Fort Flagler overlooks Puget Sound

Robin went deer hunting early in the morning and these area few pictures he shot.

These are some of the Beautiful Views from the kitchen window and Behind the buildings overlooking the Puget Sound

Ft. Flagler-Youth Conference

Robin and I went to Youth conference Wednesday. Rob was a chaperon, I helped in the kitchen. The kitchen is the building at the right of this photo. Our Van is in the parking lot-the big tan one.

Windows

We got a few new windows this weekend! I am thrilled! Just what I always wanted! Rob Brought three windows home on friday and installed one in Joels room. It is much warmer in there now. I helped Robin with our bedroom window. I was on the inside and attempted to help with prying the old frame out but mostly handed him tools. When we lifted the window in the first time to see how it fit Robin said, "uh oh!" but I couldn't tell what the problem was until Robin started laughing, "it's a foot short!"
We thought we'd measured the windows enough times to know how big they all were. Oh well, Robin fixed it. I will fill the edges of the patch and paint it this week. We will do the kitchen window on Friday when Robin is home from Denver.

Turtles

I took pictures of the turtles today. They have come a long way from being the size of a 50 cent piece. They need a new home. That is why I was taking a picture. in hopes that their cuddly faces will entice a new guardian to step forward. I can't remember to feed them. Luckily I read online tonight that mature turtles only need fed every other day. Unfortunately however they need warm temperatures. 75 degree water, 80 degree air and a basking area with UV rays (apparently they don't sunburn) and the temperature there should be a toasty 90 degrees. How was I to know! I inherited these two terrapins! inherited from my own children who have grown to manhood and gone off to seek their fortunes in places other than the pacific northwest where they can enjoy UV rays of their own everyday. If I can't find a home for these reptiles who have lifespans of 50 to 100 years they may become coveted family heirlooms passed from generation to generation. Right now they are being passed the wrong way- I don't want to have them when I am 100 years old!

Blueberry Blossoms

I woke up stiff this morning. At first I thought my back hurt, but when Robin rubbed it for me I said, "my back doesn't hurt!" I decided the aches were coming from sore muscles used in light yard work yesterday. You see, there was a short dry spell during the day and I thought if I was going to get my new blueberry plant in the ground before May I better take advantage of the situation. I have a couple of blueberry plants that have all but died. When I pulled the deadest looking one out of the ground yesterday It was obvious why it was doing so poorly-no roots. I dug up the ground (three times bigger than the root ball of the new plant according to directions) I found that the top two inches of soil looked pretty good-worms and dark humus- all the good stuff, but underneath was all rocks and hard packed dirt. No wonder there were no roots. I added a few gallons of rabbit manure to the planting hole and hope that the new plant does better than the last. It is an evergreen blueberry and is already covered with blossoms. I bought it as a gallon plant a week ago. It is an attractive little shrub. I'm looking forward to lots of beautiful berries.
When the blueberry was taken care of, I hauled the yard waste recycle bin out of the garage to take it to the backyard where we had a pile of left over pruned limbs. All the pruned branches wouldn't fit in the bin two weeks ago. I got delayed by the hordes of dandelions- masses of bright yellow flowers mocking last years attempts to eradicate them. I started digging and pulling them out. I knew I would be sore today from the effort. I didn't get them all and I know there is still a lot more work to do. I also got the pile of limbs off the ground and into the recycle bin. The lid almost closed.
Working in the yard is always good-it makes me wonder what kind of ground I'm growing in and if I need to improve my soil. There is also the weed issue and the daily effort to keep personal weeds from taking over. And one other thing I think is amazing. Despite the rain and hail and wind that we have had this past week the tulips and hyacinths are blooming! The cherry tree is in blossom and the peony buds are swelling-things are really looking good!

Yikes!! A real empty nest!

This week has been busy and the grand finale was that we sold the chickens on Saturday night to a nice lady named Svetlana. She came and bought the bunch. Joel helped me list them on Craig's list and at first I thought I'd just sell three hens and the rooster and keep two hens. But she was interested in all of them so we sold them all.

I've enjoyed having chickens. First of all, It has provided a security blanket for me. When Aaron went away to join everyone at college, well intentioned friends offered the non-consoling words, "Oh...You really do have an empty nest now," I would just think, "No, not really- I have a small flock of chicken's in my backyard and they're in and out of the nests all day. My nest isn't really empty at all." But now when I look out the kitchen window-it is empty! That's not all bad though. This morning when the rain was coming down sideways in bucketfuls I didn't have to run outside to feed the chickens. That was good!

A second reason I have enjoyed raising chickens is the things they have taught me. For instance the word "brooding" or "broody". I never really understood that word before. I do now. A broody hen will puff herself up and growl at you if you get near. A person can be a little scary if they are brooding.

Henpecked. I really understand that one now. I've always known it had reference to a husband whos wife nagged, but it is a lot more than that. Henpecked is Ugly. I saw it. Three of my hens were henpecked by a bossier hen. They started this year as very pretty birds. But because they didn't do things her way, an old bossy hen started pecking them. Pecking them on their heads! She pulled out their feathers on top-Just a little every day, leaving them bald and scraggily. They ended up looking like they'd had a bad shave with a dull razor and were greatly in need of some serious moisturizer. Despite the mistreatment they kept right on laying eggs just like they were supposed to. Henpecked- don't participate, it gets ugly!

The other thing is a sweet thing. The bossy hen taught me this thing too. In the scriptures, Christ teaches, "how oft I would have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not." I understand that scripture better now. I knew that a mother hen keeps her chicks warm and protected under her wings, but it is so much more than that. My mother hen did keep her chicks warm. At night one would climb up on her back and under her neck feathers and peek out, others would snuggle into the down underneath her and around her legs and peek out. They got as close to her as they could. They were never afraid of being stepped on and crushed. They knew they were safe with her in the dark. During the day, the mother hen would call to her chicks. As they came running she sent dirt flying as she dug her claws into the earth and taught them to scratch for food and what to eat, where to find water and how to protect their skin with dust baths.
The most amazing thing to me was how fiercely she protected her chicks. One day another hen looked their way. The Mother hen leaped into a fierce tackle sending the intruder rolling head over tail with accompanying SQUAWKS and offended Clucks.
It was then that I understood what it means to be gathered as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings. How often Christ would gather us under his wings, to comfort us, teach us, nourish us and protect us if we will come when he calls us. He is truly our Savior and Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. I know that.

Cock-a doodle-Doooooo!

My neighbor says she loves to hear the rooster crow in the mornings. It reminds her of being a girl back on the Farm. I can't honestly say the same thing. I was never a farm girl. I love to watch roosters. My rooster is especially beautiful. He has shiny copper colored feathers on his head and neck and when he gets excited the feathers stand up framing his head like a lion! His tail is dark with a turquoise shine. He is really something! However, his crowing first thing in the morning gives me mixed feelings. Especially when it is in my own back yard and dawn hasn't started to crack yet. He is a great alarm clock--gets me out of bed every time. I think, "Hey Turkey! you're waking up the neighborhood! You're stealing all the quiet!" I grab a jacket and head for the back garage door, slip my feet into some waiting shoes (I'm not picky at that time of the morning anybody's will do) and shuffle across the back yard to my chicken house. I reach in, grab my rooster and gently lift him out, and say quietly, "Hey you, you're making too much noise." Then we head back to the garage. I set him gently in the waiting apple box; he stands still and I put the lid on. It is a routine. It has been a routine since he started crowing. Occasionally I go back to bed, but usually it really is time to get up. I let him sit it out for a couple of hours til the sun really is up and I figure the neighbors are too. I figure it is the opposite of farmers who provide extra light so they get more eggs from their hens. I provide extra dark for my rooster. In return he gives me more quiet. It just resets his time clock a little. Guess I could call it Watching a rooster. He really is beautiful.