Curtiss Ann Matlock's Blog, page 39

Clipped Wings

My dear husband made a lovely fenced corral for the girls.

Our aim was to give our hens an ‘outdoor living’ space for the daytime. They are still securely penned up at night.

Of course you know what happened. One of the red girls– I call her Lucy, after the famous red-head–quickly flew over the fence. In short order, one of the Golden Girls learned that she enjoyed joining her. It really wasn’t a big deal; neither hen went far, but the point being when we do get a garden going, we want to be ab...

If Wishes Were Horses

The ancient nursery rhyme is recorded as ‘If wishes were horses, beggars would ride,” but as my mother always said it to me in childhood, “If wishes were horses, we’d all ride.” This would be my mother’s response when I would be day-dreaming or plaguing her for something I wanted.

“Mama, can I have a pony?” “If wishes were horses, we’d all ride, CurtissAnn.” She says my name all together in her genteel North Carolinian drawl.

Fall has come now to South Alabama. Along with the crisp, cool air co...

Wordless Wednesday

As always, with some words.

5-years-old, trying to take a picture of himself with Elvira.

One morning it happened that…

Filed under: Wordless Wednesday

The Stick, the Chick, and Me…

Here’s how it turned out since my previous post:

The gardenia stick is dead as it’ll ever be.

I believe I killed it by procrastination. I would have done better to plant it in a little pot the instant I saw the roots. I kept saying, “I’ll do that tomorrow.” I am still saying that, because the stick is still in its cup beside my sink. You win some, you lose some, but at least you tried, and in every case you gain more knowledge.

I appear to have won out better with Elvira.

She can now walk well an...

I’ll Let You Know How It All Turns Out

So…my cutting from Aunt Winnie’s gardenia bush, of which I proudly blogged here, is now this discouraging stick.

And this morning we found our dear Elvira flopping down with an injured right leg. She seems to be in the same condition as happened to our precious Princess Puny when Puny was only a week old.

Here is what I have done:

Right beside my little stick of Aunt Winnie’s gardenia, I have placed this pot of a successfully rooted cutting from one of my own gardenia bushes. I thought it might...

Letting Go of Shoulds

I’m writing this in the sanctity of my office, in the comfy chair in the nook of my narrow dormer. My door is open, and voices float up from below–five-year-old grandson and husband in conversation. They are discussing the weighty matter of former pre-school friends going to their respective schools just as grandson is going to his.

I have always written with my office door open wide. “Mom!” “Nana!” come the cries from downstairs, wanting to know how, what, when, where. Countless times over th...

Wordy Wordless Wednesday

Want to let our blogging friends and family know that we, chickens included, are safe and sound during hurricane Isaac. Although there have been tornado reports and flooding, Lower Alabama has been spared the hardest part of the storm. We, fantastic as it sounds, have not even lost electric power or internet service. Wonders never cease! The beaches and Mobile Bay are taking a beating from the storm surge, but we are away from both. The same sandy soil that was a trial during the exceptional...

The Lesson from Aunt Winnie’s Gardenia Cutting

I love gardenias. I am likely supporting the gardenia nursery industry with my love. I’ve ceased to count how many gardenia bushes I have bought, and killed. There is one now in the corner of my flower garden that I nursed for two years. Last month I gave up and said, “Die then.” It did.

Didn’t keep track of the name of this one, but I recall it gets large and seems it is from a bush over at a Louisiana plantation.

Still, I have managed to keep three bushes alive in my yard, even if none of the...

Gluten Free Chicken Feed II

My Elvira, my first layer. Maybe extra love helped her produce.

Yes, you can easily raise your chickens on your own homemade gluten-free chicken feed, have healthy hens, and get very good eggs. I am so happy to write that. Especially that easily part.

Those of you who joined me at the start of this adventure back in February may remember my fears the chickens would all die under my inexperienced hand and choice to make homemade gluten-free feed. But here we are, I’m still healthy, and the girls...

Sunday Morning Service in the Chicken House

The chickens and I both enjoy the radio in the hen house. When I was out there this morning, I heard this song. It lifted me and made my dress swirl.

Filed under: Faith, prayer Tagged: country music, Lonestar