Last weekend I was delighted to discover these newly hatched cuties at the feed store. These little Dominiques will round out our flock of layers... Unless they all turn out to be roosters!
Wouldn't that be a hoot!!!
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Thursday, August 8, 2013
The heat of the summer
Well, summer is in full force and it’s been hotter than blue blazes lately, making outdoor work very unattractive.
Even so, Kevin has continued to work here and there, making some progress on the new chicken coop, while I’ve spent more time on basic maintenance and tidying up inside. So far, we have three walls up. This weekend we plan to build the fourth wall and the frame for the nesting boxes with exterior access for easy egg gathering! In the meanwhile, the pressure is on… the little chicks are getting bigger by the day and I’m ready to pick up a few more chicks soon!
Here are a few pictures to keep you up to date on some of the observations and goings on!
I have become quite familiar with this creature: The Argiope (aka, Writing Spiders, Garden Spiders, Orb Weavers) We have these spiders all over the place. Their webs are so unique with the distinctive zigzag down the center. I’ve seen some about three large including legs! We don’t mind these too much because they eat insects. Yesterday Kevin and I caught grasshoppers and tossed them into a few webs, just to see what would happen. In less than five seconds (quite literally) the spiders had them completely wrapped. It's funny that after they eat, the spiders are huge and fat, and then the next day, they slim down again, quite noticeably!
Here is another type of spider pulling along a leafhopper that is clearly triple it’s size!
As you can see, July was a month of great growth for the passion vine. It just took off!
This past Saturday was family chore day. Luke added number 4 and embellished his name a bit. ;)
Luke also really enjoyed decorating his and Elijah's room. He had leftover artwork from his room at his dad’s and decided to put it to good use. I tried to allow him some freedom to express himself... Now if we can just find a way to hide the TV cords!
This is a feature of the house that I just adore… a built in phone and phonebook ledge. I hope to find the perfect antique phone, or working antique looking phone for this spot!
Our Jasper is getting soooo big!!! He’s a mischievous sweetheart. He’s been much better about not chasing the chickens and Kevin pointed out that his alertness is kicking in – he is visibly starting to take notice of his surroundings and perk up when he hears or sees something that we may not pick up on right away. He seems to like popcorn, and sweet tea. Good southern pup! ;-)
We finally finished up the window ledge extension for the plants! Kevin used the router to make the edge a little more decorative. I think it turned out really well.
He also recently mounted the TV above the fireplace in the family room (aka, den). This room is another project we need to tackle soon…
The roosters are finally feeling more like a part of the family. They have cockadoodle-ing contests with the rooster down the road. Here is a picture from the kitchen window where they have wandered into what will someday be a shade garden full of hostas and asparagus ferns and other shade loving foliage!
July also brought an awesome weekend of fun with friends! My bff, her hubby Michael, and three of their four kids came up from Lufkin! There was a bonfire... (Yes, I know, in the middle of summer! We're crazy like that! But there was a nice breeze that made it awesome!) There was swimming, margueritas, great coversation, a smoked brisket and other goodies! Such a wonderful time!
Kevin and I are biking again. September 1st will be a year since my accident. Prior to that, we were avid mountain bikers. So far, we've been riding several days this week. We notice higher energy levels when we're getting in our cardio, and this farm, the kids, and our day jobs take so much energy, we really need as much as we can get!!! Looking forward to getting over the "starting over" hump and back into the swing of it!
Football season has started. The munchkins are with their father right now for the last of the summer visits, but then it is four practices, plus a game every week until end of October, early November. My mind is turning to pre-making meals, back to school, and teacher’s gifts…
It’s about that time!
Even so, Kevin has continued to work here and there, making some progress on the new chicken coop, while I’ve spent more time on basic maintenance and tidying up inside. So far, we have three walls up. This weekend we plan to build the fourth wall and the frame for the nesting boxes with exterior access for easy egg gathering! In the meanwhile, the pressure is on… the little chicks are getting bigger by the day and I’m ready to pick up a few more chicks soon!
Here are a few pictures to keep you up to date on some of the observations and goings on!
I have become quite familiar with this creature: The Argiope (aka, Writing Spiders, Garden Spiders, Orb Weavers) We have these spiders all over the place. Their webs are so unique with the distinctive zigzag down the center. I’ve seen some about three large including legs! We don’t mind these too much because they eat insects. Yesterday Kevin and I caught grasshoppers and tossed them into a few webs, just to see what would happen. In less than five seconds (quite literally) the spiders had them completely wrapped. It's funny that after they eat, the spiders are huge and fat, and then the next day, they slim down again, quite noticeably!
Here is another type of spider pulling along a leafhopper that is clearly triple it’s size!
As you can see, July was a month of great growth for the passion vine. It just took off!
This past Saturday was family chore day. Luke added number 4 and embellished his name a bit. ;)
Luke also really enjoyed decorating his and Elijah's room. He had leftover artwork from his room at his dad’s and decided to put it to good use. I tried to allow him some freedom to express himself... Now if we can just find a way to hide the TV cords!
This is a feature of the house that I just adore… a built in phone and phonebook ledge. I hope to find the perfect antique phone, or working antique looking phone for this spot!
He also recently mounted the TV above the fireplace in the family room (aka, den). This room is another project we need to tackle soon… The roosters are finally feeling more like a part of the family. They have cockadoodle-ing contests with the rooster down the road. Here is a picture from the kitchen window where they have wandered into what will someday be a shade garden full of hostas and asparagus ferns and other shade loving foliage!
Kevin and I are biking again. September 1st will be a year since my accident. Prior to that, we were avid mountain bikers. So far, we've been riding several days this week. We notice higher energy levels when we're getting in our cardio, and this farm, the kids, and our day jobs take so much energy, we really need as much as we can get!!! Looking forward to getting over the "starting over" hump and back into the swing of it!
Football season has started. The munchkins are with their father right now for the last of the summer visits, but then it is four practices, plus a game every week until end of October, early November. My mind is turning to pre-making meals, back to school, and teacher’s gifts…
It’s about that time!
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