Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Looks like a duck, acts like a duck, doesn't quack like a duck.


Black Bellied Whistling Duck.  Closer in relation to geese than a duck.  They waddle a bit, heads are definitely duck like, but they do not quack.  We had a flock join us on Saturday, and as they flew in, it was a showdown at The Compound!  Just look at these characters.  I think the ducks would win. The Cotton Club is a bunch of chicken, chickens!

                                 

I hope you can hear the sound the ducks make, it’s really strange.  They spent around an half hour or so, digging in the wet areas of The Compound.
 
 

Monday, October 29, 2012

This is Why We Prep

Need I say more?!

http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/panic-buying-grips-the-east-coast-mad-rush-for-supplies-ahead-of-mega-storm_10292012

Sandy's Wake at The Compound

I'm sure you've heard or read about a little storm that passed by Florida late last week, named Sandy.  I know the Northeast is bracing for the effects, but we spent the better part of Saturday cleaning up the mess she left behind.  We've never seen this much debris laying around! 




Water everywhere!  We were already saturated, and Sandy didn't help.  Needless to say, our pile of ash from the burn is several wheelbarrows full.  Overall Saturday was nice, breezy and cool.  The Cotton Club had an absolute blast outside.   They even ventured further from the norm, which was nice to see they are growing in confidence.   I don't think they stopped but once or twice for a quick nap.  Just too many bugs to be found!


The Moose made a pork butt roast in the outdoor oven, that turned out really well.  It really hit the spot.  

Of course, cleaning up the mess, and after the chickens is never enough for us!  We had to move the three large piles of mulch and wood too!  This:

Became this:


Spud, the Moose and I shoveled, moved and raked this new drive area, as well as the entrance to the chicken run.  The Compound has some low lying areas, and the drive in is one of them.  There was always a path coming in, but it stopped at the end of a row of oak trees, then you had to drive across the lawn to a parking area.  When it rains it gets very soft, and since there was no clear path, we just drove willy-nilly.  In time this will compact down, and it makes a very clear distinction on where we should be driving.  Yeah, no more mud and deep tracks!  Other than labor, it was totally free!

I've got some other posts in the works for later this week.  I hope you'll continue to follow along.  For those of you that continue to read and comment, thanks for making a crazy old bag happy!