I have fallen into an early morning routine the past few weeks that I am very pleased with. I wake sometime between 6 and 7, before anyone else. I throw on clothes and pull my hair back and sneak out the front door. Then, for about half an hour, I pull weeds and putter around with all the little plants I started from seed this year. My current obsession is black hollyhocks. I started those that are blooming now last spring. I started a new batch this year, so I’ll have blooms again next year (from what I have read they are short lived perennials or biennials.) Each morning I inspect each of the plants that is blooming for spent blossoms, and tuck them in my pocket. Once I have about forty, I can dye a skein of yarn. I dyed my first last week, and it is the most gorgeous soft blue! That skein will certainly become something for Mabel. I am working on another dye bath now, and I’ll try to share my results on Instagram later this week.
We’ve been a little preoccupied with our chickens the past few days because we are having predator problems again. Our property is mostly forested and that is proving to be deadly for our poor flock. Most of them are fenced in, but Larkspur’s little black copper maran flock has been completely free range for some time. Her rooster was taken Thursday afternoon. We didn’t realize until it was time to lock up their coop. Then Friday afternoon Beatrix watched in horror from the back porch as a fox sprang from the woods and began chasing Lark’s remaining four hens. We all went tearing out of the house screaming like a bunch of crazy people, but it was too late. The fox took Eggna, Lark’s favorite. The crazy thing is that we had been out there most of the day to make things less hospitable to predators. Seth cleared all the low brush along the tree line and mowed the grass around our coops. That fox must be awfully hungry, because after taking Eggna, and most of us running through the woods yelling and carrying on, it came back! By that time, we had caught Lark’s three surviving hens and put them in with our fenced large flock. We thought we had things secure, but then Saturday, Rose, Beatrix’s favorite hen was taken. We found a gap under the fence with her feathers just beyond. My goodness. What a few days it’s been! Sunday we were all on high alert all day, and there was no sign of the fox. We’re all being extra vigilant. I really, really love our chickens, and so do most of our kids. It’s really hard to lose them this way. It makes me feel helpless and a little bit crazed. But, as I reminded Larkspur, this is the nature of things, and part of keeping chickens.
Mabel’s birthday is Wednesday, and her quilt is finished. I have a birthday dress cut out and ready to sew and her Juniper Kitty is well underway. It will be a last minute rush to finish I’m sure, but I still think I can get everything done. Thank you all so much for the gift and book recommendations! I did end up ordering her a few new books. Those are really a gift to Jonny and me as well. It’s nice to have a change from reading the same ones over and over again. Anyway, once I have the gifts finished, there’s not much more to do. We’re not planning anything fancy this year, just a quiet birthday for our baby. (Two is still a baby, I think.)
rachel @ tea with lucy says
Ah what a blissful way to start the day!
I’m collecting avocado skins and pits for a dye batch at the moment, but that collection process isn’t nearly so beautiful.
Rachel
Ellen says
So sorry for Beatrix and Larkspur! I’m sure that was alarming and sad for them.
Changing subject…and sort of related to your hollyhocks and flowers (love the sound of your early morning routine!)…can you recommend some good books & guides for plants/flowers? I’m thinking for identification and usage for wild plants and well as cultivated ones. I’m still a newbie and need help.
Ginny says
Ellen, what area of the country are you in? I tend to buy guides that are specific to my region/state. Our favorite field guide in general (that is specific to North America) is this one: https://www.amazon.com/North-American-Wildlife-Illustrated-Animals/dp/1606524917/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1531829524&sr=8-1&keywords=readers+digest+field+guide
Marybeth says
Sorry about the chickens. I hope the girls are OK. I hope Mabel has a wonderful birthday. She will always be your baby.
Rebecca says
Our neighbors dog, a few years ago, came and killed like 10 of our chickens. I was devastated (they’ve since moved away). But let me suggest you get an outdoor dog! Since we’ve started leaving our pitbull mix dog out when the hens are free ranging, we have hardly lost any! He’s a good chicken watch dog.
Helena says
Ugh, predators coming after your chickens are so hard to deal with. Here it’s mostly bobcats–we finally have our coop fortified in such a way that the hens can’t stick their heads out, and the bobcats can’t stick their paws in. And then the other day I went out to chase away what I thought was the neighbor’s dog (could only see the tail) and turned out it was a large coyote! So our girls have to stay penned up all the time. We have a mobile coop and we move them onto fresh grass often–wish we could free range them, but last time we tried that the bobcats and hawks took too many of them.
Cathy says
Oh how I love looking and enjoying your beauriful photos! I am anxious to see pic of the bd dress, books you chose, quilt and juniper kitty. You always make such lovely thoughtful gifts. They are the most precious kind. ??????
Bee says
So sorry to hear about the chickens 🙁 . I love them as well, and I can only imagine how sad it must be for your kids. I do get what you’re saying though – it is part of nature. But that doesn’t always make it easier…
On a completely different note: wow, that blue yarn! I’d never have guessed that’s what you’d end up with after dying with those black hollyhocks. What a nice surprise. I love it!
& Happy early birthday to Mabel! Hope you guys have a great day!
Conny says
Oh and two is definitely still a baby ? otherwise they will grow up so fast!!!!
Conny says
oh, that’s a sad story! Maybe you can use a thicker wire fence? We also love our hens very much. The fox was only twice there. But now we have two dogs running free. But what are you doing against mites? Your kids have it in their arms…thats so lovely….
And these flowers are one of my favorite flowers! I’m thrilled!!! 🙂
Flyingkids says
Wow this is an awesome Early morning activity. What a great way to start the day! Hollyhocks sounds like a great perennial to have in the garden.
Janet Reinhart says
How fun it is to see that those hollyhocks made blue yarn! I have hot pink and dark pink hollyhocks… wonder how they’d work!
I sure do enjoy your photos and family stories!
Maria says
So sorry about the poor chickens :(. We have had good luck with electronet fencing, before that we had predator problems. Can’t let my girls free range because they tear up the neighbors garden….he is definitely not a chicken person!
Marion says
Larkspur and Beatrix I am sorry for the loss of your pets. Love the pictures of Mabel.
Marion
Joan says
The hollyhocks are very pretty. I feel for Larkspur and Beatrix. It is not easy to lose pets. your garden is nice.
Joan
Marilyn says
Sorry about the Fox taking Larkspurs and Beatrix’s rooster and hens. The flowers are gorgeous.
Marilyn
Nicole Cox says
Do hollyhocks really take that long to germinate and grow?? That may explain why I never got any blooms when I planted them… hmm!! I’m going to have to do research. I just assumed birds got all my baby seeds!
Gillian Hadden says
We recently lost 3 ducks and had 2 injured due to a fox. In the daytime too! So bold. We got a livestock guardian dog. He has everything secure now. Hopefully! Sorry for your losses.
Jessica says
Hi Ginny,
So so sad about the foxes! Have you read “Sonya’s Chickens”? It’s a beautiful story about a loss like this and written and illustrated by Phoebe Wall, a lovely artist who lives in my town. I recommend it heartily! Also wanted to mention a book we have from the library right now– “The Honeybee” by Kirsten Hall and illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault. It is gorgeous but also really informative about the lives of honeybees! It seems like it would be relevant to your family. Blessings on Mabel’s birthday!
Penelope says
Two is definitely still a baby 🙂
Ah, that’s so sad about the chickens. We had a city flock of four, dear girls we loved to pieces, and over time we lost three of the four to predation, and one simply lay down midday and died. …. I very much miss having them about the place as both pets and as egg layers. But we haven’t replaced them. For us, it was just so challenging and stressful, no matter how well we secured their coop and run area, the predators would prowl at night, and scare them, and keep us awake for hours with their clamor …. and eventually, as I say …. Perhaps one day when I am feeling hardier we will tey again!
Kris says
Sorry to hear about your fox problem. I’ve been battling a fox for the past few weeks too; am down to six chickens from a dozen. The bold fox was coming right up in the middle of the day; one Saturday I looked out the dining room window just after lunch and saw the fox standing atop our woodpile (which is pretty much mid-way between the house and the chicken coop), staring at the house. Hubby and I went out and bought a big live trap that afternoon, but of course we haven’t seen the fox since. I’ve also been keeping my poor flock locked in the coop most of the day.
Richard (in Charlotte, NC) says
So sorry to hear about your lost chickens. I had a dozen RIRs and took them out from the brooder box they started in and I put them in what I thought was a very secure pen under my chicken coop that was fenced with 2″ x 4″ welded wire and the very next day I had a loss of 7. What ever got them must have been in a pack and scared them to one side while another one must have pulled them right through the fencing. I had to go back and put regular chicken wire over top of the 2 x 4 fencing and I have not had any more problems. I now have 9 more Golden Comets / Tetra Browns and hope to keep all of them. I have not seen any foxes but, I do have some hawks in my neck of the woods and they fly over occasionally looking for a chicken Bon Bon meal.
Katie says
How sad about the flock… I love the name Eggna. ? We have had predator problems here and there. We started with 15 hens and free ranged them during the day. We are down to 7, three years later. Part of me is hoping in a few years they will be taken care of by nature so I won’t have to decide what to do with them when they stop laying. They are so happy outside…
Cecily Graham says
So sorry to hear about your chickens. We had a fox get into our henhouse a few months ago and kill all the rescue hens that we’d just brought home. It didn’t even take most of them. We haven’t had many hens since then but have just bought two new pullets to keep Eggletina (we love The Borrowers) company and have our first ever hatching eggs keeping cosy in an incubator. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a healthy little flock.
You hollyhocks and the resulting yarn are beautiful. Talk about slow crafting! I’m looking forward to seeing Mabel’s dress and kitty; the fabrics are lovely. X
Nicole Spring says
Oh the chicken problems. I fear this so much!! We are surrounded by woods and the bars are coming right up to our house at least once a week. Plus there is a family of bald eagles on our property on the other side of the street. Eeek! We removed our bird feeders but I fear putting our chickens out. I have been told their is a fox den nearby, too. Honestly that is what I fear most. With Baby F (and I) loving foxes so much- the thought of one stealing our beloved chickens is hard to handle.
On a side note – I too have finally started up a better routine and am waking at 6! Unheard of for me! But I am enjoying it. Morning prayer time and a cup of teaccino before Baby F rises.
Nicole Spring says
bEars not bars 🙂
Teresa says
Hehe. I just thought you were from Tennesee, like Davy Crockett ?
Nicole Spring says
oh and 2 is still totally a baby!!! xoxo Okay I’ll stop with all the comments now 🙂
Judith Hogan says
Love the sweet photo of Mable delicately dropping the hollyhock flower into the pot. She is a cutie. Sad about the chickens, but as you mention, it is nature’s way and a fox has to eat the same as everyone. Hard on the kids though when they lose one of their favourite pets.
Kate says
I admire people who plow through with having chickens. We had them for about 15 years. They were “free range” in a large fenced in area and occasionally we’d let let them range in our orchard. We had 5 acres, but I didn’t want them all over the place. If we did, they’inevitably head to my flower and herb garden and tear up tender plants and cause havoc. I told my husband that if he didn’t fence off an area for them, I’d personally wring all of their necks. We didn’t have much of a problem with predators, but when we did they’d break into the coop and wipe out the whole flock. Once it was the Anglican minister’s large dogs! The drought (we were in the west) caused many animals to come looking for food. It’s not cheap to replace a whole flock to supply a large family with eggs. We also had to buy feed for them when there wasn’t enough for forage to keep them alive and laying. Eventually, we decided it was cheaper to just buy other people’s eggs. It’s probably a labor of love for your your family since you actually like chickens and have them for pets. I do miss my goats though. Now we only have a cat.
Lou says
Ooh that’s my favorite color of hollyhocks! We grow a lot of them and nothing says Summer more than these gorgeous blooms. The bees and butterflies love them. So neat that the blooms yields such a pretty shade of blue. It’s very sad about the chickens. It is nature’s way though and possible Fox has kits/pups to feed. Dear, oh dear though.
Eileen says
So sorry to hear about your chickens.My daughter had free ranging chickens that were not bothered by the many foxes around her. She said she thought the chickens had an agreement with the foxes, they could have all the eggs they laid (Caitlin could never find any eggs for the house) but the foxes had to leave the chickens alone. All went well all summer and into the fall. But when the chickens slowed and some stopped laying, they were gone!
I had to laugh, I always comb your blog for gift ideas for the my grandkids!
Love the blue yarn and I have black hollyhocks!
Gretchen Weaver says
Hollyhocks will drop seeds and future plants will grow from them. My flowerbeds are basically perennials and I’m glad to not have to plant them every year. The original hollyhock seeds came from my oldest DIL’s parents home 15 years ago.
Kim Gibson says
Sad about the chickens….you are right of course, it is indeed the way of nature. Nonetheless, sad.
I had no idea hollyhocks could dye….is it really fleeting? I love the blue of beans and cabbage, but they don’t really last very long…