Summer's Here!

We started off the summer with a play date with one of the cousins. 

 We found a tree frog who found the pool.  

The kids had a blast playing with it.  

 I'm loving the wildflowers that are growing on the hillside right outside my porch. 

 The backyard is soaking up all the rain we have been getting.

 I'm loving not having to water the garden.

 Happy surprise:  I had Aunt Mae's bib lettuce come back from last year. 

My chickens are doing well.  

My Americana 'Nora' developed a feathers on the side of her face...

it makes her look a little crazy, but that's ok because that's exactly what she is.

 The chickens love going outside and the kiddos love holding them.

 I love this picture of Dixie.  

She's looking at me like why can't I hunt pheasants AND chickens?

Nora is by far the friendliest of all the flock.

 On one of our Sunday Fun days, we went to the park.

Dad fished, kids played on the equipment and played ball, while I tried to read a bit.

 We had a great time.

A quick stop at Culver's to end our day. 

It was perfect.

Changing...

First off, my garden is sprouting.

 I love seeing the green popping up when I look outside.

 My potatoes have grown over twice the size since this picture.

 All of the rain has done such amazing things to my gardens and flower beds.

 I love sitting in my porch and looking into a lush flower bed.  

My Mary garden is growing and green.

Who knew all I had to do was plant on this side of the house?

 We thought a lot about where we would put the chicken coop.

And finally decided to make it part of my garden shed.  

 I wanted it close to a water source, easily heated, and near the compost.

All of those things happen to be right where my garden shed is:)

We put them in their new home and are going to be making a door 

out the back to the pen.  

Since we don't need nesting boxes until fall, 

we omitted that in the first construction. 

Thank goodness, I have a carpenter at my disposal!

Chirp, Chirp, Chirp

They are here and they are adorable.

 We finished up school work today and took a field trip to Theisens!

 Poor Dixie(the dog) is unfortunately wired to want to get the birds.

I'm sure she will get used to them.   

 The kiddos can't get enough. 

We played and looked at them for the first two hours of getting them home.  

 Oscar is a bit of a Chicken Whisperer.  

None of the chicks chirp when being held by him.  

I'm attributing that to his nurturing nature.

Once they drink, they tilt their heads up to the sky...it's amazing. 

We have 7 in total(not all named yet):

2 Ameraucanas- Matilda and Nora

2 Production Red Pullets

1 Black Australorp

1 White Leghorn- Big Bird

1 Isa Brown

I love them already and can't wait to stare at them tomorrow!

Many thanks...

to all those that made my birthday what it was!

I got spoiled with calls, cards, gifts, and wine. 

What more could a girl ask for?

Crab legs, well, Zach took care of that one too!

He surprised me with my gift, 

which left me speechless and anyone who knows me,

knows that's saying something!

We are getting chickens!

I'm so excited, I can't stand it!

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/wichita-cabin-coop

This is along the lines of what I'm thinking.

"I want a goose to lay golden eggs for Easter..."

Ok...so they're not gold, but they are beautiful!

Here are the very first two eggs that our girls started laying.

They are tiny compared to the normal sized ones

 that my girlfriends chickens (of the same breed) lay.

The first eggs usually tend to be smaller and enlarge rather quickly.

Who needs golden eggs,

when these are perfect!



Happy Father's Day

Well, this weekend started out with a day of priming the chicken coop.

 I was hoping to get it painted this weekend as well,

but due to inclimate weather, that was put on hold.

 We did some errands in town and some couldn't make it 'til we got home

before our naps.

The whole family went on a berry picking walk.

 Because the weather was so warm so soon this spring,

everything is being harvested early.

We got to enjoy berries for dessert.

 Zach and my eldest had a chess game face off,

which ended in a draw. 
All in all, we had a great weekend.

Happy Father's day to my husband...

I know few father's as wonderful as you.

A Coop for the girls

Well, the chicks are no longer chicks...

the brief time I was unable to post,

the girls grew up!

 Naturally, they need a bigger place to live.

So Zach and my father-in-law set out building a new home.

My girls were a little dismayed that they wouldn't have this little spot

devoted especially for dancing:)

 The walls went up in a hurry,

especially when you factor in the 90 degree weather we had this weekend.

 The cows in the background aren't ours,

but they make a good backdrop.

My wonderful husband framing the roof.

The only thing that was left to do:

-paint

-roof

-put in windows and doors

-get the boxes inside built

-do the outside fence



Well, it's roofed, windows in, and a temporary door put in so we can move in the girls.



The girls didn't really know what to think at first.

Once we got them all in, they ran around pecking everything.

The girls are getting adjusted to their mansion.

 I'll keep you posted with updates.



They're Here!

I picked up my new shared babies and oh, are they cute.

I'm not sure who is more excited: my kids, my father-in-law, or myself. 

This is a picture of when I first put them in their new home.

This is one of the feistiest chicks of the flock, who right before I took the picture,

lunged at the camera(It happens to be one of the Rhode Island Reds).

I will have to update the pictures soon because in two days,

they have already grown so much.

 My feisty little chick was the first to figure out the where the water and food was located.

More pictures to come...

A Promise

Well, my oldest decided he was going to build yesterday.

He closed his door to his room and began to create. 

As talking to Nana and Papa last night, he promised they would get to see it.

Although having two sisters that love him immensely and

want to do everything he is doing, I'm afraid it won't last that long so here it is...

(Clockwise)To the left is a garage,

the log home is next to that

with power poles(yes, we may little house on the prairie, but he's not ready to sign up for no power!)

What you can barely see is two chicks eating, the fence is for the chickens and

leads to their house, which is almost half the size of the house!

Oh and last, but not least, that long log is multiple machine guns,

in case of enemy fire, of course.

This little building made me smile because chicks are on the way

and my little ones ears are paying attention!

Just to clarify, the chicks(egg birds) are headed to my father-in-laws house and will be kept there,

which will be a fun partnership.

The kids are looking forward to "helping" with the chicks.

Unfortunately, our land causes problems for raising chickens,

 since there is no flat spot on it. 

Keep a look out for posts in about two weeks.