sad news...

     I've got sad news to report. We lost a chick this week. I think she got piled on by her sibs and probably suffocated. This is the first chick I've lost, she was black and one of the Americauna/Buffs. That brings my chick total to twelve now. I do better now that I did in the past when I lost a bird, I am learning that it happens sometimes and I try not to take it too personal. I know that while my hens are with me that they are living the good life with lots of attention and special treats. That makes me feel better. The others are doing great and are beginning to feather in. One chick in particular is starting to stand out from the others. He/She isn't the largest chick, isn't the prettiest colored chick and is actually rather plain looking. But everytime I put my hand into the brooder it always approaches me. I'm thinking this little chick could be an up and coming rooster....it's the only one who approaches me with curiosity. I'm hoping that it's a hen instead. I adore friendly hens! As for my three girls outside, they are doing great with all of the cold weather that we have had lately. I added fresh bedding today since they have been kicking so much against the door. I took them hot eggs and corn for breakfast this morning when it was only 17 degrees outside and they had already laid thier eggs for the day. They are good girls!
     I have also been working on a craft project this week. I saw this idea on the Nate Berkus Show. Instead of having a pigeon type of bird I decided on (what else?) Chickens! These pictures sit above my desk and I love looking up and seeing them everyday. I've never been all that crafty, but I like getting in touch with that side of me again!

oh I love these chickies!

Dinner is done, the freshly painted living room is getting a new curtain, and wall decor and now I can sit down with a little quiet for a minute. I just had to go check on the chicks. I don't normally wear hoodies, but it just so happens that today I am. I now have a pocket full of chicks making little adorable chick noises. We are bonding and they are content and sleeping with thier little heads peeping out from the sides of my sweat shirt pockets. Sometimes simple things can be so soothing!

hardworking girls



Miss Pancake posing by the rake

Miss Roxy digging through last years garden soil, I'm not
sure what she's going to find in there. Nothing grew in it!

 I thought I'd add a few recent pcitures from our recent warm winter day. The girls and kitties had a good time getting out and basking in the sun. They needed this day as much as me!









My girls looking for a snack










busy weekend!

     Bless thier little fuzzy butts...........my little chicks are here! I ended up coming home with more than the original ten chicks I had planned and instead I came home with thirteen. They are so tiny and so cute! So many different colors! They are so much smaller than the chicks that I got last March. I was pretty sure that my husband wouldn't mind (too much) a few extra chicks. I decided that since I was taking a straight run there would be a chance that I would get some males in the group, so taking thirteen seemed reasonable...and did I mention that they are so cute? I'm posting a few pictures of Gracie checking out the new babies, she is so intrigued but I'm not entirely always sure that she isn't wanting to have a little taste. 

I want to hold one and lick one...

sweet babies!

    











     Our weekend was busy, we (mostly my husband) painted my living room (again). It used to be a tan type color that NOT an inpiring color. We decided to stay with our current bright color theme a little bit country while livin' at the beach. I suppose that since we can't be at the beach, we are bringing it here! I love the new vibe it brings in. Now I have to get new wall art and sell off the old stuff!

     We also had our grandson visiting for the weekend. He is a busy little man I'll tell ya! I got up early to start painting on Saturday morning and right as my feet hit the floor at seven am, here he came. "Nana, I'm hungry". He noticed that I was wearing a bandana on my head and asked me why I was wearing it. I told him I had it on to not get paint in my hair. He said "No, you are wearing it because you are making me waffles and it's like the lady on the syrup bottle". I quickly thought to myself "I look like Aunt Jemima?" this is so not good! We took off from painting about at about two so I could take my youngest son to a birthday party at a waterpark. Perfect for wearing out a little boys energy! So, while I frolicked in the water with the little men, my husband and daughter finished up my living room (sweeties!)

Haircut!

Water fun!

     We also had dinner with some old friends and had them over to see some of the changes in the house. It will be hard leaving so many people that we've come to know when we move, but I'm so looking forward to new friendly faces in Florida! Have a great week everyone!

finding a bright spot

Today has been a typical day. Get up early, get kids to school, get myself to school. But I wasn't feeling it. Maybe it's the weather (cold, grey and cloudy). I'm thinking of brighter places, like Florida. I just need a change. A lot of things have changed my opinion of Ohio. As much as I love the state, with it's open fields and little farms. It's time for a change. I want sunshine, I want different faces, friendly faces. I dread staying here another year. Kids and commitments keep me here. I'm trying to stay upbeat and focus on all of the new things coming my way this year, like the ten new chicks I'm getting this weekend. A whole bunch of hodge-podge little mixed breeds. All of my favorite breeds just mixed together. Some black copper maran with Auracauna and a dash of sussex.....my kind of birds! I'm also getting ready to plan my new garden. I'm hoping for new and improved from last years flop of a garden, maybe even something my chickens will WANT to get into!

I hope chickens like sand. Because mine are coming with me. Just looking at this picture I can smell the ocean air and feel the sun on my skin. I'm hoping that I find like minded people in Florida, people who like chickens, farms and things that are just natural. I'm tired of school, tired of gloomy weather, tired of negativity.......bring on the sunshine!

so many blogs, so little time!

dear bloggers,
I love you all. I want to read you all. I'm trying very hard to keep up with you while also trying to create my own little spot in the blogging garden. I want to take beautiful pictures and write witty words. I want to can my food, grow a bigger garden and post creative ideas. I feel like I've come to a party late and that I'm trying to make my rounds and learn everyone's name (which I'm not good at anyway). I'm just going to have to go with the old phrase "Better late than never". So far, I'm enjoying this stage of the game and I'm also learning that I'm a bit more of a perfectionist than I thought I was. Should it really take me over an hour to type a post? I have many grand ideas but lack the ability to get them on my screen. Hopefully that will come with time!

Painting continues..

     Hi again! We have finally tackled and repainted the kitchen. I will try to get some before shots to go along with the after pictures. We painted for over 8 hours, that included the repairs we had to make to the chair railing that the previous owners put up. They must have used some sort of NASA wallpaper glue to adhere the wallpaper to the wall underneath the railing. After loosing all of my nail polish and most of my patience we now have beautiful results. My husband, the resident decorator, chose the color. I think he did a fine job! Even though we just went through a winter sleet storm here in Ohio, my house feels warm and cozy. I found some cute things at a local thrift store to decorate with. I love old things and like the country feel they bring! I included pictures of those treasures too!

      It's very cold here today and while I dread the walk to check on the girls, it's necessary! They have a heat lamp in their coop and it's gotten them through some radical cold temps so far this year but I need to make sure it's keeping up from this cold front. For only having three hens, they are keeping us caught up on eggs though, the little dears are putting out at least two eggs a day still!  Love their little chicken hearts! I found some fresh corn on the cob at the grocery store and bought some for them to play with. I also gave them a head of fresh lettuce to tear apart (an idea I found on some one's blog). I want to keep them busy since they haven't gotten out of the coop in a couple of days. I'm making plans for the next group of chickens. We are expanding our flock, even if we move they are coming with us. Won't that be a funny sight, a moving truck with a car on back, and a truck with a camper full with chickens. I'm not sure where the dogs and cats will be but it's sure to be a sight! Many exciting things are coming my way! We don't plan to take a lot of furniture with us, what we don't sell, we will divide among our older kids.

Kitchen "after"

Sink Area

Microwave area

Gravy boat

Old canning jar

Last but not least, my 1914 Calender wall picture. I found the frame at the same store and it hides the picture imperfections around the edges perfectly. Love this!