A New Endeavor

I have officially started the process for my newest endeavor: RAISING CHICKENS!

I have dreamed of having chickens since I was 14 or 15. For a home school project one of these years, I obtained fertile eggs from the local feed store and attempted to hatch them using a homemade incubator (basically a box, lamp, thermometer, and bowl of water to keep the humidity). Unfortunately, the bulb burned out 3 days before they were set to hatch (they incubate for 21 days). I hurriedly put in a new bulb when I found this disaster, but it was too late: the eggs were already cold. The next day, we dissected them at a friend's house, and we found 2 chicks that were fully formed with their feathers (well, down, I guess). I would've had 2 baby chicks had the bulb kept burning!!

So now, 7 or 8 years later (and 7 or 8 years wiser!) I'm attempting my project again, except that I am not going to play mother hen! I found a place called Ideal Poultry, located in Cameron, Texas, that hatches and ships day-old chicks 52 weeks a year. (Funny story: when I e-mailed them for more information, the lady that e-mailed me back had the same last name as me! I'd never met someone with the same last name who wasn't related to me.)

So on July 22nd, Ideal Poultry will be shipping "my babies" to me: 7 Barred Plymouth Rocks and 7 Rhode Island Reds. They will lay brown eggs and are very friendly and great for beginners. They'll arrive at the local post office, who will call me as soon as they arrive, and then I'll pick them up and bring them to their new home! They are sexed, so they should all be females. My plan is (after they get older and are distinguishable from one another, not just little balls of fluff!) to name them after First Ladies of the White House! Among the definites are Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Letitia Tyler, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jacqueline Kennedy, Mamie Eisenhower, Lady Bird Johnson, and Barbara and Laura Bush. Mama said I should go in order, so then whenever I get new chickens I can just keep on going in order. But wouldn't it be fun to have a hen named "Lady Bird"? I also think "Letitia" and "Mamie" are fun...I'd never name a child those, but I'd give those names to hens! Many of the names are wonderfully old-fashioned, so I think "my girls" will fit them perfectly. Or how about "Lucretia Garfield"? That almost sounds like a name one would give to a villain...so maybe if I get a mean hen that'll be her name!

So, besides the chicks, here's the supplies I'll initially need:

• Brooder: A sturdy box (cardboard or plastic) that is 12" by 12" square.
• Litter: The litter that will probably be most feasible for me are pine shavings or old bath towels.
• Feeder: Trough or mason jar feeder
  
• Waterer: Make one using a mayo or 1 quart canning jar attached to a metal or plastic base (bought from the feed store)
• Heat and light source: Buy infrared red heat lamp from feed store (with extra bulbs!!)
• Feed: Buy "chick starter" that is non-medicated. Some books recommend medicated feed to guard against coccidiosis, but as long as you take proper care of your chicks, you shouldn't need the medication. I'm going to be eating their eggs someday, so I want to raise them as naturally as possible! If money permits, I'd ideally like to raise them on organic feed, but I've heard it can be quite expensive. They will definitely be free-range chickens, though, allowed to peck around within the borders of their fence all day...and periodically I'll take a few on a "walk" to the garden so they can pick out the bugs!

I got the above information from Hobby Farms Chickens: Tending a Small-Scale Flock for Pleasure and Profit by Sue Weaver, and Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow. They are two wonderful books that have lots of easy-to-understand information, in case you're interested in getting a chicken family started for yourself!

Where are they gonna go when they grow up, you ask? Well folks, I'm going to either: 1) build a henhouse and erect a fence myself, or 2) find an already-made henhouse for a cheap price (most likely from Craig's List, which is basically an online garage sale). I think I would have a good sense of pride if I built the house myself, and once I get an idea into my head, I just want to get started on it!

After my chicken endeavor is up and running, my next project will be:

GOATS!

More on that in an upcoming post.... :)

A Week at Our House: Day 2

Wednesday, June 24th

I was going to wake up earlier this morning so that I'd be more tired in the evening, but morning tiredness got the better of me and I ended up sleeping till 10 a.m. instead of 9:15 a.m. I went through my normal morning routine (prayers, vinegar water, personal grooming, dressing, making my bed). Today I decided on an outfit that would be practical for housework but could be a little more professional later in the day. I chose my khaki skirt and a simple, dark brown t-shirt (both hand-me-downs from Mama!). I pulled my hair back in a plain ponytail, planning on wetting and blow-drying my hair later (although I actually ended up not having enough time.)

I made scrambled eggs for myself and Abby for breakfast, and we paired that with organic toaster pastries and grape juice. Then, I began something I've always wanted to do with a dog: agility training! While at the library yesterday, I saw an agility training book as I searched for chicken care books. I got out 2 small cans and the broom from the pantry and set them up in the foyer as a low bar hurdle.

The book suggested that you put the dog on a leash to guide them at first. The problem with my poodle, Friedrich, is that when he sees his leash, that's the cue we're going on a W-A-L-K! He was a little confused, but he caught on to the jumping right away. Then I tried the "recall" technique: about 8 feet away from the hurdle, I told him to "sit...stay" and gave him a hand signal till I was on the other side of the broom. Then I commanded "come!" and then said "jump!" as he jumped over the broom. Immediately after, I rewarded him with praise and a small kibble.



I eventually raised the broom onto two 15 oz. cans of crushed tomatoes, but he must've been a little tired by then because he kept trying to walk around the broom! It was an excellent start, however.

I cleaned up the kitchen from everyone's breakfasts, and then asked Mama what else I could clean around the house. I decided on the master bathroom. I'd cleaned the counter, sinks, and mirror the other day but hadn't gotten around to the dirty work yet....

Cleaning the toilet with a homemade spray mixture of castile-tea tree oil soap, white vinegar, and water.

Abby thinks cleaning is gross, and it's way more fun to take pictures of people cleaning!

Yeah, it is kinda gross sometimes....but it's so satisfying when you're done!

Moving on to the tub.

Pretending to fall in...

You have to have a little bit of fun while cleaning! ;)

To make my outfit look a little nicer, a paired my t-shirt with a light brown and white checkered blouse. It's too tight to wear buttoned up, but it's perfect as an over-blouse!

I've got my briefcase packed with books (and snacks!).

Daddy is allowed to work from home during the summer, so until I buy my own car, I'm driving his truck. I actually love driving pick-up trucks. I learned how to drive on Daddy's old one, and I'm loving his new one (especially since he has XM Satellite Radio free for a few months and I can listen to Fox News!). If trucks were more fuel-efficient, I'd consider buying my own...Texans love their trucks!

Bye-bye!

First I drove to the Suzuki school to catalog old music the executive director brought in. Then I headed over to QuickBooks. We learned about taxes, payroll, and tracking time (and since I finished the activities before time was up, I started writing this blog post in my notebook!).

On the way home, I stopped at Kroger to pick up a special dessert for Mama and Daddy's 31st wedding anniversary! I found a naturally-sweetened peach pie and lactose-free ice cream (although I still had a slight reaction to it, both gastrointestinally and allergenically...I think I used those terms right!).

I even got candles and adorned the platter with paper flowers I made for their 25th anniversary party. They were at a dinner date before this, so I set up the pie and lighted the candles as they walked in the door.

I chatted with Mama after dessert, and then I settled down to watch Sean Hannity on Fox News. I turned off the TV right after midnight hit, but this time, my laptop stayed on! Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to turn off both.

Yet again I stayed up late....although, thinking back to some of my college days, 2 a.m. really isn't THAT late!! ;)

A Week at Our House: Day 1

The title may seem a bit familiar to all you homeschoolers out there. When I was young, my mom received the magazine "Practical Homeschooling" and there would always be a few entries sent in my families entitled "A Day at Our House." I always wanted to submit an entry about our family, but I'd always get caught up in the busy-ness of the day that I never had time to jot down the day's activities. Now I can share a whole week with my audience!

However, this series is mainly inspired, however, by blog entries entitled "A Week in Feminine Dress" written by modest young ladies around the country. My dear friend Claire did this awhile back, and I've always wanted to do one as well. I've attempted this series in the past, but it was quite hard to take pictures of myself! Now that I'm back home and have roped my sister Abby into being my "assistant," it's much easier. I will feature the clothes I wear, but since I'm back home from college, y'all are probably wondering what I'm doing with my time! Well, it's anything but boring around here in north Texas, and even before my new job at the Suzuki school has started it's been busy. I've been doing lots of housecleaning, cooking, and being with my family....it's been great! :)

I'm starting this week on Tuesday, June 23rd:

I woke up a little after 10 a.m. (I have a terribly vicious cycle of staying up REALLY late and getting up REALLY late...I'm attempting to stop it.) I have a routine in the morning of saying a few quick prayers before I get out of bed before doing the usual washing face/doing hair/getting dressed/making bed. Also, this may sound strange, but somewhere Mama read that drinking a glass of water with apple cider vinegar first thing in the morning is healthy and cleanses one's system. Then you wait 20 minutes, eat a piece of fruit and then eat your breakfast. So I have been following this routine as well, sipping on the vinegar water as I get ready for the day. Before eating, I say more prayers and read Bible verses from the Magnificat (a Catholic publication that comes out monthly, filled with daily readings, prayers, meditations, and Mass readings).

This morning, I got dressed in a red, white, and blue striped t-shirt (not pictured) and a brown skirt...yes, I know this technically doesn't match, but I wanted something that I could do housework in, so it didn't really matter! I put a load of whites in the washer, ate breakfast, and then worked on my computer for a little bit. Jordan, my 15 year old brother, helped me look at used cars at cars.com, since time is ticking down swiftly until I start my job! I think I did some house cleaning, but I can't remember what I did.

In the evening, I started the 3-day Intermediate course of QuickBooks, which is required for my job since I'll be handling bills, payroll, and invoices. I changed into a nicer and more professional top (keeping the skirt):

This weekend, I bought 2 other blouses like this one (turquoise and black), and the price worked out to be $5.66 per blouse! They are St. John's Bay brand from JCPenney's. I was looking for some nice, summer tops and was feeling discouraged after going to Target and Kohls, since there was nothing modest and cheap! So what d'ya know, I walked into Penney's, to the Petite 60% off section, and those blouses were the first things that caught my attention, and they're the only things I bought! I can always find good, cheap stuff at Penney's. :)
The only thing about the blouses is that the buttons don't go up high enough, but that was easily remidied: I have a 100% white cotton camisole from Lilies of the Field, and it's great for tops that are too thin or that need a little more coverage.

The brown skirt was also a cheap buy for $6 from Kohl's (I think during my junior year in college). The sandals are hand-me-downs from Mama and are very comfortable! Because of the bunions on my big toes, the chiropractor told me to stay away from heels (yay I have a good excuse to not wear them! Sometimes they're fun but then I always end up asking myself, "Why the heck did I decide to put these on??" I'd rather go barefoot actually!)

I didn't actually wear this hat that day, but it was a fun prop! :)

The QuickBooks class got out early, so I was able to make it home in time for dinner. We were having stuffed zucchini from the garden! (Yes, zucchini comes in the round.)

Stuffed with rice, ground beef, bacon, and tomatoes!

The salad was also partly homegrown: the cucumbers and tomatoes.

I think it was this day that I resolved to have both the TV and computer turned off by midnight. I had my laptop off by then, but I think I was still watching TV past midnight...and then I was reading a book about cowboys...no, not the Dallas football team, but about real out-West cowboys! I've decided that I'll have to marry a rancher because of my plans of getting chickens and goats, and then I'll want even more livestock. ;)

I won't say how late I got to bed, but let's just say I was super tired.....

Early Summer in Texas

Cutting fresh flowers from the front flower bed...

It's so nice gathering flowers from one's own yard!

You know you're in Texas when...

...you drive down Main Street and there's cows gathered at the corner!

Frisco Farmer's Market

Visiting an old house and trying out the old fashioned mirror.

I wanted this hat so much!! It was a replica of one from the 1800's....it was only $25!

Chickens like the ones I'll be raising soon!

A lovely place setting for an outdoor dinner with the family. :)

The End and the Beginning

Here are pictures from graduation week...it was a memorable time that I'll never forget! The pictures tell the story best....

"Graduation Eve" - Wednesday, May 20th

Abby is practicing for 10 years from now!

No Jordan, that is NOT how you wear the hood!

Graduation Day - Thursday, May 21st

Early in the morning, riding the bus to the main Johns Hopkins campus for the university-wide commencement. Myself and Cat, one of my roommates.

Myself and Brian, both came in as freshmen in 2005 from Texas! He wants to become a doctor now.

The Master degree students standing up to receive their degrees....the light pink is the color for music, and the magenta and dark blue are Peabody's school colors (unbeknownst to most Peabody students, sadly! We don't even have our own school song, and we're a music school!!)

The exercises took place on the Hopkins lacrosse field and, what d'ya know, the university chaplain said a PRAYER at the beginning of the ceremony!! :)
After all, the JHU motto is from the Gospel of John "Veritas vos Liberabit" - The Truth shall make you free.

Eating brunch at The Blue Moon Cafe....our family knew about it from a show on The Food Network.

Abby got delicious pancakes!

Later in the day, curling my hair for the evening Peabody ceremony.

Seniors '09!

The famous spiral staircase, classic graduation shot.

I took my camera on stage...here I am right before we process off.

All three roommates are now Peabody graduates! :) (And no, we did not coordinate our colors purposefully...that's what happens when you live with people!)

With my family at the reception...why does Abby look like the leaning tower of Pisa??

The most expensive piece of paper ever....I'm very happy to have it finally!

Family trip to Washington, D.C. - Friday, May 22nd

Grammie and Zachary on the Metro in the morning, traveling into Washington, DC!

One of my favorite objects to photograph...the U.S. Capitol!

Jordan took this....it's so fun being older now! It doesn't seem like we're 10 years apart anymore.
Here we are waiting in line for a tour of the Capitol...I booked it through the office of our representative, Ralph Hall.

I was the official tour guide...I made out a detailed minute-by-minute agenda...see me holding up my folder like a real guide does? ;) Everyone keep up!

The Library of Congress was so cool!! I'd never been there before.

In the American History Museum....I was proud to see this sign displayed!

What a face, Daddy...he was like "why are you taking my picture on the Metro??"


Spring Dinner Party, catered by Zachary, hosted by Malori - Saturday, May 23rd

Frantically trying to do my hair and do some last-minute vaccuuming before the guests arrive at Saturday's dinner party!

Zachary with Jordan the "sous-chef" (helper)

Painstakingly preparing the bruschetta

The appetizers....tomato bruschetta and cucumber-dill sandwiches (there was also a cold strawberry soup, my personal favorite of the evening!).

The lovely table setting in plasticware....a college graduate's budget!

Sisters Lindsay, Sierra, and Aubrey

Waiting for the salad to be served.

The special dessert: strawberries with a balsamic vinegar glaze, and cinnamon brownies with chocolate ganache.


Last Mass at the Baltimore Basilica - Sunday, May 24th

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, after which the Baltimore Basilica/Cathedral is named!

Mama shaking the hand of Cardinal William H. Keeler, Archbishop Emeritus of Baltimore...such a kindly man originally from Texas!

A quick visit to the Pope John Paul II Prayer Garden, right next to the Basilica...it's amazing that a Catholic prayer garden is right smack in the middle of Baltimore!

Last trip to Vaccaro's....mmm mmm!!

Good-bye Lindsay, first friend at Peabody...

Last roomie picture: Taneea, myself, and Cat (they had just woken up!)

Driving home to Texas...I don't know where this was...

Home sweet Texas!
"Well, I'm back." ~Sam Gamgee, The Return of the King~