Chicken Fight

Cherokee Trail of Tears Beans

    If it's not one thing it is another around here.  Our coffee pot doesn't keep coffee very hot. It's the heating element I guess.  It just doesn't stay hot enough.  So the easy answer to that problem has been to just pop the coffee cup in the microwave for a minute and ... ta da..... hot coffee.  Until today.
  All was going well, coffee perfectly blended with my cream and sugar, sitting in the microwave.  Ding.... Coffee's done!  I reach up to take it out of the microwave.... and the door won't open.  No amount of pushing, pulling, smacking, shaking.... nothing could convince that freaking microwave to release my first cup of morning coffee. 
    Mars finally got it open a bit later but says the problem with it can't be easily fixed.  Something about small plastic parts and made in china was mumbled a few times.  So I guess we are going to need a new microwave. <sigh>  

   Sometimes living on a small budget can be challenging.  For instance this month, included in the regular bills is the car registration.  That by itself isn't really a game changer. I knew it was coming and so I'm ready for it.  Same with a couple of other "extras" on the list this month.  I've got to fill at least one propane bottle this month for the canning stove.  Strawberry season is upon us which means it's time to pick up strawberries and make my strawberry jam for the year.  And I still need to pick up a few more tomato plants from the farm/nursery down the road and get them in the dirt.
       You see, I've had those things figured into the budget.  Now, I know folks say you should have an emergency cash stash for times like these.  And I can just hear someone saying "Dang it's just a microwave, they are cheap".  Well you would be correct on both counts.  Stuff happens.  I've always known that.  And this is just another one of those small annoying things that happen from time to time.  The microwave will have to wait.  My priorities are already set for the month.  I can't justify NOT doing any of the stuff I'd already planned.  The car, the propane, the strawberries, and the new plants are all higher on my "need" list than the dang microwave.   If I happen to see one on CraigsList or Freecycle though.... ya never know!

   I can't be sure but I think that the broody girls all trying to stay on that one nest have committed murder.  The one little chick was dead this morning.  I think they stomped her to death, which, by the way, is what I think happened to the other one. So now I'm on the look-out for new peeps. I'll try to rig up a box of some sort for it for now. The heat light might be a problem. I DO have one bedside lamp.  It's got like a "bendy" neck on it.  Maybe that will work.  I've still got a little chick starter so that's a good thing.  We'll have to see how it works out.  I'm pretty much playing it by ear with them. 

UPDATE:  I've got a confession.... the chickens kinda freak me out a little anyway. Don't get me wrong, I love having chickens.  I'm just not one of those "chicken petter" peeps.  Last year one of the old roosters came at me and left a few marks.  I'm a tad gun-shy with them now.  But there was a baby in there. I just knew it would get stomped to death like it's other eggmates.  So I pulled on my big girl panties and jacket ( Gotta protect the arms) and grabbed my gloves. 
  
   WOW! Those hens got MAD.  They were flying at me, pecking me, squawking up a storm,  dust flying, flapping wings, ruffling feathers, looking for any weakness on my part.
  Who knew?  Stop laughing!  You could have warned me ya know?  Anyway, I rescued the chick and its now in the house in a box chirping non-stop.  Life is good!

So other than the Attack of the Killer Chickens and the death knell of one of my favorite appliances ....... Today was a good day.  Plenty of sunshine and a good dose of dirt under my nails.  I planted the rest of the row  that was finished and we're getting the next one ready.  I'm not in as big a hurry at the moment though because we are going to have yet another cold front come through at the end of the week.  What a spring!!