My quiet 67th birthday

This was supposed to be a low-key and quiet birthday with no celebration.  After all, we already had plans to do a joint birthday dinner for Barb and me on Oct. 16.  Barb’s birthday is the 28^th and mine is on the 12^th.  Our son, Matt, and his girlfriend Mary Louise Roberts had planned to bring us a wonderful meal.

But the day got started with our new kitten named “Roy” deciding that he wanted to make my day special and he got in my face every way possible to insist that I know that he is purring up a storm and wanted to snuggle while I was at my computer checking e-mails.  What a guy!  We have had him for a few weeks and he has doubled in size.  He is a “rescue cat” that came to us from Kara Stambach, a member of our church, and the Lucky Cat Rescue.  A gentleman named Roy found our kitten after it was abandoned in a Habitat project and Kara nursed our Roy back to health.  He is so much fun…full of energy…and runs around the house like crazy and then plops on our laps or shoulders and purrs loudly.  We are so grateful to Kara.

Then we headed out for the main event of the day, a trip on the “Steam into History” steam railroad out of New Freedom, Pennsylvania.  The event was sponsored by the Epworth Everybody Else group at our church (nicknamed E3s) and it began with everyone gathering at a nice café in the heart of New Freedom close to the train tracks.

We arrived just in time to see the replica steam engine arrive from the morning trip.  Lots of loud whistles and the sound of live steam gushing from the engine.  How exciting!

Across the street from the restaurant was the company store where they had lots of Civil War memorabilia, puzzles, games, clothing, and toys to enhance your railroad experience.  Nearby, there was also a museum in the old New Freedom train station.

Our goal was Hanover Junction.  The historical importance of this railroad is the Lincoln took these trains to get to Gettysburg to deliver his famous address and Hanover Junction was the connecting point that

allowed Lincoln’s train to connect to Gettysburg.  Regrettably, it was also the same route where Lincoln’s body was taken back to Illinois for burial following his assassination.

The route from New Freedom to Hanover Junction is only ten miles long. The trip takes an hour.  But it was filled with beauty as we saw small towns, large farms, and numerous streams, rivers, and creeks adjacent to the tracks.  The railroad featured volunteers in period costumes and a talented minstrel who entertained us with songs along the

way.  On the route back, the conductor was a walking/talking history lesson.  I thoroughly enjoyed it. I shot 95 pictures and posted them on Picasa here.

And then my day got even better!  Waiting for me in my computer was a nifty video performed…and created…by our other wonderful son, Robert, who lives in Portland.  I liked it so much that I posted it on VIMEO and hope you will check it out:  https://vimeo.com/76779158  I continue to be amazed and grateful for the creativity of our sons.

And finally, a heartfelt “thanks” to all of the folks who posted a happy birthday wish on Facebook. Thank you.  It has really made this day special.

Two month old chickens can fly

Our hens are two months old now.  Their birthday was Saturday, October 5th.  They are thriving in their new outdoor chicken coop and their chicken run.  They are friendly, calm, and surprisingly able to fly.  The Plymouth Rock takes particular pleasure in flying up to the roost which is five feet off the ground.  I'm quite amazed.  I asked my neighbor, Art Wannlund (who enjoys the chickens as much as I do), for a little help identifying the breeds and this is what he was able to learn.

Chicken #1 Buff Orpington

Buff Orpingtons are a very popular breed for backyard flocks. They are extremely friendly birds, love people, and even seem to enjoy being picked up and carried around the yard. They are great chickens for children as Orpingtons might well possess the sweetest personality of the popular backyard chicken breeds. Buff Orpingtons are very hardy in all weather conditions and lay medium to large size brown eggs. Orpingtons also have a bantam (miniature) counterpart.

Chicken # 2 New Hampshire Red or Rhode Island Red

 Rhode Island Reds are very interactive chickens and are wonderful producers of medium to large size brown eggs. Though social and people oriented, they can become aggressive, especially the roosters. Overall, Rhode Island Reds are great birds to have in a backyard flock with their consistent egg production, hardiness (Rhode Island Reds are extremely hardy in both hot and cold climates), interest in people, and their entertaining antics (Rhodies have individual personalities that are endearing). Rhode Island Reds also have a bantam counterpart.

 New Hampshire Red Chickens (or simply New Hampshires) were developed from the Rhode Island Red in the early 1900's to intensify the characteristics of the Rhode Island Red in terms of hardiness, egg production, and early maturation. New Hampshire Reds are a lighter shade of red than the Rhode Island Red and like the Rhode Island Red, the New Hampshires are very interactive with people and can be extremely friendly and calm or can occasionally turn aggressive, especially the roosters. New Hampshire Reds are very hardy and tolerate heat and cold well. New Hampshires are fantastic egg producers and lay large size brown eggs. New Hampshires also have a bantam  counterpart

  

Chicken #3 Plymouth Rock

Plymouth Rock / Barred Rock chickens are an old American breed and come in a variety of colors: barred (most common), white, buff, and silver. Very docile and calm, Plymouth Rocks / Barred Rocks are a wonderful addition to a flock, laying large brown eggs, and are extremely hardy, especially in cold climates. Because of their kind personality, Plymouth Rocks / Barred Rocks are an excellent choice for children to raise. Plymouth Rocks / Barred Rocks also have a bantam counterpart.

Chicken #4 Delaware

Delaware chickens were developed in the state of Delaware in the mid 1900's. They are white in color with a few black speckles and are well adapted to both the heat and the cold. Delaware chickens are quite calm and friendly birds and make excellent backyard flock members. Delawares are wonderful producers of large eggs, medium to dark brown in color. Delawares also have a bantam counterpart