Feathering the nest

The chicks arrived today!  I got a call from the postmistress at about 7:30am letting me know I could come and pick up my little fluff balls.  They are the cutest little balls of yellow, black, and grey fluff.  I pretty much flew out the door and down the road to the post office.  Thank goodness Eric was home, cuz I didn’t even tell the kids I was going!  I was a little excited.

 

 

The little chicks sat beside me on the passenger seat.  They chirped all the way back to the farm.  I’d forgotten how loud they can be.

 

 

 

Their brooder home was set up just in time, too.  Eric and I waited as long as possible, because we wanted to set it up in the detached garage – that plan changed and they are in the ‘house’ garage for now.  I hope they’ll be happy in their cozy little home.  My husband is the reason we have a water tank brooder; I had planned to create a cardboard lined home for the chicks.  The water tank is much easier and better contains the bedding.  Plus, once the detached garage is finished, we can just pick up the tank and carry it to it’s new home.

   

 

 

When I got home, I went in and called all the kids out to the garage.  We waited … somewhat patiently for Dash to get back from doing outside chores.  Louis blew bubbles in the stroller, Graham tried to sneak a peak through the box’s air holes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We gathered all the kids around before lifting the cover & then surprise!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The chicks are shipped in a cardboard box; 25 chicks on each side.  I ordered straight-run, which it less expensive.  It means that the chicks are not ‘sexed’ before being shipped.  That was fine for us because we intend to only keep 10-15 for laying. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My mom taught me to remove the egg-tooth (it’s a sharp little point on the end of their beak that helps them break through the shell) as the first step.  Next, we dip their beaks in water and food.  The little chicks don’t have a hen to show them, so we help them along.  Angelina caught on and helped get them adjusted in their brooder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zeke holding his first chick … Graham was quite so sure.  “It’s scratching me,” he said.  But, he’ll come around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angelina has already named two: the lightest and darkest chicks (Sunny and Blackie, respectively, because we don’t know their genders, yet).  Dash thought it was cool, but maybe teenagers just like to stand back and observe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Louis thought we were all paying a little bit too much attention to the chicks, so  he had to remind us that’s he’s where the action is!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, back to the chicks!  They are so darn cute…

 

Tooth-less grins

Zeke lost his fourth tooth today!  He’d been pushing around that front tooth for a couple days; I was about ready to pull it out for him.  He won’t remain toothless in front for long … a permanent tooth on top and one on the bottom are pushing their way out.

That’s darn windy

Two rain barrels were sitting in front of our garage, waiting to be hooked up to the gutters on the detached garage.  Well, they are no longer waiting… in fact, one blew clear across the yard, through the field and into a slough.  Guess it didn’t want to wait for rain.  I’m not sure if we’ll retrieve it anytime soon, either, given the fact that sloughs are often a lot deeper than they look.

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday – In the Kitchen

 

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Fresh bread, home-made  yogurt, Quick Quiche

Today is Tuesday

Overall a productive day.

• Baked 50-50 bread … that’s 50% whole wheat/50% white
• Dash mixed up chocolate chip cookie dough and we froze it … yup, it actually made it into the freezer.  Less the whole cookie Dash forgot to scrap off the mixer paddle and which he conveniently sampled.
• Ran husband to the field while Louis slept … my first car trip while leaving him at home
• Dash cleaned out the next boxes & replaced the straw
• Angelina watched Louis (he took a fabulously long afternoon nap) and Zeke while I ran to town for groceries with Graham and Dash
• Remembered to stop at the local hardware store to see if they had another large Nordic cooling rack for a friend … they were out, so it was ordered and will be in next week
• Hubby and I made some final decisions on the detached garage and driveway
• Schoolwork done and corrected … almost, I need to look over Angelina’s, yet
• Couldn’t resist reading my Mother’s Day gift … it arrived this past Friday … I asked Eric and he said ‘OK’  … it’s ‘The Pioneer Woman Cooks’ … awesome read & can’t wait to cook and bake some more of her recipes!

• Angelina and I whipped up a quiche for supper tonight
• Prepared a batch of yogurt for Graham
• Dash planted another couple square feet (in the SFG) of onions

Monday DayLook – April 26, 2010

For Today:  April 26, 2010

 

Looking out from my back porch... specks of yellow from Dandelions are showing up in my backyard, blackbirds have shown up, a pair of Mallards is nesting in the slough just beyond the backyard (we are all awaiting the arrival of ducklings!), the sandbox has been visited often, and the lilacs are greening up, too.  The day itself is overcast and a little dreary – if we didn’t need the rain it would be slightly depressing.

 

I am thinking about… chicks!!  They arrive later this week & I still need to set up their brooder.  All the supplies are in the garage, just need to put it all together.

 

I am thankful for... baptism.  My niece was baptized on Saturday evening.  Seeing the sacrament received again by another child makes me smile.

 

I am reading… “The Backyard Homestead” edited by Carleen Madigan.  I’m not very far into the book, but the concept is intriguing.  We aren’t limited by space, to I don’t feel the need to organize my yard as intensively as what this book outlines.  However, I’m reading it to learn and pick up little tid-bits of info that I can apply to our situation.

 I am hoping... for a little more rain to wet the ground and settle the dust. CHECK!

 

I am hearing... the wind, not too strong, blowing around the house.  The kids are quiet & baby Louis is sleeping.

 

I am wearing… jeans, a light blue 3/4 length sleeve t-shirt, and grey socks because I had to put on mud boots to go outside and water the chickens (Angelina couldn’t get the cover off the waterer).

 

From the school room... we’re just trying to stay strong and steady through mid-May to end the formal school year.

 

From the kitchen... I haven’t done a very good job of menu planning the last two weeks, so need to get going on it again.

 

State of the house… the dust is getting the best of me right now!  Doors get left open and the dust floats on in and settles wherever it likes.

 

A successful moment… the weekend was really fun … college fraternity reunion … niece’s baptism … 13yo birthday.  I pulled off all I needed to get done: annual summary with substance and a little flair, remembered the baptism gift, packed the kids and myself for the overnight, baked a cake & cooked a birthday meal.  Phew!

 

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday: Dash, Angelina & Zeke will be participating in the 4-H Communication Arts contest today.   

Wednesday: Angelina has a make-up dance class tonight. 

Thursday-Friday:  The chicks arrive at some point and I also placed an Azure Standard/(Food co-op) order, so will need to run to pick that up, too.

Saturday/Sunday:  Dash is having a birthday party with friends – he’s super excited cuz they are going to Thunder Road (go-carts, mini-golf, etc.).  Eric and I teach the third (and last) class in our NFP series this weekend, too.

 

A picture memory …

Remember this from last year???  Almost time for planting the SFG’s again, and this year we are ready a little earlier …

Eric took a cell-phone picture of Dash at Aerospace Camp 2010...

Happy Birthday!

 

 

Dear Dash - Happy 13th Birthday!

 

I have a teenager on the loose in my house!  Where in the world did thirteen years go?? 

They were spent holding an adorable baby, who crawled after a ball,

who loved to jump up and down in his exersaucer,

who grew into a toddler, who grabbed a sippy cup and learned to pad along behind a push toy,

who changed into a little boy who loved to play in the sand and walk through puddles,

who at 5 & 6 ran everywhere instead of walking (it was hard to keep up),

who turned 7, 8, 9, and then 10 and rode his bike around the cul de sac,

 

who grew into a bigger boy who took a liking to all things electronic,

 

who can take apart almost anything and somehow remember how it should be reassembled,

 

  

who finds fun in everything, even when mom or dad do not!

who is considerate and helpful to his Grandparents, siblings, and parents,

who is helpful around the farm and can hardly wait to drive more of the farm equipment,

who is now, finally, a teenager.

 

Our prayer is that God’s way will always be your way.  May He continue to bless you and keep you when we cannot be there to guide you. 

St. Clare Heirloom Seeds

  I received my order of garden seeds from St. Clare Heirloom Seeds this past week.  Seeing as how I had just ordered on April 16th, I was very surprised to receive the seeds on Monday.  That’s quick!!  Now, I cannot actually comment on the germination because they haven’t been planted, yet.  But, if looks and service say anything, these seeds are going to turn into wonderful plants.  The seed packets are cute and the quantity of seed in each is reasonable.  I found the price to be in line with what I’ve paid in the past for similar seeds and I was even able to purchase some of my favorite varieties.  Shipping is only $3 for seed orders. 

A bonus with St. Clare Heirloom Seeds is that they specialize in Non-GMO, Non-Treated, Non-Hybrid, Heirloom and Open-Pollinated Seeds.  While all these factors may be important to some folks, I was most interested in the Heirloom tomato seeds.  I have read and ‘heard’ that heirloom varieties have such good flavor.  I want to experience the difference for myself, and flavor is important when canning spaghetti sauce and freezing stewed tomatoes.

They sell books, too.  I found one that I cannot wait to receive and read … Backyard Homestead … more on that after it arrives!  If plants were available, I would definitely order.  I’ll keep you posted on how my garden grows in future posts.

Here’s a list of what I ordered:

• Green Bean – Contender
• Beet – Cylindra
• Carrot – Danvers 126
• Pea – Super Sugar Snap
• Pea – Maestro
• Summer Squash – Black Beauty
• Winter Squash – Burgess Strain Buttercup
• Lettuce – Paris Island COS
• Lettuce – Lettuce Blend #2
• Spinach – Bloomsdale Long Standing
• Tomato – Toma Verde Tomatillo
• Tomato – Tumbler (Cherry)
• Tomato – Amish Paste
• Tomato – Delicious
• Tomato – Rutgers

Of course, this isn’t all I will be planting.  I am not ordering early enough to start broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, & peppers from seed!  And then, I really like English cukes, so will be looking for those seeds/plants locally.  The potatoes and corn are planted in a larger plot we share with Grandpa & Grandma Green Acres.  Grandpa already has a few rows of potatoes planted … using our own home-grown potatoes for seed.

Wordless Wednesday – Zeke’s Current Poem

Craft Basket Wednesday

This past Saturday, our family hosted our 4-H club for a rocket building/pillowcase sewing meeting.  Most of the members worked on rockets, but three chose to make pillowcases.  Angelina has no interest in rockets, so she was one of the three seamstresses who made a pillowcase.  She chose fabric from samples I had on hand (purchased when Hancock Fabrics went out of business a couple years ago).  I had wanted to make her a quilt out of these fabrics, but… we moved… and I had a baby… there’s really not much time to quilt!  Pillowcases are quicker/easier to sew and the bed-set came with linens and a pre-made quilt. On a side note, the bed-set came from my childhood room and was the wedding gift given to my maternal grandparents by my maternal great-grandparents – it’s mahogany and beautiful – this bed-set started my longing for dark cherry furniture.  Anyhoo, maybe I’ll make her a matching lap quilt to curl up in while she reads late into the winter nights.  You know the kind that lay across the the foot of the bed in pictures, but in real life are in a heap on one side of the couch!


The pattern for the pillowcases came from a kit … I just really liked the fabric combination.  Of course, the colors don’t match anything in my bedroom, but the fabric is a silky cotton that I’ll enjoy.  This pattern is quick and easy to sew – definitely under an hour.  Why do I buy pillowcases when construction is this easy??


The bold floral prints are from the kit …



The brown & pink that match Angelina’s room decor…




The full size view – hard to really appreciate the layering in the smaller photos…

 


Click here to check out other Craft Basket Wednesday posts… thanks Amy Caroline!

Monday DayLook – April 19, 2010

For Today:  April 19, 2010

Looking out from my back porch... the irony of Spring is that before I can get outside to plant anything that I LIKE, the weeds begin to grow like … well, weeds!  So, there is green, but it’s broadleaf weeds!!

I am thinking about… gardening.  The seed packets I ordered last week arrived today.  I purchased onion sets over the weekend.  Started plants will need to wait until May, but I am soooo itching to plant.  The square foot gardens just need a little compost/soil to top them off and they’ll be ready for seeds.

 I am thankful for... Spring-time, sunny days, babies, washing machines, and simple joy-filled moments scattered throughout the day.

I am reading…StAR magazine from March/April 2010.  The focus of this issue is G.K. Chesterton: Fidei Defensor.  Very, very good reading.  Am also reading my latest Cooking Light magazine and finished reading the Winter 2010 issue of mater et magistra … probably just in time for the next issue to arrive.

I am hoping... for a bit of rain later this week to settle the dust and get the newly planted fields growing.

I am hearing... Baby Louis jumping away in the Jumperoo, shrieks of joy included!

I am wearing…jeans, a brown long-sleeve t-shirt, white socks & my favorite pair of beige Sketchers

From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)… the boys worked on rockets this week.  Angelina has been working on her quilt and she finished up her pillowcase.  All will be exhibited as 4-H projects.

From the school room... last week was a challenge.  Nice weather means we’d all rather be doing something else!  So, I doubled up Dash’s assignments in a couple subjects; he protested at first, but after trying it realized that he could handle the small amount of extra work and still finish decent time.

From the kitchen... it was a SWEETS week.  I tried out Maple Pecan Scones (***** = gone), Angelina made Mini-Chocolate Chip Scones (*****= samples & then frozen) and brownies (another ***** = saved for 4-H meeting)!  I also mixed up a batch of chocolate chip cookies, but they were a bit of a flop.  They’re being eaten, but they spread too much and aren’t very attractive.   This week, I’m going to search for egg recipes.  Whenever we made Angel-food cake (uses 12 egg whites), my mom would make 12 egg-yoke cookies … I’m searching for the recipe.

State of the house… the cook-top is in desperate need of attention, but the rest of the house should be good for a week.

A successful moment… I remembered to call and register the kids for the 4-H Communication Arts contest this morning – today was the deadline.

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday: Dance class for Angelina & a library visit.

Tuesday-Friday: Plan and prepare for the weekend.  Spring’s work and planting begin this week.  Work on 4-H projects.

Saturday:  Dash’s 13th Birthday & Niece Elizabeth’s Baptism tonight.  I plan to meet up with my mom and sister for our annual women’s fraternity reunion.

Sunday:   Dash and his dad leave to attend 4-H Aerospace Camp. 

A Picture Memory…

 

My attempt at outdoor decor … old grapevine wreath with silk flowers tucked in the branches…

Angelina & Zeke planted onion sets today… it’s a bit early, but the worst that can happen is it’ll freeze & we’ll have to replant.  If it’s a go, they can show onions (although small) at 4-H Achievement Days in late June!

 

Graham was the lucky boy today!  He’s the first boy to ride in the tractor with dad this year.  He was super excited … water bottle & Scooby-Doo lunchbox filled with goodies in hand and Dad carried his toys (a bag of old Legos that I said could be scattered to the four corners of the field!).

 

Laundry experiment day…

If a fabric laundry hamper is full and the clothes need to be washed, can they all fit in one load??  Why, yes, they can fit. 

But, can the washer run??  Why yes, the washer can run. 

But, can it run without burning out the motor?? 

Thank goodness my little scientist didn’t get that far into the experiment before I heard the poor machine –she was groaning with the weight of water & clothes- and called for the load to be halved. 

Lifesaver

Zeke, coming in from visiting the momma and baby kittens:  “I basically saved Teeny’s life”.

Teeny is the momma cat.

Me:  “Really?!?  What did you do?” while thinking, ‘I hope she’s okay because Grandma Green Acres already had to nurse one batch of kittens last year and we really don’t need to do THAT again.’

Zeke: “I pulled a tick off her.”

Father’s homily on March 7, 2010

I meant to post this some time ago, but life has been a little crazy.  Real life was being lived.  Anyway, the simple, but powerful words of this homily keep entering my thoughts and pushing me toward something. 

We are always thrilled to be able to participate in the Mass at St. Mary’s.  I always learn something during the homily.  Father Wilhelm’s homily this particular Sunday – March 7, 2010 during Lent -- has really stuck with me.  The points he made kept popping into my head throughout the following week, and have kept at me.  (But do you think they could all pop into my head at one time to share with you???  NO!  So, this post has been written over a few days…and now months.)  Even though it’s the Easter season, his points are still relevant.  I should still be trying to accomplish these suggestions.

1. Pray.  If you aren’t at a different place in your spiritual life than you were two years ago, you need to do something different.  Yes, there are times of darkness … a week, a month, sometimes a year or more, but don’t give up on prayer.

2. Make an ACT.  At the time of his homily, Father meant an act of sacrifice or giving for Lent.  But, why not try to do this every day.  I can do a small sacrifice or give something of myself each day.  It doesn’t have to be much … maybe taking the time to read a book to Graham or making Zeke an egg-in-the-hole for breakfast when I’d rather make one for myself instead.

3. Attend Mass outside of Sunday at least once each week.  This one is particularly hard for me … with five kids … every week.  Part of it is the 20 min. drive to church, the other is the time (and sometimes location) of daily mass.  I know, excuses, excuses.  What are we here on earth for?? … yes, yes, I get that.  I’m praying for my answer/solution to be made clear.

Anyway, I don’t want to forget to try.

Spring Cleaning at the Blog

Got the Spring Cleaning Bug and am making some changes to my blog look ... please bear with me as I figure this out.  Seems that each time I want to do a little changing, it takes me forever because I've forgotten what I've learned about HTML and then so many updates have occurred that I'm 'behind the times.'  But, change was needed ... it was still snowing on my blog this morning and the snow is gone in real life...

Movin’ Up

… in car seats.  I tried to hold off on this move as long as possible, but Baby Louis is just ounces away from 22lbs, which is the max on the infant carrier we own.  I ordered a convertible seat a couple weeks ago, and Monday night was his first ride in the new seat.  It’s comfy for him and he can see out and around well.  Of course, that means I carry him out to the vehicle and into any store/location at which we may stop.  Granted, he’s lighter without the car seat, but this change definitely adds to the ‘time needed to prepare for leaving.’  I think it’s time to consolidate my purse & the diaper bag.

*The angle of this pic is just terrible.  No matter which way I display the picture, he looks uncomfortable.  But he honestly wasn’t uncomfortable and took a nap to and from dance – 70 miles one way.

Outdoor time

Last night, the whole family went out after supper to create an outside pen for the hens.  Again, it’s crudely constructed, but we got it done in less than 2 hours and were back in the house in time for the kids’ bedtime.  I didn’t get pictures of this process and that’s probably a good thing … you’d be able to see –forever—our disordered construction process!



We didn’t let the hens out last night, so this morning, the kids and I went out early to let them out.  That’s 7:45a and I needed to coax Graham out of bed – didn’t take much to encourage him once he realized we’d be letting the hens outside.  The morning was cool and windy, but the hens came out right away and started pecking away at the grass and exploring the area.