Chicken Stuff

What is going on in the coop? Well, Lizzie isn't broody--that nurturing thing that kicks in with chickens that makes them want to sit on eggs. Depending on where you read, it can happen quickly or it can take forever.

Lizzie isn't anything. She is lonely. She just kinda hangs out. It didn't help that she was "cooped" up inside our house while the temperatures hovered around 20 degrees.

So I think I have found some chickens. The picture above is of Wyandottes. Why am I changing my mind on the breeds? Because I have been researching breeds more closely and chatting with some online buddies, and my two favorite breeds (Barred Rocks and Rhode Island Reds) tend to be dominant birds. What does that mean? Lizzie gets the tar beat out of her again.

But the Wyandottes, from what folks are telling me are a gentler breed, like Lizzie's. Hopefully, it will be easier to incorporate everyone than the boxing match we had last month.

I have found someone who has 20 week old "pullets". Pullets are basically teenaged chickens. They aren't quite full grown, but sure look like it. I will be able to get them next Tuesday. I have been talking with this person quite a bit, and she does have my other favorite breeds too, but once I told her our chicken nightmare of November, she thought I should reconsider and so do I.

So, wish us luck. I'll be posting coop news next week.

Chaos....

Why do I say chaos? We are in that weird Christmas Break time when Christmas is over but we are still out of school. So we have lots to do and yet nothing to do, and it's hard to plan our days. We kind of just wake up and say "what are we going to do today?" And some things get done and yet, so much more needs to get done. Since I need some organization, and my very small case of OCD is starting to kick in, I am going to make a list.

Here goes:

Things I have gotten done:

* Finally got my wireless connection secure! That has been a weight on my mind since we rearranged the office last summer and I couldn't figure it out. One of the Tracy's who comment on this blog--her husband came over and fixed it, we shot the breeze, and it's done. Check!

*Scads of laundry. But that is the chore that never really goes away, does it?

*Gotten some housecleaning done.

Things I have not gotten done:

*More housecleaning done.

*Shoveling out the boy's bedroom. We are about to go the grandparents house for the Christmas we missed last week due to weather. Get ready.....every toy known to mankind will be coming into my house, and each one takes batteries. We have no room for that load.

*Balancing the checkbook. Stress! Again, that might fall into the category of being a constant chore.

And my caffeine deprived brain can't think of much else that needs to get done. The few things on that list weigh heavily on my mind. The few things on the done side make me feel like I have wasted time. And there goes that.

Chicken news? Next post.

Warm Welcomes

And it turns out, according to a Christmas card we got today, an old high school friend of mine has "tuned into" my blog. Welcome to D and P!

This has given me much food for thought today, for some reason. D and P (specifically D, the husband is who I went to high school with, over 20 years ago) are good friends. We haven't seen each other in years, and I dare say, may not recognize each other if we saw each other. But when we do have a conversation, it's one of those where we pick up where we left off. It's very comfortable. I am just kind of excited they found my blog.

Why? Because blogging, specifically family update kind of blogging that I do, keeps people in touch more than the Christmas card every year--which is what D and P and my family does.

So, apparently D and P "tuned into" my blog during the "episode" where I referenced making slippers out of maxi pads. One of my better posts, and I stole it! But what I find intriguing is the references that my blog is like a TV show, and that almost makes me laugh out loud.

I feel that way often. What saga is next? What drama are my kids going to blow out of proportion next? It made me laugh, I have to say. It feels like a soap opera sometimes. Sigh...

So, welcome D and P! Now I have a question.....how did you find my blog? That is a mystery to me! But I am elated that you did, for sure.

But nonetheless, I hope you get a chance to post some comments, check out my friends blogs, etc. I know this sounds cliche', but when I need a good laugh, I click on the blog "It's Lovely, I'll Take It" about really bad real estate listings. If you thought the maxi pads were funny, just keep clicking through her posts. Oh my word!

Christmas 2008

Yes, we are still house bound, and have been essentially since December 15th when the first storm started this weather with a slight dusting of snow, and it's grown in magnitude since then.

I am thankful for a lot of things:

* I was able to get out and go shopping and get some pretty dandy gifts one afternoon when we had a reprieve.

* We have only lost our electricity for a few moments at a time, not days at a time.

* We have had an incredibly special Christmas just the four of us, not the traditional huge family event that, honestly, overwhelms the kids. It was a perfect Christmas morning where the kids got a few gifts, and have really enjoyed them.

* The Christmas Day turkey was the best turkey we have ever made. I also made the best batch of gravy I have ever made. I only make it once or twice a year, so I never get enough practice.

* It has been nice, although sometimes tense, to spend long concentrated time with each other. We don't get to do that often when life seems to just be busy.

Here is our recap:

Christmas Morning Musings

The big gift from Santa this year was that gift the boys have wanted forever....a Nintendo Wii. And of course, to set up this thing, you have to pull out the TV. What happens next? Every single itsy bitsy toy that has been missing for years has been found. Candy wrappers from clandestine candy eating is found. Crusts from pizza is found--crusts that were supposed to be eaten, not stashed. So the hubbie got out the vacuum cleaner and has cleaned up the place. Here is one aspect of that conversation:

Mom: Watch out! Daddy made a clean spot!
BH: Oops!