Dreams Do Come True

I'm glad you all enjoyed my nonsensical dream!

I could start a blog just sharing my dreams, because every.single.night that's what they are like.

Epic.

Not always so tumultuous, but ridiculous nonetheless.

Been pretty busy since we last spoke.

: -)

Working away on things for the Open House. 

I'm anxious to meet you all!

I'm concerned that the driveway, yard and probably the kitchen will be a complete

 mud hole with this weather we are having.

It was in the 50's yesterday and rained most of the day - the 8" of snow and the rain are now in my basement.  Never a dull moment.

I got bit by a dog.

Yep.

My first time ever - sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.

I learned this time.

Took over an hour to stop bleeding.

It was my fault.  I think I needed a couple of stitches, but I came home and superglued it shut.  

I'll probably have a scar, but they add character.

I can now sing 'when the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad' - and sing it like I mean it.

I need to learn that every animal does not desire my affection.

I'm worse than a one year old - anything interesting goes in my mouth.

The BoyChild is visiting this weekend.
I'm not sure what my hair will look like by the end of the day.
Yesterday I got an updo.
Unfortunately, he cannot be at the Open House this Saturday, it's a mandatory school day.

I placed a giant order for supplies on Saturday.  I'll be filling my Etsy shop soon with natural hand lotions and body butter, and my home roasted 'Coop Keeper Coffee'!

Amid all the other things that were going on the last few days, I took the time to plan out my vegetable garden and pick out the chickens I want for this Spring.

I've decided to order baby chicks through the mail - I've never done this before, and I feel a bit apprehensive.  My reason for doing it?  I really want the breeds I want, all at once.  I also want to order ONE rooster.  The feed store seems to get breeds in all throughout the Spring, and I just didn't want to be introducing new birds all the time, plus, they only sell females.

I'm going to order them from McMurray Hatchery.

I've decided on all heavy breeds, brown egg laying birds.

Some of the lighter breeds sounded wonderful - but I hesitate to get them, since I don't electrify my coop, and my birds must overwinter on their own, with no heat lamps.

Am I cruel?

I don't think so.  

I think heat lamps are a great way to start the Great Crown Point Fire of 2013.

And it would be my luck.

Chickens were successfully raised before electricity was even invented.

I chose these breeds:

New Hampshire Red - This will be a new one for me - looks like  Rhode Island Red to me - but that's like  comparing New York to New Jersey - I shan't do it.  The catalog promises her to be a prolific layer.

The Black Australorp - a gorgeous, plump 'so black she's almost green' bird.

The Partridge Rock - this will be the stuck up cheerleader of the coop, I'm most certain.  You can tell by the
 look on her face - she thinks her plumage is the best.

He'll be the cock of the walk here - The Rhode Island Red Rooster.

The fabulous Buff Orpington - if I could only keep one breed - this would be it.
Lustrous feathers, plump body, good Mother, great egg layer. So gentle.

I absolutely cannot wait to hear the scratching and peeps of the baby chicks! 
The order will be shipped around the 8th of April.  I'll do a little video of their arrival!

Now...on to the garden.

My chickens are right behind this garden area...the vegetable garden will go right behind the chickens.

I'm bristling with excitement over it.  I think I'm really over winter - and needing some dirt under my fingernails.  I need to see some green.  I think I have a 'vision' for extending the garden - hopefully it's not a premonition.  Here are some photos of the area, as of yesterday.  I'm starting from scratch here.  I'll take you along the journey with me, from start to finish.  I'm not promising you that I'm going to do it the right way - but I will have a garden here, and it my mind it's going to be fabulous!

The vegetable garden is going to go right behind my chickens.  This will work for several reasons...the chicken poop collected can easily be put in the garden, the weeds can easily be thrown to the chickens, and I'm dreaming of sitting on my swing, placed in the northeast corner of my vegetable garden, so I can sit there, and drink it all in.  My garden, my birds, my bees. 

 My dream come true.

I sketched it all out yesterday.  I don't want it to be unrealistic, and I only want to grow what I know I'll eat.  I hesitated to grow cauliflower or broccoli - only because I've not grown it before, which is really no excuse, but I want a stress free garden this year!  I don't want to over do it, and have a weed patch.  A little well kept garden is much better than a large unkempt one.


Happy 
Monday!