Work on The Majestic

Posted on January 4, 2014 by sghamer

It’s chilly out there!

Open roof, needs to be covered.

It is chilly in the ATL reader’s! When I went out to let The Girls out, I found that their water dish had frozen over. The Girls seemed to have had a good night in their coop. Next week Matt, the chicken coop builder, is coming back to cover the remaining part of the roof of the run. The rain has made a mess of that part of the run and their food gets wet and gross and smelly.

Unwanted Houseguest

The Girls also have a houseguest that just will not leave. We have all had one of those haven’t we? Ha! (Just kidding anyone who has ever visited The Hotel Yorba). Well this little guy and any of his friends need to leave. The Girls are not happy with him and his poop droppings all over their coop floor. Their poop is the only poop allowed or wanted! Matt is going to try to close up the space between the wall and the roof of the coop.

I am looking for some cool signage for the coop. I found the two above and they are only $5.00 each but the shipping is more than the signs! I just can’t get over that so I haven’t bought them yet. I have been searching Etsy for some more cool ones with cheaper shipping costs.

If you are getting slammed with snow, please stay warm and safe. If it is just darn cold like here in the ATL, stay warm! Have a wonderful weekend!

Posted on December 12, 2013 by sghamer

Reader’s! How has your week been? Mine has been busy! I am sorry I have not updated for a few days but the week has zoomed by me. I have been going to my daily radiation treatments (8 down and 19 more to go!) and working. It is a short week for us at The Hotel Yorba. After canceling three trips in the last six months, we have left the ATL for a short family trip. I am writing you from Barnsley Gardens Resort. After today’s treatment, we checked The Boy out of school and head to northern GA. Great thing about Barnsley Gardens is that they allow dogs! Another trip for Timber! I will be posting all about our adventures soon.

It has been raining in the ATL for the last week. The Majestic is a mess and the girls have been wet and are in the middle of molting. Poor things. Poppy looks terrible and she knows it.

Yummy worms!

Poppy molting

I said no pictures!!

Have a wonderful night!

One Wing Flapping…

Posted on November 13, 2013 by sghamer

Reader’s! It’s cold out there! The ATL was super chilly last night. Temperatures drop to the high 20’s last night. Thankfully The Girls were locked up tight and seemed fine this morning. I figured by now that they would be Pro’s at strutting up and down their plank. Now I am not too sure. It could have been she was still kinda of sleepy or that the chill in the air got to her but Poppy has not mastered the plank. Not. At. All. When I slid open the door, Poppy was the first to show up with Turbo closely behind her and I swear she had a bag of popcorn with her. She stood back and watched as Poppy did her best to try to get down the plank without falling off of it.

Pickles!

Her wing was flapping! Her feet slipping! Is she going to fall? Steady Poppy Steady!

Stop pressuring me!

“Pass me some popcorn Turbo.”

“Squawk!”

Oh No!

“Son of a Bitc….. I’m ok! I’m ok! I got this.” Flap, Flap, Flap.

Focus! Focus! Go! Go!

Towards the end of Poppy’s journey, she just leaped off the end of the plank, her one wing flapping in the wind. It was a sight to be seen. You could tell she was pleased to still be alive. She had made it through another morning.

Turbo’s turn.

Focused and determined.

Turbo seems to have mastered walking down the plank. She walks fast and determined. There is a reason why she is the head hen. By the way, she does not share her popcorn.

Update

I am happy to say that I getting better everyday. I am not feeling as worn out and getting up out of the bed is getting a little bit easier. However, there is one area below my arm pit that is causing me some discomfort. In fact, it is down right painful. This morning I was trying to wake up, still very sleepy and I moved my right arm slightly and son of a bitch! OMG. It felt like I was being stabbed with a white-hot knife. I was fully awake after that. Then I tried to put some deodorant on. No! No! No! Not going to happen. AAHHHH!

If you see me, stand on my left. I will smell nice and fresh. The right side, not so much.

The bruises have almost faded away. They look better than the one on my wrist from the IV in my artery. That thing still looks like a mess and is sore. I am taking Hydrocodone for my pain. I think that being mixed with the chemo that is still in my body, the anesthetic, and all the other medications they have given me are mixing together. This in return has caused me to be a bit fuzzy at time. My brain gets fuzzy, I am still hairless. It is kind of like being on a roller coaster. I feel fine on minute and the next, my heart is racing and I can’t focus. Back and forth, back and forth. Up and down, up and down. I guess it is a good thing I am not driving. Breathing is getting easier. The coughing not as painful.

I called Dr. P’s office yesterday and I go in next Friday for a follow-up appointment and to get my stitches out. I sure hope by then, the left armpit pain has gone away. I will also get an X-Ray taken. I emailed Dr. Read today asking if they have gotten any word on if the tumor is dead or not. Hopefully I will hear something soon.

Shout Out!

Let’s Bloom!

Judi R.- I just got the flowers! They are so pretty. Thank you so much. Now I have to keep Simon away from them. Thank you!

I know it is snowing out there in some places, so stay warm and be safe Readers!

Dirt Bath

Posted on October 26, 2013 by sghamer

Good Day Reader’s!

How was your Friday? Mine was good. I went into the office to do a few hours of work and then met My Man for a late lunch at a new restaurant called Common Quarter. I had their fish sandwich which was good but I would have liked a little more sauce on it. My Man had the hamburger with homemade chips. When we got there, there was a table full of ladies that were so loud. As in it hurt my ears loud! Even our waiter mentioned it. Over all the food was good, our waiter was nice and the place was pleasant (especially of the table of ladies left). We will go back and try it for dinner soon.

Go away…sleeping.

Last night we chilled in front of the TV waiting for the season premiere of Grim. We have been watching it since it first aired. The Boy got into it to, so we watch it as a family. There is a lot of “close your eyes!” moments and a few times, he has left the room because it was to scary for him. I am glad he knows when it is too much for him. It is funny, he remembered everything that happened last season but can’t remember what he did at school that day. I guess he has his priorities!

First Fire of the season

We had a fire for the first time this season. Simon was all over that. He loves to sit in front of the fire and get all toasty. Timber wasn’t all that interested but to be honest, I think Grim was to scary for him!

Saturday

The Boy had piano/guitar this morning, so while he was getting his rock on, I went to Lowes to pick up a few things. I wanted to make a dirt bath for the girls and read on Pinerest that a mixture of sand, dirt and DE was great for hens. I had already ordered the DE so all I needed to do was get some sand and dirt.

Supplies for dirt bath

Already?

I mixed all three items together in an old, used one time, cat litter box I found in storage. I put it under the plank where the run roof is covered so it won’t get rained on. I picked up Turbo and put her in it and she promptly hopped out. Oh well. I hope they check it out.

Ready for some hens!

I also picked up three bales of pine straw to put around the coop and the area where the old coop use to be. I am never sure how many bales to get or how much will fit in my car. Turns out I could use another three bales and could have fit two more in my car. Maybe tomorrow.

I think someone is trying to hide.

Almost time for me to get my college football on. RTR!! Have a wonderful day Reader’s!!

What’s Going On

Posted on October 22, 2013 by sghamer

What’s Going On

Hey Reader’s! Here is a little of what has been going on here at Hotel Yorba.

The Boy is taking the GA standardized tests this week at school. You know what that means? No homework for a week! I am so EXCITED!

I am happy to announce that Turbo and Poppy are now walking the plank up to the coop with no supervision from me! Woot! So proud of My Girls. I also read that some chickens like pumpkin puree (also good at fighting worms), so I gave The Girls some left over that I had. Well, my hens are NOT part of the chickens who like it. Turbo took one bite was like “No Thank You”. Poppy didn’t even try it.

The Girls are not a fan.

I am going to see the Thoracic Surgeon on October 29th, 2013. The last time I saw this doctor, we will call him Dr.P., it was not a positive exerpance. In fact, he wasted our time and money and basically pissed both me and My Man off. Things that better happen this time: Dr. P. better be positive! Better not waste my time and money (parking lot fee). Better have a date in mind to get the little (shrinking) F-ing tumor out of me!
I have a Instagram account for all those Instagram users out there. Follow me! I am sghamer. When we go out of town for Thanksgiving, this where I will posting my pictures. I will take my laptop so I will be able to write posts but since it is my work laptop, I won’t be able to post pictures until we come back home. So follow me!

Lifetime Fish Oil

I fell of the exercise bike wagon. Ok, this is what is up. Six months after I had my leg amputated in 2002, I fell and shattered my left knee and femur. Thanks to a wonderful surgeon and some luck, they were able to patch it back together. However, it is on borrowed time. About five or six years ago I had to get injections into my knee due to intense pain. These have worked but I would still have bad days. About a year ago I started taking fish oil pills daily and I noticed a major difference. My knee felt wonderful. I would still have bad days if I over worked it but they were few and far between. I only use one type of fish oil pills that I get from my gym. They are peppermint flavored and have no after taste what so ever. I will never change. I have taken different ones before and the after taste is DISGUSTING! Well, about a little over month ago I ran out of pills and just got a new bottle on last Thursday. My knee has been hurting for about a week now. Some days are worse than others but I am scared to do any major exercising till it starts to feel better. I am hoping the fish oil pills and the joint maintenance pills I got, will get me back in shape. Instead of biking I will hit the yoga mat!
Breaking News! The Girls have not been using their roosting bars in their coop to sleep on at night. This has been bothering me since I think it would be cool if they did! Plus it is in their nature to want to sleep up high. So last night I went out there when it was dark and woke them up. I put Poppy up on one of the bars and I could tell she was freaked out. She soon jumped off. So I grabbed Turbo and after three tries I got her on the bar. She seemed unsure but was still on it when I locked them all up for the night. This morning I went out to open the plank door and Turbo was still up on the roosting bar! I am so proud of her! She seemed to like it up there. The only thing bad about it is that I am not sure if Poppy can jump up there due to the fact she has only one wing. I have seen her catch air in the past, so I have my fingers crossed that like walking the plank, it may take a few tires for her to get it.

What do you think? Will Poppy start roosting soon???

Pinterest, finally on it!

Posted on October 20, 2013 by sghamer

Happy Sunday Readers. How has your weekend been? Mine has been good so far. It rained in the ATL on Saturday but that is ok. The new landscaping her at Hotel Yorba needs the rain. Great news! For the last three nights The Girls have strutted their little chicken butts up the plank and into the coop all on their own! I am one proud mama!

Shout Out!

Last Saturday our friends, Calanit and Alan, held their wedding reception (they got married in Israel in June) here in Atlanta. SInce I had just gotten out of the hospital a few days earlier, so we were not able to go. I just found out that in lieu of party favors, they donated money to the Sarcroma Foundation of America in my honor!?!!! How cool is that!?! Thank you guys!

How cool is that?

Pictures from this week

Sleeping Panny

Simon hanging out in the tent.

What the H@!#??????

What? I can’t hear you….

First Fall Spa Dip!

I want to come in!

Reader’s! I have finally joined Pinterest. I know! I know! I am like 5 years behind but hey, I finally did it! If you are on Pinterest, please go follow me. Please understand, I have no idea what I am doing. I am just “pining” everything I like. I am making “boards” but have no idea why…organization? I am under as Shay Hamer or my email, myhotelyorba@gmail.com. I am not sure how you search for someone. So far I have two boards, “Chickens” and “Health”. I have read some interesting articles on chickens and urban chickens. Pretty cool. If you have any suggestions on what I should look at or how to get myhotelyorba.com out there, let me know!

Shrinkage can be a good thing.

Posted on October 10, 2013 by sghamer

Hey Readers!!

I know it has been a few days since I have updated. I got back from the hospital Tuesday evening. Tuesday was a long hard day. I just wanted to go home! I won;t go into it because I am home now and that is all that matters. What’s new? Well, that little shitty tumor is getting smaller! Woot! Woot! Heard from Dr. Read today who e-mailed me the report and it has shrunk from 2.8 x 6.5cm to 2 x 3.8cm. He was pretty happy with the shrinkage (what? what?) and is going to meet with the Tumor Board tonight and talk to the surgeons. He wants to wait a least three more weeks before surgery so it can have time to shrink more. Very happy about this news.

I have been able to spend a little time with The Girls in the morning the last two days. Timber and I go up there with a morning snack and watch them eat and do there things. I have made some notes on my iPad of a few things I want to do when I get stronger. I need to get some pine straw to spread around the front and side of the coop but also where the old one use to be. Looks pretty barren right now. The Boy and I are still having to go out each night at duck to help them up to the coop. They have made nests in the straw under the coop and Poppy has been laying her eggs there. I think she would sleep there if we didn’t move her. I read that it could take up to three weeks for them to start going up and in on their own. The move really messed with them! But over all I know they are happy with their new home.

I have added some pictures I have taken over the past few days here at home and at the hospital. I hope you are all doing well. Let me know if you have any questions or ideas of what you want me to write about.

Happy Fall Y’all!