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We’ve been blessed with a couple of days of beautiful weather this week. It’s actually been in the 70s the past couple of days, and it’s supposed to stay that way through the weekend. Like most of you, the gift of warm weather after such a long, cold winter makes my body and soul begin aching for spring and it turns my thoughts to gardening. It’s much too early to get all excited about gardening, but it’s the perfect time to start working on adding the raised beds we so desperately need for the vegetable garden. It’s also the perfect time to start seeds inside - but I don’t have a place to start seeds here. At least I didn’t……

This week I finally took the plunge and ordered an 8X12 greenhouse. Building a greenhouse has been on “the list” for over a year, and I haven’t seen it inch anywhere closer to the top of that list, so I dipped into my piggy bank and ordered one. It arrived this week - in three boxes. This weekend will be spent digging out a flat spot in the yard with the backhoe, and assembling my new greenhouse. I am hopeful that by next weekend I will be starting seeds inside of it.

Thanks for all the kind notes asking about Bernie’s shoulder and wishing him well. I went with him to the orthopedic specialist Thursday. As it turns out, he apparently damaged his rotator cuff. We’re fairly certain this happened last October, as that was when he began having pain. Because his shoulder was in pain, he favored it for the past several months and it has resulted in a frozen shoulder. The good news is that he does not need surgery and can hopefully “un-freeze” his shoulder on his own,  possibly with the help of physical therapy. The bad news is that “un-freezing” it involves a great deal of pain. He simply has to force himself to move it to the point of pain, and then move it some more. But my man is nothing if not tough. He can handle it. Feel the burn, baby!

For those of you that have written expressing interest in chicken saddles, and no interest in making them on your own, I’ve agreed to make a few and sell them. You can chose from four quite stylish fabrics. Specify the size(s) (medium or large) that you want, send me $5.00 for each, and I’ll make and mail your order. I’ll even pick up the shipping. I’m just nice like that. Imagine your hens strutting around in one of these stunning saddles

Hens are very fashion conscious. Help your girls make their own fashion statement and be the envy of the barnyard.

And speaking of fashion - I decided to make a statement of my own. A few days ago I had 11 inches of hair cut off my head. And I’ve decided to embrace my age and let my gray grow in. I did add a few highlights in the hopes of making the gray look a little more chic.  I’m not sure I was entirely successful, but the chickens seem to like it. So does Bernie. The cats didn’t seem to notice. And the pups were very impressed

Ahhhhhh, puppy breath. Let’s try it again. Smile for the camera

That Dolly has the attention span of a gnat. Oh well, you get the idea. Hey, I just realized, the color in my hair is the perfect blend of Dolly and Diesel’s fur! How cool is that? We are definitely stylin’ on the homestead.

Bee Free,

Penny