The Sweetest Signs of Spring

It really is spring.

We spent the better part of our morning
acquainting ourselves with
the new kids, at Coral Tree Farm.
What a wonderful treat.

{this Make moment}

A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
:: Inspired by Soule Mama ::

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Small Matters That Tempt Us

We all have our little weakness, those temptations we cannot resist.

Please, tell me, I am not alone in this... popcorn, fabric, kitchen bowls, dancing on bubble wrap? I'm not the only one, right, who finds some things too irresistible to walk away from?


Our chickens get cat food cravings. It's compulsive.

Look at Little Debbie. She's about to bolt, if I come any closer.


Now Zoe is the lookout, while Little Debbie pecks away at the cat chow buffet.
It's fish, in case you're wondering. Not that it makes it any more appealing to me, but I feel a bit better that they are not devouring poultry flavored... eeewww.


Zoe sees my lens zooming in, and she says to her sister, "Come on, leave it behind. They're on to us!"


But then she takes one for the road.
Seems the only thing they cannot resist is temptation.

Their run is closed, and so they had to fly over the fence to make this mission, to satisfy their munchies. They may be the tiniest chicas in the shark cage, but that is no obstacle to their cunning and escape tactics.


So good.
Nom, nom, nom, nom...

Garden to Kitchen

We are growing spinach. It's become leafy and lush in the raised bed, where the spinach grows between rows of strawberries.

And the hens are giving eggs, small and medium, and plentiful. Dear chicas.

Eggs + Spinach = Garden to Kitchen Blessing... also known as quiche.

This makes me smile.


Did you play with the dough scraps, when you were little, helping in the kitchen?
We made dear little pies, filled with jam. And when the little pan was full, Maria made a dough figure, just for fun.

This makes me smile, too.


One quiche.
Eggs and spinach from the Farm.
Pepper.
Leeks.
Cheddar, Asiago, Parmesan, Fontina... some cream cheese, some half and half.


Paprika, from the pretty can.

Makes me smile, because it is such a pretty paprika can.


And while the quiches bake, Maria rolls dough, and I take pictures.


This one has some bacon, too.

I watched my Mommy make quiches. Hers will always be my favorite. And I remember playing with the dough scraps, by my mother's side.

Could Use a Leg Up

Indeed.
Who couldn't use a boost, a leg up?
Maybe even a kick in the pants?

It's possible that we are in the midst of a bit more... more stuff going on, more of the unexpected, more activities, more obligations-duties-demands, more of the usual.

It's possible that everything is as it has always been, and I am only overwhelmed by the firm decision I've made to get more accomplished. Lots more. I even put these things on the calendar, in my feeble attempt to pretend I am orderly, and obedient to calendars.

Dear the Chickenblogger,
please, kindly be obedient to the calendar, and do those things that while loathsome, tedious, and smelly, will surely make your days brighter, and more gooder. Please, clear the desk tops, file the papers, dot your dotables, and cross your crossables. Be dutiful and diligent. Be devoted and dedicated. And by all means delegate, which may the very smartest way to get a leg up.

Sincerely,
The Voice, the one that wakes you in the wee hours to discuss all your worries, concerns, insecurities, and the unfolded laundry you left on the sofa, again.



The Voice says: "On the calendar today: clear kitchen desk, and bench, pay bills."

Chickenblogger says: "Ugh. Meh," and asks, "All of it? Not just tidy the piles, and stuff things in drawers? Actually sort, toss, shred, and find the surfaces?"

The Voice says: Please don't dawdle, whine, or make excuses. Please don't give up or surrender. Please don't forget to tell those other Birds to pitch in.

Chickenblogger says: Thanks for the leg up.

Suitable For Framing :: Our Barn

Ten days ago, William and Geoff were setting the floor joists, and laying down the flooring in our big little barn. Maybe you remember the day we unloaded supplies? Well, things are progressing.


Geoff's time-off is over, and a couple of big storms put the brakes on framing. That was about the same time that William caught the same nasty cold Max had been battling, so at least the timing was right for a break.


Geoff and I made decisions about doors and windows, and how much of the barn would be dedicated solely to chicken roosts and coziness. They're getting forty square feet of sheltered comfort. Then he and I went to the secondhand shop, we decided on some old house doors, with window panes to let in lots of light. They're smaller than most doors, and solid wood.

One end of the barn will open with double barn doors. Geoff and William will construct those doors. The two small doors will hang on each side of the barn. One leading out into the chicken's run, and the other opening into a second run... for err... uhm... I dunno know, maybe for vegetarian dogs, or something... prolly... we'll see.


William and Geoff make a good team. They've both been enjoying the project. How much? Enough so that there's talk of other structures and projects... talk that makes me pretty giddy to hear.


Okay, so, since then, William and Geoff have put up two walls, with framing for two different size doors, and also a window, and a chicken door. They also repaired and painted a fence, ran conduit and wire. Hey, Maria helped paint the fence, and both Maria and I helped with running the wire through the conduit. The barn will be lit!


See? Suitable for framing! You are looking at the chicken roost end of the barn, and there's the little chicken door, and the window framed above it!

Today they are working under a storm watch. Rain is coming, so they built a temporary roof beam and got the tarp up. I don't know how much rain is coming, but if the wind is any indication of this storm's punch, we are in for a wild one. It's blowing hard out there.

Two more thoughts:

1. It probably really is time to start planning our Barn Party!
2. By the time we are waiting for the next storm, the chicas will be snug and safe in their deluxe and beautiful barn.

Namaste

Namaste, it's a traditional Indian greeting, a respectful gesture, implicitly with the connotation "to be well". I'd been meaning to look that up.

After backyard yoga, with friends, I feel very well.


Corina and Chris

Happy.

Relaxed, and invigorated.

Smiling, on the inside.

Yoga can be such a gift.


We greeted the sun, and the clouds retreated.


Caia and Henry


Corina's mom, Maria, leads us through the movements and breath.
It's wonderful.


The rest of the day... well, I am ready, to welcome the rest of the day.
Namaste.