Will Winter End?

This is a question that my kids ask me on a daily basis.  I also believe that the chickens are also asking this every time I stick my head in the coop.  I answer my kids, "Yes, it will end."  They ask "When?"  I say "June!"  I hope that it ends much earlier then June, but this way I have a pretty strong feeling that I won't be letting them down.

Adin is in the middle, the other two boys are my nephews.

Some things that we have been doing to keep us entertained with all this snow (when there isn't Arctic Temps blowing) is teaching the kids to cross country ski and snowshoe.  My sister brought down some smaller skis that the boys don't fit into any more and a pair that is just too big for them jet.  The kids love them, especially Adin.  Every chance he has gotten since January 25 he has been skiing.  He even skied in Ashland's Book It (the kid's version of the Book Across The Bay.) While the Olympics were on, we watched every cross country ski race and biathlon that was on.  Ole Einar Bjorndalen from Norway became a favorite in our house.  I think Adin may become a future bi-athlete.  The girls are getting pretty good also.  We just have to switch between skiing and snow showing with them.  I tried to break out my old old old skis and I need different boots.  I have decided that snow shoeing is more my style with my weak right ankle, much harder to roll the ankle with snow shoes.

There has also been lots of sledding, shoveling and snow-blowing/plowing.  We are running out of room.

We have also been enjoying some snuggle time with the 3 beagle ladies.  No bunny hunting this year, we would loose these 3 girls in the snow.

 They will take all the snuggling that they can get.

 

I have found my self on Pinterest more often looking at gardeny things.  I NEED to get my hands in the soil.  Soon I'll be able to start some seeds and pray the cat doesn't make a mess.  He can be trouble.  Here is a happy summer garden picture to warm us all up.  Hope it helps.  I know it brings a smile to my face.

No Sugaring This Year

The family has decided to forgo the Sugaring season this year.  We have much to much snow and we still have about 3/4 of the syrup that we canned last year left.  Time to give the trees a year off, they deserve it after this winter.

The Chicken Saga

It seems as though when ever updating our laying hens, comes into conversation there is a soft hearted 7 year old that bursts into tears and says "Not Cricket."   He has a special bond with this one.  She was one of the first and fell asleep in Adin's hands as a chick.  :(

You see our girls are getting older and not producing they way they used to... they didn't produce a single thing for months this fall.  Then I started talking about butchering all the girls but the 2 youngest and now, with the cold and everything I have eggs.

 I don't think all of them are laying, but it is so hard to figure out which egg goes with which lady.  I know Lucy's egg, she is a Leghorn = white egg.  But then there are Lady Cluck and Red who are Buffs, Cricket who is a Dominique, Fancy Nancy who is an Australop and Cinnamon who we think is a Rhode Island Red (she was an "oops" in the first meat chick batch last summer - she was not a Cornish Cross).  All of these ladies lay brown eggs.  Miss Cricket has always laid these petite perfect eggs and we just haven't gotten one in a while and Cinnamon is just now starting, I think they are her's, giant eggs (we have only had 3 so far.)

In the winter we have only one of our two coops running as we only winter over 6-7 birds (Swamp the roo included) and use the 2nd in the summer for our meat chickens.  But I am thinking of firing up the 2nd one a separating some out to see which lady is laying what or not at all.  Then I can do some selective butchering and maybe get a few new pullets from a co-worker of my hubby and get some more egg production going.

We'll have to see.  I keep telling the kids that this is what raising chickens is all about: food.  It is it too much for him, I may have to seek retirement housing for Cricket at my sister's coop.  Sis had a hard time putting any of her girls down and seeing as I took Swamp off her hands, maybe that will work.  Hmmmm.

A Time of Firsts

The last few weeks have been a time of first's.
1.  Adin had his first time of going deer hunting with us. (On my birthday - I was a happy mamma)

 2.  We had our first family Christmas cookie baking session with my Mom, Sister, one 2nd grader and 4 kindergartners.  Lots of fun and flour all over my kitchen.  I can't wait until next year.

3.  My first adventure making Grandma Deloris Donuts.  She said that they passed the test.  :)  Yay!

4.  First time we celebrated Christmas at our house with everyone, instead of at my Mom and Dad's.  Their house is in the process of being built.  It would have been a bit chilly.

And hey, it is the first day of 2014.

I am hoping for many more firsts this year and a great year ahead.