Odd Chicken Behavior

Welp. 

I'm going to assume this is normal chicken behavior. It's not even hot any more. 

Both got up and are fine....though we wondered for a bit. Chickens have incredibly flexible necks.

Dad is Visiting

I'm skipping around, but this is exciting news! Dad arrived on the 10th for a two week visit! We're having a bit of car trouble, and Michael doesn't want to have all our weight in the car...and I don't want to drive it on the freeway. Michael went and picked dad up. He and the Eagle River Gherkins who work in Anchorage met up for lunch.

The excitement at home built. Then this happened. Benny Bear met his great grandpa. 

Benny, Arielle and Dad 

Dad commented, "Oh, your Mom would have loved this."  It's true. In the midst of having a great time with Dad, we are newly aware that Mom is not with him. From the time they were in college, they ministered together.

Arielle Benny and Dad

We've moved a lot. Each home feels truly like "HOME," once the adult kids and Mom and Dad visit.  The realization hit tonight that Mom will never see this home.  It's a sad ache, in the middle of the fun and joy having Dad here.

I know he was thinking the same thing. We've shared comments about Mom and it's good....and we all miss her terribly, but we are so very thankful she is safe with Jesus and not experiencing any more horrendous cancer pain.

Dad, Nolan, Alex, Michael and Stacia

We missed her when we played Farkle. Grandpa promised to whoop Alex.....Alex won both games. 

We look forward to visiting with grandpa, the kids connecting with him again, him getting to spend time with the great grands, showing him a bit of this great state and playing many games of Farkle together in the next 2 weeks.

Dad is a much better visitor than the moose - though we'd like them to put in an appearance for him while he is here.

Note - there will be videos uploaded when I have time to edit.

Pets or Livestock

During our discussions about how to be as sustainable as possible....meat chickens and rabbits were mentioned. I KNOW I cannot kill them. I'm not even sure how I'll do slamming salmon. I have son in laws  and sons who said they could handle that part. I'm not 100% sure raising meat is in our future.  But rabbits were an animal I'd like to add - for the pet value....

Cory was offered a deal. He could buy 7 rabbits and cages for a steal. This is perfect. We have the joy of having rabbits on the place....and we don't have to do the work or pay to winter them. We can observe how much care they take and we can see if they actually become a meat source or sale item.  Being nutritarian (vegan) I will never eat one...I'm not sure the others will be able to either. 

Stacia's wanted bunnies for a long time

 This is Sunny. He's used to running with the chickens - so we may let him give that a try when we get a bigger run built. He's the father of the other 6. The other six are from the same kit. The plan is for 4 to become breeders and the other 3 to be sold or...... ugh.

I had seen a gal on YouTube who raises rabbits in a colony. That appealed to me....Cory got right to work and built a nice hutch for the rabbits. They'll be much safer than they were in the cages that came with them.

Here is the clip of them coming home.

Of course, we keep singing, "The Bunny, the bunny...I ate the bunny...." ala Veggie Tales.

4th of July

I admit to wondering if the projects here at "Wibbly Wobbly Acres," will EVER be done. I suspect not. If one wants to live as sustainable as possible, one must put forth a bit of effort. ::snort::

The 4th was a beautiful day! We planned to work on the greenhouse project...Cory had to work....Izaak planned to work at their house and then come help here. 

FIRST - we "welcomed" a couple unexpected guests. When we were playing Disc Golf on Sunday - Cy discovered the moose was Mama Moose and there was a tiny baby with her. They were content to stay in the woods, we were content not to play disc golf until they moved along. Today, they decided to claim the rest of the yard.

Woot! Look at the greenhouse. 

Look at all the cotton. I'm becoming less a fan of cottonwood all the time. One of our neighbors had a shop vac outside and was vacuuming his yard. We laughed. Now, I'm thinking of doing the same. 

Stacia made this yummy, from scratch, 4th of July Cake. 

Izaak purchased and then grilled chickens and steaks.

I told them to do something "sisterly." 

The Day Before the 4th

The day before a holiday. Our  plan was to finish raising the greenhouse walls and roof....but Michael had a crown come loose last night. He called the VA and they said to bring it in to the clinic and they would glue it back.  Since I don't go into his dental appointments, and it was in Anchorage, we decided I would stay home and continue working on my list. They ended up sending him for an afternoon appointment at a civilian dentist. He had a root canal. OUCH. He goes back next week to get the temporary crown replaced. He enjoyed catching lunch with Josiah while in town, stopped by a mechanic and did some other research while waiting for his appointments. 

It is becoming my habit to bake a couple of loaves of bread in the a.m. This allows me to get a loaf into the freezer a few times a week. Today, I experimented with a french bread recipe....it worked. (We ate them on the 4th and the were yummy). The oven gremlins raided the garlic pull aparts...by the time dinner arrived 1/2 the pan was missing. 

We have lilacs under the living room windows. They are in full bloom and the smell is heavenly.  I am going to dry some blooms and see if I capture the smell for winter. LOL 

The boys worked on the greenhouse as they could. Arielle took Benny out for some fun in the sun. Bre brought Gideon and Bella after their naps.  It hit 82* today - that is plenty warm in a home without an air conditioner.

Stacia made this wonderful flag cake for tomorrow. 

If you'd like to see and hear glimpes from the day...click below. 

Nolan's Great News and 2 Roos

We've suspected for a few weeks that Helga was a ROOSTER.  I heard her crow a couple of weeks ago - week and pathetic -  and nothing since.  I've been suspiciously watching "her" comb and wattle grow.

Helga

This morning I opened the coop with my customary, "Good morning girls!"  

Olga and several others rushed out the door. OLGA looked at me, straightened her neck and CROWED. WHUT? 

Olga

I ran to get the camera to catch her trick for my Chicken pals. As I came back Helga was letting loose with a volley of crows from inside the coop. No denying it - we have TWO Silkie Roos. I got this breed as the hens are known for being broody. They were supposedly "sexed" from the hatchery.  I thought I may get a roo next year and there would be a hen to hatch some chicks.  Plans change. We named the Silkies Olga (seen in the door below) and Helga as they were the guards of the hen house....now it makes sense. 

Olga  guards the hen house

Lucille Ball wonders what has gotten into Olga and Helga!

I am wondering about a red who is getting a bigger comb and wattle and is a bit more stand offish than the other reds. We'll know soon if we have three roos. We wanted none - as we have grand kids and they terrify me. However, I am seriously considering keeping one. The others will need to be re-homed. Though others around here have more nefarious plans for them. They'd best quit the 0500 crowing. ::snort:: 

The day was full of more than Olga's surprise. Have you ever had your Crocs shrink? Mine have. They used to be loose and now my whole foot barely fits in them at all. It's odd. These are my garden/chicken shoes....I've been leaving them out. Do you think the sun effected them? 

Michael and Alex continue to work on the greenhouse foundation. 

Nolan got all spiffed up (more glimpses on the video) and went for his first job interview. 

As soon as the boss realized he is 19 and not 30, she offered him a job. He'll take the food handlers test tomorrow and begin on the 4th. 

Michael was worn out after dinner. 

Stacia and I enjoyed playing with Bella and Bubbie (Gideon- Brother) today. Bre and Izaak spend all their free moments working on their new house. Carpet will be laid the 12th. We're all getting excited for them to be able to settle in.

Bella helped me weed the garden and water the berries and trees....

I think I'm going to get a lot of strawberries 

 Slim pickings this year in the orchard. LOL 

Gideon loves to chase the cotton around the yard. 

Here is a clip of our Rooster Discovery

 And....the goings on the rest of the day - building, playing....

*Note - Google had changed how my videos were being uploaded. I've figured out the work around and the clips are better again. Three were bad. I can't fix them.

M.I.A.

It IS my intention to keep up with our blog and our YouTube channel.

We are FULL speed ahead with projects around here. Many nights we are working until 10 or 11 p.m. and we fall into a shower and bed.

I'm up early working on "my morning routine" - which centers me and keeps me sane. Since the blog and the channel will both provide a family journal/record.....I do whichever is easiest. I'm having trouble with Light Room on the new lap top and haven't had time to figure it out.  I will.

In the meantime, I seem to be posting more videos than blogs. If you've not subscribed to our YouTube channel - you may enjoy doing so.  Click the link or search for Courageous Joy at You Tube.....

It's my goal to catch up.....