Don't forget to check past posts

If you are like me and just figuring out this fast moving electronic world of texting and blogging, you may have not noticed that posts can be back dated.  Like for example, I just put a bunch of new photos and canning stuff on the blog but dated each post according to the day it happened.  So....you'll have to scroll down to see some of the new posts.  Or you can use the links on the right for different months/years to view what was posted then.  You can also plug in your email and "subscribe" so that whenever a new post is added you'll get an email to let you know about it.  I like that method for my favorite blogs.  Hope all of you wonderful family and friends out there are doing well!

Why does a full cupboard look so wonderfully warm and secure?!

Canning frenzy!

Southwestern soup....

Pesto....

Hmmmm...what can we do with celery?!

Love peeling onions

The fruits of our labors

Blueberry preserves - ah heaven!

Peach Jam and Canned Peaches

After the success of our first canning expedition with potato leek soup (thanks for Bambi and Diana's careful preparation), we decided to try peaches since they were in season.  We ended up with 24 pints of peaches and 12 jelly jars peach jam.  Yum!!

The watermelon that wasn't...

Well it looked perfect, didn't it?!  Gorgeous green with a pretty pattern.  Upon opening it the inside was white and the flavor was non-existent.  What a bummer!  Luckily the hens do not seem to have our high-level of standards regarding taste and therefore they enjoyed it thoroughly. 

Weeks later we tried another one and luckily this one was bright red inside and tasted wonderful.  Strangely this "seedless" variety had a ton of seeds...but who doesn't enjoy a little seed spitting?!  

Chicks at one week and half

 I was out of town for three days this week.  Upon my return, the chicks looked so huge!  Their wings have feathered out and their legs and beaks are lengthening. Its incredible!  Diana and Natalie put a sand bath in the brooder for the babies to try, but they would have none of it.  Maybe next week!

Pussy Cat's long wings

Camilla

Poppy

Gladys Bunny

Hen Taxi

Natalie is s good with the hens and has been sure to give extra attention to the big girls now that we have five new babies to watch over.  She took Little Red Hen for a ride in her taxi the other day.

Chicks are a few days old and growing so fast already!

Pussy Cat and Gladys Bunny resting together

Natalie's new chick - Camilla - is delightful and loves her mama

Poppy is learning to perch.  She has the longest legs
and stands tallest right now

Curious Camilla

Pussy Cat in Natalies' lap

Poppy and Camilla

Augusta is the quietest and loves to be held.

All five chicks are learning to snuggle together under the warm
red light above their brooder - we keep it about 90 degrees right now

Loss of Fannie Mae

Sadly Fannie Mae died suddenly on Wednesday.  That morning Natalie noticed that Fannie was "doing poorly" and called Diana over to look at her.  Fannie Mae was panting, her eyes were wide.  Diana called the vet though the avian vet on call would not be available until 2pm. Only about 30min later, Fannie Mae gave a honk and then passed away.  We're stunned to have her seem completely healthy one minute and then gone the next.  We think it was an aneurism or a problem with her vent that was very suddenly an issue.  All the other hens seem fine but we are all mourning the loss of our sweet Fannie Mae.