Vacation Devastation

Well, due to circumstances beyond my control, my trip to California is off. Instead of sun and fun I am here where there's doom and a messy teen's bedroom. Silas is now involved in Washington State's juvenile justice system, and is not going to be treated to a family trip at this time. There are too many things that can go wrong to pursue that path.

Instead, we will be hanging around here, getting some work done, possibly taking a day trip or two, and discovering where Si will go to school for the rest of the school year. Sound like your idea of a break?? Mine either. But, it is what it is.

On a brighter note, the weather-person tells me there is sun in the forecast! The garden needs to go in and the inside of the house needs painting. My hens are laying 2 or 3 eggs a day, and seem to be adjusted to their little home in our yard. Spring is coming and it has warmed up outside, for the most part. Lots of people THINK I am on vacation, so there won't be so many phone calls to deal with. And, last but surely not least, Silas and I will be able to enjoy some mother-son time together here at home doing what we do here.

Family Update

Another quick news flash, for those who are interested.
Justin was ordained to the office of priest this past week, and he and Allan blessed the sacrament together today. It was very neat and a real milestone. Here he is on his school's Superhero Day dressed as SoupMan. He's the bravest person I know!
Progress reports came out, and, though I haven't seen his yet, Silas says his is better than the last one. I hope it's a lot better! He is going through some real ups and downs as he adjusts to being in Kitsap County.
Cecilie has been sick, and is hopefully on the mend after her 2 days off.
Rhiannon gave me the opportunity this past couple of weeks to take care of Sophie in the early morning hours before daycare. It has been so fun! And she loved gawking at the chickens, as well as chasing the cat. She must be a morning person.
Britta went to dinner with us at Silverdale Yacht Club Broiler last week when Jeanie and Kathleen were here visiting. She, B., has completed her move and is enjoying the space and peace with just one roommate.
Chloe had her friend Kaitlin/Oprah here last night, where they worked on Kaitlin's science project and made brownie treats (but those weren't the science project). It is fun and interesting to see what Chloe's friends are like.
I, Lorraine, am enjoying my chickens and eggs, if you couldn't guess. They are a little noisy, and I am wondering how the neighbors are doing with them. I hope their windows seal out the noise better than ours. I am also looking forward to driving to Calif for spring break with Silas, and visiting family. I am stressing a little about getting a sub for my volunteer delivery job, and also about when Allan's out of town on business in Dayton for part of that same week. Who will look after our birds and cat?? I am sure we will think of something....

Ladies on the Loose (in their pen, of course)

Adjusting to their new home.

Eating is their second favorite activity.

The first egg.
They missed the nest!

We HAVE Chickens

Last week we had the pleasure of having Allan's sister Kathleen and her 5-year-old son Evan Michael visit. I think it was the nicest visit of all the ones we have had. Evan was delightful and I enjoyed him very much. Along with playing the Game of Life and a trip to the local thrift stores, he was a big help to me in finishing up the chicken house. Hurray for us!
That meant it was time to find some chickens, grown chickens, who are not too old but old enough to give me eggs. I checked Craigslist, and lo and behold, in my own community I found a family selling their young hens who have inundated them with more eggs than they could handle.
I studied out the needs and qualities of the Rhode Island Red and picked up some bedding and laying feed, and made the chicken house as homey as I could for a small group of Rhodies, as I will call them. Then I made the lovely drive out to Silverdale, toward Seabeck, and met my new feathered friends (pictures to post tomorrow).
The 3 girls look amazingly alike, although their sizes are slightly different. And they can run! The boy who raised them accidentally let one out of the cage and spent a few minutes chasing her around their acreage. I spent that time wondering if I would ever be able to catch one if it got away. I haven't needed to yet, thankfully.
I am toying with names. For a while I was going to go with Florence, Lucille, and Hilda after my great aunts, but I'm tired of those names now. (It's just what I did when naming my children.) Then I thought about Shirley, Millie, and Frieda after 3 neighbor ladies of my childhood. That's worn off, too. They're red, why not name them after some of my favorite redheads? Lucy, Pippi, Caddie, Anne. Silas has laid claim to naming one Agnes, and that's a good one, too, and happens to be my sister's middle and great-grandmother's first name. Then again, Rhodies make great eating, and maybe I shouldn't name these girls at all....