"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands........" 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Two new roosters have come to the farm..................

one actually to the farm kitchen............I started working on this cross stitch rooster years ago, always putting it away and then going back to stitch now and then..........off and on. But these past 8 weeks or so, I have stitched continuously on this project and now it is finished! I plan to frame it and hang it in my kitchen around my other "rooster collection".  I am also toying with the idea of offering my embroidery services to others..........for those who have cross stitched projects started, but not completed,........ but would like for me to complete them. But that is a plan still in the thought process.

Meet Lil' Tex. Out of the 18 "hen chicks" I purchased this spring, was this little rooster. I almost gave him away to a friend, however, changed my mind because of his small size and of the small size of 5 hens that are of his breed. This set will make a great addition to my " chicken raising plan".

This poor dry creature says it all about how the conditions  still are here in Texas. This is a Vinegar Roan. Evil looking, but completely harmless, except for the vinegar smelling spray they give off when something bothers them. I have seen the cats and dog get sprayed by them, and it seems to sting a little, making them to remember to not mess with this creature. It usually looks a shiny black, but with the drought, it is as dry as the hard ground it comes from. It boldly approached me as I was watering............desperate for a drink.... and I cannot refuse any creature when it is thirsty.

Yet, in all of this............hope has it's many different forms. This young one was in the middle of flying lessons when I interfered.............with both parents scolding me.  It wasn't long before it and it's parents were flying off into the woods.  Sophie and I usually take a little midnight stroll out to the yard before retiring for the night. Last night  we surprised a badger, who had come up for a drink of water out of the bird's bath. Thankfully, he was as scared of us as we were of him, and quickly darted off into the blackness of the woods. 
What kind of creatures are you encountering?
I would love to hear!

18 comments:

lil red hen said...

Interesting "bug". I don't know if we have those. And what a lovely picture -- much work!

As for creatures: I have kittens who come to a shed here behind the house. I don't like to feed them there because we've had several killed by dogs there. One evening, when I went to get feed, two skunk kittens came out of the shed, their little tails fluffed up into the air, just like they were coming to me to be fed. Yikes!! A scolding sent them scurring back inside; now I hope they aren't big enough to spray and make my Jeep stink!

Thanks for your comment on the tomatoes; I'll post later on the survey results. :-)

Debbie said...

We've seen some coons. Lots and lots of birds sticking close to the feeders and the birdbath. :D

Connie said...

Your cross stitch rooster is beautiful, Kathleen. So much detail--very lovely!

I've never seen or heard of a Vinegar Roan before. It looks a little like a scorpion to me.

I hope some soothing rains come for you there soon.

Elaine/Muddling Through said...

Wow! You have all kinds of interesting beasties and crawlies out there. Ours are pretty much ordinary, eveyrday ones here. Lots of feral cats.

The Woodbury's said...

We don't have anything really unusual at our place; we are mostly just a squirrel and bird sanctuary (they all discovered our grapes and berries).

I must say, the rooster you are working on is absolutely beautiful (and he won't even wake you up in the morning!). Keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

The rooster cross stitch is lovely, Kathleen. Many years ago, I thoroughly enjoyed cross stitching. I often see unfinished stitchery projects at the thrift store and think what a shame! Hope you get some rain soon. Hugs to Sophie!

Betty Lou said...

Love your rooster, can't say that for the Vinegar Roan. Took some pictures today of quilts to post, put them on the back fence--------two ugly looking bugs taking a nap on the post. The 20th day with temps 100 or above-----no rain in sight.

Vickie said...

Now that's one ugly bug, Kathleen. I'd seen those out west of here, but didn't know what they were called. Now I do!

Critters? Coyotes and feral cats mostly...

Kathleen, I Love that rooster you cross-stitched. Love the colors!

Cute little white rooster - hope he's kind to his lady friends and doesn't cause any trouble! ;)

Paula said...

The cross stitch rooster is so pretty, Kathleen~ and so is Lil Tex... he will be a ladies man for sure one day.
Strange looking little bug~ I've never heard of those.
I hope the little birdie got it's wings...

Michaele said...

I really enjoyed this post. The cross stitch is amazing! So many creatures looking for water, so nice of you to share. We are keeping everything pretty well scared away I guess. Chickens are free roaming and coop stays open at night because they need to cool air. Very lucky I know.

Anonymous said...

i get joy reading your stories with pictures :-)

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

Sounds like me, I did have X-stitch projects that I had been working for years and years. Where were you, I could have paid you do complete them.

He is one handsome fellow, looks like he will be the talk of the hen house.

grammy said...

Love the cross stitch Rooster (o;
I love Roosters and chickens...they are all over my kitchen (o:

Terry and Linda said...

I thought I saw Gulf Weather is forming...here is for rain for you!

SOON

Now!
Today!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Grammyof13 said...

Love your story and your cross stitch work. You bless me with your joy for God's handiwork and creatures. The bug - though you say he is harmless - he is still a bug to me!!! I'm that way by snakes as well. I don't care how he looks - he is still a snake and I run from them. Oh did I tell you I grew up on a farm!!! hehe

One would never know by my confessions....

Doris

Sue said...

Hi Kathleen, What beautiful work you do, I always admire women who are so gifted with their hands. and lil Tex, is so cute, he looks just like my white rooster and I hope he is not as aggressive as mine, when I am at the coop, he tries to chase me, lol.
I have never heard of a vinegar droan, very unusual.
We are under a drought too, and let's not think about the triple digit temps.
Thanks for coming by and for leaving such a sweet comment, I am hoping to get back to regular blogging, just waiting for the work to slow down.~smile~.
Enjoy your week.
Sue

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Never seen a vinegar roan in these parts (VA eastern shore) and the only critters we're seeing are the birds and bunnies that like to seek shelter in the wildflower gardens. Hope you get some rainfall soon, Kathleen.

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

Huge brown bugs with pinchers--don't know what they are, but I leave them alone! Lots of grandaddy longlegs where we live and when it gets as hot and dry as it is now, they are always getting in the house!
Such a beautiful needlework of the rooster--I just love it!
V