Birds

Longing for Spring 2013

 Since we don't seem to be getting Spring this year, I'm going to post some pictures from last year, just to remind myself spring does exist.  May of 2012, my rare white Bleeding Heart, blooming in the fern and hosta bed.  I know I dug up and moved the bleeding heart, but cannot remember where I replanted her.  One of the joys of spring, all the surprises when the perennials start popping back up.

We are really looking forward to the gardening season this year.  Elijah is old enough now to play outside, or help us in the garden.   We didn't get any seeds started inside this year, but I plan to start a few flowers in my classroom in honor of Earth Day.  I'm going to use the empty egg shell method.

A sad "blast from the past."  Our lovely duck who was taken by a predator last year.

Our amazing red lupine, and Julie May 2012

Fern Dell Bees!

Honeybees are coming to the farm.   May 15th is our pickup date, in between now and then, I have some serious learning to do on honeybee husbandry, and I imagine pick up a few supplies.  I've been wanting to do this for a long time now, and have gotten some good information over the years from friends who have kept bees.  One suggested I purchase "The Complete Idiots Guide to Beekeeping" which sounds silly but is actually a really excellent resource.  She also said that it's not really necessary to go out and spend a ton of money "gearing up."  Any sort of one piece jumpsuit type clothing would work, like a mechanics zip up suit, which I have for when I do large oil painting.  A hat you can drape with a mosquito netting, gloves that can snugly fit over the sleeves of your shirt.  She said you do need a smoker, so that's on my list.

My mom and I are taking a beekeeping class on May 11th.

Here's some interesting honeybee info from National Geographic.

Elijah Oct 4, 2011

Spring Chicks

Our boy Thor has proven his rooster-hood! (I believe he is a Speckled Hamburg.)
One of our hens went broody, so I marked about 16 eggs for her to sit on, really not expecting anything to happen. I've been a chicken lover for about four years now, and have always had to purchase my chicks from a retailer.
Mary-Kate, (or Ashley, I cant tell them apart) was such a good and patient momma, never leaving the brooder. I really felt sorry for her, and would leave her handfuls of feed and little dishes of fresh water. The other night I went out to lock up the coop, and she was out of the brooder and on the floor of the coop, all puffed up and staring at me, not moving. We've had predator attacks lately, and I was worried that maybe she was injured. When I picked her up to put her back in the brooder, about a dozen little chicks took off running in every direction~ It was so exciting! I hurried to Farm-n-Fleet to get electrolytes for the water, and some chick feed. Apparently, the adult layer feed is bad for baby chicks, and can damage their reproductive systems. I also bought a heat bulb, but that wasn't necessary, since these babies have their momma to keep them warm. I also do not need to worry about keeping them separated from the rest of the birds like I do when I order chicks from Welp. Momma is right there to protect them, so the others just leave them alone. They are now a few days old, and I have not found any sad little chicks that didn't make it for whatever reason. Typically, when I order chicks, I always have to order a few extras because I would always lose at least one or two. Partially, it would be error on my part, for example, not knowing to put marbles in the water and one would drown. Also I think the being one day old, then put into a box and mailed is probably a rather traumatic experience.
I have no clue what breed these babies are, looks like a few different types. Most are black and tiny, a few gray and a bit larger, and one gold colored bird.

The Wait

Seems like a million years ago since we went to the informational meeting at Pauquette. Since then, we have pulled the house together a bit, completed our home study interviews and (most of) the paperwork, and sent out our portfolios. Now it's just "wait and see."
I have finally allowed myself to buy some stuff, baby supply stuff. Was afraid to for the longest time because I didnt want to jinx it. (spelling?) Now we have a cool 3-wheeler stroller for hitting the trails on the back 40....a car seat, a bouncy chair, bottles, monitor, and loaner items from bro-and-sis-n-law. We've decided to go with cloth diapers, for a few reasons, the environment, health issues, and of course, money. (Thanks Walker, I'll think about you every time I wash a shitty diaper.) I've interviewed a couple day-care providers, and am meeting with a pediatrician this week. All we need now is a baby. It's weird to think somewhere out there is a woman, or girl, struggling with a decision, and maybe choosing us. Please choose us.

Roses & Rylie

We were finally able to get Aunt Dort's ancient rose bush to bloom! I have been feeding and gently pruning this lovely rose for the past 5 years, never able to produce a bloom. After much research, I decided to prune more aggressively, cutting the plant down to only two "Mother" stems. Reduced the entire plant to about 1/4 it's size, but my brave efforts were rewarded with a TON of buds and extremely fragrant blossoms.

Our newly adopted boxer-mix Rylie has blended right into our family. Here she is, helping Daisy groom our cat Alabama.