It's an Eggs-cellent Day!

Red Star Egg

I am hanging out at Angela's house sick. Low grade fever, wicked sore throat that is trying to go into my ears, body aches and a headache too. I'm on the computer so I will stay awake until I can go to the pharmacy to pick up my prescriptions. After all of that misery you may be wondering why I think it is such a good day.

This is a day that the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it!

Yep some days you just need to get up and believe. Otherwise you will end up wallowing in your misery.

Oh the photo of the egg? It is one I found in the nest box this morning. It is bigger than an early pullet egg but not the jumbo size they will eventually become. Another reason to be happy and do a lil rejoicing ... the eggs are coming on so Yay!

He Is Risen!

The Glorious Easter Exchange
Lord, the condemnation was yours, that the justification might be mine.
The agony was yours, that the victory might be mine.
The pain was yours, and the ease mine.
The stripes were yours, and the healing balm issuing from them mine.
The vinegar and gall were yours, that the honey and sweet might be mine.
The curse was yours, that the blessing might be mine.
The crown of thorns was yours, that the crown of glory might be mine.
The death was yours, the life purchased by it mine.
You paid the price, that I might enjoy the inheritance.

 John Flavel’s (1671)

Wishing everyone Easter blessings!!

P.S. Have to make my Easter post a little early as I do not think I will have internet access until Tuesday.

A Hard Working Man

Our Daddy will be 78 on September 16th and is one of the most hardworking individuals I know. He's a dab hand at most anything he turns his hand to and is willing to try building most anything we can come up with ... if we give him a drawing to go by.

My sisters and I are blessed to have a Daddy who helps us when ever he can and as much as he is able.I thank him every time he leaves my farm for his help.

P. S.
It was raining this morning so I was unable to get updated photos of the work on the new hen house. My nephew-in-law Ivan will be putting the roof on it soon. Daddy and I have the siding on and one window cut out. Next we will be making a screen door and exterior door. We are using hardware cloth instead of screening for the windows and screen door for strength and durability.

The weather forecast is bad for the Plains states today and tomorrow. We, the Midwest, are suppose to get it early next week. So batten down the hatches and stay safe where ever you live!

Groundhogs, Robins and a Birthday.

Groundhog's Day was my Mom's 73 rd birthday. We waited until the 5th to celebrate with lunch at her favorite restaurant, the Asian Pearl. Lunch was followed by dessert and pressies at Angela's house. Mom had gifted Angela with the cupcake stand so she filled it with pretty lil cupcakes for our dessert. Notice the single candle on the topmost cupcake .. Jaidy "helped" her granny blow out the flame. That was her cupcake. Jaidy likes her a good cuppy cake. =)

My sisters and I are very blessed to still have our Mom and Daddy with us.

As I was going to the car I saw my first robin of the year. Poor bird. It is still freakishly cold here in southern Indiana. According to the official groundhog we are suppose to have an early Spring. I so hope he is right!

Happy Birthday to My Sister

Today is my sister Angela's birthday. Although I am frequently treated as the youngest Angela is actually the "baby" of the family. =)

Wishing you many blessings on your birthday Angela!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm giving thanks for all my many blessings.

He's Alive!!!

Hallaluja He is Risen!

Wishing everyone a blessed Easter!

~ Penny ~

The Secret is Out!

I spoke to Daddy yesterday and he agreed to make me a bunny hutch. =) First he tried to talk me out of getting a bunny but then he said yes. So yay a bunny is coming to The Black Sheep Cottage! My dad is such a blessing to me.

I found hutch plans online, there are shingles left over from my roof, so we need to buy wire and wood, then the fun begins. If possible I would like to have a vermiculture setup under the hutch. This will require a little more research but I see it as very doable if set up properly.

We are under another tornado watch this afternoon and evening but there is a strong chance of snow showers tomorrow ... go figure.

~ Penny ~

We Survived!

Taught my class this afternoon and it was all good. My student was a sweet lady and seemed to enjoy herself. I was blessed by Stephen, a library customer and the fellow who taught Angela to needle tat, when he carried in my microwave then returned at 3:00 to carry the thing back out to the car. I really appreciated his help!

Just picked up a new book at work "Fresh Food From Small Spaces". The book looks good. It's about year-round growing, fermenting and sprouting. I have recently requested a couple more books "The Urban Homestead: Your Guide to Self-sufficient Living in the Heart of the City" by Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen. The second one is "Made from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life" by Jenna Woginrich. I thought both books sounded interesting.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

~ Penny ~

Weather Report from Indiana

We have been having crazy weather so far this March. Temps ranging from the high 20s to the high 70s, two tornado touchdowns, I'm expecting another hurricane anytime now ... remember Ike. We didn't get the precipitation but we certainly got the wind from that one!

One tornado took the homes of two of our extended family. If you saw a photo of a a school bus upside down on what was left of a home that bus and house belonged to Daddy's cousin! The other tornado damaged the home of a classmate of my niece Heather. The good thing is we are blessed with no being hurt.

My day is almost over. I'm going to offer to walk my furry nephew Toby then head to the house. Hope everyone has a good evening!

~ Penny ~