Chicken Update

The girls were finally moved into their pen last week. They weren't certain of what to make of all the space available to them. The pen is 10' x 22' so it seems huge to four pullets.

The first picture is of my neighbor Nicholas holding Cicely (Red Star). The middle one is Rosemary (Red Star) and Marguerite (Buff Orpington). All four of them enjoy scratching out the grit onto the grass. The last photo is Cicely and Tansy (Buff Orpington). We hope to get some better shots soon. The girls were distracted by the company and didn't want to pose. =)

I appreciate all the time and effort my Daddy spent helping me to make a nice home for the girls.

It's been A While ...

.... since I last posted. A lot has happened in the last two weeks.

June 4th & 5th Angela and I vended at the Hoosiers Hills Fiber Arts Festival. No photos. =( We called this our "nursing home" set up. She had pleurisy and two cracked ribs. I have pinched nerves in my neck and my usual aches and pains. We decided this booth was definitely not photo worthy!

It was not a very busy show. We made some money but I think the best part was making new contacts. We were invited to participate in a three day quilt show next March at Rising Sun, Indiana. The show is held in a casino so that should be interesting. Our sister Debbie has begun saving her nickels and quarters for the trip. (wink)

This upcoming show has motivated me to try my hand at fabric dyeing. It is something I have always wanted to try but have never gotten around to doing. Plus, Nicholas, my 14 yo neighbor across the street, and I are going to play with Shibori. It will be my first time dyeing with indigo ... can't wait!

Angela and I went to the Midwest Eye Institute on June 7th. Her neurosurgeon wanted her to see a neuro-ophthalmologist in case the pituitary tumor was putting pressure on her optic nerve. After many hours of testing the doctor reported no pressure on the nerve and said the surgery was a go.

Now we wait to hear from the surgeon when she is scheduled for brain surgery. This is a very big deal and as always we covet prayers.

Daddy and I have spent two of my days off putting together a chicken run for the girls. While making the hoops that will support the netting to cover the run I commented now that we know how to assemble hoops we could make a hoop house to cover my little walled garden. I got "the look". You know the one ... that "Are you crazy??" look. LOL I suspect Nicholas and I will be making the hoop house. =)

We are celebrating Father's Day this afternoon and Mom just called to tell me she and Daddy haven't had electricity since 4:00 a.m this morning. We had some wicked storms last night. (sigh) Hope we can sit outside under the maple tree and catch a breeze or two!

Have to pick up a loaf of bread for Mom so I had better get a wiggle on.

Oh Wow! Look at What I Won!!

I'm so excited! I entered a giveaway to win this book on the Backyard Farming blog and won.

Here is a description of the book from Amazon.

"Swap the annuals for edibles, creating attractive beds and containers that both beautify the yard and provide a bounty of fresh produce

As a trained chef-turned-professional kitchen garden designer, Marta Teegen knows what a difference freshly harvested vegetables can make to a meal—and how easy it is to ensure seasonal vegetables are always available when you need them.

You'll find more than 40 top picks for small-space vegetables that yield big and are trouble-free, plus a variety of menus and 50 recipes for fresh and delicious summer dishes."

The book looks very good and I can't wait to read it. I appreciate the folks at Backyard Farming for offering the book. They have a great blog!

What's been going on lately .....

The last few weeks have been a mixed bag of life.

May 12th-16th Angela and I went to quilt retreat. This retreat came about through the Back Porch Friends, a Yahoo group Angela started several years ago. Ladies come from all over the country, and usually our friend Michelle from Canada also attends, to visit and sew together. We have been doing this for several years and enjoy it very much.

I'm the only non-quilter who attended this time. Usually our sister Debbie comes with us but Marjorie Melvin, Deb's mother-in-law passed away on May 8th and Bill Melvin, her father-in-law, was nearing the end of his time on earth.

Sunday, May 16th, our uncle Jerry Myers passed away. The morning of May 17th Debbie called to tell me Bill had died a little after midnight. Margie was 85 and Bill was 91. David, my brother in law, lost both his parents in eight days. We attended their double funeral on Thursday and funeral visitation for our uncle on Wednesday evening. It's been a very difficult time and I ask you to please keep Deb, David and their daughter Hillary in your prayers.

Saturday, May 22nd, was the opening day for the Orleans Farmers Market Angela and I are vending there this season. We were pretty pleased with our sales. Ange sold several of her sweet crocheted baby hats and a few little felted bags. I sold a few pairs of earrings. Next weekend I will have hand dyed yarns and soaps to offer too. I have to work at the Library that Saturday but Angela will be there with either Mark or Heather.

I will be probably attending the market solo after next month, unless I can talk Miss Heather into going with me. Angela will be having surgery to remove a brain tumor in a month or so and will be recuperating the rest of the summer. We covet prayers for her surgery and recovery.

Sunny Visits the Library

It was take your bunny to work day for Miss Sunny and I. My coworkers at the Library have been after me to bring her in for a little show and tell. Sunny was nervous but still did very well. Staff and customers all ooohed and aaahed over her. Some of the customers didn't believe she was real until they were close enough to see her nose twitch. =) None of her admirers had seen a blue eyed bunny before and thought she was very unique.

Hoosier Hills Fiberarts Festival

Angela and I will be first time vendors at the Fiberarts Festival in Franklin, Indiana in early June. This is the 6th year for this festival and there seem to be several vendors lined up to attend. Please stop by and visit if you are in the area.

Chickie Bums or We Are Growing Up

The chicks are growing like crazy. The Red Stars are getting into the gawky stage .. not quite chick, not quite chicken. The Buff Orpingtons are a little younger than the Red Stars so they are still looking more like chicks. I've included a picture of my niece Heather holding Marguerite, one of the Buff Orpingtons. See how she is feathering out and getting lil tail feathers on her booty? She is named for Golden Marguerite also called Dyer's Chamomile. I've decided to go with herb names for the chickens. The other BO chick is Tansy and the Red Stars I am keeping are Rosemary and Cicely or Sweet Cicely.

The chicks are so much fun. At first whenever I introduced some new food item to their brooder box they acted as though I was trying to poison them! They have pretty much gotten over that and will jump into the the loose hay I give them like little children jumping into a pile of leaves. They are now showing an adult behavior by doing the little scratchy thing with their feet to get the seeds that fall from the hay. Very cute. =)

I will be going to a Retreat in a few weeks and plan to pop them in their coop if everything goes right with the weather and their progress. If they have the heat lamp and I block the wind on the front of the coop door I think they will be okay.

Wishing you all a blessed week.