Back to Basic Living

For over two weeks, I’ve been coming up short on my head count each night when I tuck the chickens in. And a few times I found a Hamburg hen clucking softly and pacing by the closed chicken run first thing in the morning when I went to let the other chickens out for the day. I knew that little hussy was broody and setting on a nest somewhere, but I could not find it. Well, she came into the run this afternoon while I was tending to the waterer and feeder, and I waited her out and followed her when she headed back in the woods.

And I found her clutch. There must be about three dozen eggs in it.

She’s way too small to cover all those eggs. I have no idea how many will hatch.

Well, there goes my plan of limiting the number of chicks this year……

Look at this cute bench Bernie made out of the leftover deck material.

It’ll be a nice bench to sit on and watch that broody Hamburg with all the little babies she’s sure to bring up in the yard in the next week or so. Hussy.

One of these things just doesn’t belong here:

No, it’s not that rusted truck tool box I once used as a brooder and has now been banished to the edge of the woods. Look a little closer. To the left of the box, under that pile of brush:

And look what I found when she got up:

There were nine of those eggs in that little hidden nest. They’ve got another nest or two out there, and I’m going to find them, dammit!

And don’t you look at me like that, you little hussy.

I want to show you a few things in the greenhouse. We’re doing a little experiment and growing a couple of peppers and tomatoes in the greenhouse this year. We’re hoping they do well and have an extended season. So far, so good:

And look at this pretty little Colorado wildflower (thanks, Lilla!):

This little wildflower came from the seeds I brought back from Nebraska:

So did this Morning Glory:

Mom brought me a bunch of flowers and plants when she came to visit last month. I have no idea what this one is, but it really has a beautiful bloom:

And one of the pots she brought me had some little rogue Impatiens in them:

The Basil is starting to grow now.

The Oregano is getting a little crazy.

And the Thyme is doing great. My dear friend from Texas brought me the pot it’s in when he came up to visit a couple of years ago. I love that little pot and it makes me think of him and smile every time I look at it.

Oh, and look at these fig trees my father started rooting for me and brought up last month:

I’m hoping to get them planted next spring. Maybe if I put chicken wire around them and then fill it with leaves and straw in the fall they will make it through the winters up here.

OK, speaking of chickens, I need to go hunt for some hidden nests. I really don’t like doing that. Not only do I rarely have luck finding them, the hens laugh at me while I’m searching.

Little hussies.

Bee Free,
Penny