Psst...We're Pregnant!

Dear family and friends,

We are very, very excited to share with you our joyous news! 

 David and I expecting....meaning, we are pregnant! 

 

 We are 11 weeks along and felt it was 

as good a time as any to get the word out.

Our estimated due date is the end of 

July / beginning of August.

Please keep us and our little family in your prayers!

Love to all, 

David and Laura Wagner

Loss of our Flock

A few months ago we discovered we had a predator hanging around our chicken coop. We never saw it but we lost 80% if our flock to it. Based on the evidence left behind we believe it to be the work of racoon(s).

We only have two hens left ~ Henri and Mrs. Dash . We have secured the coop for the time being and will be re building the coop  with a larger enclosed run...no more "free birds". We will bury the chicken wire / hardware cloth, pour a concrete floor and create a completely enclosed spring, summer, fall run for the girls. They cannot free range any longer...this makes me sad but we love our fresh eggs and want to keep  our beautiful birds safe and happy. Our very first hen Henri, is one of the survivors ( thank goodness) she is such a great pet but is no longer laying so we have been having to buy eggs.....what a drag. She is retired but we will be adding back to our flock in the Spring and will be able to turn the chicks out by mid summer and she will show them the ropes. Good bird.

The loss is a sad one.

Happy New Year 2012

Its been a long and busy year. Lots of goo times, lots of memories and a lot of change.

We replaced the 2 inches of old layered kitchen flooring and the lower cabinets.
Floor wasn't rotted out after all!

2nd layer alomst gone...still carpet underneath...GROSS.

Pretty much done....LOVE IT!

We got the sewer put in before the city's deadline....

Rode the  Trail of the Hiawatha with friends

Family Camp with Water of Life

A little time to ourselves

Water of Life Ladies Fellowship Tea

 Operation Christmas Chils box packing party

Millie and Maude

Well it's that time of year and we are adding two to our flock. They are both black Australorps. This breed originated in Australia developed from Black Orpingtons imported from England; and the emphasis of the breeding program was on egg production without sacrificing too much in size. ntroduced into this country in the 1920's, they have become useful and popular and are certainly one of the best layers of light brown eggs of all the heavy breeds. They are exceptionally calm, quiet and friendly birds which make them great for suburban flocks.  Black Australorps have glossy black plumage which has a greenish-purple sheen and their larger than average bright red combs make an unusually handsome sight. They are big heavy birds.  Pullets ( female chicks) mature early and could produce eggs as early as 5 and 6 months of age. They are quiet, gentle, and stand confinement well. Baby chicks are black with a good deal of white in the underparts and small white patches around the head and wings.

Our only concern is these chicks come " straight run" which means your can't tell male and female apart so have prayed over our little chicks and hope they are both going to grow up to be lovely hens.

Here is what they will look like...provided they are both females!

Happy New Year 2011

Well, It's been a while and OMG....here it is already 2011 and the last post was from late Spring 2010...the shame of it!  Life has been wonderfully out of control since last June. Summer and Fall were awesome.  My brother came for the summer and we did some much needed camping and fishing with some friends. After that, David and l had a couple additional camping trips before the end of summer with our new-used, canoe.  By the time summer was over the garden was already out of control and we were preparing for visits from out of town family. We harvested what was salvageable in the garden and let everything pretty much go to seed. I am actually looking forward to those results, by the way.  By the time Fall arrived mom was here for 6 weeks along with a nice visit from my aunt and uncle. By the time mom left my new sewing machine had arrived and I was preparing Eva's bags for the winter craft sale. Then it was the Christmas holiday hustle and bustle....and now Happy New Year? 

Where did the year go! I feel like such a wimp.

But alas! Part of what makes this time of year so fabulous are the seed catalogs that come in the mail like little present chalk full of inspiration, ideas and the hope of Spring!  So, my next project is to take inventory of my seeds and make a Spring gardening and planting plan .... which will unfortunately include a new sewer line hook up and decommissioning of our septic tank...humph.

Here's to daydreams of freshly tilled soil, new life and warm compost.

...oh and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Garden Update

These pics were taken on June 12th and everthing has grown quite a bit more in the last two weeks but I have not taken any pics because its been raining so much and the lighting isn't right.

Blythe & Bonnie - 1 month old

The girls are getting thier 'tween' feathers...Its been interesting to see how thier coloration has changed. They are about the size of a large quail right now and these two Ameracunas look like wild birds, almost "hawk like",  at least until they stand up...they have long greenish blue legs. I guess they fortell of the greenish blue eggs to come?
Luna and Rhonda were not cooperating so they missed thier photo shoot.