Sweet Summertime!

Black eyed Susan's

Butterfly eating an apple on my mother in laws apple tree.

We'll have corn this week, thanks to my in laws garden. We were too busy building a chicken coop this year to plant one.

Getting hens to lay in nesting boxes...

My first egg was found today and it was NOT in the nesting boxes, it was at the very back of the coop where I had difficulty reaching it. So in my attempt to get my hens to lay in their nesting boxes I have added golf balls to the boxes to show them where to lay, and I also added privacy curtains to their boxes. I made the curtains from burlap. I cut the burlap into strips to cover the front of the boxes to shade the light & add privacy. From what I've read hens like to lay in areas that are secluded and away from light sources. These are both tips that I have seen/read online. I'm new to chicken keeping, so I'll see how this works. Thought it may help some of the other new back yard chicken keepers.

Update: IT WORKED! The very next day I went out to find an egg in my nesting box.

I found an egg outside the nesting box at the back of the coop this morning but I think it may have been there before I fixed up the nesting boxes with the golf balls and I just didn't see it, because this afternoon when I returned home from work I found another egg in one of the nesting boxes.

First Egg

This morning I had to rush off to work in a hurry & didn't check the coop for eggs. When I returned home this afternoon it was the first thing I did before I even went inside. I've been checking daily for the past couple of weeks because I've been thinking "any day now". Well today was the day.... OUR VERY FIRST EGG!!! I'm just a tad bit excited about this!

Country living...

I walked outside a few minutes ago to put my hound dog up & looked in the front yard to see this little deer! She didn't stick around long after seeing me she took off into the woods but I love seeing the deer grazing out in the field in front of our house.

Dreaming...

These past week I have been working more than I would like. I am thankful for my job and the ability to work..... but it really makes me want to spend my energy on a farm at home!!! The more time I spend at my real job the more I want to get our farm started for REAL. I don't mind working hard but I want to be at home being productive. I want to wake up at the crack of dawn and gather eggs & milk the goats. I want to spend the rest of the day cooking, baking, soap making, cleaning the chicken coop (yes I'd even rather do that), harvesting honey, making candles, crocheting, tending & gathering from the garden, & anything HOMEmade! I want to spend Saturdays at the farmer's market selling all my home made goodness. The place where I feel at peace is at home, no matter how much I have to do here I feel relaxed not stressed and at ease.

Waiting for the right time..... just wish it was now!

Keeping Cool

Saturday my mom & I went to the Farmer's Market. I picked up a watermelon for the chickens (& my husband). I sliced it open today for the chickies, it was their first time having watermelon. They LOVE it! They are still out there now pecking away at it. It's a great way for them to keep cool & hydrated on these hot days.

Bath Time

Silly Chickies

wish this one had turned out clearer.... funny pic!

what's up..... chicken butt

Swarm of Hummingbirds :)

a bird at each flower

The swarm.... There were about 9-12 hummingbirds swarming this feeder (4 pictured here)

on guard...

Hummingbirds

silhouette

Sleepy heads...

Country fried steak with gravy

Ingredients: 1/2 cup whole-wheat pastry flour, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, 1 large egg, 1 large egg white, 1 milk, 1/4 tsp Tabasco sause, 1 pound cube steak, 3 tbsp olive oil,  1/2 cup chicken broth.

In a  shallow bowl combine the flours, paprika, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.

Remove 2 tablespoons of the flour mixture and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, egg white, 1/4 cup milk, and the hot pepper sauce.

Dip each steak in the egg-milk mixture...

then in the flour mixture, shaking off the excess.

Heat 1/2 tablespoons of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.

Place steaks in the pan and cook until golden brown, 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.

For the gravy:
Add the chicken broth to the skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

In a small bowl whisk together the reserved 2 tablespoons seasoned flour into the remaining 1/4 cup milk until the flour is dissolved.

Slowly add the milk-flour mixture to the pan, whisking constantly, and bring to a simmer.

Reduce heat and cook, whisking, until the suace thickens an additional 1-2 minutes. Season with the remaining 2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.

Serve the steak drizzled with gravy.

This recipe from Ellie Krieger's Comfort Food Fix

We'll have eggs soon...

I have been amazed at how I'm noticing changes in the chickens lately. Now that their wattles combs & are starting to grow, everyday that I go out to visit with them I notice that they look different. I love it, they are starting to look pretty with the wattles & combs turning red. I've always thought their beautiful. My husband says "It's a beauty only a mother could love", lol I guess he doesn't see their beauty. I love them though they are just another addition to my love for critters. If I have figured correctly they are approximately 17 weeks old, which means we will have EGGS very, very soon. I have started to check the coop & run for eggs daily now. I know that they are officially at point of lay. They are beginning to have more personality too. Maybe it's because I recently introduced them to treats and they just are hopeful I'll have a treat every time I enter their run. All I have to do is walk outside & they flock at the door waiting for me to enter. I also can't wear my flip flops into the run anymore unless I want my toes pecked. There's still just one little lady that likes for me to pet her & hold her though.

Below are some captures I got while they were eating their treats this morning.

Yesterday I came home & noticed that this little lady's wattle has flopped over, grows a little everyday!

Chillin with my peeps...

My chicken coop kinda style <3

"Momma are there any treats in that thing?"