Melinda must have been impressed with that trophy Rockwell got.. because she wants to race too. So we decided to visit the track tonight. It’s a practice night. When she first got on the track she was timid, but it took her all of 5 times around the track to be right in the mix with the other kids!
It was funny; at first she wanted NOTHING to do with that gate. It was way too loud and intimidating. Then, somewhere along the line I told her she was going to have to try the gate sooner or later, because you have to start against it if you race.
About 5 minutes later, I look around, and she is trying it by herself! Normally I would help hold her back wheel and set up, but she just did it on her own. This was a little after the Gate manager spent about 5 minutes with Rockwell, showing him how to balance. Obviously she was listening in too!
About 4 gates later, she is actually balancing at the gate. That is no minor fete. That is what this video is..
Here is a good picture of BOTH of them balancing at the gate.
Church had the rally day this weekend, so I got the cotton candy machine AND the popcorn machine out of storage. It was quite a hit. Nothing like some good old fashioned popcorn made with coconut oil to remind you what popcorn is supposed to taste like. Specifically, not out of the microwave…
Like Tammy said. this blog might become a chicken blog for a while.
so, I think I’m going to start numbering my mistakes, because I know there are going to be plenty, and it should be humorous.
So, mistake #2 was using a open watering bowl.. they walk, poop, and scratch into it.
Mistake #3 was thinking I was going to get the dogs to behave around them easily. I have not given up, but I don’t trust GiGi around them. so, so far I have not had them both out at the same time unattended.
Mistake #4 is the biggest one so far.. It would appear, if Kathi’s observation is correct, that one of our “hens”, the big guy, is a boy, not a girl!
OK, That title is odd.. but those are the subjects here.
The kids started 3rd, 5th and 8th respectively, and, we now have chickens!
Rockwell, practicing BMX.. He’s obsessed.. He will cool of a little I’m sure. Although.. Melinda was impressed with that trophy he brought home, she wants to go the the track and see what she can do now… Hopefully we will have two racers in the family!
A pose with his nameplate with his official number! the bike is a loaner.. its a nice one, but I don’t have 500$ to get one.. he will have to wait on that.
Melinda, posing one of the chicks we got.. These chicks are called “golden nuggets”. (I just “found” this picture on my phone.. Melinda posed it on her own.)
Ok, so I was inspired by Luke an Tammy.. Hmm. Inspired or just jealous. Not sure.
You can see the coop I built in the back of the shed. I either need to let them out in the yard, or build them a run.
Kathi said “the back of the shed? Why cant you make a cute one like Luke did?
My response was: “I did, its hung up in a tree and the kids play in it. When they get older, its coming back down and will have chickens in it.” Until then, it’s the back of the shed for them.
I like the “chickens running around in the yard” idea, but the run might be lazier.. I mean easier.
In my first lesson on what I don’t know.. I HAD to get three different age groups. So, sure enough, the older one (a “Jersey Giant” picks on the middle one, (a “Dominique”.. a lot like a “barred rock”) which picks on the chicks (the “golden nuggets”)
“Hmm, I think I will pick on the chick for sport!”
Rockwell holding his (adolescent) “Jersey Giant”, while some friends holding Hannah’s Dominique. They gave them names.. I’ll have to post them later.
I think Rockwell needs a lesson on holding a chicken. I have to admit.. chickens are friendly! And soft, and they even smell good. They seem to make exceptional pets. Who knew.
First Day of school! We did our usual “first day of school walk” again, this time some neighbors joined us.
Rockwell really did well for his first day racing! He came in third during the heats, and 4th in the final race. I’d say a successful day! The first heat he was in a pretty bad three bike crash in the 4th turn, but he got right back up and crossed the finish line. I checked on him and asked him if he was OK, and he said “I’m fine dad!” as in “I’m having too much fun to worry about it”.
I have a feeling you are going to see a lot more posts concerning BMX in the future!
Rockwell’s first time at “gate practice” at the Augusta BMX track.
The adults there were VERY friendly. Rockwell came with a 16inch heavy walmart type bike, and after a half dozen times around the track, one of the adults offered to let him ride a (expensive looking) 24″ cruiser style bike. He had a ball, and really took off. He seemed like a “natural”.
The adults invited us to race tomorrow, and Rockwell wants to, so that’s where we will be tomorrow evening! Rockwell will have his first real BMX race!
Arthur raised this turkey from an egg. He would have had more, but the eggs only produced at about 10 percent, and then he lost a few to predators. I don’t think he had any intention of befriending them, rather they were going to be nice meals in the fall. However, this one follows him around like a baby looking for its mom, and I think Arthur is going soft on it. I think I even heard him call it a name!
This guy has a lot of growing to do.. I don’t think Arthur will be able to coddle it much longer. (Note, this pictures was NOT staged.. that bird found its way to Arthur’s lap by itself.)
Well, a tad late, but that’s OK.. 10 years old? My how you are growing. It’s all going too fast, but I digress. The kids had a fun time with Kathi bringing them to the Zoo, and then they came home and had cake! It was a special cake, made especially for Melinda.
And I don’t have my editing software loaded on this temporary machine.
I think I have over 200 pictures to choose from to load.. two different caves, a water park, the party, the campground, the amusement park.. jeeesh, I did not realize we did so much!
I’ll load them soon. I also have a lot of photos to scan also…
