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As we say farewell to 2009 and bring in 2010, I can’t help but to look back at this year and think of a few things that went a lot differently than I would have imagined…….

I was certain I would be a kid forever, but in January of 2009 I faced the only birthday that has ever bothered me.

For quite some time we had been searching for two “outside” dogs that would live in the yard and protect the chickens and property. In January we found Diesel and Dolly, who have become the only two “outside” dogs on the planet that have never actually slept outside.

And although I swore I would never let my hens hatch out babies, I got my first broody in February, and another quickly followed. I let them set on eggs, and in March, we had several new baby peeps running around the homestead. The cycle of broodies and babies would not end until late September.

2009 found me doing a few things I would have swore I would never do:

• culling a pet chicken that was ill
• operating on a roosters foot, and giving him antibiotic shots on a regular basis
• sending eight cockerels to freezer camp
• making and eating a pumpkin pie - and several other orange things

And although a few things went a little differently than I would have expected, 2009 was a wonderful year on the homestead. Our blessings have been many, our trials have been few. We’ve worked hard, learned a lot, and been thankful for each day.

Thank you sharing 2009 with me through this blog. I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful 2010, filled with love, happiness, and things that make you smile.