A Chicken Story

This is a picture of the entrance to a cozy little chicken coop. A nice little abode for our feathered friends.

This is the bounty they share with us. All winter, they laid all their bounty in one corner in the coop in a nice, accessible little pile.

They still lay them in a nice little pile...

They just...aren't so accessible.

And each time we find a pile, they pick a new spot. "Never in the same spot twice" or, "how many spots can we hide our eggs?" must be their motto.

It's become an Easter egg hunt. Every day. And they cheat. They use the woods.

The little stinkers.

Our newest arrivals

We had a busy day, leaving right after breakfast, picking up Eva, hitting up some garage sales (yay for garage sale season!), running a few errands, the library, groceries, and then, picking up 9 cute fluffy additions to our brood.

I intended to get a bunch of meat birds, but the local fleet was out for the time being. We came home with 2 bantams, 5 Rhode Island Reds, and 2 Black Australopes. All but the bantams will be hens, it's a toss up with those what they'll be (a.k.a straight run, meaning they weren't sexed).


The kids are loving them. They would sit and hold them all day if they didn't have to take "naps" and be left alone:)


Getting these chicks came at an opportune time. Last night our dog Sam "ran away" if you get my drift. He had been running/visiting the neighborhood all spring, and nothing we tried seemed to get through to him. Finally, the other day the kids and I went for a walk to a neighbors to check out their baby goats...Sam went nuts. From that and other reports we've gotten about his shenanigans, we had to make the decision to put him down because he was clearly a hazard to any small animals in the neighborhood. It just wasn't worth it. (Not to mention the ticket if the DNR caught him chasing deer) Fortunately the kids are so excited about the chicks, it's helped keep their minds off Sam being gone. They've talked some about him going to puppy heaven, and that "he must have went running in the woods and a reindeer got him." Not sure where the reindeer come in, but sure. They'll miss him, though.

Morning Chuckle

The scene: This morning. Our living room, Eric looking at Oliver's hair.

"Hey boy, you're getting kind of shaggy."
Oliver, surprised and indignant-like, runs his fingers over his cheeks and chin: No I'm not!

I think he'd be the first four year old to need a shave. Heh.

***

Another gray day in store. I could use some sunshine for drying the mountains of laundry I've been working on. And to get me out of this house and away from the munchies that seem to have consumed me.


But who am I to complain about a little grayness? This picture is from a year ago on a walk to our creek.


Compared to this one from the other day, short sleeves, no hats and mittens or snow-I think we're miles ahead on the nice weather thing, don't you?

One of those moments...

After getting home from work today, the kids and I went for a walk down to our creek. And I had one of those moments...

One of those, where did you come from, long-legged girl? moments.

Then, (Hi, Oliver!) some moments playing Pooh sticks through the culvert. Sideways, the computer seems to think tonight.

A few moments of reflection...again, sideways. *sigh*

A few moments of study...

And a few moments of enjoying the unleashed feeling of being outside with my kids, on a beautiful spring Sunday, with nothing more pressing than P&J's for supper upon arrival home. Unlike Sam. He was enjoying a very leashed up feeling of frustration...and taking it out on the stroller.

I'm not a fan of this.

Work, I mean. (Although by my recent track record, it might seem blogging as well.) It's not that I'm not a fan of work, moreso the current schedule we're in the middle of right now. Starting yesterday, I work four days and an evening-which isn't so bad in itself...many people work five days every week, (it is more than I would like...)- What I'm not a fan of is the fact that I work days, and Eric works evenings all those days.

This means I haven't seen him since Thursday afternoon, and other than a kiss hello or goodbye when one or the other of us is sleeping, I won't see him until Monday morning. Harumph.

I'll stop whining now.

On the plus side, it also means the kids are at home/with us most of the day, with only a few hours when we both have to be gone. A definite plus.

Easter was good. Spring is here. The frogs are peeping in the swamp. (That's one of my favorite sounds of spring) Things are starting to turn green. I can just about taste those delicious garden goods. I love this time of year.