trillium mama

hello summer, goodbye chickens

It really feels like summer here in western Oregon. Our vegetable garden is full and growing. Strawberry hunting season is open, and eager young hunters are out on the prowl.

It's also a sad intro to the season for us this year.Our beloved flock of hens have contracted a deadly and debilitating disease called Marek's Disease. It is extremely common and because of our experience with it, we will be starting our flock over next year with a batch of chicks that have been vaccinated against it. So today we went out and said goodbye to our chickens who will all be leaving this afternoon.

 

Hello summer, goodbye chickens.

spring sewing

Today I got to hang out with my friend Lindsay and her adorable daughter Daisy at the Purl District. We tackled a hand sewing project making these pin cushions. We made as much progress as could be expected with two children under the age of 4 assisting us, and a short time limit.

Chatting about sewing and working on this project inspired me to come home and work on some spring sewing that I've been putting off. I whipped up a couple of these lazy days skirts in just under an hour. I first saw these here on Amanda's blog. Give me another hour and I'll whip out three more!

 

I sewed these on my tiny Ikea dining table and used a vintage radio cabinet to lay my rotary mat on. This might not sound strange to some of you, but I happen to have a large craft/sewing studio that my amazing husband put together for me, and I never use it. I take that back-I have used it to brood a few batches of chicks, and my fabric, scissors, buttons, and thread are now all covered with a fine sifting of dust because of this fact. Honey if you're reading this, I promise I will clean my craft room soon, and put it to good use.

Random chicken photo of Ella our silver laced wyandotte hen.

quiet places

We have been busy lately. Trying to do more day trips and less staying home thinking we are going to accomplish great tasks, but not actually accomplishing anything. We had a trip to the coast, the Columbia River Gorge, got a new dog, had our first trip to the kid's dentist, and various other things. We have been awaiting the first signs of spring, daffodils are growing, chicks are hatching, and baby bunnies are expected soon. Things have been moving along at a good pace, nearing the end of winter and moving into a new, busier season.

We are taking time to enjoy the little things. The quiet found in visiting places off season has been blissful. A coast line with not another soul in sight, a popular fish hatchery with only the occasional single passerby. This is the time of year to enjoy the outdoors, before they are transformed by crowds of busy visitors.

 

 

 

 

   

happy fall!

Wishing you all a lovely Fall!

 

bantam dominique pullet chick ~Clara~

 

bantam black orpington chick ~Bailey~

 

bantam dominique pullet chick ~Ella~

summery goodness: day 7

 

Baby critters are a theme around our backyard farm, every summer. This year we have hatched chicks under a hen and in an incubator. We bought a bunny, and she came unknowingly pregnant with four adorable babies. We have our own petting zoo, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am raising my daughter to have a respect for and love of all creatures great and small. Summer is the perfect time to spend afternoons in the yard, cuddling with a bunny or a chicken.

 

   

 

and it's a hot one...

...like seven inches from the midday sun. As I sit here, that line from this song comes to my mind. This is actually not a post about me, but rather my chickens who are outside braving the 104 degree day, while I sit in my sort of air conditioned house. It's so hot that the street looks like a ghost town, yet my 18 or so hens and pullets are out in the backyard panting. Poor girls. I have given them ice blocks in their water, sprinklers to cool off the rocks, fans, and let them all out into my vegetable garden just so they can find more shade. Yes, I love my chickens.

county fair

Oh the county fair brings back such good memories for me. I was a 4-H geek for many years, and looked forward to the fair every year. We almost exclusively visit the fair to see the animals, lemonade and hand dipped corn dog are just a bonus. Squealing pigs, mooing cows, and goats licking your hand are the essence of the county fair. In addition to all of the usual critters, we also got to watch a flyball dog competition, which was really fun. Those dogs can move-even the little ones! I am also proud to say that a fellow BYCmember and friend won champion and first place ribbons with his hen Bertha-yay Luke!

Without further hesitation, here are some county fair photos to get you in the mood to visit your local fair.

blueberries and sunspots

This morning was a morning full of blueberries and sunspots-getting wet in the morning dew and tendrils reaching for the golden sun-Bees rolling over lavender blossoms and chicks, almost hens, half peeping, half clucking.

What a lovely outside to wake-up to. Fresh blueberries ripe for picking, eggs in the nest boxes, dill ready to harvest. A lazy pajama stroll around the yard, picking yummy things, playing in the wet grass, touching marigolds with chalky blue toddler fingers, and enjoying the cool morning sun, morning.

A summer morning is a hard thing to beat.

introducing..drumroll please...

After months of mulling, research, and waiting, we are pleased to announce the arrival of our newest canine baby, into our family.

Scout Sherman Dahlberg is a havanese, and according to the AKC, "His duties traditionally have been those of companion, watchdog, child's playmate and herder of the family poultry flock". Ok- I seriously found a dog that is not only a playmate for Ava, but is also going to herd my ever growing poultry population!

Here he is, Scout Sherman...

button button, who's got the.....

button quail?!

We have finally successfully hatched out some eggs at our house. We started with two adorable button quail that are so tiny, they look like little bumble bees. Ava adores them, but can't really hold them due the their size, and her two year old nature.

We also have four newly hatched bantam wyandottes in the incubator waiting for their hatch-mates to enter the world. It is really amazing to watch chicks hatch out-they work so very hard. Anyway, I wanted to post a few photos of the "bumble bee" chicks. More fluffy goodness photos of the bantam chicks will be posted in the next few days.

Get your fluffy fix here!