Green beans and tomato's- chicken update

One of my favorite meals, half runner green beans cooked with fat back, sliced tomato's and cucumbers and cornbread. Fresh sweet corn optional. I just about foundered Friday night on it and we had just a few left overs. Which I plan on warming up here in just a few minute's for dinner. They would of been finished off yesterday but we had a family picnic over at Tari's cousin's in Brookville yesterday. Over the next few weeks Tari and Kenny Ray will be sick of green beans as I could eat them everyday and probably just about will.

I will be taking the next batch of chickens tomorrow to the butcher. I have had my hands full with them this time. Between the heat and the bandit I have lost more birds this batch, than the previous two years combined. I first thought the bandit was a coon, but now I am convinced it is weasel or mink. Which ever it is he tried again last night and must have got shocked pretty bad. Because when I got there this morning about three feet of the lower part of the fence was melted and the grass burnt black, but no dead chickens. The bandit got seven Freedom Ranger chickens in total, one more night to go. I also lost a turkey to heat as well as eight Cornish cross birds. I will not be taking the turkey's tomorrow as I think they have not put on enough weight. I do not think the weasel will try and get the turkey's we'll see.

Picking black berries with mom

Kenny Ray and I did not get home from the cabin until after midnight last night and then ran over to check on the chickens, On Saturday night we had another chicken killed by the masked bandit.

my mother got a hold of me to let me know as my nephew's Dave and Biscuit aka Dan where taking care of them for me as Kenny Ray and I were being Appalachian Americans this holiday weekend. The masked bandit had got a chicken early last week and this one made two , I even spent one night standing guard. Last night I discovered how they were getting thru the electric fence by accident as I touched it and no shock and then I realized I was not hearing the click from the battery but during the day I heard it loud and clear . The battery for the fence has an solar charger on it so during the day it worked but not at night, so today I put a regular fence charger on it. I only have 14 days to go before they all go the butcher, I have lost a total of 5 chickens and that is 5 to many . if this does not solve problem me and little boy may take up a permanent camp at night with chickens.

Anyway being up so late last night I slept late this morning and mom finally called about 7 am looking for me . As we were to go pick black berries this morning before it got up to hot. That is a picture of mom above in the berrie patch, we picked a little over 2 gallons and put these in freezer for winter. Mom wants a Black Berrie cobbler for Thanks giving dinner, and I want Black Berrie dumplings in January after I come in from rabbit hunting. In January I will remember that 90 degree July day as I sit by the fire, trying to thaw out my feet.

We are planning on going back tomorrow evening and picking some for jam. Mom was not to fond of being in the tall grass in the picture as she and I are both afraid of snakes but that is where the biggest and the sweetest berries are.

GONE FISHING