Miller Farm Friday Archives - Page 27 of 48

22 12, 2017

Nativity Scenes

By judythemorgan|2017-12-21T09:56:38-06:00December 22nd, 2017|Friday on the Miller Farm, Holidays, Miller Farm Friday|2 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

I began collecting nativity scenes before the birth of our first child, Catherine. Beekeeper Brian was selling pens at craft fair booth and traded a pen for a wooden nativity set. We thought it would be something our child could safely enjoy. I also made a cloth set which has since gone to live with Catherine.

Our collection includes a plaster of Paris piece which I painted at a vacation Bible School when I was in elementary school and another clay set Matthew made in junior high.

The one I brought back from our time in Mexico is painted tin and very light weight. As such, it tends to fall over and last year I didn’t set it out. This year I hadn’t made a decision about it but the grandmother of a piano student from Mexico saw it and lovingly bent each piece so it would stand upright.And they are still standing.

Each time I walk past the coffee table, I remember her kneeling and arranging each piece of the nativity. It is amazing to think that the birth of a child so many years ago still has an impact on people today.

15 12, 2017

Snow in Texas

By judythemorgan|2017-12-14T13:13:15-06:00December 15th, 2017|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

You might have seen recently on the national news that South Central Texas had an unusual snowfall.

Last Monday it was sunny and warm.

By Thursday evening, we had 4 inches of snow in our backyard. It was quite a surprise – a pleasant one at that.

Rachel took the dogs outside to play. Some were more excited than others.

When I closed the chickens for the night, I found some on top of the coops with snow piled on their backs. They weren’t quite sure what to do.Friday morning was a winter wonderland.

I used the free time to put out my collection of snowmen.

By Saturday it was all gone making me wonder if perhaps I was just dreaming of a white Christmas.

8 12, 2017

An Early Gift

By judythemorgan|2017-12-07T08:26:40-06:00December 8th, 2017|Friday on the Miller Farm, Holidays, Miller Farm Friday|4 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

One of the nice things about living in one place for a long time is maintaining friendships.

My friend Greta and I have known each other since our oldest children were in elementary school. These “kids” are now 24. We have laughed and cried together many times. We still do.

Greta has gotten chickens from us and supplies fruit and vegetable scraps to both flocks. I bring surplus food to her from the volunteer work I do.

Last Saturday, upon returning from an early morning meeting, I discovered that Greta had dropped off a bag but not for the chickens.

It was a gift bag and in it were two pair of slippers – one for me and one for Rachel. They are wonderful!I love the slippers especially now that the weather has turned cold. However, I value the gift of friendship most of all.

1 12, 2017

Full Up at Miller Farm Inn

By judythemorgan|2017-11-29T14:38:26-06:00December 1st, 2017|Miller Farm Friday|2 Comments

A blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

A fellow teacher at my school shares our love of dachshunds. Not quite as much as we do – she only has one. Her dog’s name is Elvis and he is not fond of being put in a kennel. His mom asked if he could possibly stay with us when they went out of town. He came for a play date and everyone seemed to get along so it was settled.

Elvis came to stay over the Thanksgiving Holiday. He arrived on Tuesday and seemed to be excited to join our 6 pack at Miller Farm.

Then Beekeeper Brian got a text from Miller’s mom. He needed a place to hang out also. Had Brian not said anything, I might not have noticed. After all what’s one more dachshund.

Miller arrived on Wednesday bringing our total to 8 dachshunds. It went remarkably well.

I decided to do an intermittent mop of the kitchen floor. I put everyone in the back yard but they began to bark so I brought them back in. A neighbor who works nights has asked us to try to keep them quiet during the day. That seems reasonable even if it is difficult.

So I put them all in the living room so I could mop the kitchen without help. They didn’t mind that at all. In fact they all climbed on the couch for a nap. Elvis and Miller, the two black and tans, nearly blend into the sofa in the top right corner.

Rachel missed out on all the fun. She was pet sitting for a couple who have 3 Great Danes.

She sent this picture with the largest who weighs in at 180 pounds. I think I’ll stick to large numbers of small dogs rather than small numbers of large dogs.

24 11, 2017

Therapy Dog for a Therapy Dog

By judythemorgan|2017-11-23T06:58:01-06:00November 24th, 2017|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|3 Comments

A Blog for Chicken Wrangler Sara

This past weekend, we were asked to puppy sit. Since there are six dogs living here regularly, one more doesn’t seem too unreasonable. This, however, is a special puppy.

His name is Ranger and he was found with his mom out in the country. Several people tried for over a week to take them in with no success. Eventually a car hit the mother and the puppy found his way to our friend’s house where other dogs corned him.

Deborah rescued him and brought him into her home. He was very, very skinny and very scared. He would not come near humans except to get food. She began to look for a forever home for the puppy since her house had its limit of dogs. She found the perfect family and made arrangements to deliver him after an early family Thanksgiving celebration this weekend. Ranger spent a couple of nights on Miller Farm while Deborah was with her family.

When he first arrived, he hid under the shed. I let the dogs out one at a time and watched to make sure everyone would get along. Penelope became Ranger’s best friend. She patiently waited by the shed and woofed at him to encourage him to come out. He did finally come out and began to play with her. It was rewarding to watch them. Penelope was able to draw Ranger out of his fear and convince him to run and play.

When he came inside, Ranger was less fearful and allowed Beekeeper Brian to pet him. By the afternoon, Ranger was exhausted and fell asleep in the middle of the room with Tucker close by.

Ranger’s forever family has also suffered trauma. The father was killed in a home invasion in October. There are six children – two married, two at college and two at home. Deborah sent a picture of Ranger with his new mom. Ranger already seems at home. The youngest son is really struggling. I imagine he and Ranger will become best friends.

17 11, 2017

Almost A Dozen

By judythemorgan|2017-11-16T06:23:36-06:00November 17th, 2017|Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Our chickens have been slacking off lately. We’ve only gotten 4 eggs a day for several weeks.

We’re not sure why and I’ve even had to buy eggs at the store. It was very strange.

I’ve told the girls to get busy. The deal is they feed us and we feed them.

It worked- yesterday we got 10 eggs! That is almost a dozen!I guess we’ll keep feeding the chickens after all.

10 11, 2017

Not So Lucky

By judythemorgan|2017-11-09T20:00:46-06:00November 10th, 2017|Miller Farm Friday|2 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Last week, actually on Halloween night, we heard a ruckus in the chicken yard. I had just closed them up and it was raining so I was not happy about whatever was causing the commotion. I headed out to find one group of chickens had escaped their coop and were frantically calling at the front of the chicken yard.

My protective instinct kicked in and I hastened back to see what had frightened them.

Nothing was in their coop however I saw movement between the fences. A possum had grabbed the hen that had been living between the fences and was dragging it off. I chased the possum off and began to gather our hens back into their coop.

Rachel heard the racket and came to offer support. I showed her the hen which I assumed was dead. She thought it best to remove the body so the possum did not return to finish the meal.

When I reached through the chain link fence to grab the hen’s leg, it gave a feeble squawk.

Now, according to animal science major Rachel, there was no choice but to retrieve the hen and assess its injuries.

After rinsing it in the bathtub, Rachel was able to bandage the wounds and fix it a nice dry place in a laundry basket in the bathroom. At least it would die in comfort.

The hen survived the night so Rachel named her “Lucky.” We tube fed her and Rachel bought some special antifungal, antibacterial medicine called “Blue Kote” to put on her. After a couple days in intensive care, Lucky was moved out to an isolation run in the chicken yard.

She wasn’t mobile so each night I would lock her in the coop and each morning I would gently move her out near food and water. I would put her near the water and make sure she drank. I watched her eat.

I was hopeful.

However, after three days, despite the best efforts of animal science major Rachel and Chicken Wrangler Sara, Lucky succumbed to her injuries. Perhaps she was not so lucky after all.

3 11, 2017

An Odd Bird Indeed

By judythemorgan|2017-11-02T07:48:27-05:00November 3rd, 2017|Miller Farm Friday|4 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

I’ve always wanted to be a chicken for Halloween. Well, probably not always -just since we started raising chickens. In any case, I planned it all out this year.

I would get a red rubber glove to wear on my head and some yellow socks for my feet. The wings were a bit of a challenge. I asked the art teacher at school (who happened to have two sets of angel’s wings) if I could borrow a set she wasn’t using. They were perfect!

Rachel loves to crochet and can make just about anything. I asked her if she could make me a chicken hat. She did one better. She made a chicken balaclava and taught me a new word in the process.

A balaclava is, according to Dictionary.com, “a close-fitting, knitted cap that covers the head, neck and tops of the shoulders, worn especially by mountain climbers, soldiers, skiers, etc.” (And sometimes by crazy chicken ladies). Rachel figured the balaclava would allow for a waddle and a comb.

The final effect was quite entertaining for my students.This winter I can alternate between my hippopotamus hat and my chicken balaclava. If it ever gets cold, that is.

27 10, 2017

Me and My Shadow

By judythemorgan|2017-10-26T16:04:48-05:00October 27th, 2017|Miller Farm Friday|2 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

We had a respiratory illness go through our flock this summer. Several of our chickens succumbed including one of my favorites – Millie, the D’Uccle.

I was very sad. It happened the same week the snails ate my marigolds. It was a bad week.

I’m getting over my losses with the help of the other remaining D’Uccle.

I’ve named her Lily.

She follows me around in the morning when I feed the chickens. It is very sweet. She makes me smile. :)

20 10, 2017

ISO (In Search Of)

By judythemorgan|2017-10-19T13:11:41-05:00October 20th, 2017|Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Remember Kaboodle and Mrs. Howell? The two who share a roost.I’ve noticed recently that Kaboodle and Mrs. Howell are no longer roosting together at night.

I wondered what happened.

Even more important, does anyone know a good chicken counselor?