Wow, has it really been that long?

     I enjoy blogging, I really do. But why does it take me so long to put a quick post up? I spend lots of time during the day thinking about what I can blog about, but can't seem to make it to my computer to type it in. It's not like it's difficult to do or anything. I think it all amounts to the fact that I spend as much time censoring my thoughts that I put on here. I read a lot of blogs, some happy and bouncy and some that are true life and make me think. I have been an war inside myself trying to figure out what direction that I want to take in my blog. I want to show my happiness, but I also want to show my life....the real one that isn't always rosey. I've been reading a book lately "Life is a Verb" by Patti Digh. This Patti lady is a talented writer. I love her wit and observations about life. I feel like I know her in a way and I have learned some tremendous lessons from this book. I wish I could write with as much clarity as she does. But I guess I'm taking the first step, I'm writing.
     So, with that, I plan on using this blog as a journey. A journey of learning, a journey of remembering, and a journey of documenting my life. One day my children might take a moment to read my private thoughts and have a better understanding of what kind of mother and person I really was. I fear that in my real life that I am too stoic. When in fact I'm a very warm and fuzzy kind of person. I take everything to heart, EVERYTHING. I have learned to keep a tough exterior and I can stay this with strong conviction, very few people "really know" me. Very few. I'm really trying to find a way to get a voice in my own life, to step out from behind the people that I am behind so that I can life the life I am meant to live. It's not a glamorous life I'm after, I want simiplier and happier times. I want to travel but not in comfort, I want to exist among the people I see. My whole life I have read about what my life looks like from the pages of the lives of others. I want to live mine now. I just cannot figure out how to merge my current life with that life. I guess we all struggle with that. How many of us are living the life that we truly want to live?
     With this blog, I plan on documenting books I'm reading and what thoughts they provoke, classes I'm taking and the interests I'm pursuing. I will also document my life changes as I move from a mother of six growing children to a mother of one growing child. My oldest five kids have either made or are making that leap from High School to College and then into Life. Those of you who know that transition know the new set of challenges that come with that! I'm hoping that I can be my own best friend and that I will be kind to myself if I don't live up to my own expectations. I hope you will all be forgiving as well. For now, I will promise myself to blog more and to let more thoughts see the light of day. Maybe then I will make those changes that I need to make!

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!