She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. Proverbs 31

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

More Chickens!

I had the pleasure of having my friend, Cathy and her boys, visit our home last week. It was a lovely autumn day and while the older boys cared for the younger ones, Cathy and I had time to just sit and share. We homeschooling moms call it a "teacher's conference". Cathy is passionate about frugal living and it was nice to glean from her knowledge of farm and family.

Cathy & me ~ Do you see that enamelware bowl & lid? Cathy brought cookies in her thrift store find bowl ... and I just happened to have my thrift store find matching lid. They needed to be together so they went to live with Cathy. I kept the cookies!


Cathy has a small farm with a wide assortment of animals ~ 8 goats, 2 sheep, 2 pigs, 9 dogs, a gazoodle chickens and 39 cats ... no that wasn't a typo! LOL And she shared with me 3 lovely white leghorn laying hens that we now refer to lovingly as the Dixie Chicks. Thanks so much, Cathy! I am so excited. We are now getting 3-6 eggs a day. Perfect for our family.

Cathy, a Dixie chick and Dalton


The other chickens still haven't quite accepted these new girls into their society, but I am hoping before long I'll see them all clucking around the yard in harmony.

Our two black hens (Cora & Juri) are so darling. One morning, I found Juri swinging on the front porch swing. Really, she was! Just as if she had always enjoyed a good morning swing. Then she walked over to one of fruit crates and laid her egg right at the front door. Now both black hens lay their eggs at the front door each morning. In fact, they wait in line to use the box. It is a real hoot to watch them ~ Better than the old fashioned milk men of the olden days.

Cora laying her egg on the front porch


We still have not prepared a proper hen house. Most of our free time is being spent chopping wood for winter. And we sure have needed it these past few days ~ it as only 25 degrees last night.

Photo of Brandy's hen house


But I am glad I was delayed because I discovered a lovely journal and adore the little hen house that they have created. It is both simple and so very practical. Brandy at In The Service of The King posted new photos of her finished coop and has shared "in progress" photos in previous posts. It is a perfect design that I think I am going to give a try.

Blessings & joy,
Lea

19 comments:

Vickie said...

Hi, Lea - I'm so envious of your lifestyle. My kids are about grown now, but we wanted to do the same thing you're doing with your family, but unfortunately, it didn't work out. Now, we have a family farm, and my husband and I may get to move out there sometime soon. It will be a little different without the kids, but I have always longed for simpler times and a simpler lifestyle. I love your site - I'll be back to visit. Have a great day! Vickie

Nancy M. said...

That is so cool y'all both had matching pieces that went together! How neat that the hens lay the eggs on your porch and I love the swinging hen!

carolyn@simple~primitive~devotion said...

Sounds like a lovely vist! So nice to see the photo of the two of you.

I've been trying t talk my hubby into getting some chickens of our own, but he is not sure yet. How neat that your's lay the eggs at the door for you! That is too funny!

Have a great week!

Tammy ~ Country Girl at Home ~ said...

Lea,

You two are true friends you can tell...she comes bearing cookies and chickens and you have the exact matching enamelware lid! That's so sweet!

I need to email you sometime and talk to you about raising chickens and how time consuming it is and all. Maybe you could share some tips with me.

Tammy

Linda ★ Parker's General said...

Wish I had had hens make morning deliveries to my doorstep! We did have a milkman when I was a kid--Prairie Farms. His name was Roger Gittings. Isn't it funny what you can remember. Often I can't remember why I went into a room or why I picked up the phone but I can remember our milkman from the 60's....
Sounds you got a great deal on the hens, too. What are the odds of ever finding the perfect marriage of enamelware pieces? I got rid of a whole boxful of odd pieces this past spring. I was convinced by a family member that I needed to purge some of my useless collections....*sigh*
Cookies are better anyway! :)
Blessings to you this day! Linda

Brandy said...

I was reading your post and my son was watching me. He said..."hey why is our hen house on there!" I'm very honored indeed! I can't wait to see what your own hen house looks like! I'm sure it will be adorable!

KATHY OF SWEETHOME GARDENS said...

That is so funny...stand and wait so they can lay an egg in the crate.
I remember as a homeschool mom how important those teacher's conference were.

Blessings,
Kathy

Farmchick said...

I love the Dixie Chicks....that is too cute!!! Fresh chicken eggs are the best! Enjoy!

Renna said...

What a delightful post, Lea! That is so neat the way you and your friend found the two parts from thrift stores that made one whole.

I love hearing about chickens and seeing pics of them on blogs. I hope to some day live where I can have my own, so I can be equally entertained. ;-)

Julie said...

It's so fun to get together with a "Kindred Spirit". It sounds like you had a great day. Your new "friends" sound like they will be a great asset to your family---have a great day. Julie

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

Now wasn't that friendship meant to be - like the pot and the lid. SImply perfect! I just love the story about the hens waiting their turn. How convenient for you huh??

Sharon said...

I enjoyed this post so much! :D How sweet of you to give Cathy the lid! I'd sure trade a lid for cookies. ;-)

That is so cute how they lay their eggs on your front porch. You don't have to go far to collect them, do you?

Wendy/TheCozyYellowHouse said...

Hi Lea!! You really are making a mini farm, how awesome!! I love your chickens!! I hope you have a Blessed night!~Wendy

KKJD1 said...

Love the dixie chicks so cute! I love the old enamel ware I have several pieces of it myself. And what a great trade cookies for a lid sounds good to me! Have a great Thursday! Blessings, Karen

HDMac said...

What a fun visit and how neat that you had a lid to match her bowl and that you SHARED! lol... nice trade off - cookies for lid! :)

Toni said...

Het Lea!!Thanks for sharing your day with us!! We wold love to have chickens,but unfortunatly we cannot because our town would not allow it.I hpe your having a beautiful and warm day!!Love and blessings,Toni

Anonymous said...

I was so glad to hear from you! Thanks...the guys are doing well and I loved their picture in their footie PJs - just had to share it.
I love your pictures too, and the chickens! I would love to live in a rural area and grow things and have animals. Keep posting pictures!
Your blog friend, Kathy

sheila from life @ #17 said...

oh, one of these days I'm going to have chickens...

Maggie Ann said...

Oh dear, you're having such fun with your chickens and I complained about them. I've never really had one of my own though. Enjoy for me too....grin. I think!