{someday}

this may be funny.

but, not today.

at the office yesterday, i commented to everyone

that i was running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

and, then, i saw their faces freeze and mouths drop.

and, then the tears sprung.

again.

{devastating farm day}

I went face to face with a huge bobcat hiding
in my  coop this morning.

That was after he slaughtered 19 of my chickens.

{spring, anyone?}

I have ALOT to write about. 

But, still  so many things to get completed
before Monday.

So, I will be back to visit some VERY important

occurrences, Christmas, Christmas Eve, etc, etc. 

but, for today.  The only thing worth documenting

that was any fun at all........

The spring chicks are ordered.

So many pretty ones.

Maybe it was this beautiful weather?

Shipping Date:  2/20/12.

Now, I am back to the not so fun stuff!

{which is more painful}

Evan and I check for eggs several times a day.

He and I have completely enjoyed the entire process of the chickens.

Is it bad that they know me by name at Atwood's?  They say

I have spoiled chickens.   Maybe??  

I went and peeked earlier this morning as on weekends we

gather in the morning and evening because he just can't stand it.  I spied

3 in one spot, one dropped in the doorway of the coop and a new

one sitting who looked scared out of her mind.  Can't say I don't blame her.

I quietly closed the door and returned to the house and left her in privacy. 

 I reported everything to Evan. He of course wanted to go gather, but

I reminded him how scared this new mom was and we needed

 to give her some time alone.

His reply, "Oh, I can imagine her face being scared.  It probably looks

just like mine when I sit down to AR test.  That scares me to death!!"

Funny Boy!

    

{get your cartons ready}

we are getting about 35-40+ per week.

So fun, it's Easter every day! 

{o' happy day!}

{it is pink, see addendum below}

we have our first {golden} egg!!

not sure which chick gets the credit though.

and, our nest boxes are still not finished as i thought we

were at least a month or two away.  i barely spied it in

the corner of the coop. 

it's pretty tiny.  i hope they get bigger as they go.  or

else it may take 30 eggs for an omelet.

but, yippee! 

 lots of work went into this egg.

and, not just from the mama hen. 

addendum:  oh, you can't tell from the picture because I
put a wash over it.  but, the egg is pink.  a very pale pink.
so, i've narrowed it down to one of the four "easter eggers."



{have i lost my mind?}

okay.  i really don't want you to answer that.

but, i've been entertaining the thought that maybe......

just maybe....

molly needs a playmate.

crazy thing is.....yesterday, we finally found a sweet kitten for evan.

he is bouncing off the walls as she won't be ready to be

picked up for a week or two.

but, i also can't get little bella above off my mind.

you know, it's not like i don't have enough to do?

the chickens alone are keeping me very occupied in this heat.

they know me very well at atwoods.

who knew i would have to make a mad dash for electrolytes.

again.

but, in my everyday chaos of just "everything"

sweet little molly, who is snoring at my feet

as i type this, just always seems to calm me down. 

much less expensive than therapy!!  



{my day}

just so i can remember my crazy, busy days.

someday, i know i'm going to want them back.

so, this one is just for me, myself & i.  

*up, shower {should have washed the hair,

did not wash the hair.  ponytail.}

*order sent in.  pesky internet gave me fits.

*kids & scott up - ready to leave.

*scott to ot for an hour.

*kids & i to mc'ds for breakfast and reading

*picked scott up.

*md for me

*dropped scott off at farm.

*home. lunch cooked for hayfield. ha!

*put out a few email fires.

*lunch to hayfield.  boys dropped off at farm.

*home, packaged up orders/invoiced.

*put out more email fires.

*back to FS to make two deliveries.

*to store for 3 bags of ice, water and soda for hayfield.

*to farmhouse to drop 2 bags of ice into freezer, other drop to hayfield.

*collected boys.

*to mansfield to purchase supper for hayfield.

*delivered supper to 3 different spot on farm.

*allowed evan 10 minutes to "try " and play with kittens. 

*home.

*tended to chickens.

*mowed until dark.

*boys ready for night.

*zombied-out on couch for about 30 minutes.

*presently editing.

today was not the best day to log my day.

but, it was reality.

i'm ready for some summer fun!

{a peek}

 I have a lot of important things to blog about, but, I wanted to start with one

I didn't have to "think" or get emotional about.  Of course, the chickens and

the garden.  I only wish the boys were here as they spend time with the 

chicks every evening.  They are getting used to E's loving! ha!  This is their

temporary run.  They will need a bigger space before long, but for now, this one

was quick and easy.  Notice I still have to paint and finish up the coop.  Is anything

ever completed around here??? 

They have grown!!! 

Everytime  they see me coming, they go nuts.  They know now that I typically

have the outgoings of the garden in hand.  A huge supplement to their feed.  And, 

because I refuse to use pesticides, still keeping it all organic. 

They LOVE radishes!  Cheap and easy!  

 Here is my favorite banny rooster.  So sweet! And, I love to hear him crow.  He is

doing better with it! ha! 

 Yes, I have very talented chickens.   

 The little white/gray one is E's favorite....Small Fry.  I am shocked that she made it!  She was so tiny and lifeless in her early days!  She is very shy.  It's sweet.

The garden is coming slowly, but surely.  Weeds and all. :)  If this rain would just stop for a bit. 



{the culprit}

It was a skunk that ate my baby chickens that were still in the garage.

That same skunk....had her babies in my garage and

is refusing to be evicted. 

Really??

{tucking in for the night}

ALOT of activity around here tonight.

My session wanted to wait due to the rain that moved through.  She didn't think

her two year old would be too fond of the mud; or maybe he would? So, we

rescheduled that. 

Yesterday, I tried to make a quick sweep around the yard to mow. It didn't last long

as I got BARB-WIRE wrapped around the blades.  Not a good thing.  A friend here

tonight to work on that.

After a little research, decided to move the chicks to their nice abode. 

They are HAPPY chicks!   They are not sure what to do with all of that

room, so after they checked it out for a bit, they do what they've been

doing for weeks now.........snuggled.  So sweet.  Their sounds are changing and 

when I went back to refill their water, they were all nestled together almost purring. 

Then one, tried to fly out! 

I know I warned myself not to name them.  But, it's hard not to.  The one below with the hair on top all crazy is Phyllis.  She reminds me of someone. ;)

 The black one below is one of my very favorites, a bantam black silkie.  I'm thinking he may be a rooster though?

 They were actually being pretty polite around the water bowl.

 Our one and only Rhode Island Red.

Oh, and we had a little rip sticking going on in the middle of everything. 

Notice the ferns! 

It's always a happy, happy day the day I bring those home every year.

You can see that the coop is a little down hill.  However, the big tractor next to

it gives a better perspective on its size. 

These ferns are HUGE!! {southerlands}

And, I finally replaced the dead mums.  I went pink this year. 

{Coop, Day 2}



The carpenter is about finished - a few things to tweak on the nesting boxes that come out of the back of the coop. {so I can just raise the lid and collect the eggs from the outside}  Painting and hardware to be added.  I was soooooooo looking forward to moving them out there this evening, but Scott wants to put linoleum down first to make clean up easier.  

One.More.Day til Moving Day! 

{block me}

I know you are sick of my chicken chronicles. 

But, for the sake of remembering. 

Here is day 1 of the coop project.  

I hate that the picture of course, does not do justice. 

It looks so much different even though it is in it's early stages.

Tomorrow it should have walls, the window, door, stairs, shingles  and the nesting boxes.

Saturday, I paint.

And, it's not crooked. 

I was.

{sigh}

I just peeked out the window again.

I had tears.

There is no doubt if Scott is having a chicken coop

like this built for me.......the man loves me. 

A. LOT.

The chickens.....well, he could care less.

But, he knows it's something the boys and I care about.

So, he cares about it. 

I am pretty much overwhelmed at this point.

And, very, very grateful.



{wow}

I keep peeking out the window.

I'm dying to take a picture, but, I'm afraid it would scare the man away.

He doesn't know me. 

But, the coop is turning out so sweet!

Scott drew it out for him and although I was fine with

plain jane, just secure....he knew I probably wanted a little more.

Well, it is complete {well, not complete yet} with a dormer and

everything.  A different design than Angela's little mansion, but

I am loving it!  And, since you can see it from the house, it

will blend in well.   The 'girls' will be so, so happy

to get out there, they are very cramped. :(  Unfortunately,

he cannot finish it today as his two helpers called in sick.

He plans to be back tomorrow, I hope the weather holds out!!

{recharged & ready}

I found my garden hat today. 

You know, it's all about sun protection.

And, let me tell you...........this hat has a very nice brim. 

but, an even nicer bow. 

After I attempted Pioneer Woman's biscuits with two key ingredients MIA - we

shoveled our supper down and headed outside.   The boys played, I planted & watered and poor Scott got the hay twine cut off of the tiller.   I took a break from this desk

and am simply planning on a very long night.  My coffee will be brewing very soon.

But, it was soooooooooo nice to be back out there.  My first evening since well before my surgery. The neglect was very evident.  But, I'm hoping to get it back up to speed very fast.     

But, I did get the strawberries conquered, covered in straw and recovered in netting. 

 I.LOST.A LOT.   {sniff, sniff}

I planted my green beans over my cute little fence-arch.  I hope it turns out the way

I have it envisioned.  We shall see?  I planted my flat of snapdragons.  So pretty!  A few marigolds.    Tomorrow I may try and sneak my peppers in at some point during the day before I head to the office.   And, I have a ton of tomatoes to plant.  Then from seed within the next week I'm hoping to get the rest of my peas, squash and cucumbers along with more zinnias and marigolds.   Have I told you lately that I am way past ready for summer. 

I kept thinking tonight of the only thing I'm really afraid we will miss so much......baseball.   But, when I get tired of working in the garden, I'm thinking we will just head up the hill for some.... slushies. :)   

Here is a peak of the girls.  Well, with probably 3 little roosters in there somewhere I'm afraid. Since my last update, we lost three when I was working in the office last week.  Scott is officially refusing chicken duty from this point on.  And, of course, two were the latest ones I FINALLY found in Poteau.  So, I'm down to two of those.  My chicken seeking days are over.  There is too much of an age difference {a mere three weeks} now...incorporating into the flock is a bit risky now.  We have ended up with 24.  I think?  They move so fast I can barely count them. 

The boys are calling them teenagers now.  It's amazing how fast they change.



Still cute though.   The coop building project has never really gotten off the ground.

And, with the chicks now getting off the ground to the point I am afraid they are going to fly up and over, they need a home.   But, Scott has had a super-rough time as of late.  So, we have a man who will now be building my little chicken coop.

Why do my little innocent projects turn into something MUCH bigger pretty much 99.8% of the time??  These chickens will need to lay golden eggs by the time all of this is said and done. 

{the girls}

The flock is complete, I think.

I finally got my Silver Laced Wyandotte's today. 

And, finally a Barred Plymouth Rock.  By accident really.

Thankful for that accident finally.  Today's chicken people did not

know chickens.  

 We have full sized and bantam black silkies.

 And, either gray or blue, not sure yet.

 The sweet Buffs.

 And, the Ameracauna, otherwise known as Easter Eggers -

blue, green and sometimes pink eggs. 

 Rhone Island Reds.

We have some two crested and I'm sure we have some

surprises out there as well.

We have a total of 28.  The big coop is under construction. 

This morning we lost the little one that hurt its foot in transit

last Friday.  I had a little boy who cried his heart out. And,

a mommy who sat and held him tight and choked back the tears.