Pullets

Out of 6 chicks hatched 3 were roosters. Now I did not get to name them. Only the one in the middle.

B.B. is the black beauty on the left. Then Talula Lu in the middle and Mo on the right. The white ones are smaller than B.B. The roosters went over to the horse barn a couple of blocks away so we will be able to visit.

They will be living under and in a little willow tree. I am trying to find Barry's camera so I can show everyone.

The girls are acting a little confused. I think they are learning to think for themselves after being bossed around by those boys :)

Had a great time in Seattle. Here is a pic of me and niece Ava Joan with Auntie Niki shucking corn.

And look quick everybody the Gellner boys got there pic taken on the hammock!

Like everyone we have been really busy. The weather has been awesome and we have been outside in the pool alot.

Hope you all are having a great summer.

So much going on!

The Chicken coop is finished. Well, for the most part. I think that we will always be updating it in some way. Right before our 12th wedding anniversary! There were many disagreements. Imagine that. But we managed to see our way through. This morning was so grand. I opened up the shoot from the coop to the run and watched them all wander out!!!! No getting down and crawling around trying to catch them. Getting scratched and pooped on! I think I am close to getting all the little chick down feathers out of the kitchen area. Barry worked very hard yesterday and even got the nesting boxes on the building. They are outside with a hinged top so that when we are collecting eggs we won't have to go in the coop to get them. Hopefully, they will take to the nesting boxes and not just lay them where ever. Things to look forward to.

We had a complete spectrum of emotions yesterday. We had to put Cooper's bunny Hopper down. We have no idea what could have happened to him. He was playing with Cute in the grass run one minute and then a half an hour later Barry said "this bunny has a broken foot!" I was painting the coop and I just couldn't believe it. The poor bunny's foot was literally turned outwards. I was frantic. Checking the internet. Calling the vet. Vet services for rabbits are more than what you would pay for a dog or cat. We are talking $400.00 to like $800.00 to reset his leg and then follow ups.

I just feel so sad and sick about the whole thing. Cooper's little heart is just broken. I have read many posts on the internet about rabbits breaking their legs. They really are a very fragile animal (I knew pygmy goats would have been better!). How my childhood bunny ever survived I do not know. There were a lot of posts from people who said if you are going to own a bunny be a responsible owner and be prepared to spend $800.00 or whatever to fix your bunny. That is so much money. I really think that Hopper would have experienced so much pain and then their is the isolation because you have to keep them so still (if you can) and even then he may not have been healed and that is if she would to make it through the surgery. I just hope we did the right thing. We love you Hopper R.I.P. Miss you.

Fulfillment from the finished chicken coop and run. Extreme sadness from the loss of Hopper. Huge excitement with Max's baseball team. They played a great game last night. They play again Wednesday.

Max had a couple of great hits and played both first base and right field. As you all know I really struggled with the amount of time this family was going to have to dedicate but it has been a very nice experience and Max feels great about his accomplishments. I will actually be a little sad when it is over. Go figure.

It is time to really get back in the garden and get this house caught up a bit. I am not going to have as much in the garden as I want. I will have to rely a little more on the Richland Farmers Market to preserve what I want to this year. That is o.k. though because the time spent on the chickens has been well worth it and there is always next year.

Wyatt had an amazing school year. He started out shy and didn't want to go. He kept to himself. By the end of the year he could not wait to play with his friends and loved to go. Huge year for him! He loves to sing. He remembers songs that he learned and words movies and commercials! So funny. We checked out Monty Python and the Holy Grail from the library and the boys and I laughed so hard one night. The next day Wy was walking around the house yelling "bring out your dead". Sorry but that is funny! Age appropriate? No. But funny? Yes!

This is the last week of school. Barry is up there right now helping with Field Day. I am cleaning the house. Well that is what I am supposed to be doing. So far I have been uploading the pictures and updating the blog. :)

Cooper's class is having "Fun in the Sun" today. He even got to wear his bathing suit today so I hope he is having fun. He needs it!

I also hope my sister has a good meeting today with the railroad. She needs that. I am hoping for a non eventful day for us. Something nurturing to our soul and relaxing to our tired out bodies :) Hope you all have a great one too!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Barry! You rock me!!!!

Chickens,baseball, end of school year

We have been so very busy this last few weeks. It has been exhausting but in a good way. The Horners gave us a fantastic start to the chicken coop. Barry has been very busy trying to get it reconfigured. It was built very solid and proved to be a challenge to get down the cul de sac. But the neighborhood pulled together and with a trailer and some heavy lifting it was set right in its place on the end of the garden. The chickens are growing and are starting to bug me being in the kitchen. With this ugly, unpredictable weather we have been having it is just too cold for them to live outside. But I got busy putting together a mini-run with a dog house on one end so that when it is nice enough they can go outside. When I can, I plant my butt in a chair and watch them. Driving myself crazy with the question "is it a hen or a rooster?" We only want hens. The roosters will go back to the farm and the farm will give us hens of around the same age. At least, that is how I am told the program works. What happens to the roosters after that I am not sure and since we are becoming attached I try not to think about it. The whole process has been a great learning experience and fun!

Max's baseball team made it to the finals! So we will have baseball for an extra week or so. It has been great to watch how much the kids have improved and we have a good time at the games. Cooper and Wyatt get a chance to really run around with other kids while I get to sit and enjoy. So my attitude about Little League has improved I am happy to say.

End of the school year. It is funny how all of a sudden schools are cramming projects in. Wyatt's last day will be the 27th and then June 11th is the last day for Max and Coop. I got the boys signed up for swimming lessons the last part of July and beginning of August and other than that we have no big plans.

The garden is looking better. An unexpected frost killed off a jalapeno plant and the tomatoes are struggling. Peas, carrots and lettuce are doing great and of course the pumpkins are everywhere. Betty and Doug mailed Barry some Rhubarb which is planted and doing great too!

The bunnies are doing well. Although, they are not as friendly as we would like. Once things settle down around here we need to spend more time with them. I wanted to have two so they wouldn't get lonely in the hutch but I think all they really care about is themselves.

The inside of the house feels like a disaster! I am trying to not panic but it seems to be a bit out of control. Everyones clutter is everywhere! We are all guilty of it. The chickens have sort of disrupted things temporarily. The coop and run really need to be done right the first time so we don't have to spend a lot of time rethinking things. Then the inside of the house can get caught up. Unfortunately, it will all be here when that time comes :(

So I am supposed to be going to Home Depot to get paint for the coop and be out there painting. But now my kids have dispersed through out the neighborhood and they are going to cry when I tell them they have to get in the car! I can't wait until Max is old enough to watch Coop and Wyatt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Earth Day

First a picture of Nici. She is such a great horse. I have been able to go over once a week or so to see her. It is fun. I have forgotten more about horses then I remember but it is slowly coming back.

The neighbor whose daughter is in Coopers class stopped by the classroom the day after Earth day and she had a great Cooper story to tell.

The teacher asked the students what they did special for Earth day. One student said "I turned the faucet off when I brushed my teeth". Another said "I ate organic food". Cooper said "I cleaned up all of my Dad's empty beer bottles out of the lawn". How funny! In Barry's defense there was 2. But still it IS a funny story!

Bunnies and baseball!

The top bunny is Cooper's bunny Hopper! The other bunny is Wyatt's and she does not have a name because Wyatt wants to call her Wyatt. So we are still working on that.

Max getting ready to hit the ball!

Quick post. More later.

Yes a sunny day with little "breeze"

It has been a beautiful Sunday here in the Tri-Cities. Finally, very little wind. But with all that wind allergy season is proving to be nasty for some of us.

There is alot on my mind. I hope I can put it down without it being too confusing. If not

thpt!!!!!

Baseball is going well for Max. It is very challenging. Not just the physical part. But the politics of it. Coach said he was going to pitch. But he hasn't pitched yet. "Why is Walker playing first base?" We try to reassure him that it is so early in the season and coaches are really still getting to know their kids and to not worry. He is able to work through it and that is all I really want. School is very busy for him and with his week Saturday and Monday games and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday practice it is going to be challenging for him to get his homework done and fun time with his friends. I am finding it fun to watch the games. Max scored a run and I almost cried. How silly is that?!!!!!!

So check out the rabbit hutch we scored from Craig's list. Cooper and Wyatt are working towards being bunny owners! It has been a process. This hutch has its problems. For the most part is going to work out great once Barry reinforces a few things. Although he is not really a willing participant. So for the most part me and the boys are on our own with this one. We will be fine (I hope). More on that project when we find bunnies. I told the boys "First the rabbit hutch and THEN the rabbits". And if it would have been Barry that went to pick up the hutch we wouldn't have it. The place was a little "off" of the Gellner scale of approved properties :) I really scrubbed that hutch down and it is in the sun baking out any bad Karma.

Sick! That best describes Barry and I this last two weeks. Just a nasty head cold but slow to move on. Bummer to spend spring break and Barry's vacation being sick. On a good note that meant that we could trade off getting some rest.

Quietly celebrated my 46th birthday. Recieved wonderful birthday wishes which helped see me through! Thank You!

Getting back in the saddle and most important being around horses again has been great for my soul. But like everything else is not always easy. I missed so many years and things that I just knew like breathing I have to think about. And I am learning new rules and new ways. I was completely spoiled being with my friend Charlie and her wonderful place. She taught me well so I know these are just little bumps in the road of me getting started again. I am having fun. The gal who owns the horse is so very understanding. And of course Nici the horse is a gem! Although, just like me I can see she can be a little bitchy when she wants to.

We got the call today that the sofa and loveseat will be here on Friday the 16th. AHHHH! I can not wait. I really feel that we have extracted ALL use out of the set we have. They are truly ready to be retired.

I have planted peas, lettuce and carrots in the garden. We have filled the walkways with gravel. I am hoping that this will keep my weeding time down a little this year. Our neighbors have been letting their cats out at night and I have been finding cat prints in my garden. Barry laid down some wire fence over the fresh dirt. Hopefully, this will keep them from visiting. I really hope they stay away from the bunnies when they get here.

Anyway, life is good. I am busier. Had coffee with some lovely ladies. Not once but twice. My house is messier. But I am o.k. with that. I know that I will eventually get to it.

Sun today!!!I mowed the back yard. Planted a few geraniums. A fresh salad for Barry to take to work. Chicken, cranberries and Gorganzala cheese with a dijon vinegrette. Now dinner for me and the boys and school week prep.

That is all for now. Hope everyone has a great week.