new chicks, lots of work, rain & a bit of pecking

Yess! The new pullets arrived on Saturday, with their new house and walk-in run, known as the cage.
Ste came and had a look at the cage instructions & parts to set us on the right course. Joe came to help with getting the henhouse into the back garden. Cos the only way was to lift it over a 8' fence and then a 5' one.
Praise the Lord for Joe as he helped us with what wasn't the safest of jobs! balancing a sturdy henhouse on a thin 8' fence... all in the freezing wind, rain & hail! And then he hung around to help screw on the mesh roof of the cage. We were freezing!

It all got done that afternoon, and in went some sawdust to the new nesting boxes, and in went our three new pullets.  They are identical replacements for Emmy, Galadriel and Beyonce. Their names have not been finalised, but they may be Janet (plain grey "Blue Ranger") Arwen (plain white Leghorn) and Megatron (! the Black Rock)

They stayed very quiet in their new home mostly.  Flora - suddenly the Biggest, Oldest, The Boss Hen! Had a look and a peck at the white one, who's the most inquisitive. There is some pecking to be expected as they get acquainted, Flora has to assert her dominance. We found quite a few white feathers in their enclosure.
The 3 new ones will not be exactly free range - they have to stay in their cage - which is plenty big enough. its 8x8 foot. Flora slept in with the new girls Saturday night, and it was lovely and warm on Sunday, so the little ones came out for a peck n scratch. But Flora was back in her old house last night (i guess it depends who's shutting them in - having read all about introducing new hens to the flock, I want to get it over & done with. But DH, who's much more sentimental about animals, wants to give them a leisurely introduction!

This morning I've put Flora in the cage & let's see what happens! She's pecking at the floor near the little hens, things seem calm.

It's really exciting! And we really do love having them. The new house and cage weren't cheap, but really I wish we'd got something this sturdy in the first place.  Our redneck-style fencing efforts never quite kept the birds as safe as we'd have have liked. ...And the new coop sleeps up to 8 hens... so we have scope for little ones hopefully this summer.

As soon as Flora gets friendly enough she will also become encaged permanently, so we can reclaim our lawn & patio area from their wanton destruction. !
Happy Times!

Sombrero & making a battery

Today out with Fred, we bought a soldering iron and a sombrero! I'll try to get a photo up later.
Fred and I made a battery today from pennies, zinc washers & blotting paper. Yeah!
Also we've ordered the 3 replacement hens and a new, stronger home for them and a walk-in run. its about 6' tall and 8 x 8'. something like this:


I'm buying it from Happy Chicks, where we get the hens. All coops & runs are made on the premises and we saw how sturdy they were.  Should be here in a week or two, then i can dismantle our badly-made chicken area & use the bits for compost heaps.
Had a good talk with Fred about our goals for the future*, and what aspergers means in relation to these goals.  Pointing out problems & pointing to Jesus for the answer!

*for him to trust Jesus, become employable & have good relationships.

Cooking Mama!

I'm in the mood for cooking this morning, I've got a loaf in the bread machine, due in 44 mins and then I'll put in another onion loaf - I made this onion loaf recipe and leek & potato soup yesterday. I couldn't taste the onion at all - my nose is still blocked, but the girls liked it.


Today I've made veg tikka masala, which i shall be adding some chicken to later for the family.  I've got celeriac soup on the hob and chicken roasting in the oven for enchiladas.  It feels good to know I have meals in preparation! I mentioned to Emilia last night to consider whether we'll go back to our pre-christmas cooking/cleaning arrangement. I think it'll be good for me as I've barely bothered cooking for this family since christmas.


I praise the Lord for enabling me to get some work done in a joyful mood this morning!
I've still got Jojo off school with the flu. He looks much better in the middle of the day, but at night and morning he's a bit weak.

Lola is off to Pizza Hut with school friends to celebrate her birthday which is Sunday. 15!
x

croaky flu zombie news

okay. i've been lying around in bed coughing and sneezing since thursday. I'm a lot  better now & so Is Fred, but Jojo is just at the shivering and moaning stage. Joy!
I have been swallowing down large chunks of raw garlic. I think I should probably do this daily.  And had lots of hot lemon water.  
I've been quite selfish, managed to watch the entire first 3 series of 30 Rock, which I found hilarious, and also I've listened to the first half of Dolly Parton's autobiography, which is on Youtube.  She is quite inspirational, and thought provoking about how people meet the Lord in the strangest of places.
Emilia sent me the link to  this ace talk about worship by Louie Giglio . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXK8W00GFOM   . My dad had mentioned it to me previously. I found it very encouraging. I listened to it as I've found reading hurt my eyes this past week. 

Exciting stuff to look forward to:
Obv my firstborn gurls are going to be 15 on Sunday. Whaaaat!!
Lola wants false elfin ears & some sort of contact lenses that change your eye colour. I think Ruby is getting some clothes.
Next Wed Fred & I are going to The Greatest Story Ever Told in St Georges Hall.
Ist march meeting my sister for lunch in Birmingham! *must organise transport*
25th March Ruby & I are going to An Evening With David Sedaris in Salford - the Lowry. *must organise transport*
April - New Word Alive YEAH!
July - gran's 90th means a weekend at Devon Cliffs Caravan Park in July for the Jones's! YAY .BEACH .SUNSHINE .YEAH!
September we are having a weekend in a caravan at blackpool - marton mere. i guess if I'd known about the gran's birthday I wouldn't have booked this but HEY! 3 holidays to look forward to!! most unusual!

Give thanks to the Lord for lots of good stuff to look forward to!