New Shoe for Chickie-Poo

I promised Steve I would never take my new chickens to the Vet - ever. It was either that or no chickens. I justified that this promise wouldn't be hard to keep because, well, what could go wrong with a chicken?

Turns out, a lot. 

I noticed yesterday that my Frizzle chick was moving kind of funny...and on closer inspection I could see that one of her toes was bent under her foot and she was actually walking on it. :(

After a lot of Googling, I discovered this can be a problem in chicks. At first I cleared my schedule and with my phone in hand, got ready to call the Vet. Until, that is, the Angel on my shoulder politely reminded me about the promise I made to Steve. The Devil on my shoulder was whispering "Steve who?"

But realizing I like Steve and I'd like to stay married to Steve, I decided to try to deal with this on my own. So with some Duct Tape, a few toothpicks, and a Bandaid or two, I made a tiny corrective shoe for my chickie poo to wear. 

Today I removed shoe #1 and there is already an improvement so I re-fitted her with a fashionable blue shoe - one which I plan to leave on now for a few days. So far the other chickie poos are giving it an occasional investigative peck or two but then ignoring it. I think they're actually jealous. 

Call me clucking crazy...but I think chickie poo likes it. Tiny matching purse coming soon. 

(Shoe #1)

(Blue shoe #2)

xo 

Lisa 

Faith, Family, Friends....and a Flock!

With my two oldest chicks out of the nest and off to college, I finally fulfilled a long time item on my bucket list...I got baby chicks! Bantams to be specific - they are 1/4 to 1/5 the size of a regular chicken, and their eggs are similarly proportioned compared to their larger relatives. 

My kids and I have wanted chickens for as long as I can remember and I have a couple of wonderfully experienced chicken farming friends who have been amazing resources as I mother my new babies.

I can't say Steve is 100% on board, but he hasn't taken out the frying pan yet and I've even caught him snuggling a chick or two when he thought I wasn't looking. I convinced him that with one kid left in my nest, the timing was now - while my 13 year old chick was still eager to help with raising the hens!

My daughter was a bit disappointed I waited till she left for college to start a flock, but nevertheless she is just as enthused from afar as we are about naming and imagining what these little balls of fluff will become in the next few months. 

I can now add Chicken Farmer to my list of things I always wanted to become. I am enjoying every minute of designing and having their hen house built. Do I think these chicks are partially filling an empty spot in my heart with two of three kids gone from my home? Possibly - and that's not to say my kids can be replaced by balls of feathery and heavenly fluff...but they sure are a fun distraction!

Come see me for free eggs and a coop tour in about 6 months....

(4 of 7 chickie poos)

Now who doesn't love a fluffy chicken butt?

xo 

Lisa

Make it stop!

Make it stop! 

By that, I mean the clock. 

My daughter is just two days away from leaving for college and I know this sounds cliche, but where did the time go? I can still remember her first day of kindergarten like it was yesterday, so how is it possible it was 12 years ago instead?

It was difficult when my oldest son left for college two years ago, but there is something different about my daughter leaving. To be clear, I love all my children and embrace each one for their differences - but having a daughter in a house full of testosterone has been like having our own special sorority.  She gets my silliness and can, in fact, match it. She is a dear and faithful friend and I will miss having her in my house on a day to day basis. She is lovely on every level and anyone who gets to know her in college will be forever changed for the better. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled and excited for her to begin college and I know this is part of life and 'letting go' but it's so very difficult and selfishly, I'm very sad. I know eventually the sadness will be replaced with happier emotions as she finds success and happiness of her own on her own, but it will truly take some time. It is not easy to send your child to college. It's a very bittersweet endeavor indeed. 

I'd like to imagine my daughter as a butterfly as she flutters into this next facet of her life and pass on some lessons we can all learn from such creatures:

Let go of the past...

Trust the future...

Embrace change...

Come out of the cocoon...

Ride the breeze...

Savor the flowers...

Put on your brightest colors...

Let your beauty show.

To my beautiful daughter, you are a blessing to me every day and I love you with all my heart. 

 Love, Mom