More Chickens

Our Complete Flock

We had 2 chickens pass away. We planned to get Brenden a new chicken, and since I have a thing for pairs and even numbers we had to make it even. We have 2 ducks, 4 Bantams, 1 Black Sex Link, 1 Rhode Island Red, and 2 Buff Orpingtons. Poor Josh I really want to get another Rhode Island and Sex Links but am controlling my self! :) While going to the zoo today we were able to see the full grown Bantams, Bantam Silky, and Buff Orpington. It was so neat! Of course we still have the surprise of finding out whether we have hens or roosters though.

Full grown Rhode Island Red Hen

Our Rhode Island Red

Full grown black sex link hen.

Brendens' pick our Black Sex Link. This one is a female. We know this thanks to the internet which states that the black ones are hens. Woo Hoo Yeah for one hen!

Buff Orpington Rooster(taken at zoo)

One of our two.

Bantam Rooster (taken at zoo)

Our new Bantam, named Bumble Bee.

Silkie Rooster(taken at zoo)

This is our new Silkie. We now have two of these. My mom had these when I was growing up and they were always my favorite.

Our New Additions Chickens and Ducks

This was Joshs' favorite. The next four chickens are Bantams.

Brenden's Chicken Jackhammer. He passed away last night and the boys and I buried him after church. They were heart broken. We had many a talk and many a prayer and they are both doing better. We plan on going to get another chicken Monday.

Taylers' Chicken Black Night a.k.a. Blackie

See my feathered feet?

Top and bottom are Buff Orpingtons. This one is named Patty.

Nugget

Boys feeding our Buff Orpingtons.

Proud owner of ducks.

Pekin Ducks(full grown pic)
Joshua has yet to name these guys or yet he can't decide on names.

We finally talked Josh into letting us get some ducks and chickens. I have been wanting chickens for their eggs for some time. I thought it would be great for the kids and I to learn about them and raise them for a school project as well. Josh plans to build us a chicken coop very soon. I am not sure if we have males or females, my mom says maybe at about six months old we will be able to tell. Crossing my fingers for one rooster and the rest hens. It would really be nice to have a drake and a hen and have babies at the pond to!

Moth

The kids found this moth in the kitchen. It is rare for us to see one with these colors. Tayler took it to the porch and set it on my flowers. She and Joshua watched it the whole time I grilled sausage and pineapple. YUM!

First Swim in The Pond 2010

Bren was so excited! He has been asking to get in the pond since the beginning of March! We spent ALL day trimming, cleaning out brush, and hauling it to the burn pile. This was the reward.

Joshua says well he looks like he is having fun. Bren says it is cold but kinda warm and very slippery.

Bren is there to catch Joshua when he comes up. Joshua jumped in 2 times and he was done. He said he was ready to go to the beach or a swimming pool. His mommy feels the same way he does! I am not much for the pond. I love to look at it and fish but not get in.

Tayler Rayn says this is fun!

This girl can jump.

We even let the dogs get in, Brenden and Big had fun playing fetch!

A Great Day To Ride

Best brothers!

Brendens' first time making it up. He is hooked now he rode up that dirt pile forever! Until Tayler and Joshua made him share so they could dig.

Joshua says see my new shovel. I need to try it out. Josh bought each of them a shovel for the dirt pile of their own.

Brenden says he felt like he was training for Motor cross.

Up he goes.

Joshuas' first wheelie.

Tayler begged for a turn.

Tayler says totally awesome!

Joshua had to have a turn to of course.

Joshua grinned from ear to ear, I think daddy had as much fun as he did.

Brenden is the best big brother. He rode as slow as he could to ride with Joshua. They have done this two days in a row up and down our driveway.

My Azalea

I couldn't help but sharing a couple of pictures. I planted this last year and two others, after dogs, kids, and weed eater this is the only one that survived. Josh warned me about not having done the flower bed right but I was to eager and had to plant something! We bought two more (red and white) at Lowes yesterday for $1.50 each! Josh is going to help me plant them and fix a good bed where they will be protected better.

House

We have been blessed to have gorgeous weather and Josh was even able to get a few days off work. We tackled gutters, raised flower bed, and finishing installing shutters Josh made last year. We still have a few down down spouts to put on other than that gutters are done. Josh sprayed the flower bed to help the dirt settle and didn't think about the mud and us needing to finish. After two dump truck loads of dirt and approx. 500 castle wall bricks we are almost done with the flower bed. We are waiting on the dirt to settle before we plant Crape Myrtles(watermelon red), Indian Hawthorne, Gardenias, and Lorapedlum. Then maybe even a few colorful flowers, after we see how weed management will be. The second load of dirt was filled with grass. As you can imagine we weren't two happy after spending two days getting every smidgen of grass gone before we started! Praise God for the tractor it really helped cut down our work load! Even if it did mess up my after shot of the house below. :)

Before Front.

Before Left Side.

After Left Side.

Before Right Side.

After Right Side.

Right side. This side of the house was not only higher but had a longer wall as well. I think Josh did a great job with the transition. We plan to plant something to drape over this corner where the bed turns near the porch.

After Front.
These are the best pictures I have 0f the front right now, someone left their tractor out. ;)