Since it has been over two years since I have posted on this blog, I thought I would ease back into the blogisphere with a bit of a "while I was away" update. Much has gone unreported in my world in the past two years. This quick summary will not come close to covering it all:
In October 2009 I started a new job - which was a true blessing in our lives - but has also required a great deal of time and energy. In February 2010 Barb and I became grandparents! Simon Christopher Owens is the son of Amber (0ur oldest daughter) and Nick Owens. Amber and Nick are awesome parents and Simon is a great joy to us all!
In June 2010 I became a Reiki master. Barb conspired with my assistant and my boss to get me away from the office for a long weekend. We stayed in a beautiful cabin in the mountains just west of Asheville, NC. and Barb did my master attunement on the deck overlooking the western North Carolina mountains. It was wonderful and amazing.
Our chickens continue to be a joy in our lives, and provide the most wonderful eggs for our breakfast table. However, we have had some sadness as chicken owners as well. We have learned the hard way the challenges of allowing your birds to free range when you are surrounded by woods and fields. Hawks, dogs, fox, and even feral cats will prey on your birds as they scratch around the yard looking for bugs, worms and other treats. We bought a young rooster at one point on the theory that he would protect the flock. Sadly, he disappeared one day along with a couple of our hens.
A few months later, a friend of ours gave us a huge, beautiful rooster named Archie. Actually, we took him in to save him from the soup pot, a destiny we were told was close at hand for Archie. He lived with us for several months and was quite protective of - and enamored with, if you know what I mean - our flock. I sometimes didn't mind the fact that he had no internal clock, and would often crow at 4 am - hours before the first hint of daylight. However, when he began protecting the flock from me, attacking me from behind, we "re-gifted" him to a better home, with more space and more hens to watch over. Lucky for Archie, his new owner shares our "once you name it, you can't eat it" rule, so he is still safe from the soup pot.
My latest project was the inspiration for finally getting back to this blog. I built a hoop house and I learned quite a bit that I would like to share here. To be honest, I also miss the chance to write on a frequent basis. Therefore, I am back on the blog, with a promise for a two-to-three part entry on how to - and how not to - build a backyard hoop house!
Peace and Blessings,
Alan
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