Day 31

We got back from Philly, checked on our chicks, and we had chickens instead!

Their colour has mostly come in now, they are beginning to make Chicken sounds instead of just cheeping.
They also fly up like helicopters when spooked, by say, the flash of a camera.
Three of them go outside next weekend and three of them go to a new home in Durham. I can't pick which three, I love them all

Things I have learned:

1. Chickens poo a lot - I thought I knew how much they pooed, I was mistaken! As they grow they poo more.
2. Toby becomes braver as they do, he wanted to pick one up today then backed off at the last minute. The chicken was quite content.
3. They eat and drink copious amounts now that they are getting older and very shortly I shall need something more than plastic to house their nutritional needs.

The Streets of Philadelphia

This weekend we went to visit Husby's brother and his wife in Philadelphia. It was Toby's first big road trip, and for a boy who hates being in the car, it was a big deal. He did great however. Chatted all the way down and read "Good Night Philadelphia" all the way home.

Most importantly I got to see this...
... and this ....

... and do this...
Oh yeah Rocky!

Here we go gathering

What to do when husby works two jobs to pay the mortgage, you only have one car, and you need to get to the farm stand to buy plants before Toby goes to bed?

Saddle up Mummy!

More planting adventures to come...

Day twenty five

Well the chickens are almost five weeks old now, soon Husby will be constructing their coop and they shall be going outside. None too soon either. Yesterday morning they dismantled their feeder into three pieces, not surprising, it was pretty empty and therefore very light. Last night, when I cleaned them out a bit, I filled it with new food. Twenty minutes later the feed was all over the box and the feeder was in three pieces again. Woke up this morning to one sleeping inside it, think she's ready to nest!

Our neighbors down the street, Matt and Dale, gave us some of their fresh eggs as we walked by. Their chickens are well established and each one is now producing four eggs a day! Four eggs a day! They can't quite keep up witht he consumption. It's nice to be reminded of what we're working for. Trouble is, three of the chickens are going to be leaving us and now I want to keep all six!!!
Things I have learned:

1. They actually don't stay cute chicks for very long, if you want to keep chicks you need to hatch eggs so you get maximum fluffy time.
2. They begin to eat at an alarming rate at about four weeks old.
3. I need some new egg recipes for next year!

Gardening in Maine - Phase 4 - Step 1

Let me start by saying that I am not a gardener :)

For the past few years we have had a raised bed. In our first year, we planted one or two things but mostly just waited to see what came up, we were pleasantly surprised with a small crop. The next year I dabbled and enjoyed peas and tomatoes but little else. Last year I went nuts, buying far more plants than would fit into our little box. The plants that were appropriately spaced grew well, and were then eaten by the deer. The plants that were thrown in together did not do well, and were then eaten by the deer.

Last year when Husby rented a back hoe to install a new sump pump and pipe, he also dug up a garden. It's quite large. I'm guessing about 20 ft by 15 ft. Somehow in the past two weeks of rain he has managed to finish digging it over, relocate the turf, and sift through a foot of rocks - we have very rocky land.

Last night he fenced it in and tonight he makes a door. Ha ha! Try and eat my lettuce now Bambi.

I may or may not get to buy and plant my veggies tonight (I do not do well with seeds), we'll see if that sliver of blue sky I see is just an illusion. I did already buy Husby a few more Rhubarb crowns. The $16 plant we bought has mostly died off, these at $1.75 a piece are very healthy, let's see if I can kill them!

Home Handyman

I have a very handy Husby. He is a Handyman. My Handyman has many books collected over the years that help him raise handiness to an art form. Books such as these from the sixties.

They contain all kinds of useful information but Husby decided that he wouldn't ever actually use them, so into the craft pile to be cut up they went. Most of the information he needs comes straight from his dad or from the internet now and these are pretty dated. I had a quick shufty tonight to see what was actually in them.

I see Steve Jobs must have gotten his inspiration for the I-pod from here...
There were however some useful pages within. We've been meaning to compost since we bought the house but haven't yet. This gives 5 ways of building a composter instead of buying the plastic one they sell at the town hall, much more in keeping with the spirit of the thing I think.
Then there's stuff like this, I've seen Husby do this before so obviously some of the information is still valid. Though Husby is one of few who wouldn't just run to Lowe's for a new fork!
And of course this is what I should be doing while Husby is being handy - ah the swinging sixties.
Yup, ten minutes with these books and I decided to keep them for myself! I can never get rid of a book!

Day nineteen

What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours. My Rhode Island Reds are rapidly becoming more suited to their name and losing their yellowy hue.

They are also not big fans of getting back into the smaller box while I clean the big box - sucks to be them. I looked over to see three heads poking out of the side!
More things I have learned:

1. Water dishes will be full of wood shavings after five minutes in the box, don't worry, they'll drink anyway!
2. They don't like the gate being moved now - must be a security blanket at this point. Interesting.
3. They do not like having their home shaken by an angry toddler.

Day eighteen

The chickens are finally caged in! Bless my father for breaking two baby gates on one trip, leaving us with many useless pieces - useless no more! After a weekend test to make sure the mesh (plastic) didn't overheat, smell, or give them sunburn, the cage is here to stay!

The mad cleaning frenzy I partook in this weekend also means that I get to move the chickens to a new location, allows for more toddler traffic, he likes the mesh less than they do.
More things I have learned:

1. They are smart - they know who caged them in and are mad at me.
2. They are smart - they know when the mesh is gone for two minutes and will fly out.
3. Dr Alan Grant was right - this is what Raptors evolved into!

Handmade Home

I've mentioned Soule Mama before, I've even done a project she recommended, however, I have taken this book out from the library three times now and made nothing from it.

Some of it's a little hippy-ish for me. We didn't cloth diaper so I'm certainly not going to make my own version of Always out of leftover shirts. Ahem. Nevertheless there are a few projects I've been eyeing up; a hot water bottle cover for Toby made out of one of Husby's shirts, it's a Daddy cosy; and bath mats made out of old towels and sheets. You can just throw them in the washer and dryer. I'm assuming that once I have a teenage boy in the house I will appreciate the ability to have a new bath mat every day.

So tonight I took an hour and did it. It had nothing to do with the fact that I have reached my maximum number of renewals at the library and the book was due back today!

So I took some stuff...
... and a temperamental machine...
... followed some simple instructions...
... swore both at the machine and never to do this project again...
... but fell in love with the finished project...


Seriously though. It only took an hour from start to finish, is a wonderful finished product (though it looks ugly for 97% of the construction time), was easy enough and will be so handy to have around.

I have some Batman flannel, maybe that's the next project!

Day Sixteen

Sitting atop the feeder seems to represent the holder of power in the chicken box now. On Saturday they collectively managed to knock the whole thing over and feasted into the wee small hours.

Things I have learned:

1. Don't watch a Zombie show with chickens in the house - they make disturbing noises
2. They will call for each other when you remove one from the box
3. They are extremely strong

Day Thirteen

So what could be worse than coming home to five chickens in a box?

Coming home to a chicken perching on the box, putting her in the box, THEN realising there are only five chickens in the box! We found one nestled between the bag of wood shavings and the wall. Silly birds!

New things I have learned.

1. You really should have a bigger enclosure for them once they fly.
   
2. You shouldn't put off giving them a bigger enclosure once they fly.
   
3. You should never agree that these are your chickens, not family chickens.

Day twelve

Yesterday I came home and went to check on the chickens, as has now become my norm, and found a curious sight.

Five chickens. That's right, five chickens. This might not be unusual in other chicken rearing households, but this household has six chickens, so finding five in a box wasn't exactly the best thing. After flapping my arms and squawking for a few minutes I found her carefully snuggled up to the outside of the box, next to the heat lamp, absolutely surrounded by a sea of poo.

The girls are getting much older now, five of them have a decent amount of adult feathers and can easily fly the coop, as it were.

This morning I had to put two of them back in the box as they were perched on the side of the box! I dread to think what we will come home to tonight. Priscilla is still small and has only today started showing signs of adult wings about to come in.

Toby still loves them but isn't as keen on having them on his lap anymore.

Things I continue to learn about chickens:

1. They really can fly
2. They like to eat cardboard
3. They like to bully each other

Fantastic Mr Fox

Well here he is - Fantastic Mr Fox...

I'll review the book as a whole at some point this week but for now here's your chance. This little 5 inch fox is looking for a home. So if you are not inclined to make one yourself or just like the look of this little guy, he could be coming home with you. He sports safety eyes that are rated for a three year old. We let Toby (at 18 months) play with these guys supervised but only let him have the ones with crocheted eyes when we're not around.

Just make sure you follow my blog and leave a comment on this post. It's as simple as that. If you can't leave a comment (I've been having difficulties) then just shoot me an email. I'll keep it open till Friday the 13th (insert Jaws music here).

Here's hoping the blog Karma kicks in and I win that free Ipad now.

Happy Mother's Day!

I loved my Mum

Then I married and loved my Mother in Law

Then I became a Mother

and am loved.

Mother's Day Ideas - Day #4

Anything from Paperchase - especially their kitchen range, at the moment I'm especially loving this noodle bowl. Years ago I found a Japanese noodle bowl that I loved in Boothbay Harbor, I did not buy it, I regret it every day, well every few months anyway!

Of course this would have required tremendous foresight on Husby's part since it's an English store. The only place you can get it here is Borders and that just wouldn't work for me!

Day seven

Toby has ventured out and touched the chickens. He thinks they are hilarious but he can be a little violent, no casualties as of yet.

Their adult feathers are growing at an alarming rate and I everyday I come downstairs, I expect to find chickens everywhere in the house!

Priscilla is still very small and, given coloration and sound, we think we might have a Rooster.

Things I have learned:

• Always watch a small child twice as closely when near livestock/poultry.
• The more comfortable they get with you, the more prone they are to peck.
• At this age pecking doesn't hurt so don't flinch, they can sense fear!
• Though the box does not need to be changed daily, the water needs to be changed far more often than recommended.

Mother's Day Ideas - Day #3

For those of us who ape Bakerella but are too lazy or clumsy for the real deal, I present the Cake Pop maker

And at $30 much more reasonable than the handy dandy pie machine I really want from Williams Sonoma!

Though the instructions only call for cake mix and I'm not sure I'm ready to give up on the frosting/crumbled cake mix!

Mother's Day Ideas - Day #2

Not to beat a dead horse but Ana Paula Rimoli is my favourite Amigurumi designer. I love her style both in terms of completed toy and instructions. I already bought this, it arrived on Tuesday and I'm working on the small fox. This would be a great gift idea - throw in some yarn, a hook and some stitch markers and you've got yourself a fantastic gift! Or you could visit Ana's etsy shop and just purchase a finished product!

Day Four

They outgrew their box so we got a new one and they love it. They especially like munching on the holes we poked through the box.

They are much more used to having us around now and run around instead of cowering when we reach in.
Toby showed more interest tonight. I set Priscilla (the littlest one) on his leg and he loved it. He even stroked her gently.
The chicken hutch arrived yesterday but they will be indoors for several more weeks so we have plenty of time to create their palace.

More things I have learned about chickens:

1. Despite a long running family joke and an Aunt with a LARGE chicken farm, I was mostly unaware that they would fly. Chickens fly - who knew!
2. They will poo on your wall if they get the chance
3. The water bowl is a nice place to sleep, poo and hide wood shavings.

Mother's Day Ideas - Day #1

A run down to Mother's day gift guide is not an original idea in the blogworld this week, but here's a few things on my WANT list at the moment!

A Vera Bradley netbook case. I have a netbook case, but it's not pretty and it has no strap so I have to carry it in my purse, which doesn't happen so I don't get as much use out of it now. I have a hard time with Vera Bradley when choosing which pattern I like best. Though I have had success with my first two Vera Purchases, it definitely pays to see the bag in question in person, since it looks very different online.

Case in point, I had picked out a purse online for my best friend's 30th birthday that I thought she would love. I went to my local store (Hallmark that is) just to see what they had, and the purse I wanted to get her was pretty naff. They had a different bag in the same fabric that I loved so I got that instead.

There's still time to ship for Mother's day so have at it!