early

The Nuggets are 23 weeks old tomorrow. They are big girls now and the names I gave them....so accurate!

Inarra on my lap. She loves
Being on me 

Kaylee
So curious!

Inarra, a possessive little nugget

The lady River...Miss Loudpants!

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Red (Saffron) at 18 weeks. She a wee camera shy
Her wattles and comb are huge now

Beautiful Zoe. Queen of the Nuggets

A few more shots of the Nuggets...they are so wonderful that I'm learning how to speak chicken! Nothing is better than all of them running to meet you at the gate! They know when it's time for treats~I've started making my own Nugget treats that are healthy and nutritious for them in preparation for winter.  I'm becoming a chef for my girls!

Warm Groats with Spinach and nuts

Apples stuffed with peanut butter
pepitas and spinach

On October 6th I got my first egg in the nesting box. I had witnessed Zoe heading in there that morning so I knew it was her, it was smaller than I expected but, they seem to get bigger the older she gets. Her shells are really strong and beautiful. This day brought me so much joy. I can't explain it...just amazing!

Zoe's first contribution to the farm. So proud of her!

Since then I have collected about a dozen+ eggs as Inarra has started laying as well. My smaller Nuggets are still in a molt of sorts so, it may be later this year when they start laying. So fresh and delicious!

First taste

first snow day

Gonna leave you now with a few pics from around the farm. I must head out for a game of fetch and Snacks for my Nuggets..Today? Scrambled eggs. I'll be posting again soon as there is so much more to share!

Zoe...a little privacy please?

Red and Kaylee
so grown up

Neighbor

Through the trees
Nugget Central

I'm a perch! Inarra take her liberties lol

Chillin' and snackin'

I love to just watch and talk to them.
Nuggets are excellent listeners

What's up chicken butt?

Until next time~