SUNDAY MORNINGS!!

 This is what I saw as I stood on my back porch Sunday morning, Edd's arms around my waist ,hot coffee steaming in my fave mug,the sound of baby chicks peeping in the background. pretty isn't she? Her mate had just flown back to their nest with more bedding materials when Edd handed me the camera. We got a few glorious minutes (about 45) sans children to enjoy the solituted of our little Eden ,while they slept off the riotous game of "LIFE" from the nite before. Apparently it went on until well after 2 am, I went to bed before midnite to the squeals of laughter and good natured ribbing.

                                                The kids finally started to wake around 11 AM, so I made cinnamon toast and market bacon for them and we started work on the chicken coop renovations. Today was the BIG DAY for the Bantams(mini chickens),today they go outside to stay. Edd and I got started on removing the tin roof so that additions could be added to extend it out further to cover the Bantams coop. Bantams fully grown take up 1/10th the room of a full sized chicken so their living space is considerably smaller but must be twice as secure due their dimunitive size. Kieren & Dawson picked up the yard and sorted the recycling while we did this and Layla baked some delicious spicy chocolate cupcakes for later. Dawson decided to help with renovations and ended up getting "cooped up" himself.  After putting in a good 5 hrs of solid work, the coop almost done, Edd and the 3 youngest children decided to make "skateboards" out of our scraps of wood. This was pretty damned creative and entertaining as well. I have been very impressed the past several weeks watching the children develop playthhings and activities with their imaginations instead of store bought items. Continued proof that we have made the right choices thus far.

 Our treat for such hard work was home made ice cream from the antique ice cream crank we own and Layla's spicy chocolate cupcakes.Everyone too a turn cranking and by the time our elbows were ready to snap off and the drooling had begun from the rich vanilla bean scent in the air, it was ready! Oh my gosh, it tasted just like I remembered from my childhood. The moment the first bit melted onto my tongue I  could hear my Grandfather calling myself and the cousins to," grab a bowl and a spoon before it melts!".  This is what life is supposed to be like,yes-Edd worked hard all day on his day off-but he didn't mind. He was satisfied at the end of the day. Theres a difference in working all day to get a paycheck and working all day to accomplish something.

                                                           The garden is doing so well! I posted a picture of our first tiny tomato & our Millpa (corn & bean combo technique. Chickens are stalking it but haven't figured out how to get in. LOL.. undoubtedly they will -but that is another day, another drama. On a side note, Ead some very valuable info today on building baled straw homes w/ living roofs. A two story, 3500 SF home would only cost around $6000 and be energy efficient and eco friendly as well as attractive. You can check out this info  in THE NEW PIONEER MAGAZINE. Lots of info on becoming self-sufficient & minimizing to maximize. Highly recommend it.

                                                            Purchased 6 Sicilian Buttercups last week & lost one yesterday. it was sad and admittedly made me a lil sullen for awhile-but inevitably some will be lost. Edd buried it on the fence line next to the duck I murdered and the peep hank killed. Starting a cemetary here, I swear. Wednesday/Thursday we will be making our final chicken order this season- 50 total-Phoenix,Lakenvelder and Cocchins.Chick season will be over in 2 weeks and I am still trying to get Edd his rooster he so adamently wanted. Today I must fell at least 2 more trees for posts for the additions we will have to build to house them all. Everyone is comfy now, but as they grow (and they do-rapidly) they will get crowded and fight,resulting in injury and death which tho, sad is a greater financial loss to us than emotional. I still don't have the money for the electric bill, but I got an extension til May 13th so I got time to figure that out. Right now I got food for a month in the pantry, a full tank of gas, beautiful children that I am proud of ,a husband who adores me and good friends to uplift me and remind why I am here. God is good, Life can be very good if you just slow down,re-evaluate your WANTS versus your NEEDS and let that list be your guide. Your wants get simpler as your needs get met. 

<---BEFORE ADDITIONS

AFTER ADDITIONS-->

now there is room for bunnies under the ledge on the right and the older hens have a roosting area to themselves on the left. Ducks go down below and laying boxes on the top left(hinged door).ALL FREE!