Look Who's Here!

These four young ladies arrived a couple of weeks ago. 

Just in time for the holidays!

An odd time of year to bring home chickens, I know, but it's been a long time coming.  Our coop was finally finished last month, and the local poultry farmer said she'd noticed a few hens among her roosters (she's usually sold out by the end of August,) so we said "We'll take 'em!"  Right now!




These girls are about 6 months old.  Two were already laying, and the other two are nearly ready.  Of course, winter slows things down quite a bit, but we're getting eggs here and there.  Which is a darn good thing, because word has gotten out about the eggs at the nearby farm we frequent for meat and dairy, and they're selling out in minutes.  A good egg from happy, healthy chickens is a precious commodity these days. 

We've had chickens once before, but couldn't keep them (see this post here.) It was quite the traumatic experience for our children to have to let them go, so I'm gingerly moving forward with this project, educating the kids on the life and laying span of hens.  If we are going to have eggs consistently, we'll have to say goodbye and let go every couple of years.  But we also get to love and raise new chicks each time!

The love part is key, here, because chickens are not the cleanest animals.  They poop like there's no tomorrow, they dig and scratch and generally tear up whatever's in their path: vegeteble gardens, flower gardens, drip hoses, bark beds... 

 Control freaks be warned.  It's like having....well, it's like having 2 year old twins!!

But we're so happy they're here! Luke whooped like an Indian when he came home from school and saw them.  He checks for eggs first thing when he gets home from school.  Abby's taken on the role of mother hen- she knows each one of them by name (never, ever name your chickens, by the way ;) ) She lets them out in the morning, rounds them back in at night, and generally has their well being in mind at all times.









 Miri and the little girls LOVE feeding them whatever good scraps we have on hand. 








The chickens have learned the drill and can hardly contain themselves when my girls show up with extra treats.  They jump and dance and flutter themselves silly.





 Luke plans to take on the project producing a regular supply of meal worms as another extra to get them through the winter.  The more bugs and plants the better, I say.  And better him than me. (That's also what I say.)

For now, I'm the pooper scooper- which is really about a once a week job- just for the coop and nest boxes.  The rest of the yard?  Pfhh.  Whatever.





We'll definitely need to put up a couple of small fences in strategic spots.  But until then, at least we get good eggs, a few more friends, and lots and lots of poopy compost!






And that's plain old happiness, I tell you.

Fall Snippets, Pt. 2

Okay.  November 30th today.  Time to wrap up Fall Snippets.

Two words:  Duct tape. 

 Duct tape wallets, cases, covers, frames, flowers, hearts, ornaments, bows...  We've got duct tape coming out our ears over here.  Luke's pretty sure he's going to make millions as a duct tape product engineer.  He's already got a contract to make 2 wallets and 2 flowers for my sister's piano students.  He's on his way, for sure (wink).  And Abby's trailing close behind:

Luke entered the annual PTA Reflections contest this year with the photos below.   The theme was "The magic of a moment,"  which I think he nailed-- on accident.

Here's the story:  I was doing my thing in the kitchen one afternoon and noticed Luke in a corner with some sort of electronic gadget reserved for weekends.  I suggested he put it away and go use his brain to think of something to do outdoors.  A few minutes later, he asked if he could borrow my camera and ran out into the backyard.  Later, he proudly showed me his collection of photos like the two above, which resulted from "using his brain" (he implied.)

Next thing we know, he's one of three out of over a hundred entries in the Visual Arts category who has been chosen to move on to the next level. 

Pretty neat, eh?  I do believe the magic of a moment is found when potential, opportunity, and deliberate action collide.  Just like this little story.  You bet I'll be making the most of this analogy with my kids.

Abby decided she was going to give "Thankful Cards" this year to all the people she loves for Thanksgiving.  What a great idea!  I must say it's never even occurred to me to do that...

First big snowstorm this year (it got bigger.)  I love it when everyone tumbles out of bed into the snow before they've even had breakfast.  The giddiness is palpable.

Miri came running up to me on the porch, overjoyed, yelling: "Mom!  Guess what!  If you ever run out of food, you can eat snow!!!"

Mm-hmm.  All I could think of is the time I was little and grandma poured syrup and food coloring on the snow for all of us, and someone threw up.   That was the end of snow eating for me.

Processing Halloween pumpkins.
It took me many years to realize that this is a foreign concept for most people.  It's just something my mom always did, so I do it too.  I don't think my mom has purchased a can of pumpkin in her life.  She's always got a stockpile of Halloween pumpkin in her freezer.  When it comes to pumpkin pie, nothing beats fresh pumpkin.  Really.

Fact:  I make the ugliest pies.  I refuse to use shortening, and I'm too impatient to chill the butter after chopping it into bits.  These are my excuses. 

They start out looking pretty okay....

But then.... mediocrity:

I tried out a new pie for Thanksgiving this year:  cherry sour cream. 

Also contributed by me:  banana cream, peach raspberry crumble, and of course, fresh pumpkin.

Hideous. But mmm...delicious.

Our Thankful tree.    We actually had a whole wall to use this year and big fat leaves with enough room to get right down to the nitty gritty with gratitude.

(Look!  Squirrels, too!)

For posterity's sake, here are some close-ups:

"Chick-fa-la"  (hee hee.)

Okay, first of all, how does Luke not know how to spell "where?" 

 Second of all-- Really? He'd be nowhere??

NOWHERE?!

Yikes.

Me, too.



Staycation 2012!

Our local elementary school runs on a year-round schedule (which I love...and don't love, for various reasons.)  In October, Luke went off track for 3 weeks, so we all decided to take a break right along with him. Originally, we had grand plans of gallavanting around red-rock country down south, but when the weather went south up here in the north, we didn't want to risk less than ideal circumstances for a costly trip (whimps,) and decided to stay put.  Instead, we opted for a week-long...

Staycation!

It all started out with a little drive.  The kids loved that.   See the love:

  

Creighton took us on a tour of his old home country (the neighborhood he grew up in.)  His parents still live here, so we visit often, but rarely spend time cruising the neighborhood just to tell stories.  So this time we got stories.

Of Billy and Bobby and Joey (names changed) who lived in this house and that house.  Of mischief and wandering and exploring in the woods and gullies.  Classic boyhood stories.  And all the while, I absorbed the ageless charm in this part of town. 

I love old tree-lined streets and homes.  Actually, "love" doesn't adequately describe what I feel.  I am enamored, delighted, and somehow rooted in their character, their loveliness. Or, rather, there is something in me that strongly resonates with them.  In fact, before we were married, Creighton and I bonded over our dreams of restoring (and living in) an old beauty someday.  We would stroll up and down these streets on perfect summer eves and sigh and dream away.  Some of that dream has come true over the years in homes we have lived in and loved, but it's an ever-present itch that still fuels our imaginations for the future.

This one (below) belongs to Creighton's cousin.  Be still my beating heart.  The inside is decorated in M&M colors (with lots of modern art)- and they keep bowls of M&Ms in various rooms throughout the house.  Not at all what you would expect, but so interesting.  And it makes me smile.

So beautiful.  We were all thrilled to be someplace that actually looked and felt like fall.  There are no leaves at our home (yet), and knowing fall in Virginia, we feel the drought of color keenly (though we don't miss raking up an entire acre!)   Fortunately, we've had enough leaf raking parties with both sets of grandparents this month to fill that longing. 

Our drive through old home country was just a slight detour on our way to the university art museum.  The timing was perfect.  The girls and I were in the middle of learning about Ancient Egypt and this museum had an Egyptian room with just enough artifacts, and even a mummy case for us to wow over.  We found a few other things that captured our minds, as well:

Of course there's always that sculpture or two that boggles the mind in it's apparent pointlessness.  Here's Miri next to the one none of us could figure out:

And then there was the giant charm bracelet. 

 Why not?

My personal favorite:

This is me at 9:30 p.m. if my kids aren't in bed.

After the museum, we headed up the canyon a bit for lunch at Ruth's Diner.  This restaurant has been around for a long while, and I'd never been there, so we figured it was time.  Although the inside has been completely renovated, the walls are lined with old photographs of the diner and it's owner, "Ruth," covering decades of its history.  After we'd been seated for awhile, and staring at the photos, we couldn't help but wonder if Ruth still watched over her diner.  Sure enough, with a little prompt and a nudge, our waitress revealed what is common knowledge among the staff:  that Ruth does, indeed, haunt her old home and restaurant.  The stories were fascinating, and nearly sent chills up our spines.  We don't blame Ruth, though.  What a spot for a restaurant- and one she poured her whole self into til the day she passed. 

 Definitely a lunch date not to be forgotten.

We capped off the day with a little drive-by of my grandparents old home.  My Dad grew up here, and while the home has since been painted (over brick) and shutters added, seeing it still brings back oodles of memories for me of summer and Christmastime visits with grandma and grandpa.  I wish my children could really know what used to be in this little home at 2500 Commonwealth. 

This was just the beginning of our Staycation. 

What didn't get photographed:

• Miniature Golfing (on the last beautiful day)
• Indoor swimming and slide-a-palooza at the Rec. Center
• Ball-a-palooza at the Community Center
• A matinee
• A few dinners at our favorite spots.   

We capped off the week with a trip downtown on the train:

This is what the little girls did when we told them to "stay behind the yellow line."  Rascals.

After a shot of sugar at our favorite cookie store, we spent some time at the Visitor's Center on Temple Square, then made our way over to the Joseph Smith Building to show the kids "The Nauvoo Room," where we had our wedding reception (what a magical spot.)

Luke, who is fascinated by all things Greek and Roman right now, declared the Church Administration Building to be his favorite piece of architecture:

We made our way to the Lion House for lunch....and a brief discussion on polygamy. ;)

Catching snowflakes on Main while waiting for the train home:

 I think I'm ready to start traveling with our crew.  I was really hoping to get away for a little road trip and some wandering in the south.  But there's something to be said for a good old-fashioned staycation.  Not only did we save a significant bundle of money (which is always nice), but we had a great time.  More than anything, we simply loved having nowhere else to be but with eachother- just for fun.