Saturday, March 14, 2020

March Twofers-Spring Chickens

More then likely when you think of Spring chickens you would think of little chicks. But on my parent's farm a Spring chicken referred to the chicks that were grown up big enough to start laying or ready for butchering. And that was usually by mid June. Mom kept the hens for laying eggs and the roosters were, of course. used for fried chicken. Spring chickens made really tender and juicy fried chicken. And, we never kept them as pets but instead they were a means of income for my Mom and Dad who had lots of debt due to the many operations my brother had to endure before he died. So between the income from the chickens and the eggs my Mom also sold the cream separated from the milk our Holstein cows produced. All were sold at the local creamery except for the dressed roosters which were sold to her customers who always put in their orders ahead of time. After she got her money for these sales then we would go to the grocery store to buy our supplies for the week. I thought a little explanation should be given as to why I chose to use these chicken images. These are the cards I made for Darnell's Twofer Challenge for March.


For my cards I chose to use an Inky Stamper set called Chicken. It included the cute chicken image and also sentiments along with the chicken tracks and chicken wire. There also was a die with the set and I used that as well to cut out the chickens. On both cards the chickens were popped up.


I went with fairly CAS designs for both of the cards. This first one I am showing was depicting a White Leghorn chicken which was mostly what my Mom raised. I guess their legs were not completely gray but it seems they scratched in the dirt so much that as a kid that was the perception I got when seeing their legs. Anyway, this is a card I thought someone who was ill or just feeling a little down might enjoy.


This last Twofer I tried to make my chicken look more like a speckled Rhode Island Red by coloring it with two shades of brown and then taking a white paint pen and trying to make the mottled look of the feathers on them. I had a leftover frame from some other project using a Cutplorations die and that was added to the design. The focal panel was a beige ribbed card stock that I had in my stash. The card was finished by adding some gems. The sentiment reminds me of when I get stuck on a design and cannot figure out a conclusion to it. Many times I have had to walk away and leave it sit.

My Mom got what they called "straight run" chickens so until they grew up a bit we had no idea if they were hens or roosters. And, even if she did order White Leghorns now and then a chicken of a different breed would be in with the batch. They came in the mail and when they arrived we had to go to the Post Office and pick them up. Wow! Could all those little chicks make lots of noise with their constant peeping. I can imagine it nearly drove the Post Office crew batty. I am not sure where my Mom ordered them from but I rather suspect it was from a Sears or Montgomery Wards catalog. We  seemed to get lots of things from the mail order catalogs.

Anyway, I hope these Spring chickens will work for the Twofer. I just love those chicken images. I hope you get a few chuckles from these designs too.

Take care and until next time God bless,
Verna

23 comments:

Leslie Miller said...

Verna, I really enjoyed your post today. Very interesting to read about those times on the farm, reminding me of all the years I spent on a farm, as well. It's a lot of hard work and I know my mom was glad when we sold out and moved to a small town. I look back on those days as rather idyllic, but it was different for me. Anyway, your two cards make me smile! I love that chicken both ways and the card designs with accessory stamps are so cute! You did your usual stellar job on the Twofer Challenge! I'm sorry about your brother. I don't know what happened, but it must have been a sad and difficult time for the family.

Barbara said...

Well, I certainly learned a lot from your post today. I didn't live on a farm but the was one very cost where we would go to get the chickens that we had for dinner. I had to smile about the part where you got them in the mail. I wonder if you can get them on Amazon now? Love your two for cards and the post today.

kiwimeskreations said...

What a resourceful woman your mother was Verna. Loving your fabulous cards, and the Rhode island Red is a great representation of the breed!
I too grew up with 'chooks' supplying our needs egg-wise, and eating scraps as well as wheat and mash - My mother used to 'preserve' and 'pickle' the eggs so we had eggs all year round . The preserved eggs were wiped with something and wrapped in newspaper, the pickled eggs were put in a brine solution and used only for baking, if I remember rightly. Some eggs were sold when there was a real glut, and once they reached a certain age, we had chicken dinners - I recall one being particularly tough!
thanks for the wonderful memories
Blessings
Maxine

Judy Inukai said...

What delightful cards. I love your coloring on both and the sentiments are wonderful. I always enjoy reading stories to go along with the cards. Thanks for sharing yours.

Carol L said...

What a fun twofer and a great little story you shared today as well! I used to have chickens on a small scale, so I understand what you're talking about. I just love the snarky sentiment on the rooster card - it just tickles my funny bone :) I remember as a child going into Woolworths and being able to choose a live peep from the bins of purple, yellow, pink, green, and blue baby chicks peeping loudly, and bring it home for Easter! I just stood there and marveled over how cute they were and how loud they were at the same time!

Bunny said...

This was fun reading your post. When I was a kid my mother's husband thought it would be a great idea to start raising chickens. He purchased them from someone and when we got home they were all in the kitchen on the floor because it was cold outside. My mother had a fit. Even worse, they weren't laying chickens. They were all male. Hoo boy.

Love your two-fer cards. [Bunny]

Cat Craig said...

I enjoyed reading your story about the chickens and life on the farm. Condolences regarding your brother. The coloring of the chickens is so different. I love the punny sentiment on your second card. Thanks so much for playing along at Twofer Card Challenge.

Diane said...

OMGoodness I love your chickens, so FUN!! We had a Rooster and chickens growing up, but they were my Dad's pets, the Rooster was so mean too..Also had a goose that was a 'guard', even we couldn't get out of the car as he would come at us LOL...A fabulous post Verna!!

Donna Ellis said...

LOL! funny little spring chicken cards, Verna, and the sentiments are fantastic for the twofer challenge! Our "neighbor" farmer orders their chicks in the mail as well, and it's fun going over to see the little chicks under the heat lamps. They ordered specific white chicks - and all hens but a few roosters - it was fun watching them grow up. But boy are you right about the loud noise! It's like that when we wake up in the mornings, too. The birds outside are SO LOUD that it makes me laugh. I wonder if the smallest birds make the biggest noises LOL but we do love our birds. We raised chickens ONE TIME with our next door neighbor. Wishing you a great Sunday! hugs, de

Marcia Hill said...

What a great post Verna...especially in light of the tough times we're going through right now! And I learned a lot I didn't know about chickens too...thank you!! Your cards are great too, and I'm loving the coloring on both and the punny sentiment on the one! Thanks so much for sharing with us at The Twofer Challenge this month! :0)

Cindy C. said...

Great cards Verna!!

Vicki Dutcher said...

These chickens are totally adorable! Great coloring too

Shona Erlenborn said...

Thanks for sharing your story, Verna. My family also raised chickens when we were young. Sometimes even swapping pheasant eggs for chicken eggs under a brooding hen. These cards are both so fun! The stamp set is so versatile with the different sentiments and the fun images. Great twofer!

Darnell said...

Being raised in Iowa, I know prezackly what you mean by spring chickens, Verna, and I loved your story of your early years with your Mom and Dad and how much the chickens meant to your family's well-being. My favorite times as a youngster were visiting my grandpa and uncle because they had baby and adult chickens and a great big sow used for breeding! She always frightened me a little, but playing with the baby cheepers was a real treat and, oh yes, they are so loud. I can't imagine them being in a box at the PO! Thanks for the memories - as well as memories of the slaughter of the chickens which we thought was no big deal because we knew they were being raised to eat. We got such a kick out of them running around without their heads. Then came the awful job of plucking them!

Okay, okay, that's not why you called. I do love both card designs and I think you did a fantastic job of depicting the two kinds! Of course, now I have to get that set just so I can use the sediment on your second design, lol!! (And now I'm wondering if someone will make Twofer designs that can somehow depict another meaning for spring chickens, which you and I are no longer, haha!) Thank you so much for playing in Twofer Card Challenge #25! Take care!! 😷 Hugs, Darnell

Patti said...

Hello friend : ) I really enjoyed reading your post!! I love that your chicks came in the mail!! : ) I was sad to hear that you lost your brother. What a reunion it will be in heaven!! : )

Sweet cards!!

Lisa Babitz said...

Love your chicken cards! Cute images and funny greetings. I really enjoyed reading your account of your childhood experiences with the chickens on your family farm. I'm chuckling as I imagine the many packages I receive to include chicks!! I was also so sorry to read about your brother.

Lisa said...

Oh my these are adorable!! And love your speckled chick!! I wanted to raise chickens at one time but when I found out how long they lived and then how long they produced I figured since I wouldn't eat them I'd probably end up being over run by chickens...lol!! Love these cards!

Dandi93 said...

Super cute cards Verna, just changing the colors make such a difference. Awesome chickens

Mac Mable said...

What fabulous cards Verna. I so enjoyed reading your post and I too learnt lots. The sentiments and designs of your cards are wonderful and the chicken images are so clever and what memories you have x. Glorious twofer Verna x.

Cornelia (fun stamping) said...

What an informative post! Do you still have some chicken? I always dream of getting some, but it's not allowed in our town ..... and I am not sure that I could kill them. Maybe later when I retire and move somewhere else.... Fabulous coloring on your chicken - especially the Rhode Island Red with its speckles!

TK said...

Great cards! Love the cute chickens and I also love how they evoke memories from days gone by -- love it! I'm sure these will both be loved by the recipients

KT Fit Kitty said...

These are both so cute, Verna! I love farm-themed cards and especially chickens! Love the puns too!

wannabcre8tive said...

Your cards are so cute. Love the chicks and hearing your memories of Spring chicks. I had no idea they used to ship chickens from catalog sales. Poor little chickies, it must have been a scary ride. No wonder they were so loud. 😊

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