Sunday Moment

Good Morning :)

this kid is awesome

It still amazes me that I helped create an individual, a soul. I pushed a mind out of my body. Woah. I gave life to a person who will grow up and be a citizen in our world.

 

As S is getting bigger, I am becoming more aware of the individual he is. I could just sit here and observe him all day. He is becoming more and more interesting every single day. Tomorrow he will be 10 months old! Wait, what? 10 months old????

He crawls, laughs, yells, babbles, loves to eat (especially blueberries, whole blueberries!) and totally enjoys hanging out with other kids. He listens, observes, plays, climbs and pulls himself up to stand. He thinks dogs are hilarious and he chases his chickens. This kid is awesome.

Man, I love this life!

soft egg

This week is Yellowman's second week of laying eggs.

  That's Yellowman

Right now she is the only hen of five that is laying. I went outside today to collect her egg and was surprised to find that it was soft and rubbery. I am new to the chicken business, but have heard of this before. I understand that this common with newly laying hens and I also know that it can be caused be a calcium deficiency (among many other things). I have decided to crunch up a bunch of egg shells that I just tossed in the compost pile and feed them to the girls. I am hoping that will help harden her eggs. Compared to oyster shells, a commonly used supplement, they are free and easy to come by. We'll see if it helps!

Cluttered Brain

During the past couple of days I have had so many posts run through my mind. There is so much going on inside of my brain that I don't even know where to start. I think I'm going to go the list route. Yeah, a list sounds good, complete with pictures of course.

This is kind of old news, but our coop is finally complete! I am so proud of my husband for creating the plans and constructing this masterpiece single hand-idly. Built out of 90% (free!) up-cycled materials - f yea!

 


The St. Louis Zoo opened their new seal exhibit, it was pretty sweet.

 

 


S is walking with his little walker toy that Old Grandma Lila got him from a garage sale at the farm. I am so happy she found it! S just pulls himself right up and away he goes.

 


The child LOVES to swing. I mean, I think he would stay in that thing all day. It's funny because he hated his swing when he was a baby......as if he isn't a baby anymore ;)




He has five best friends. He chases after them until he gets a few good pets in. He thinks they are hilarious.

 


We got our first eggs!! What an amazing feeling it was to open the latch and see 2 little eggies waiting to be collected.

  


And last but not least, our FREE chair. Found it in front of someone's house while taking a walk with S and the baby I nanny. It was covered with a sheet and had a sign that said "take". Don't mind if I do!

 

For the Love of Rain

 
Evening, Independence Day at the farm

Lately I have been confused, wondering if I live in Death Valley or not. These past few weeks have been extremely hot and dry. The grass is crunchy and the crops are sad.
Our local farmers are truly taking a hit. 4th of July firework displays were canceled all over the region in fear of the fireworks starting wildfires. It has been extreme to say the least.

Last night was the first time in four long, tired weeks that the rain decided to shower down on this thirsty land.  I can truly say this - it was the most beautiful rain I have ever experienced. It was spiritual. The ground, the trees, the flowers, they all gulped it up with such eager mouths. I put myself in their position and allowed myself to take it in from the vegetation's perspective. I breathed easier. I inhaled and exhaled with such a tender, sweet sense of relief. I imagined steam rising from my whole surface.

As we drove down that 2 lane highway I stared as the sinking sun put on a mystical display of thick yellow and pale blue alternating rays. The rays seemed as if they were growing among layers and layers of different types of clouds, its soil - fog.

We gained miles while the sun quickly dipped and a dusty rose reflection beamed off the glossy black interstate. I was in a trance.

It really is amazing how we are all connected, humans, plants, insects, animals, land and water.

The Power of Song and Dance

Lately we have been listening to a ton of music, all different genres. It keeps us moving throughout our day. If there is a strange funk, we just turn on Pandora and dance it out. 

It's amazing how much influence music has on S. Now that I started turning on Pandora, S plays independently while I have a moment to clean. If he fights his sleep, we just turn on a fun dancing song and dance around the living room until he tires out. Works every time.

 Today, Miike Snow saved the day.