Chicken Update

This summer we let one of our broody hens sit on two eggs. They both hatched and we believe them both to be hens. Yeah, no more roosters. In the picture on the left is the run and coop of the adult game fowls. In the picture on the right is the nursery where the two baby chicks grew up in to 20 wk old teens after spending the first 5 weeks of their life in a brooder in our kitchen. There is fencing behind that big tree that connected both coops so the adult chickens and baby chicks have spent the last two months seeing each other every day but not able to touch one another. Today was the momentous occasion of integrating everyone. Scott cut a door between the two coops and let nature take its course. The only real worry we have is that the rooster (because he is not the nicest) might try to hurt them. But so far everyone is getting along great.

Here is mother and daughter getting to know each other again. Another update is egg production. We are getting 5-7 eggs a day. Just to give you an idea of what this many eggs looks like - I gave a dozen eggs to a neighbor 4 days ago, cooked 10 eggs for egg salad for a church dinner yesterday, 4 eggs for two separate desserts and 2 for breakfast yesterday. Guess how many I still have in the fridge? 17.

How I Bake Blondies

Fran requested the recipe I use for blondies:
2 1/4 cups flour
2 sticks butter
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 - 2 cups of choc. chips

Soften butter. Mix butter, brown sugar, sugar, vanilla, and eggs throughly. Then add salt, baking soda and flour. Lastly add choc. chips or something else of your choosing. Bake in the oven at 375 for 25 minutes in a 9 x 13 glass dish. Some ovens make only need 20 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick. Remove from oven and let set for 30 minutes before cutting. Remember that the blondies will continue to harden some once the pan is removed from the oven. Enjoy.

To Answer a Question

Fran asked what a blondie is? I am answering through a post because currently blogger is not letting me comment on certain blogs. Something about cookie being null for form restoration. I have no idea what that means. But to get back to the question. A blondie is a choc. chip cookie in pan form like a brownie. Only this time I added choc. cover peanut candies instead of the choc. chips. Not sure when blogger is going to let me comment again. So please don't think that I am ignoring anyone.

Lots of Chores to Accomplish Today

Some items on my list have to be done today and some are suggestions. But I hope to get my entire list accomplished today.

• Go through science units that I downloaded for free



• Clean bathrooms (my most hated chore)



• Watch the new Fringe episodes on Fox



• Clean chicken coops and fresh water



• Help Grace learn her lines for Robin Hood



• Walk 30 minutes



• Have Grace try on new pants and costume for play



• Work on cross stitch Christmas ornaments



• Make egg salad for church fellowship dinner tomorrow



• Make cookies for here at the house



• Make blondies for church fellowship dinner tomorrow



• Declutter at least two rooms


• Wash linens

As I type this I have already finished four items on the list. Right now sitting down to catch a breather before plunging ahead with more chores.

Favorite Field Trip

Hands down our favorite field trip every year is to go see a Wonderquest performance. This year is our fifth year of attending. Over the five years we have seen The Emperor's New Clothes, Robin Hood, Briar Rabbit, The Fire Dragon, and this year's James and the Giant Peach. Grace wants to perform in this performance hall so bad. Another option she is looking at for her future is attending this college as a theatre major. She just loves performing. Below is a photo with grasshopper and James. The character in the above photo is the earthworm. This guy did an incredible job of making you believe he was actually an earthworm. Below is the centipede. The same actor played Briar Gator in last year's performance.

This actress played the spider. Her costume was awesome.

The last photo is the ladybug. She asked Grace if she was a homeschooler and when we said yes, she told us she was home schooled also. We told her that Grace was very much into drama and performing and she said Grace really needed to come and audition. A few children are selected each year to play extra characters. We so wish that Wonderquest had more than one performance a year. My photo wouldn't load of the set but it was also amazing.

Escape to the Park

Our small town has a terrific little park. Midday we decided to take a break from school to get lunch and do our 30 minute walk at the nearby park before returning home for the remainder of our school work. At the park we discovered a swarm of little red and black beetles in one section. We also saw a ground hog just sitting by the walking path. Once we returned home I went to the Internet and found out the beetles are box elder bugs.

Days Passing By Quickly

It seems that each day passes so quickly which in turn makes the weeks and months fly by. I knew that this semester would be a heavily scheduled one with many outside of the home activities. But it was kind of planned that way on purpose. Grace was craving time with kids her own age. Over the summer she was really bored and lonely for companionship. So far my plan is working famously. For the past 6 months to a year Grace has said numerous times that she really wanted a close friend to hang out with and talk to. She has started spending time with a girl her age that has all the same likes (drama, performing, singing, drawing). This is just what she needed. So most weeks are comprised of two different drama practice groups, chemistry class, youth group at church, art class, and now visits between the two friends. Before we know it Thanksgiving and Christmas will arrive. I don't even want to think about Christmas. Normally I am a create a gift kind of person, but no plans or time this go around. I would much prefer not to give presents for the adults just something for the kids. Many years have come and gone when me and Scott do not exchange gifts. The older I get the less all that stuff means to me. I am also thinking that this year I would like to purchase gifts from smaller in town businesses to show our support instead of large chain businesses like Wal-mart. I know it is getting harder and harder for the local small business to stay open. I think I will take this moment to pledge to try and purchase most of the Christmas gifts from local small businesses in my area. Boy this post sure did start out as one thought and finish as another.