"Eggsplanation" - Egg Carton Three-Digit Code Deciphered

290 - What does this code mean?
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2017

There is a date and three-digit number on the end of an egg carton, so what does that three digit number mean? How fresh are the eggs when they are put in the carton?

The three-digit number is the date when the eggs where put in the carton. For example, the yellow carton in the above picture has the number 290 printed on it. That means the eggs were put in that carton on October 20^th. The gray carton, pictured below, has the number 327, so those eggs where put in that carton on November 23^rd.

Three-digit codes made easier for you to figure out:

001-031 = January dates

032-059 = February dates

060-090 = March dates

091-120 = April dates

121-151 = May dates

152-181 = June dates

182-212 = July dates

213-243 = August dates

244-273 = September dates

274-304 = October dates

305-334 = November dates

335-365 = December dates

327 below the "SELL" is the three-digit code.
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2017

Now that these date codes have been deciphered by the month they fall in, you can figure out the actually day the number falls on, if you choose. You need to know that this number does not mean the eggs were laid on that date. Those eggs could be up to thirty days old before being put in a carton and sent to the grocery store for you to purchase.

Some of these grocery store egg cartons have "Fresh" stamped on them. In my opinion, this is not fresh, but I am biased because I have my own chickens. I collect and put my eggs in the carton the day they are laid. Then, my eggs are kept refrigerated. I can say as a person who hated eggs as a kid, that there is a taste difference between my truly fresh eggs and store bought eggs.

Which would you prefer?

Take a Look at Nature's Charm and Critters on Our Farm February 12th - 18th, 2017

I purchased The Chicken Spinner for The Hens Nest Inn Girls (my chickens). I managed to make a video, but you will have to click the Youtube link to view it. I hope you enjoy watching the girls with their new toy, which provides treats and entertainment to them. It is entertaining to humans as well. The first day I put it out, the wind was blowing really hard, which blew the spinner around, scaring the girls. Most have managed to get over their fear of it, in other words have gotten over being chicken chickens. 

Click to view The Hens Nest Inn Girls playing with the Chicken Spinner:   https://youtu.be/KqiyENFFsOQ

A Black Australorp's Feather
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2017

Photobombed by Black Australorp
© Photo By Tracey R. Simmons 2017

Click here to find out more about The Chicken Spinner:

http://www.thechickenspinner.com/shop1

All pictures and videos are copyrighted © to Tracey R. Simmons,

creator of Paws4Hearts Rescue, 2017.

Deaf Dog Hope "Asks to be Petted"

Hope with her Doggles on.
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2014

December 29, 2013 was the date I adopted Hope, an approximately eleven month old Border Collie/Husky mix born deaf and surrendered as an older puppy because of her deafness. Although, I found out later that the person who surrendered her used the excuse that this puppy was "cat aggressive."

When I asked to see Hope, at the time named Sweetie, in the Humane Society's lobby to get away from all the barking dogs and to give her lovings, I asked how she was around cats. I was told they didn't know, later told that until they saw her being aggressive they were not going to put that label on her. They knew that when an animal comes in with a disability like deafness, the owner feels guilty for not wanting it for that reason and will use another excuse to give up the animal to appease their conscious.

Hope, Pippin, and Spritzen playing.
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons

Here we were standing in the lobby surrounded by large cages filled with kittens and adult cats. I watched Hope's interest in the kittens being greater - not in an aggressive way, than her interest in me as a human wanting to pet and love her. I have photos of her while still at the Humane Society - how scared she was just to be touched and hugged. She has come so far in a positive way.

I could tell the day I first saw Hope at the Humane Society that she had love to give. When all the other dogs were barking and jumping around, as I walked through the dog kennel area, Hope just sat, watching me, her blue eyes meeting mine.  I really believe that she could sense the hurt I was feeling for my black lab - Worf, who was basically in hospice care at home, nearing his last day. There was an unexplainable communication that took place at that moment.

I brought Hope home four days after losing Worf on Christmas day. She has never been aggressive towards my cats or the Chihuahuas. In fact, she is extremely gentle with my older cat, Gracie, the Grey.

Hope is indeed a lover at heart. Just last night, she came up to me, sat and looked me straight in the eyes. She was asking to be petted. When I moved my hand towards her, she quickly lowered her head under my hand, bumping it with her head. As I moved my hand across her head and back, the wiggles and bouncing started, so I stopped. She calmed down, sitting beside my legs, waiting. Then, I gently started rubbing her side, and she leaned into me more. She was in heaven.

Pippin wanting Hope to play tug with her.
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons

Take a Look at Nature's Charm and Critters on Our Farm - January 22nd - February 4th, 2017

The Midwest weather has fluctuated these last two weeks. Warmer temps allowed the honeybees to fly outside their hive. Later temps dipped bring flurries and cold. While nature provided some beautiful photos of sunrises, sunsets, and night skies. In addition, Pippin O'Chi sat still long enough for me to get some nice pictures of her. Enjoy!

All pictures are copyrighted © to Tracey R. Simmons,

creator of Paws4Hearts Rescue, 2017.

Winter Honeybee Hive Update

The candy board the worker bees were already eating,
because of lack of food stored.
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2017

In parts of the Midwest, unusually warm temperatures created a spring-like feel in the middle of winter for a couple of days this January. When temperatures go above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, honeybees can fly outside their hive to go to the bathroom. They also do some hive maintenance, such as carrying out dead bees.

My hive was already in trouble last fall from the chemicals sprayed by a disrespectful resident across the road, who sprayed on my land. This idiot's stupidity caused my hive population to nearly die completely off, several thousands were dead. After this incident occurred, I have done everything I could to help this queen and her workers. With the warmer temps, I wanted to change the candy board food if the worker bees were already eating it. I figured they were since they didn't have enough food store, because of a lack of worker bees to do the gathering work last fall after the die off.

Sugar mixture heating up.
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2017

I had to make a spare candy board. With my hand/arm disabilities, I cannot make a full candy board at one time. I have to find ways to adapt, so I had to make it in two batches. Off to work I went - standing over a stove, stirring a sugar mixture. It took about two hours, but if it helps this hive to survive the rest of winter, that time and cost will be well worth it.

Hot candy poured into frame.
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2017

Another two hours was needed for the hot candy board to cool and harden. When it was ready, I zipped up into my beesuit, and went to check the hive. Some workers were out on the landing board. I watched as one worker pulled a dead bee off and flew several inches with it before landing on the ground. Pretty amazing to watch!

I pulled off the candy board I had put on in November, and some worker bees were busy eating on it. I took one quick look between the frames, then slid the new candy board on.

I had to gently sweep the bees off the old candy board, which I will fill in with more candy, in the hopes the temps will be warm enough in February to allow me to change it again.

The worker bees filling their bellies.
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2017

                                                                        As I carried the partially eaten candy board to the house, I found one little worker was still eating within a groove. I was able to coax her onto the hive brush, and got a great picture of her.

Please keep this hive in your prayers that they will survive the rest of winter and start thriving again in the warmer temperatures of spring. We need all the pollinators we can get, and I want to truely be considered a beekeeper!!

Stowaway being returned to hive.
© Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2017

Take a Look at Nature's Charm and Critters on Our Farm - January 15th - 21st, 2017

In areas of the Midwest, rain has saturated the ground, more than I have ever seen while living at this home in the country. This means mud, glorious mud - Not. Mud creates muddy paws & paw prints, muddy shoes & boots, muddy ruts from vehicles getting stuck - mud, mud everywhere. The storms also blew down a giant beech tree, which has created a mess of its own, but thankfully nothing was damaged by it.

I have included pictures of the two inside cats - Haley, the black, mischievous cat, and Gracie, the Grey, who is quiet & shy fifteen year old kitty. Of course, I have to include some pictures of some of the chickens, and just some of nature's beauty.

All pictures are copyrighted © to Tracey R. Simmons,

creator of Paws4Hearts Rescue, 2017.

Irresistible Squeaky Dog Toys

My Beloved Koda
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2014

Dog toys – they stimulate a dog’s play drive, helps with boredom, and provides exercise. If the toys have squeakers inside, some dogs will tear apart the toy to get to the squeaker, leaving you looking at the toy’s fabric in shreds and pieces of stuffing littering the floor or couch. In addition, if you are like me, you are thinking about the money that was wasted.

For years, I prided myself on providing squeaker toys to my dogs and teaching them to enjoy them rather than ripping them to pieces. Many times I had people say, “You can’t teach a dog not to tear up squeaker toys!” I assured them I could and had with several dogs.

I have taught medium size to large size dogs to play with their toys, and not tear them apart. One might think it would be more difficult to teach bigger dogs, but I have found it to be easier to do than the dinky dogs. The Chihuahuas, or in the case of my beloved late Koda – a three quarters Chihuahua, one quarter min pin, I have been challenged greatly in my endeavors to keep the toys intact.

Koda had learned to play and not tear up his toys.
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons 2014

What could possibly be the difference? A dog is a dog, right?!

I have pondered this dilemma greatly. My conclusion is this: bigger dogs are right there in the way for you to step or trip over, so you notice them being too rough on a toy, snatch it away, ultimately saving the toy, leaving the bigger dog bewildered, as you go about your chores with the toy safely out of reach.

When it comes to the dinky dogs, they are, obviously, quite small, and that smallness is a breeding ground for sneakiness. For example, dinky dogs can look to be innocently snuggled up against the arm of the couch with a brand new squeaky toy. They are so small; they are nearly out of your view. They appear to be ready to fall asleep. Then, as you go about your chores, your dinky dog makes quick work at opening the squeaky toy. Their little teeth cut through the threads along the seam, just like scissors on paper. A small hole has been created. And poof, there’s the all magical, all wonderful stuffing. Meticulous that sneaky, dinky dog begins to pull bits of stuffing out.

Spritzen Nala O'Chi with new toy.
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons
December 2016

Alas, you walk back into the room to find snippets of stuffing on the floor and couch. You grab the toy, looking for the hole and find none, as I did. I gave the toy back and sat down on the couch to watch a movie. Meanwhile, that dinky dog pulls the toy to the floor, just outside your view, and begins to work on that hole even more, opening it up further, exposing the irresistible stuffing. All of a sudden, you realize there is a large pile of stuffing lying there, looking like a white fluffy cloud. Subsequently, you look at your Chihuahua, who looks up at you with innocent eyes that say, “I really didn’t do anything wrong. White stuff? What white stuff? It must be a figment of your imagination!”

The Guilty Spritzen Nala O'Chi!!
Photo by Tracey R. Simmons
January 2017