A Time of Growth

I love Spring!  It is a time, more than any, when I awake to the chirping birds outside my window and think, "Today is a brand new day, filled with hope and possibilities".  We are surrounded by leaves, buds, and verdant green, signs of new life are all around.  We are so blessed. Thank you Almighty Creator for the gifts of growth, and awakenings. 

My aspiring oaks have been very busy planting, nurturing, and building over the past month.  Here is what we have been doing:

The boys planted an enormous amount of veggies, and J-Straco has a couple flats of herbs.  He has been very consumed with growing medicinal herbs since reading his new favorite book, "A Kids Herb Book".

We have been reading about the history of the medicinal herbs and found this book, "The Apothecary".

 It is a really interesting book, and ties in so well with our histroy study of the colonial period.

Farm Boy turned 9 in April, and wanted only one thing....a dog.  We found a shelter in Illinois, about 90 minutes from us that rescued dogs from kill shelters and puppy mills.  We were so impressed with them, we drove down one day and came back with Milo.

We were told he was an Australian Cattle Dog.  I'm not sure I see that when I look at him, but goodness, he sure acts like it.  He is a VERY active 6 month old puppy.  The boys take him for many romps a day, through the woods, up and down the driveway, and outside for a good game of fetch.  The Prinicpal has been trying to take him running in the morning, but so far Milo hasn't been thrilled with that idea. He likes to herd the children, and the cats.  He is doing a really good job keeping the raccoons away from the yard and field, and he'll have chickens to herd in a few weeks.   I hope he likes chickens! (not of the nugget variety)

Speaking of chickens.....we ordered 5 Buff Orpington chicks a month ago.  The men folk have been busy building the brooder, and now the coop.  The coop is a work in progress, but is really shaping up.  After much research, we found a picture of a coop we liked and the guys have been drawing up plans and getting construction under way. 

We were told the girls would arrive today, and were awaiting the call to tell us it was time to pick them up.  We waited and waited and the call never came.  After hundreds of inquiries of  "mom, are the chicks here yet?" I gave in and called them.  I spoke with a very somber sounding woman who informed me that 90% of the chicks had died in transit due to the heat the previous day.  She took my name and went to check on our chicks.  I prayed furiously that our chicks were in the minority that had survived, and sure enough, our prayers were answered.  Our chicks had survived the trip! I told the lady we would hurry over and pick them up, and we did.  J-Straco held the precious cargo, a peeping box, on the journey home.  Farm Boy read the directions on the way and informed me we needed 95 degree water with sugar mixed in for them to drink, and their chick starter spread on the floor of the brooder.  Wow! We were amazed watching these little chicks-only a few days old, as they scratched and pecked and ate and ate and ate.  We dipped their beaks in the water to show them it was there, and they happily glugged away.  They have been very active and friendly all afternoon.  They love to be petted and eat from our hands.  They seem to show no adverse effects to their perilous journey.  We are praying they will remain strong and healthy.  Grow chickies, grow!

The princess named her 'Fluffly', and Farm Boy named his chick 'Amicus' (latin for friend)

I suggested 'nugget' and 'cordon bleu', but they didn't see the humor in that.

I'll get more chicken pics later, I have a new camera I'm still trying to get used to.