Its starting to look and feel like fall around here. We are having a little rain and its cooling down. A busy day here. I can't seem to catch up on things around here. I am working on Ms. Fran's scrapbook. I am putting her cards in so she can have them handy to look at anytime she wants. I am trying to get soap made and candles poured. Just the same ole same ole around here. William has a fellow trucker friend named Jerry. Jerry had parked in a truckstop the other night and next morning he heard a noise like a hose leak under his hood. He looked but didn't see anything. He drove for awhile and stopped to eat and heard the noise again but again didn't find anything. He drove on again for several hours and stopped. He again heard the noise and started looking even harder so he could find the problem and take his truck in to be fixed. He found a baby kitten sitting on his fuel tank. The kitten was covered in oil and grease so Jerry took it inside the truckstop and gave it a bath in the sink. The kitten had a few cuts and scrapes but seemed okay. Jerry bought some kitten food and liter and now has a trucking pet riding with him. He says it sits in his lap and sleeps while he drives and curls up beside him when he sleeps. I hope he will send photos so we can see his new truck buddy!

Mad Monday

It has been cool and windy here all day. Bud is still very mad at me because I had to bring him back inside. Its too cold at night to leave him out. When I cleaned his house today he was hissing and smacking his tail. He even pushed his water dish over the side trying to dump the water on me. He will stay that way till I can put him back outside I guess. Diva and Nitro are mad at me too. I took them for their walk today and usually have Sammi on the leash. Today I decided to try her without and see if she would walk with us down the driveway. She ran around in her own direction crying because we wouldn't follow her. Diva and Nitro got a short walk and munched on a few leaves, etc before I had to take them back so I could catch Sammi and put her up. Nitro tried to bite me when I put them up but settled down when they got their cookies. The geese and ducks got mad when I emptied their swimming pools but it sure didn't take them long to dirty them back up when I finished. Even my neighbors dogs are mad at me. I was asked if I would worm them since their owner had a stroke and doesn't have use of one of her arms. The dogs have always loved me and as big as they are they sit in my lap when I go over to visit. After I finished worming them they ran and hid. So besides making animals mad and doing some laundry I didn't get much accomplished. Tomorrow is soapmaking day and hopefully the animals will have forgiven me and we will have a good day.

A Day In Photos

I added the first photo after going out to check on Diva. She is stretching and pushing her head against the side of her stall and digging like she is making a nest. No signs of contractions so guess she is just getting ready and enjoys seeing me get excited. Other than that it has been a quiet day at hidden haven. Getting some much needed cleaning done and letting the animals enjoy the sunshine.

Day of Rest?

Where did my spring weather go to? I have had a fire going all day. I thought I might get to take a nap and enjoy the fire but that didn't happen. After feeding and milking this morning I had to run get chicken feed. While I was out I got a nice little box to package my vintage Easter egg I sold on ebay. I was really surprised at how much it went for so thought I would package it really nice. I cleaned all the water buckets and gave Sammi a shot of vitamin E. She is eating good and adjusting nicely. She just looks too skinny to me so I am trying to build her up. Jane and I went to the bread store and got bread for the chickens. They all stand at the gate waiting for their bread. You could feed them the best chicken feed in the world and they would stand there and wait for crumbled bread. So I give them bread and chicken feed. Yeah, they are spoiled rotten too. I also got a little paperwork done. After milking and feeding and gathering eggs. I found Snow White sitting on eggs and Sister Sister was sitting there waiting to sit on the eggs and Betsy stuck her head under Snow White and roll a egg from under her so she could sit on a egg too. Think I will divide the eggs tomorrow so they all can sit on them. I had one chick hatch in the incubator today. Its doing fine and I am hoping the others will start hatching too. Flower has made her nest in her house and she is due next Saturday. Babies are popping up around the homestead. Well I have laundry and dishes to do and I want to list some more items on ebay. Everyone have a great night and hope your week is filled with lots of blessings.

Today my granddaughter Kristine is 12 yrs old. She was my first grandchild. I will always remember the first time I saw her. There was a special feeling that seem to flow between us when I held her for the first time. She has made all A's and B's every year. She plays basketball and flag football. She helps do housework, helps take care of her little sister. She helps care for rescued squirrels and raccoons which includes getting up during the night to give the baby ones a bottle. Her smile lights up a room. Her tenderheart and kindness makes her a friend to everyone she meets. Happy Birthday Kristine! I love you uddles and unches!!!

Where Did The Weekend Go?

Wow, its Monday already and it seems like the weekend was just a dream. William left for Minnesota but will be back in a few days. We did a few errands this morning and a few chores. I have been packaging items for shipment and trying to pack up more of my kitchen for the remodel. I am so afraid I will never get my kitchen back once the remodeling starts. The dining room should be finished tomorrow if I find a light fixture. I really am trying.. honest! Ms. Diva is looking more pregnant everyday. Sammi is filling out from having her babies nicely. She is eating really well and Diva will eat anything she can get her mouth on. Nitro is enjoying being the only male around the ladies. When William went out to see the goats I went in the pen with them and Nitro had to show William I was one of his ladies too. He didn't want William around Diva, Sammi or me. We had to laugh. Had a new baby chick hatch a few days ago and the two I already had are acting like its mothers. They don't peck it or try to hurt it. They even cover it at night with their wings. I will have to try to take a picture tonight. Bud has had his house moved around the dining room so much he is pouting and staying in the corner. If we open his door to feed or give him water he smacks his tail at us. He is letting us know he is tired of being moved around and wants to stay by the window to enjoy the sunshine. The animals around here seem to let their feelings and thoughts know very easily. Groucho is in trouble as he has decided to try and catch a Guinea. They run screaming and then fly into the duck pen and the ducks start chasing them. I have to go get them out. The guineas chase the chickens and bite them if they get the slightest chance. I think I am going to put them all in time out and take a nap! I got a quart and a half of milk from Sammi this morning and can't wait to see how she does this evening. Diva dried herself up after a few weeks of slowly cutting back on how much we milked from her. Her babies are due May 23 so a extra week of being dry won't hurt her. I am already looking forward to my supper tonight as I am having leftovers from Outback. William was nice enough to let me keep the leftovers. Well I guess I had better get back to packing things away. Have a great rest of the day and hope you are adapting with the time change better than I am.

Great Sunday

Had a great Sunday. I met William in SC and we spent the day at a flea market. Lots and lots of tables full to look over. I actually only purchased a few items but William racked up on some great finds. We had a yummy hotdog lunch and headed home. Spent the afternoon bleaching water buckets and taking care of the animals. We unloaded the van from our outing and I got started on Williams dirty laundry. Since William was gone on Valentine's Day he took me to OutBack for dinner. I just LOVE their steaks! We shared a blooming onion and the steaks just melted in our mouths. We wanted their famous brownie but were just too full and even brought home a doggie bag. I listed a couple things in my ebay shop and got some items ready to mail that sold today. William is relaxing and reading the NC Argiculture Review and dreaming. It was a nice warm sunny day in the 70's again. Just a all round perfect Sunday... Hope yours was too.

Whiskers

Hi my name is Whiskers and mom says I am her favorite but I also hear her tell the other animals the same thing so not sure if its important or not. I am sorta a rescue cat. Several years ago mom had a cat named TJ (trouble junior named after her cat Trouble). TJ was a purrrrrty calico cat that always got into trouble. Mom had a appointment to get TJ fixed but was keeping her inside till then as she was in season. Well a lady came to visit mom and opened the door and TJ ran outside and went straight across the street to the neighbors tom cat. Mom says cats usually have a mating ritual they go through before mating but TJ knew mom was right on her heels to catch her so she skipped that part. She went under the neighbors boat and backed up to the tomcat and I was conceived! For some reason mom calls TJ a bad word (sl*t). After me and my siblings were born mom found homes for us. I went to Nannies (mom's mom) she treated me like a baby. She washed my face every day and talked baby talk to me all the time. When nannie got sick and was afraid I would trip her because I liked walking around her feet she ask mom to find a home for me. Mom went to the mountains and brought me back home with her. I have been with her for 4 years. Mom trained me to go outside to potty. Sometimes when I really really have to go in the middle of the night mom isn't real chipper about getting woke up to open the door. Each morning I love sitting on mom and tickling her with my whiskers or just staring at her till she wakes up. Once her eyes are open I hop down and run to the door so I can go outside. When we moved to Hidden Haven I had to ride in the van with another cat, iguana and 2 dogs. I was scared but mom kept talking to me and rubbing under my chin to calm me down. I love when mom rubs under my chin. Mom calls me a addict cause I like catnip. I can't help it. Whenever I smell catnip I have to have it no matter how tight it is packaged. I want it all! Mom hides it in the freezer now so I can't get it. She did tell me she is planting me a catnip patch this spring. I think I am going to be in heaven!!

Sheba

Here is Tramp's story: http://hiddenhavenhomestead.blogspot.com/2006/10/tramp.html

But today I get to tell my story. My name is Sheba and I am a rescue dog.

I was sitting in a county animal shelter in the mountains of NC. I only had a couple more days before I would be put to sleep if no one adopted me. I don't think I would have woke up from that kind of sleep. This lady and her little boy and little girl were there looking for a dog. Their dog was lost and they had searched for weeks and still couldn't find it. The little kids really missed their dog and their mom thought another pet might cheer them up. They looked at all the dogs there and even petted me several times before they made up their mind. I was so happy when the little girl told me I would be going home with her! She named me Sheba and I got to sleep in her room. She would dress me up in doll clothes ( I was smaller then) and I would just sit and let her brush my hair and put hair bows in everywhere. I was just happy someone loved me. Months went by and then one day the family got a call that their first dog had been found. They were so excited and brought Jake back home. Jake and I got along fine but whenever I was put outside during the day while everyone was at school and work I started acting out. I would kill the chickens and chase the goats and pig. I would nip at the horses feet and get into big trouble. When I started going to the neighbors and getting into trouble there the family decided I needed a new home. The lady of the house called her mom and ask if I could come stay with her at least for a few weeks till they decided what to do. Well this lady who would become my mom came and picked me up and brought me home. I love it here! I get into trouble sometimes though but mom still loves me. Its just hard not to kill a chicken especially if they fly into our dog lot! If I get to go out of the dog lot I have to be on a leash so I won't chase the cats or go after the neighbors chickens. I try hard not to chase the animals but I just can't resist. Mom told her daughter that she would let me live here and that is good. That means I can still play with the little girl and little boy when they come to visit mom and I get to stay here in my home forever. Lady and I sometimes have arguments but mom settles them right away and we both get into trouble. Most of the time though I am really really good. I love the meat flavored dog biscuits better than the peanut butter ones. I love it when we get some of the bread when they feed the chickens. Today we got to go on a really long walk. We even got to play in the creek and get wet! Tomorrow mom says we are getting baths and haircuts but I think I will like that too. I try to be nice to mom even when she gives me shots or medicine. I know she is trying to take care of me. Mom says I am getting old because the hair on my face is turning white and I am not as active as I use to be. She says thats OK though cause she is old too. I love having Lady and Tramp to play and I think mom loves having me around too. When she tells me good night each evening she gives me a scratch on the head and tells me I am a good girl. Hidden Haven is my home now and forever.

Lady

My name is Lady and I was a rescue dog. I lived with a deputy and his wife for a long time. They loved me and let me run everywhere. Then they brought a baby home and didn't have as much time for me. I started to get into trouble by digging up the neighbors flower beds and chasing another neighbors chickens. The deputy was going to take me to the pound or worse was going to shoot me! Mom was working in a office when the deputy stopped by with me tied on the back of his truck. Of course mom took one look at me and took me home with her. Before we came to Hidden Haven I had a big dog lot but no trees for shade. Mom and Dad had to make a big shelter to give me shade. When mom moved me to Hidden Haven I thought I had died and gone to heaven! I have a huge lot that I share with Tramp and Sheba but we each have our own house. We have lots and lots of trees for shade and lots of room to play. Each morning we get a dog biscuit before the chickens or goats get anything! We also get to snack on some of the bread that is suppose to be crumbled up for the chickens. Mom makes sure our feeder is always full of dog food and our water buckets are clean and full. She and Dad use to take us for long walks but now she has Sabrina and her daughter Katie walk us but its still fun. Mom comes out and brings us scraps during the day and at night she checks to make sure we are warm and tells us good night. She makes sure we get chew bones and remembers to give us extra treats on holidays. I am glad I live here and hardly ever think of my other family. Tramp is my best buddy. He is a rescue dog that was found in the middle of the road. I can't go anywhere without him as he is afraid I will leave him and not come back. Sheba use to belong to Mom's daughter but she kept getting into trouble with their neighbors and breaking out of her pen. Mom let her daughter talk her into letting Sheba come here but knowing Mom I don't think it took much talking. Mom gets mad if she even thinks someone is being mean to a animal. She really lost her temper when she saw a boy trying to poke Tramp and me with a stick. Mom says that there are too many animals in shelters and pounds. She thinks people that want a pet should go there instead of spending the money at pet stores cause then there wouldn't be homeless animals. So if you ever decide you want a pet to be part of your family please check the shelters and pounds. There are lots of animals hoping someone will love them and give them a home. I bet you won't regret it!

Talk To The Animals

Meowwwwwer. Just a minute I will be right there. After opening the door to let Whiskers out to potty as he refuses to use litterbox no matter what the weather I go back to making a pot of chili only to hear grrrrrrrwow and I stop and go make Grouchio leave Dimples alone. She hates for anyone to bother her while she is napping. Waaaaaaow. Ok Grouchio I will play mouse with you for a minute then you are going outside. Later as I am over at Frans visiting I hear Diva. Mamaaaaaaa Mamaaaaaaaaa is all she says if I dare to leave the yard without her. I call to her and she comes down to the fence to wait for me to come back into our yard. Once I am back she goes off to lay in the sun. Baaaaaaaa, Baaaaaaaaaaa. Nitro has woke up from his nap and saw me. He is wanting his apple molasses cookies. I walk over with his treat and talk with him and Diva. Tramp sees me and starts whining which brings Lady and Sheba over to look at me and whine too. They are wanting their doggie biscuits since I seem to be giving out treats. The ducks and chickens are fussing. They aren't hungry, they are mad because I won't open the door and let them out. I go in and give them some beet pulp and check on the rabbits. Thumper wants a little pet but Flower says feed me! I sometimes wondered why people that were at home all day complained because they were lonely and had no one to talk to. I wondered why I never felt that way. Now I understand why I don't get lonely. I talk to the animals! The scary thing is they talk back!

Nitro

This morning as I was getting ready to go to the feedstore Wayne (handyman) told me Nitro wouldn't let him in the pen. Now the first day Nitro arrived at Hidden Haven he followed Wayne everywhere and I mean everywhere. If Wayne got out of his sight he would stand on the gate and cry. Now that he has been here for a while he is king of the pen. Nitro will guard the gate and when anyone but me( so far) try to go in he pushes them out with his head. And if that doesn't work he turns sideways and pushes you with his body. We are getting Wayne to build gates on both stalls so we will have the means to close a goat up if needed. Nitro doesn't mind the gates. In fact he goes in his side and nudges the gate closed or open. He just doesn't want other people around him or Diva. So far he hasn't minded me around. I took him and Diva on a walk so Wayne could work on the gates. He walks fine with me. The only time I have a problem is when I run out of treats. Nitro loves the apple/molasses cookies for horses and hasn't learned what no more means. I have to make him slow down and taste them or he would swallow them whole. He will nudge me for more when I run out but other than that he doesn't mind me being around. He doesn't pay any attention to me when I milk Diva but when I finish I have to scratch his head. I think he knows Diva is pregnant and is taking care of her or he may just be selfish. On another note, Jackie O has a hurt leg and is in Hidden Haven Chicken hospital. Some how her leg got injured and she can't stand on it so she is in one of the old rabbit cages till it mends and she can stand on it. She is eating good and drinking water and there are no open wounds so will wait and see how quickly it mends. She doesn't seem to be in any pain So hopefully it will be soon. Maybe she heard me say she needed to go on a diet and is getting my sympathy so I will keep feeding her a lot. I have been reworking the photos in my etsy soap shop and adding new scents. Still have quite a few new scents to add but the paperwork on my desk keeps getting bigger and bigger. Have a couple of doe goats I am going to go look at next week. Need to find one to milk while Diva is dry. Going to stick with registered Nubians as we are very pleased with the ones we have and they are so lovable! Other than that its been a quiet day here. Have a nice fire going and season one of the Waltons on DVD calling my name. Paperwork????? shhhhhhhh it will be there tomorrow!

Oh To Be A Cat

I have been sorting receipts and working on taxes this morning. Its not my favorite thing to do and was wishing I could snuggle under a warm quilt and take a nap when I see this:

It must be wonderful to sleep all day, have someone serve your food to you, clean your potty box, rub your belly and scratch your head on demand. I think since its getting colder outside I am going to put another log on the fire, grab a quilt and take a nap. Think one of these sleepy cats will scratch my head till I fall asleep?

Bunny Condo

After being all packed and ready to move Thumper and Flower finally got to move into their condo's. They had been living in small apartments with Flower on the top floor and Thumper on the bottom floor. They hated not being able to see each other though they do not like living together. They each have a nice home with a tin roof, space to stretch out to sleep, a small covered porch with their feeders waiting to serve them. They have a nice screened in area to run around in and they can even touch noses at the connecting screen dividerwhich can be removed when they want to spend some time together. Their condo's are in the chickens yard so they they have plenty of neighbors. Their water bottles and hay racks are unpacked. They are all settled in. Now we just have to wait for the babies to arrive!

Hidden Haven Babies

Remember my little baby chicks?














Well, they are teenagers now. William and Wayne are building a small chicken pen with a roosting house for them. They are in Bud's summer home right now that I covered in plastic and put in a heat light. They are getting big enough they are wanting to roost instead of sleeping all bunched together. Hopefully tomorrow they will be in their new home. They will stay there for a few weeks till they are big enough to live with the big chickens.














This is Gertrude when she was a baby and when she is now a teenager. She meets me every morning and pecks my hands if I don't fill the feeder fast enough. She jumps on my shoulder and tries to peck my hair. We had 27 chicks hatch out and we still have 27 chicks running around. Betty Boop and Blondie are sitting on 6 eggs right now but I think they won't hatch. The poor girls won't let me take the eggs so will wait a little longer before cleaning out their nests. Am going to take my duck eggs to the neighbors so she can put them in her incubators to hatch. Thumper and Flower should have baby bunnies soon. Nitro and Diva will hopefully have babies in May. Hidden Haven is having a baby boom!