So I know I haven't posted in a while... even though I keep meaning to, and even have things to write about (which I promptly forget when I actually sit down to write), but I have been without a computer for a week now... The monitor is acting up, and I took it to the people at the help desk, and have yet to hear back about it. rawr. I guess it's good in a sense, since I can't waste time online, but now that classes have started, it would certainly be useful to have the internet available to me, and other functions such as word document and finale.
But anyway, let me fill you in (those of you who actually read this...) on a little bit of my life lately. I have started my Junior year at DePauw.... scary stuff. Yet, at the same time, I'm a lot more relaxed this year than the past two. I feel almost at peace, ready, and almost carefree. That's not to say that I don't care about anything this year, that I don't care how I do in school or anything, but I'm not worried so much, not so anxious, tense, and nervous. I think part of it is that I am kind of making a fresh start this year. Due to several different factors, I have realized the need to make a fresh start. The past two years, I allowed so many things, both personal and outside factors to distract me from what I should be focusing on, and to affect my work, how I spent my time and energy, and my personal relationships with people. Certain events and my own personal reflection have made me come to understand the need for a change. Of course, there's only so much that one can change at one time, and some things will take some time and work, but I have made the first step. I realize that I am being cryptic, but interpret this as you will. Just know that I am far more relaxed, relieved even, and anticipating a very good year. (Though hard.)
I think that is all I will say for now. I will have to come back at a later time to post on an observation I had a week or so ago, yet never had a chance to write on.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Fun with Chickens.
So here I am, my first night house-sitting for the Becks. I've been here since yesterday afternoon, but they didn't leave until this afternoon. The home is just lovely, about ten minutes from DePauw, out in the country, up on a hill with fields full of corn and/or cows around it. The yard here looks small, but there's so much to it! They have so many little gardens on the edges of the yard and tucked into nooks and crannies, have a greenhouse, a workshop, and of course, the chicken coop. So this summer, I have taken care of cats and plants, then cats, dogs, horse, and plants, and now I get to take care of cats, dog, and chickens...... and of course, plants. I have never actually seen a live chicken, believe it or not. My only exposure is through the TV, and I must confess something..... when I was trying to invision what the chicken coop would look like and what I would need to do to take care of the chickens, most of my mental imagery was inspired by Chicken Run.... I know, pathetic. Another thing I was trying to work out in my mind was how cats and chickens could possibly get along, since I knew they owned both. What I figured must be the case is that the cats are totally indoor, or else they have a really sturdy pen for the chickens so the cats can't bother them. What I found out was that they have two totally indoor cats, and two totally outdoor. And that's not all-- in the later afternoon, the chickens are let out of the coop for a couple hours to roam around and eat those creepy-crawlies and whatever else it is they eat. I was simply astonished when they let the chickens out yesterday and the cats just lay on the ground, lazily watching them. Or, even following us around and coming within inches of the chickens, and still do no more than glance at them.
But let me tell you about my first experience alone with these chickens. As I was told, I went to let them out a little after 4, they were quite excited. Since I knew they would roam around until it started to get darker, I decided there was no point in my staying outside that whole time, even though I felt really uncomfortable leaving them alone. The Becks don't stay outside, but there are two of them, and only one of me now that they're gone. See, I was anxious about the safety of the chickens. The Becks showed me this tree out behind the coop within which at least one coon is known to live. Also having been informed that this is the season for the predators, especially the coyotes, coons, and hawks, made me quite anxious about the chickens. Right around six, or a little after, I went outside with a book and say on the porch so I'd be closeby the chickens. Let me tell you some of my experiences this evening.
After I let the chickens out into the yard, I went around to the little door next to the two nests, to see if there were any eggs. There weren't any in the first nest, then I tried for the second. Slight problem.... I wasn't quite large enough to reach it! By stretching my arm out to the side, I could just come to the mouth of the nest, but I couldn't see in it or even reach in it. I was stumped for a minute, then I tried climbing up onto the little ledge, but stopped, fearing it would break. (but in first attempting, I noticed an egg in the nest.) It just figured that there'd be an egg in the very nest I couldn't reach. I did find a stool shortly afterward and through a very awkward procedure of standing on said stool, lightly balancing over the window sill, and leaning my upper half totally into the coop, I was able to reach into the nest, and found not one, but two eggs within it.
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I was sitting at the little table, looking out at the backyard. Mama-Kitty (yes, that's her name) was wandering through the yard, slowly making her way in the general direction of the porch. A group of about 5 chickens came around the corner and headed up the pathway towards the porch, coming up behind Mama-Kitty. And just guess what she did-- Mama-Kitty moved to the side of the path and just lay down in the ivy so that the chickens could go by. Well, the chickens didn't go very far, they mostly stayed right there, around the kitty. But mama-Kitty just lay there in the ivy, didn't complain, and didn't try to get the chickens. I couldn't believe it! One of the chickens even went up to the very edge of the ivy, within six inches of Mama-Kitty, and just stared at her for several long seconds.
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I was wandering the yard a bit, heading in the general direction of the coop, when some of the chickens saw me, and started coming towards me. Now, as I said, I've never been around chickens before. I didn't know what they wanted or what to do! They look all cute and soft, and I just want to scoop them up and snuggle them... but I doubt that would go over well. So anyway, they were walking towards me, and I didn't know if chickens can be like pets, if they liked attention, if they were good natured, if they thought I was invading and wanted to attack, or what. So I just turned around and headed back to the porch.... and they followed me there. They didn't actually come on the porch, but they came right up to the edge, and a few chickens would always see me whenever I went into the yard and end up following me around. (Mama-Kitty also follows me around, and it's really funny to see a cat and at least one chicken both following me.) I still don't know what the chickens wanted or what I should do, but oh well.
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Starting a little after seven it was just starting to get darker, so of course, I was getting anxious about the "predators" out there after the cute little chickens. I was very alert, and hoping the chickens would head back to the coop soon. See, those chickens apprently know when it's time to go in, will congregate in front of the coop, and then head inside at the right time. Well, I didn't know what this "right" time was, and just wanted them to get in soon before it started getting the least bit dark and I'd really start worrying about predators. Those chickens didn't want to go in yet, and there was no making them. They just continued moving around the yard, pecking at the ground, and avoiding the entrance to their pen. I gave up for the moment and sat on a chair out in the yard, and waited....after half an hour, I started pacing around, saw a couple chickens go inside, and was starting to get hopeful.... but the others just wouldn't go inside yet! I took to going around the pen, trying to get the chickens to walk in front of me and therefore force them into their pen, but that didn't really work. Over the period of another half hour, it came to be that all but five chickens were inside, but those five just didn't want to go in. The worst part was when there were just two left outside, I ducked around the back to make sure there weren't any still out there, then went back to the front to see of those two had gone in or to make them go in.... but just then, the other three went back out and joined the two, forming that stubborn fivesome once more.... *sigh* They finally all went in, I closed the doors, and made my head count. At the end of my first night, all twenty were safely acounted for!
Sorry for the long post about chickens..... I'll find something more interesting next time, I promise. :)
But let me tell you about my first experience alone with these chickens. As I was told, I went to let them out a little after 4, they were quite excited. Since I knew they would roam around until it started to get darker, I decided there was no point in my staying outside that whole time, even though I felt really uncomfortable leaving them alone. The Becks don't stay outside, but there are two of them, and only one of me now that they're gone. See, I was anxious about the safety of the chickens. The Becks showed me this tree out behind the coop within which at least one coon is known to live. Also having been informed that this is the season for the predators, especially the coyotes, coons, and hawks, made me quite anxious about the chickens. Right around six, or a little after, I went outside with a book and say on the porch so I'd be closeby the chickens. Let me tell you some of my experiences this evening.
After I let the chickens out into the yard, I went around to the little door next to the two nests, to see if there were any eggs. There weren't any in the first nest, then I tried for the second. Slight problem.... I wasn't quite large enough to reach it! By stretching my arm out to the side, I could just come to the mouth of the nest, but I couldn't see in it or even reach in it. I was stumped for a minute, then I tried climbing up onto the little ledge, but stopped, fearing it would break. (but in first attempting, I noticed an egg in the nest.) It just figured that there'd be an egg in the very nest I couldn't reach. I did find a stool shortly afterward and through a very awkward procedure of standing on said stool, lightly balancing over the window sill, and leaning my upper half totally into the coop, I was able to reach into the nest, and found not one, but two eggs within it.
-------------------------------------------------------
I was sitting at the little table, looking out at the backyard. Mama-Kitty (yes, that's her name) was wandering through the yard, slowly making her way in the general direction of the porch. A group of about 5 chickens came around the corner and headed up the pathway towards the porch, coming up behind Mama-Kitty. And just guess what she did-- Mama-Kitty moved to the side of the path and just lay down in the ivy so that the chickens could go by. Well, the chickens didn't go very far, they mostly stayed right there, around the kitty. But mama-Kitty just lay there in the ivy, didn't complain, and didn't try to get the chickens. I couldn't believe it! One of the chickens even went up to the very edge of the ivy, within six inches of Mama-Kitty, and just stared at her for several long seconds.
--------------------------------------------------------
I was wandering the yard a bit, heading in the general direction of the coop, when some of the chickens saw me, and started coming towards me. Now, as I said, I've never been around chickens before. I didn't know what they wanted or what to do! They look all cute and soft, and I just want to scoop them up and snuggle them... but I doubt that would go over well. So anyway, they were walking towards me, and I didn't know if chickens can be like pets, if they liked attention, if they were good natured, if they thought I was invading and wanted to attack, or what. So I just turned around and headed back to the porch.... and they followed me there. They didn't actually come on the porch, but they came right up to the edge, and a few chickens would always see me whenever I went into the yard and end up following me around. (Mama-Kitty also follows me around, and it's really funny to see a cat and at least one chicken both following me.) I still don't know what the chickens wanted or what I should do, but oh well.
-------------------------------------------------------
Starting a little after seven it was just starting to get darker, so of course, I was getting anxious about the "predators" out there after the cute little chickens. I was very alert, and hoping the chickens would head back to the coop soon. See, those chickens apprently know when it's time to go in, will congregate in front of the coop, and then head inside at the right time. Well, I didn't know what this "right" time was, and just wanted them to get in soon before it started getting the least bit dark and I'd really start worrying about predators. Those chickens didn't want to go in yet, and there was no making them. They just continued moving around the yard, pecking at the ground, and avoiding the entrance to their pen. I gave up for the moment and sat on a chair out in the yard, and waited....after half an hour, I started pacing around, saw a couple chickens go inside, and was starting to get hopeful.... but the others just wouldn't go inside yet! I took to going around the pen, trying to get the chickens to walk in front of me and therefore force them into their pen, but that didn't really work. Over the period of another half hour, it came to be that all but five chickens were inside, but those five just didn't want to go in. The worst part was when there were just two left outside, I ducked around the back to make sure there weren't any still out there, then went back to the front to see of those two had gone in or to make them go in.... but just then, the other three went back out and joined the two, forming that stubborn fivesome once more.... *sigh* They finally all went in, I closed the doors, and made my head count. At the end of my first night, all twenty were safely acounted for!
Sorry for the long post about chickens..... I'll find something more interesting next time, I promise. :)
Friday, August 14, 2009
The end of summer is here.
In just over a week, everyone will be back on campus (including me), and classes will start. I am not ready for that. I've been "on" campus all summer, but I have not lived on campus, and that fact has made me quite happy. Over the course of the summer I have lived with my rector and his wife, in the basement apartment of one of my knitting ladies along with a friend from school, house-sat at my violin professor's house, and am about to go house-sit for another family. Considering what a good experience I've had at these various homes, I don't want to go back to campus living. I don't want to go back to campus, period. I miss my friends, but I do not miss everyone else. (And I certainly do not miss school.) I guess you could say that in some ways, this summer has spoiled me. (Both spoilage and damage have occurred this summer.) I want to go home. I've had enough of this whole school thing.... *sigh* I guess it's too bad that I'll have a few more years for further schooling after DePauw. Despite the stress that the upcoming crazily busy semester holds for me, I am determined to enjoy the rest of my summer. I have actually enjoyed this past week, even though I didn't think I would. It helped that I have been staying with my rector and his wife again, so I'm not all alone in a great big ranch like I was for the past month. Plus they have two absolutely adorable kittens, *squeal* who are such cuddle-bugs. Another good thing is that I haven't been all alone at work like I have been all summer. The guy who helped me catch up during the first week of summer, and who worked last week while I visited home has been helping out, since we are receiving a lot more mail now in anticipation of the students' return to campus. So that's been fun. He is a brat, teases everyone and causes trouble, but it's been fun. And he got me a free bike! He found out that I walk 20 minutes to get to work everyday, and that I have no car or bike. So he called up the service center (where he usually works), and asked someone to see if they still had those random bikes in the storage room they wanted to get rid of. Then after work, he took me over and helped me find the one that was in the best condition. It's an old Huffy Saratoga 3-speed bike. Apparently a classic. It has a nifty little basket that I can put my backpack in, and an awesome little bike bell! The bike itself is a nasty yellow and has this hideous leapard seat cover, but oh well. At least it works. I was a little sad to know that my housing situation this coming year has me so much farther away from everything on campus, but now I have a bike! I'm sure I look pretty dorky when I ride it around, but oh well. So that is something good from this week. Another bit of fun has to do with my knitting ladies. I came back to Indiana Monday afternoon and visited with a wonderful friend, before going to knitting that evening with her and the other ladies. It was great to see them all again. That night, most of us decided to get together the next evening and go see Julie and Julia at a nice, really big theater together. I had my reservations about the movie, thought it sounded pretty lame, but we actually had a wonderful time, and even stopped for icecream afterward. :D Then on Wednesday I met with two of the knitting ladies again after work, and saw many of the group that evening at a concert. Yesterday I got to see a friend who was visiting campus, and that was nice. I dind't actually have anything to do yesterday evening, so I was able to sit around with my rector and his wife, chat, watch tv, and finish reading King Lear. (I have also been doing a lot of practicing this week.... trying to prepare for Sunday, when I will be the pianist at a church in town..... eek!) Today after work, I had the chance to strengthen a new friendship while figuring out a commissioned hat I will be making soon.
Gosh, I just realized that I need to pack up tomorrow morning and move yet again... I should get to bed now. I will try to write more coherent posts in the future.
Gosh, I just realized that I need to pack up tomorrow morning and move yet again... I should get to bed now. I will try to write more coherent posts in the future.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
yet another blog....
So.... this is my sixth blog.... we'll see how long this lasts. Hopefully I can keep this longer than the others. I actually had two different blogspots in the past, but didn't like that you couldn't subscribe to your friends. (I wasn't too good at remembering to go check their blogs. well, I'm still not.) But they've made some improvements since the last time I was here, and I do have several friends on here. But anyway, decided to start up a new blog, since I enjoy writing out my thoughts and sharing them. Work has been a bit slow today, so that gave me the time to set things up and write this short post. Pretty soon I'll have to close things up and head out for the day. (I'll be off to the music building to lock myself away in a practice room for a couple hours.) I'll write a more substantial post later on, I promise.
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