Friday, October 25, 2013

The Molt

A spooky story just in time for Halloween.

Fall was coming, the weather was changing, and the animals were getting ready by shedding their summer coat for thicker winter coats.

It started innocent enough, a fluff of feather here, a fluffy feather there. Then more and more till it looked like a pillow fight. Every day, every night, everywhere. A severe case of alopecia, the older hens were looking bald and bare. They also stopped laying eggs.

This was our first hard molt and quite unexpected. Since feathers are mostly protein, I increased the protein in the Girls' diet: BOSS --black oil sunflower seeds-- and soybeans ("No, Honey, the boiled soybeans are for the chickens, not for us."). I also watched them carefully, if they pecked at one another I was prepared to protect and isolate the injured bird at the first sign of blood. Chickens can be cruel like that.

Then it happened, the new immature feathers appeared. They're called pin feathers. They look like porcupine quills. Or, bones. Yes, bones. My chickens looked like walking skeletons. Little nightmares.


Frankenchicken (aka Baby)


Countess Dracluckula


Now that a few weeks have passed since the molt began, the Girls' feathers are coming in nicely. Thankfully, we haven't had to deal with any bleeding or broken pin feathers or a pecked on, picked on, chicken.


The older Girls and Peeps


Basking in the sun and in one another's company.


They won't start laying eggs again till the molt is completely over. Possibly not till next Spring. Now, that's scary.


Happy Fall Friday










Saturday, October 19, 2013

Aloha Friday

Last August, at the Atascadero Lake Car Show The Man noticed a 1970 Mustang. It was notable because of the Honolulu Midweek Newspaper article explaining the car's Hawaiian heritage. When The Man got home he mentioned the car. It didn't take long to find the Midweek article online and that led me to ex-Oahu local Sandee and her blog: Sweet Home Atascadero.

I started reading Sandee's blog and especially enjoyed her pictures and recipes of local kine foods: spam musubi, li hing popsicle, yum. I left a comment on her blog, she emailed me, I emailed her back, she emailed me back, I emailed her . . . so, yesterday, we met.

We agreed to meet at the local Starbucks and then chatted non-stop for a couple of hours fueled by commonalities and caffeine. The topics ranged anywhere from finding a good hairstylist (still looking), best grocery stores, and finding medical care. It's a challenge starting over and we could compare notes and commiserate. This is Sandee's first experience to live on the mainland, it's all an adventure for her.

We didn't even begin to chat about the local kine foods we miss the most or what we've been able to find in SLO. (My tip: Aloha shoyu found at San Luis Oriental Market, 1255 Monterey St.)

Today marks the second year anniversary of The Man and me moving back to the Central Coast. Next month, Sandee and Vince marks their first year anniversary of moving to Atascadero.


Happy Anniversary HI Expats

Saturday, October 12, 2013

A Happy Coincidence

Yesterday, I received my third box of charity yarn from Leslye Borden and her organization Handmade Especially For You.  The box contained colorful magic yarn balls to make eight Comfort Scarves.  I thought the recycled box looked familiar so I peeled back the shipping label to reveal the return address.  It wasn't my box but imagine my surprise to discover that I knew the name on the box.  I asked The Man if it was the Kathy that we knew and he said, "Yup".

The Man's Mom and Kathy are friends.  They both belong to The Red Hat Society and formed their own chapter Valley Isle Vixens on Maui.  Together they travel the world and have a great time.  And once again they'll both be here in March before they attend their Monterey Convention.  We're looking forward to their visit; they're fun to be around.  (Note to self: remember to ask the ladies to bring their bambucha knitting needles so we can do a little charity scarfing together.)

The Man suggested maybe it's just the three of us making scarves.  Hehe, I don't think so unless Kathy and his Mom have made 1092 scarves (to add to the eight I sent in).  In September, 1100 scarves were shipped to over fifty Women's shelters in California.

Leslye replied, "Tell your husband we have many, many volunteers, not just you and your family and friends, although you all do a lot for Handmade.  Thanks for everything."

A happy coincidence.  And, yes, it is a small world after all.  A small giving world.


Magic balls of yarn and a Comfort Scarf in progress.


Thursday, October 10, 2013

Deep Pools: 9/11 Memorial







Memorial South Pool ~










Memorial North Pool ~




1 World Trade Center and Museum ~




1 World Trade Center at 1,776 feet (104 floors) is the tallest building in the United States.

9/11 Memorial and Museum



Tuesday, October 8, 2013

NYC, Baby


What I learned from our trip to Manhattan:

  • Public restrooms are hard to come by.  (Thank you, Burger King, I owe you one.)
  • They say don't look like a tourist.  Oh, well, we could never ever not look like a tourist.

 Maybe it's a peace sign, "two",  or "V" for Victory for another $2 in "tips".

  • Get your map of the City ahead of time.  We couldn't find one and asked a couple where they got their NYC map.  They brought it from home . . . Australia.  Since they had two they kindly shared their extra map with us.

Hmm, I thought Matzo Ball soup had meatballs in it.

  • On a clear day you can see forever.

From the "Top of the Rock", Rockefeller Center




What The Man learned:

Don't leave me alone never, ever.  The second day we wanted to explore Midtown Manhattan. We got an early start and it was still dark when we caught the ferry from Belford, NJ.  The Man went upstairs to sit outside on the outer deck.  I stayed in the main cabin.  When my seat mates got up to disembark so did I.

I first noticed the dock looked familiar, then I noticed that I was alone as I watched the Ferry motor away.  At that moment, The Man texted "Plenty of seats upstairs".

Oh, boy.

I texted back, "I got off didn't you"?  His reply, "I hope you're kidding".

Oh, boy.

Ferry and Harbor Gunboat at dawn

At that point I wondered, "why are we texting"?  I am alone in New York City and it's dark.  I gave The Man a call.  He was going to get off at the next stop.

I had mistakenly thought it was an Express ferry to Midtown, get on, get off.  Simple.  I was wrong and had gotten off prematurely at the same dock from the day before in the Financial District, Lower Manhattan.  Since we had covered alot of the area the day before including the waterfront we both knew where we were and which direction to walk.

We met at Battery Park.  From there we caught the subway to Times Square.




Simple.


Thursday, October 3, 2013

Out and About the New Jersey Shore

September 22, 2013 - September 28, 2013

The Molly Pitcher Inn
Red Banks, NJ

Our 19th century home away from home


Local finds at The Red Barn Antiques
Red Banks, NJ





Bruce Springsteen's venues circa 1970's
Asbury Park Boardwalk and the Stone Pony








Summer is over, the beaches are empty, and even the Swan boats are leaving town.




Hellooo, I'm a flamingo.