Sunshine makes me smile

My hubby found the cutest chicken coop for me. It reminds me of an old gypsy wagon without the wheels.

You see it here on the trailer being hauled out to our home. It will need some cleaning out inside, nest boxes and roosts built, but after that the girls are gonna love their new home.

I plan to place it up in the corral where my chickens will have tons more grazing room to roam. Sunshine will abound throughout the whole day, even through Winter months with less trees around to block the sun.

Since I cannot tell which hens are laying and which are not, I was due for new chicks so, I bought a few more Banties so Ol' Henry (the rooster) will have more girls his size. Hope I get babies in the not so far off future. I got a couple of Barred rock, Rhode Island Reds, and a couple of Bantams, (which I have not raised before) but am told they lay nice brown eggs.

As you can see the new chicks are loving their nice warm  home for the time being. The weather outside has been in the 30's to 40 degrees in the daytime and mid 20's at night, but they stay all cozy at a nice 80-85 degrees inside.

I just love watching my hens pecking the ground and taking dirt baths, chasing butterflies and running around chasing each other. With Spring in the air I hear my chickens singing "freedom at last" when they can finally get outside the coop and soak in the sun.

As you can see by now,  I am once again able to post pics. No, I don't have my desktop back yet, but my daughter said "pull the chip from your camera and put it in the laptop and just download your pics". Duh, now why did'nt I think of that sooner? Probably because I am not technically smart when it comes to any computers or just about anything in the past 10 years of technology. If you ask me, kids today are born with computer chips in their brains. They really understand all this stuff. God, I miss the 70's.

Thank goodness Spring is here, at least some days, so I can once again say "freedom at last" and enjoy the warm sunshine and just smile. At least I don't need a chip or a computer to do that.

Sewing for Cancer

I've been keeping myself busy sewing some chemo caps for our local Cancer Center. I hope to have quite a few by the end of April as I will deliver them on May first. Several other gals in our local chapter will also be making some so we are hoping for a good donation this year. I found clearanced fabric at Walmart for $1.50 yard and I am able to get four caps out of each yard. With my new sewing machine purring along, I can whip out a cap in 30 minutes. I cut out four at a time, press and stitch the ties and the whole thing goes together pretty fast from there.

I'd show you pics if I knew how to put new pics on my laptop, but I don't know how. The caps are the kind that the doctors wear with their scrubs. I just know that what ever kind we can put together, they will be very much appreciated by the center.

Here are a few of what we made in 2009.

One of the gals did crochet ones, one did fleece and I did the sewing ones. This year I am sticking to the sewing ones and maybe a few fleece, but the crochet I will leave to those who are much better at it. 

I did'nt make any last year as I was grieving the loss of my sister and my sister-in-law, both who passed away from cancer. It was a very tough year but for now I hope to focus on ways of helping others.

I would say to all you gals that know how to sew, when you have a little extra fabric you are'nt sure what to do with it, make a chemo cap from it and donate it to your local Cancer Center. These caps are passed out on a daily basis and are always needed by the centers. Just keep in mind to use a soft material that won't itch or scratch. You will not only be using up your left over materials, but you will be donating to a very good cause.

Let's pray for a cancer free world some day.

Hugs,
Gail

Computer problems

Boy when it rains it pours. I have been having computer problems along with our power going out from 2pm to after midnight. Now my desktop computer will not come back on and this laptop has been intermittent about wanting to work. I took this one to Staples and they got it working for awhile. Some how a power pole caught fire, wiped out over 1,000 homes of electricity so I sat in the dark last night, well I had candles burning, but I could'nt have my cup of tea and could'nt find my book light to read by. Let's just say it was an early to bed night. No phone lines even this morning and when they did come back up, still no desktop computer. I can only hope it isn't fried.

I am not very computer literate so don't know what the secret is to try to get it to come back on. I hate to spend the money on another one and I would have to hire someone to transfer all my stuff if the hard drive is'nt wiped out too.  I really miss my desktop because I do all my printing off of that one. I'm keeping my fingers crossed someone can tell me the secret to getting it up and running again. Until then I can only pray my things are'nt lost.

Gosh, we just have so many power outages around here. Usually one, if not more, each day. It can't be good on a computer, I'm sure. Wish me luck.

I received an email from Mountain Rose Herbs this morning and have been elated ever since. I went to check this http://www.rootstalkfest.com/ out and have'nt stopped thinking about it since. If you or anyone you know has any interest in sustainable living and want to learn all one can from one fabulous weekend, then you need to check out what is happening this coming September. I, for one, hope to be able to attend and am hoping to get a few of the Charming Chicks to go along with me.

Not only sleeping out under the stars, great organic food, live music and many workshops and classes being taught, someone will even tell you a bedtime story. Just kidding.

Actually there will be folklore stories and a time for costume at a Masquerade ball. There will be hiking, canoeing, archery and lots of crafters about. I don't know about you, but this is my cup of tea.

Now if I can just hold it down until September 22 - 25.

Check it out if you enjoy the great outdoors and need a perfect weekend getaway.

Welcome back Ford

As of today, Harvest Ford is up and running again but with a new owner. He came down from WA where he owns several dealerships up there which include, Jaquar, Landrover, Lamborghini, Rolls, Royce, and Bentley. He bought this dealership and plans to purchase two more Fords. Praise the Lord.

Everyone was called back to work and many who had already taken other jobs came back as well. I am so grateful and releaved to know all our friends and my hubby still have work in this town. I believe it looks as though they will stay on here for a very long time.

Thank you all for your prayers and blessings. This is in deed a great day for all the workers of Ford.