Catching up

Well not bad, 3 weeks since my last post. It feels like it's been longer. I've been wanting to get out here but between an unbelievably slow connection (still working on that) and extra hours at work which is due to be increasing more starting next week (thankful I have a job) and getting a 2nd house ready to put on the market (Now the things I've wanted done for 5 years are getting done) It seems to leave just enough time to feed everybody give them a little attention and head off to bed to start again tomorrow.
Another reason I've been itching to post is due to the babies. They seem to grow and change daily! They no longer are the cute little cotton balls I picked up in one small box just 3 weeks ago. Sad, but yet exciting. They have gotton a lot of their feathers in and you can now see what color they are going to be!

This little crabby looking girl will be completely white.

This will be what they call blue.

Here is a group shot that shows the buff and partridge(brown)as well as the silver lace (black s/white speckles)

Here is one of the blacks.

And of course there is chipndale who it turns out is a speckled sussex?? To me he/she looks like a sparrow. He/she was the first one to feather out and has far more than the rest of the group.

The yellow chicks which were CXR's (jumbo rocks) are really growing fast. It's seems all they do is eat and grow.

And I can't forget some of the other "Kids"
...They really do have a regular water bowl but I guess it's not as fun...

Here's the "old lady" kicking it up a little.

Finally here!!!

I want to put out a very special Thank you to Murray McMurray Hatchery!

We just couldn't wait any longer (plus I couldn't stand the thought of my little babies being shipped via mail). When Dan told me it wasn't far, I called and changed my order to "pick up" instead of delivery and this morning we headed west!
I was in love from the minute they opened the box lid to show us our purchase. I knew they would be small (this isn't the first time I've seen a baby chicken) but I never realized they would be that small! They are absolutely DARLING!!! ....and messy.





They've been home now for about 7 hours and everyone is eating, drinking and making a mess of the newpapers. Whew! I was very excited to take some pictures and took several which proved to be a smart move because they are very difficult to photograph. They are constantly moving, not to mention the time I spent trying to edit out the babypoo which proved next to impossible, in 7 hours it's everywhere!! Dan's gonna stay pretty busy for a while! LOL!

Of course all the yellow babies are going to grow up to be white and I know what most of the other are supposed to look like as well but there is one that really stands out and has me puzzled....it looks like a chipmunk to me so this one is going to be.......chipndale! (did I just age myself?)

Another week...

Spring has finally hit our little mini farm! As we were out splitting wood (cleaning up a huge pile of cut wood that came with the house) I noticed that the trees were blooming! I so often get caught up with the fast pace of life and end up missing the simple yet extrodinary wonders the surround but not this weekend!! The buds were so beautiful that I just had to stop what I was doing and grab my camera.
We are hoping to put a new roof on the house and add a dormer or two and turn the attic into a bedroom but to do that, we need to clean up the wood pile. It's a crazy six degrees of seperation thing that I won't go into but there you have it. If I clean the wood up then complete several other things I will end up with a new bedroom and maybe, just maybe an upstairs bath.
We also spent some time today getting ready for our new arrivals due May 4th! Dan has been diligently reading books and taking notes. We have the first "brooder house" ready. 37 little fuzzy peeps!! You know I'll be taking pictures like a crazy woman when they get here!!

Easter Weekend

Heres hoping everyone had a Happy Easter!!
Since Mother Nature decided to be gracious this weekend and kindly grant us lovely weather Dan and I decided we would take full advantage and do some much needed cleaning of the treeline. Yes, I know some of you may be saying "but what about the natural habitat?" and to that my reply is.....we live within a couple of miles of a large county park- the critters can go there! (plus there are still several fence lines in the area) OR they can go hide in the barn. It currently has very easy access!
We decided that it was better to clean it out and let new bushes grow in and rid the area of the years of knocked down, broken and dead shrubs and tree tops. I was suprised how much dry, dead, brittle wood was crammed into that small area. It was actually more of a kindling line than a tree line. Not to mention Mulberry trees, HELLO!!! Why is it they grow everywhere you don't want trees and no where you do? We did leave several large ones so there is my contribution to the wildlife. There will still me many berries for the wildlife.
We were able to clean out half of it. Just enough to really let you appreciate a good days work and make the remaining untouched half look ten times worse!
The biggest battle was disposing of the waste. Burning is not often an option here due to being located on very high ground and having a constant "breeze".
We were able to burn a small portion and hopefully finish the remaining already cut a piled messes within the week. Then we can start on the second half!
Dan's biggest toy really made quick work of hauling the brush! Nice not to have to haul it by hand but it left big tractor tire dents all over. Oh well, I'll worry about those another day.

this is how you make a really big fire! It was orginally SO big I was to busy watching for the surrounding Cedars to burst into flames to take a picture!!

Whos got the marshmellows??

Gentle Hands

It amazes me how these grubby, cracked, often dirty, battered and abused manual labor hands can also be so gentle and tender. It also makes me giggle when I see the "mighty hunter/woodsman extraordinaire" sitting on the floor in the spare room, bottle in hand quietly talking in the most soothing tone to his little orphan bunny that has become very attached to his adoptive mother. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't witnessed it with my own eyes.

It's really spring right?!

Mother Nature and I are not on speaking terms right now. Yet another day avoiding the outside. I swore I would not blog today altough I am oh so tired of cleaning, sorting papers, laundry, paying bills and surfing the same stuff on the web. I swore I wouldn't blog because I really had nothing to share and vowed I would not blog about the weather again. I swore......and then....
I saw a flock of robins in the yard. Hanging around in one of the few spots that didn't have snow, snitching scraps of cracked corn left by the turkeys. (my only form of bird feeder) better than nothing right?!
However, for the past 30 minutes I have been listening to a light tapping on my front window to which after the first few minutes I had to go see what it was.

Apparently this Robin is unhappy with the spring weather we are having as well and wants to come in the house with everyone else! He wasn't hitting the window hard, merely fluttering at it with his Robin sized determination to gain access. Had he known waiting for him inside were the dogs eagerly anticipating his success I'm sure he would have been quite content finding a nice perch in our completely bird accessable barn.

And yes, I realize the pictures are not of the best quality however, you need to keep in mind that I was trying to snap it quickly all while holding back to two bird dogs trying to go through my window to get it!! Not an easy feat!
So I caved I blogged once again about a weather related topic.
And in my boredom I shopped online. But unlike the typical woman, I didn't shop for shoes, clothing or even housewares, bedding or new decor (although all of those items would have been more practical) No indeed, I ordered my baby chicks which are to arrive the first week of May!! Wahoo! Now I'm somewhat glad Dan is laid off for a while, after all he has a chicken coop to build now! LOL!
I was very discriminating in my choices. I didn't settle for just any ole run of the mill chicken, no no no, my chicken of choice is Cochin. They are big and poofy with feathers all the way down the legs. I ordered 2 girls in all six beautiful colors for total of 12 egg layers! I am so excited for summer!

absent

A flood of mixed emotions. Excitement, disappointment, anxiety guilt and disgust. Yes, I have been cheating. I was enjoying my blog, what girl doesn't like to talk and share?! It was fun and I found myself posting the dumbest things just because. Then, someone introduced me to facebook. That was all it took. It was new, there was feedback, I reconnected with some old friends that I hadn't talked to in 25-30 years. I was quickly sucked into looking at walls and profiles and pictures. Not always because I was intersted in a good way some of it is just downright snooping!
I found I had nothing to say on my blog but would rush out to see what was new on facebook. What was everyone up to? Don't get me wrong, I love that I have been able to reconnect with some very dear friends that I did lose touch with however, I am swaying away, being more "selective" with time I spend out there. I don't care to partake in the extra things such as the beads, sweets, pass a drink etc. Connect, chat, catch up and share photo's...can't that be enough? So now that I am "restricting" my time I can come back to blogging which is much more enjoyable.

I was correct in that we no longer have snow and now have plenty of mud!! It is definately spring by the signs of Edd and Eddy stepping up to take Ed's place now that he is now longer with us. We will eventually have many little turklings (I don't know what you call baby turkeys) running around. They have been fun to watch.
what else is new?....
snow to mud...blonde to auburn......I thought I'd see what life was like for a redhead! Going well.... Oh! EXCITING!! I got my port out last Thursday! What a big day that was! If I'd have known it was so pretty I would've had them leave it on the outside!

For those of you reading this that do not know me -can't imagine there would be anyone in that catagory- I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in November 2006. I just hasd all my 6 month checks and so far so good- I am still clear so I decided it was time to go that next step!!
The surgeon that I had was the best!! He is somewhat like Ron White only sober (I hope) Cracks me up!!! He assisted in my exploratory surgery, put my port in and then took it out. Of course I was out for the first two procedures but that last one made up for it!
Well sadly, that brings everything up to date. No quilting at the moment as I have been working a lot and then trying to help my mom get back into her flood damaged/repaired house.
Can't wait till May! I am ready to kick back and relax! My goal is to keep my posts more up to date. So goodbye for now, but never fear- I will be back! LOL!