Goodbye Summer

I can't believe summer is coming to a close. 

We've had so much fun!

We traded flip flops for bare feet!

And got sand between our toes.

We enjoyed some thrills!

And a few spills!

No worries! No young people were injured in the making of this blog!

See there? It's all good!!

There were butterflies aplenty!

Tadpoles in ponds!

Fountains,

and sculptures.

Yummy picnic lunches!

Eh hem. It's possible I drank Zach's Coke. For this I am truly sorry! However, it would not have happened if, even once, I had found a Coke for Christine!

But nooooo. Not one Coke for Christine have I found all summer.

I've done my best to get along, but, I will say, it has been a deep disappointment. -sigh-

Oh well. At least there was fudge! -YAY-

Fudge makes all things better! Right??

We took some selfies!

And chased frogs!

No frogs were injured in the making of this blog either! Just sayin'.

Now don't get me wrong. Our summer wasn't all perfect fun and games. 

We had some washouts. Trip to Northfield MN was a soaker. -bummer-

We've also worked hard. Yep, chores don't end in the summer now do they? Can you hear the children groan??

But too much work and no play, well...

Lets just say, it isn't pretty!!!!

Yep, there was some much needed fun in the sun this summer.

And in two short weeks it will all be over. -sniff- 

School will begin. -double sniff-

The end of soaking up the sun for this summer. -Waaaah-

Well, at least it was fun while it lasted.

Goodbye Summer. I shall miss you something awful. -sigh-

But, on the bright side, soon there will be pumpkin spice lattes, crunchy leaves, crackling fires and cozy sweaters!!  Hello Fall!!! Woohoo!!!

Christine

Let's Be Honest

I've got recipes I want to share.

I've got blog post ideas jotted down.

But there's a lack of posting.

I've got some serious blogger's guilt about it...but let's be honest...it's summertime!

The deliciousness of long, fun filled summer days has been an utter distraction.

There are gardens to be savored!

Lovely!

Baby Praying Mantis to watch grow!

There are berries to be picked!

Sweet, sweet berries!!

There are slushies to be made!

Strawberries with sugar. Puree.

Lemon sherbet.

Toss into a blender with a can of ginger ale. YUM!!

Perfect for the under age crowd!

For those 21 and older...swap out the ginger ale for some Prosecco.

Oh yeah! 

We could just linger here for a moment...

Take it to the porch and sit awhile. 

Ahhhhh...

And now we're off again!

There have been 3 legged races!

Birds to watch!

Games to play!

Be aware, teenagers will still play the games of their youth, but now, they play to win! Actually they play to ensure mom loses! They're pretty much out for blood!! -GULP-

Maybe fewer games would be best.

Maybe we should go with more silliness!

Or maybe tug-of-war! Where mom gets all of the adults on her side!! Oh yeah! That's more like it!

Or mom can just take the photos.

I think I'll stick with taking the photos.

And then there's the friend who got this.

Hello gorgeous!

He shared these.

BEST ribs EVER!!! He might be our favorite friend!!

And there's been this.

I have no idea what this is about.

Maybe it means...Stop! Time for one more slushy while sittin' on the porch. Hmmmm

Anyway...

Summer is good!

But very distracting!!

Christine

Just over a Year of Chicken Raising

It's been just over a year since we brought home these cute and fluffy little chicks.

Now look at them!

All grown up and laying the most delicious eggs. 

I'm so proud!!

So far we've had one, Luna, who began to pluck the feathers of her coop mates.

GUILTY!

 It seems to have been the result of frustration over being "cooped up" for so long due to the never ending winter. 

Once the weather improved and they were released to run free in the garden, the plucking of her coop mates came to a end. -whew-

Then this girl, Pookie, became broody, determined to sit on a little clutch of eggs, expecting to hatch herself some babies. 

Have you ever come face to face with a broody chicken? It's not pretty! Fluffed up to three times her actual size, she'd growl at any who dared approach her! Yes, growled! Not pretty at all! There were never going to be any baby chicks in need of defending. But try explaining the lack of a rooster, and therefore a lack of fertilized eggs, to a growling, broody chicken. She pretty much had every other chicken afraid to get anywhere near the nesting boxes. -BAH-

It took two days of being separated from the other chickens, far from the nesting boxes, for her to give up the fight and return to her happy, mild mannered self.

Otherwise, these girls have been easy to care for and lots of fun for the Family.

The biggest job so far has been the spring cleaning of the coop. 

Daily cleaning is quick and easy; scoop out the mess, wash and refill waterer, refill feeder. 15 minutes. Boom! Done! Easy peasy!

Every other week or so, mostly as needed, the coop gets a vinegar spritz and a scrubbing or a hose down, as well as a change of nesting box material. 30-45 minutes. Piece of cake!

Spring cleaning the coop is a different story. The coop was a mess after the long winter. -Ewwww-

While the coop was still scooped out daily, a good scrub down was simply impossible during the winter freeze.

So, the first warm, spring day, the sleeves were rolled up, more figuratively than actually, and we got to work.

The ramp and roosts were removed from the coop. The washed river sand in the coop house was also removed and disposed of.

Everything got a good hose down,

as well as a good scrub down with vinegar!

Once everything was nice and clean and smelling vinegary, new washed river sand was spread over the coop house floor and in the coop run.

It was a solid afternoon's worth of work, but doesn't that look nice!?

The girls were very happy!

I'm as excited about our little flock of chickens today as I was the day we brought them home.

A little flock is pretty easy to maintain, and I'm still absolutely giddy every time I collect a handful of fresh eggs!

One year later, I'd do it all again!

Christine