Inside / Outside December

Inside Outside

Inside / Outside September #1

Inside

Outside

Still Here

Well, the summer has passed by, and I have neglected this blog the whole while. We are still here, working with the garden and animals, but the fire repair has taken up most of our time and attention. While we were busy, the quail grew up! They live outdoors in a tractor made for them by Mr. UrbanSuburban. If we keep a few quail in the pen, several others can wander about outside. They prefer to be together at all times, and especially at night. As evening approaches, the birds in the pen call the adventurers back home.

The birds enter the pen through this mesh funnel. Earlier in the season an adolescent opossum fit its way through, so now we cover the entrance after night fall.

This is our first year with quail, and we have found them to be entirely charming. No eggs yet though. -Polly

Quail

The quail are growing but they are still quite little. Now they have wing feathers and sweet tiny voices. They are so very very nervous. They are nervous of any sound, any movement, any adjustment of their light. They are terrified of all water and food changes. I expect that they will feel nervous about training with our dog.

Up From the Ashes

On Tuesday evening, I rolled these quail eggs and closed the incubator. They needed to remain warm and still for their last three days before hatching.

On Wednesday afternoon, our kitchen caught on fire and power was cut off from the house. The incubator was unharmed, but the temperature inside dropped much too low. We moved it from sunny spot to sunny spot, and then to Grandma's house to get it plugged in again. Thursday hatch day came and went. Friday came and went.

Today, Saturday the quail have survived and are hatching. Now we have all made it through.

My New Set of Rings!

Last year at about this time, my good husband brought home a new ring for me. This year it is two! I don't know about you, but when I look at these rings I think potatoes.

Step forward, Step back

Over several days, my younger boy and I dug around in what we call "the brick mine"in our yard. Many years ago my grandfather or perhaps great grandfather made a pile of bricks in an out of the way place. I don't think they were intentionally buried at the time, but they are now. Whenever I have needed some bricks for a project, I've been able to prod at the ground and unearth just enough. In order to make paths around my garden beds, I dug up as many bricks as I could find. The pile seems to be depleted now, but I think that we have determined who it was that left the brick treasure. This bottle was buried alongside the bricks, and came up from the ground looking new. I believe it is my Grandpa that I have to thank for the brick mine. Everywhere I look around me there are little reminders of the family that was here before me. Examining old things that come out of the ground makes the past seem so much realer to our boys.