These Are the Days
It has been busy around here lately as I wrap up a lot of projects!
I chipped my tooth recently, so we spent Thursday heading to the Dentist in Sherwood. It was a filling they had done, so they fixed it at no charge, which was nice, but by the time I got home the only thing left to do for the day was sew.
Friday was butchering day, so I headed out to the butcher with my 15 birds. It really was nice to wrap up the project. I am glad to have meat in the freezer and to have 15 less mouths to feed. My chore time is being cut down considerably lately. After dropping the birds off at the butcher, I took Daphne to the park to play while they did the processing. As we were driving away, Daphne burst into tears asking me where here chickens were demanding that we go get them back. I heartlessly told her that we would go pick them up but that they would no longer be alive. I didn’t know what else to tell a 2 year old. When we went to pick up the birds to take home, she was perfectly happy to help load the car. She carried each chicken and put it in the box happily stating that it was a chicken. And I though she was going to be traumatized. I guess I need to do a better job making sure she knows what is going on.
When I got home and got Daphne down for a nap I headed out to the chicken coop to rearrange some things. The laying hens get better treatment now that I have more time for them. We got them a new shelter a few weeks ago to solve many of the problems I was having keeping them in such an awkward space. I took it back out and cleaned it and bedded it down with shavings for them. I also made a door for it so that I could keep them out during the day for a while. That side of the house is always in shade, and they don’t need the shelter during the winter. They were trying to lay eggs in there, and they were not super easy to get out, so I decided to lock them out during the day and let them in at night. This is all working really well. I made the door for them out of some lovely, scrap, pink fabric.
They also got a feed and water upgrade. They were having to eat and drink out of smaller containers, but with the meat birds gone and not needing the big feeder and waterer, the hens got it. It is nice for them to have free choice food and water again, and I think that they are much, much happier. Of course, being neurotic and pregnant, I spent about an hour sterilizing it for them after the meat birds had used it.
I worked on setting up the run for them more as well. At this point, I probably won’t do much more for the summer. The chicken coop used to block off half the run in the back, and since the birds spent the most time there, it had a lot of bedding and poop and stuff in it. It is built up about a foot higher than the rest of the ground. I aim to slowly have that compost down and spread it along the side of the house. The chickens now have a lot more room to run around in, which is better for everyone. I also need to put a top on the nesting boxes so that they are more willing to use them. Chickens don’t like to lay unless they have privacy.
I went out on Friday night with a friend and her daughter. I ended up getting my first pedicure. It was a very lovely experience, especially being pregnant with such swollen feet. It is not something I plan to do often, but it was nice and relaxing. While the rest of me is covered in dirt, my feet don’t look right being all pretty!
Today, Jared and Daphne helped clean the back of the car out a little more. I hope to complete the rest of it. We then took an adventure to Portland. I got my hair cut by a student at the Aveda Salon. It is nice because the services are very inexpensive, but you get great service. I got the best hair cut of my life from a girl who spent a lot of time working and learning. It only cost me $10. You can’t get a cheaper haircut, that is for sure. I definitely recommend going there for anything if you live in the area.
Jared, Daphne and I then headed to a photo shoot. My friend Christy from Studio Christy did some maternity photos and some family photos for us. I think that she did a fabulous job, and I can’t wait to see them. I will definitely share them when I do.
We have been having very hot weather here. It has been record setting. I was just complaining about the wet, but now it is very hot. It got to be over 90 degree here today. The garden needed a good watering. My peas are growing nicely.
As are my artichokes!
The rest of the garden is catching up. It looks barren, but the plants are growing already.
This is Daphne sleeping in her own bed tonight. She has been going to sleep in her own room as long as she gets to sleep with a baby and read any books that she wants.
Aren’t they cute when they sleep?
Ok. My feet are swollen to great sizes, and everyone around here is tired, so Goonight!