My Babies are Home!

This week, I spent at my brothers, and picked up my baby chickens! I started out in the fall saying I would get 6 chickens. Then, it went to 9. When we placed our order, I ordered 10. Well, today I came home with 13! Twelve pullets, (baby hens,) and one cockerel (baby rooster). They took the 3 1/2 hour trip very well. When I got home, I found the coop window not finished, and the electricity not run, which really put me in a bind! So where are my babies? In the bath tub!

I have six different breeds, this little girl is a Golden Lace Wyandotte.

This is Bella, a Buff Orpington, roosting on the side of the box, their temporary home.

This little one is a New Hampshire Red, and will be a beautiful red color when all her feathers are in. I also have the same breed for my rooster! He'll be quite stunning!

The chick with the mottled face is a Silver Lace Wyandotte, and the little black ones in front of her are Barred Rocks.

Meet Precious. She is an Aracauna, also known as the Easter Egg chicken, as her eggs will be different colors and look like they've been dyed. She was the first one that caught my eye with her red feathers down her head, and her big eyes that look like they have eye liner on them. Tomorrow they will be able to go in their coop, Ken was on my bad list when I got home and couldn't put them in as planned!
Another good note, tonight I got to talk to Toby without him running, and after sitting outside on a log for almost an hour, talking to him, he finally approached me an allowed me to pet him, all then time with his purr I have missed so much, and eventually, was able to pick him up. I tried bringing him in the house, but he got scared a bolted when we were almost to the door. But the first hurdle has been jumped, now I know he'll be back in soon!
Now to start catching up on all of your blogs, that I've missed over the past few days!
It's good to be home, though I'd still love to move up there!

So, How Did Toby Do!

Wonderful!! The neuter was an instant and total success. No more spraying, no more howling all day and night, a total momma's boy, a perfect angel!
But!!
And a big one! Toby escaped. We couldn't figure how he got out of the house, til I found the bottom corner of the bathroom screen had come lose.
Now, he lives in the wood pile by my craft room window. He's scared to death of me, and went totally feral. You'd think he never had human contact. It breaks my heart, but he's totally content to be outside. All I can say is, at least he has his shots and has been neutered. Other than that, there's nothing else I can do, but love him from a distance.

Happy Birthday Preston!

It's hard to believe that it has been a year already since posting this picture of my new great nephew Preston. From this tiny little bundle,

To this adorably handsome little boy!

Ever the ham,

which he received from his sister Jenna, shown here modeling my niece's sunglasses!

Coop Almost Done!

We are almost done with the chicken coop! Having enough days of no rain has been a problem, so every mild day Ken and I could get was spent on building and painting. We still need to finish the window and screen on the back of the building, put on the flower boxes, trim the inside section of the door, and add the weather vain.

The box on the side is for nesting, the chickens access from the inside, giving them more living space.

My chickens? No. My niece next door and her husband also decided to raise chickens, and got theirs already. Here they are about six weeks old.

I'm so excited, and can't wait to pick mine up the first week-end in June!!

The Hollow Tree

In our side yard, we have a beautiful old orchard that is many decades old. Three pear trees, two apple trees, and a mulberry tree still bear fruit. This tree, though, is special. It's totally hollow, yet still throws these beautiful blossoms every spring, and delicious snow apples for fall picking.

When the triplets were 4, I took these pictures of them standing inside it's hollow trunk.

Now, 5 years later, I had them awkwardly climb back in to see how much they've grown.

Jacob,

Jason,

and Jordan happily obliged! And Jordan had me take this last one, which is a real hoot!

They want to continue the tradition yearly, even when they have to squat, which I think will be the case next spring!

Magnolia Blooms?

Ah my sisters magnolia tree, in full bloom! Unfortunately, these are last years pictures. Just as the blooms were ready to put on there magnificent display this year, the winds blew all the blossoms to the ground. So Kathy, here is a look back, as we look forward to next May!

Sunshine! PLEASE!!

This has been one of the strangest winter/summers I can ever remember. Here we are half way through May, and the weather is still more wintry than springy. Today was no exception. With temperatures in the mid 30's, and wind that went right to the bone, it seems that spring, is eluding us. So tonight, when I looked out the window to see this sunset, it gave me hope that maybe tomorrow will bring us a little sun. That would be such a welcome relief to this crazy season. How are you coping with the weather where you are?