Poka_Doodle's journal

[Poka_Doodle]

Pictures coming soon I hope.
Saturday I crossed a finish line while sobbing.
A finish line from a 52 mile race that had taken countless hours and sacrifices to accomplish.
The Mountains of northern Wyoming are no joke. They took out some of the toughest runners out there. Creeks, mud, countless climbs and steep downhills, with some heat mixed in; were anything but easy.
Safe to say as much as I love marathon running, I have no desire to run another 50 mile race. But I did it.

 

[Baymule]

You have conquered. You did it. There aren’t many people who can make that claim. You met that challenge. I see you running now just for the love of it.

 

[Poka_Doodle]

Well, I suppose I am pretty bad about updating here.
Just did my second marathon this fall. In September I went to North Dakota and had a blast there.
Last year I believe Bruce mentioned something about the Marine Corps Marathon. I suppose it was fate for me to run that one. My friend decided she wanted to do it this spring and asked me if I wanted to come along.
So this weekend I went and saw DC for the first time and ran the 50k at MCM. An experience of a lifetime that I will treasure and am so grateful I got to experience.

 

[farmerjan]

Where oh where has @Bruce gone????

So glad you had a great time at that marathon and seeing DC....

I'll bet the scenery was pretty darn good during the marathon too....

 

[Poka_Doodle]

Well, I have a non running journal post.
Life happens, and owning a dang good show animal is a privilege.
I feel like years ago, I probably talked about this Partridge Rock bantam I had. I got her in May of 2014. And honestly it took me a couple of years to appreciate her. But once I did, she won me a few classes, and is the reason we bought a bird that won the County Fair a few years ago. I called her Chocolate, and she was special to me.
I knew the day would come, having two hens that are 10 years old in the coop. But Chocolate passed away last week. She was just a chicken, but probably the animal I showed the most. And my most successful one.
Just like with my cat Emma, only a week before I am coming home next. But at least I made a point to say goodbye in August because I wasn't sure when I would be back.
This is the last of my original favorite show birds, and one I am so grateful I had in the coop for many years. Going to miss her, but glad I got to have her for my whole career and the 10.5 years she was in the coop.

 

[Baymule]

What a long life she had and such a blessing for you. She was one very special chicken. You were fortunate to have her and she was fortunate to have you.

 

[farmerjan]

Saw some nice Rock bantams in several colors last weekend at the poultry show... Partridge color included... Alot of nice white ones.... and some impressive black ones... Not as many barred ones as usually seen.

I had a commercial pullet from the poultry farm I worked on at 15.... she was a chick that was sexed as a cockerel when my boss had his newly hatched chicks sexed... commercial hatcheries that are used to produce pullets have them sexed at day old.... and the cockerels are disposed of or sold to be raised for meat... anyway... I was in 4-H and brought home a bunch... like 25 or so... to raise up for a project for meat... and this one turned out to be a pullet... Had her about 7-8 years I guess... just for a layer, she was a barred color, mixed breed... but I got teared up when she died too.
10 is pretty darn old for a chicken....nice that she got to live out her life with you...

 

[Mini Horses]

I have a cock, hatched by a hen on the farm. Name is Handsome . He'll be 10 this coming spring. I can see him aging now and sad to say that. He's retired from all but crowing . Every day I look for home...because . He molted well, so maybe he'll be winter safe. We can love our chickens!