pellet food, and the last days of summer

this time of year always reminds me of harvested fields, tucked down in valleys... in the eastern woodlands of 300 years ago.
of close living with the rhythm of the seasons
i swear the mists that rise are ghosts from those times, and briefly relive their lives, and that is what touches us now


i broke down and got pellets for the poultry, and scratch cause it's that time of year
i need to add oats
i also let phoebe out to graze, hoping for her temper to have improved and that she'd score some worms
nope
all she wanted to do was fight with momma, and lilli
ok phoebe, back in the top pen

her flights are growing in now and she's got pink wings from all the blood feathers

she doesn't argue with me anymore about going in with the chickens......seems THEY are safe from her homicidal mood

poor phoebe, she doesn't want any comfort, she's just totally off her rocker at the moment

meanwhile i am bleaching the ducks food/water pails so that they are nice and disinfected for the winter

i made chili yesterday for supper, beans i'd canned last summer ( i need to can more)
frozen chopmeat and a jar of purreed tomatoes, dried onioins and sweet peppers plus some odds and ends spices
bernie took some for lunch today and i have some for lunch as well
leftover stew for supper and then tomorrow most likely porkchops
although i DID find liver in the freezer

we have two weekends left to rhinebeck
the duck pens must all be finished including the coops
the woodstove must be cleaned and the new gasket installed
wood brought in and the kindling barrel stocked
the rest stacked
the studio rearranged
the air conditioners winterized and/or removed

i should also get the furnace cleaned and if i could afford it top off the oil tank........which we haven't filled since summer 2005
yup still on the same tank of oil, due to the woodstove
i could also use a few more cords of wood, like three i think

in baby budgie news, the little ones are eatting that beak appetite stuff, which is great as it's veggies and i am going to slowly start moving them over to a mash diet
they have been really starting to play with their toys now and i am enjoying their chirps and warblings
they also get bernie to stand there for a bit and just watch them
he's always so amazed.........
i don't get it, we've always had finches and canaries and the last time i got parakeets he hated them......this pair he adores
maybe it's the time in his life?
he is looking forward to a very large aviary/flight for them

i am debating if i should really actively try and tame them
i always did have tame budgies, but i am so enjoying them just as they are, that maybe i won't

ok
coffee is ready
my day is ready