Chicken Wrangler Sara Archives - Page 5 of 39

31 03, 2023

Between the Fences

By judythemorgan|2023-03-27T09:09:37-05:00March 31st, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|1 Comment

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Our neighbors, who also have chickens and ducks, have a privacy fence. It was erected by the previous owners when their real estate agent convinced them no one would buy a house next to chickens. Obviously, this was not true.

Anyway, chickens have regularly gotten themselves caught between the two fences. I have, on several occasions, climbed between the fences to rescue them. After getting multiple scratches and tearing several pairs of pants, I stopped retrieving chickens.

They got themselves into that spot. They could get themselves back out.

Recently, Beekeeper Brian discovered a collection of eggs between the fences. I thought perhaps my wayward, nameless chicken had laid them. But that was not the case. It was one of the neighbor’s ducks.

I heard the kids outside one afternoon and hollered over the fence to tell them about the eggs. Being smaller and more agile than me, they were able to retrieve them.

I guess we won’t have ducklings living between the fences.

24 03, 2023

New Chicken Wrangler Skills

By judythemorgan|2023-03-20T18:02:39-05:00March 24th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Penelope, Rachel’s dachshund, spent the night with us this weekend which meant I had to keep an eye on our wayward chicken.

I didn’t want to put her in a separate cage so I just held her whenever Penelope was outside. She didn’t mind at all and in fact, she talked to me the whole time.

I decided to clean one of the nest boxes which was particularly disgusting. It happened to have a chicken in it but that didn’t stop me. With a chicken in one hand, I carefully moved that mess out of the occupied nest box and replaced it with clean shavings. As I was carefully working around the stubborn hen, I wondered if perhaps this is what it is like for nurses who change sheets with a person still in the bed.

As soon as the nest box was clean, the hen moved to the dirty one next to it. They do have bird brains.

PS I do not have a pet chicken but if I did, what should I name it?

17 03, 2023

Turkey Trot

By judythemorgan|2023-03-16T09:19:43-05:00March 17th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

We recently acquired a turkey. We have had white turkeys in the past, Tom and Tina, but they went to live on a bigger farm. I was initially not excited but this turkey is handsome.

He is a red bourbon heritage breed and is destined to be dinner so I have not given him a name.

I enjoy hearing him talking to the chickens but lately, he has started following me around the chicken yard. I am not sure if he thinks I am a female turkey or if he sees me as a threat. In any case, I have added the “turkey trot” to my list of farmyard dances which includes the “chicken dance” and “ring around the chicken coop.”

I have learned many skills as a chicken wrangler. Some are very useful in my day job as a music teacher.

10 03, 2023

Walking on the Wild Side

By judythemorgan|2023-03-09T20:54:11-06:00March 10th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

We have one hen who much prefers to be on the opposite side of the fence Since Max is not interested in chasing chickens, it has been fine.

Penelope, Max’s sister, visited recently and she is not so considerate of the chicken on the wrong side of the fence. I tried returning the hen to the chicken yard but several over-amorous roosters chased her around.

I ended up keeping her in a cage in the front yard during Penelope’s visit.

Most of the roosters are gone now so the hen is safe in the chicken yard. She is not quite convinced and keeps finding her way out. I’ve decided she likes to walk on the wild side. And as long as it is safe for her, I will allow it. Hopefully, the other chickens will not get jealous. I’m not ready for a chicken uprising.

3 03, 2023

Birds of A Feather

By judythemorgan|2023-03-01T21:06:10-06:00March 3rd, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Last weekend was the Ladies’ Retreat for our church. The organizers set up a text group to send messages and reminders. At one point in the conversation, this photo appeared:

It was followed immediately by a message “Oops, wrong text thread! Sorry, ladies!”

Then came this picture: Then this one:

It was so fun to see how many of my friends are also chicken wranglers! I guess birds of a feather do flock together!

17 02, 2023

Chicken Cookies for the Win!

By judythemorgan|2023-02-17T12:12:15-06:00February 17th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A reblog from Chicken Wrangler Sara

Our school secretary/business administrator is a wonderful lady. I’ve always known that the school secretary is the one who runs the school, and that is never truer than in a small private school. When she was gone for a few days taking care of her husband it took 4 people to do her job.

She has two grandsons who were in my music classes when they were at the school. They frequently visit so I keep an eye out at the food pantry for things they might enjoy. Each week I stop by the school on my way home to deliver whatever prizes I have found.

Last Friday Mary had a prize for me. She had been working at a garage sale and found a basket of cookie cutters. Among them was this

She immediately thought of me.

I was thrilled. I have quite a collection of cookie cutters – thanks to my mother – but a chicken was not among them.

Over the weekend, along with canning 6 pints of tomato sauce, 6 pints of spiced apples, 4 half pints of apple butter, and freezing 10 cups of mashed sweet potatoes, I made chicken cookies.

I took them to school and left them in the teachers’ workroom with a note explaining that they were chicken cookies – sugar cookies shaped like chickens, not cookies made from chicken. At least one teacher was glad for the clarification.

~~~First appeared on February 15, 2o15

10 02, 2023

Real Teachers

By judythemorgan|2023-02-09T18:04:11-06:00February 10th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

“You’re not a real teacher.” I’ve heard that many, many times in my years of teaching music.

Recently it was from a student. Early in my career, I was told I would never be “Teacher of the Year” because I wasn’t a real teacher. Another time someone walked into my classroom and said “O, you’re teaching” as if that was a surprise.

It used to really upset me. It doesn’t bother me anymore. I know what I do, and I love it.

Music teachers take the students who can’t sit still in “regular” classes, and those who struggle with “real” subjects and dread those classes. We take all those wiggly little bodies and create ensembles that play and sing together. Music gives those students a chance to succeed.

No, we don’t give standardized tests. We have performances where students learn to work together and make music with instruments or voices in front of live audiences on a regular basis. All the students take part and their self-confidence soars.

If we aren’t “real” teachers, what about superheroes like my favorite teeshirt says?

13 01, 2023

Counting Fire Hydrants

By judythemorgan|2023-01-11T15:52:21-06:00January 13th, 2023|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

Our daughter brought the boys to see us the week before Christmas while her husband was at work. She wanted to introduce Theo to his great-grandfather, Theodore who lives about two hours away. I went with her to be an extra pair of hands. I mostly entertained Alex while Catherine and Theo stayed and visited with Opa.

Alex loves to be outside and the arctic air had not blown into town yet so we walked around the block. Actually, we ran – Alex doesn’t walk very often.

I must confess, normally when I walk, I focus on where I’m going and don’t pay much attention to what is around me. With Alex, however, we examined the many different Christmas lights and decorations we passed. He gave a running commentary – “Christmas lights, reindeer, Christmas tree, Santa”

The decorations that were not inflated were “sleeping.” They wake up at night. I tried to teach Alex the world ‘nocturnal” but he didn’t quite get it.

We also counted fire hydrants – there are seven fire hydrants around Opa’s block. Alex touched everyone.

For small children, every day is a new adventure. So, the next morning, we walked/ran around the block again. There were still seven fire hydrants.

It is such a joy to be reminded of the wonder in the world as seen through the eyes of a child.

19 12, 2022

An Irish Christmas Blessing

By judythemorgan|2022-12-18T12:43:34-06:00December 19th, 2022|Uncategorized|0 Comments

As this year rolls to an end, it’s time for Chicken Wrangler Sara and me to begin our annual holiday break.

Before we leave, we want to offer a special holiday greeting to our blog community and let you know how much your thoughtful comments have brought pleasure. Thank you for being a part of our community all these ten years.

We leave you with an Irish Christmas Blessing to keep you through the holiday season.

See you back right here in the New Year with more thoughts and views from the front porch and Miller farm. Until then enjoy the archive posts.

16 12, 2022

Caroling Report

By judythemorgan|2022-12-15T20:48:52-06:00December 16th, 2022|Friday on the Miller Farm, Miller Farm Friday|0 Comments

A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara

The day we planned to go caroling was predicted to be a stormy day. This is Texas – no one can accurately predict the weather. It did storm for about 30 minutes in the middle of the afternoon but by the time we gathered to start walking the neighborhood, the skies were clear.

We divided into two groups and began caroling. My group finished our houses first and went to join the other group thinking they were almost to the end of their route as well.

They were not. In fact, they were less than halfway through their list of houses. We combined groups and continued caroling.

After an hour, most of the group was ready to return. We had told the students we would be gone for about an hour. When I mentioned this to Mr. Kipp, who was leading the second group, he said “but there are still more people expecting us.”

I explained that we had only allotted an hour and his response was “You knew how many houses there were.” And he was right. I had misjudged the amount of time it would take.

Those who were ready to be finished went back to the school with another teacher. I kept going with Mr. Kipp and those who were willing to continue. I must confess, I was ready to be done, too. As we kept walking we were greeted with smiles and “thank yous”. Some people even joined in singing with us.

We finished and went back to the school for hot chocolate. As I reflected on the experience, I wondered how many of those people would have sung “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” if there weren’t a group of schoolchildren in their front yard singing.

I believe we brightened the Holidays for those people. Well done, students, well done!