UN-Be-lievable!

Okay, so I've been attempting to grow some plants from seeds this year. I figure $2.50 or $3.00 for a start ... or the same price for an entire package of seeds. I could save bucks deluxe! How hard can it be? Well, actually, I'd always believed it was tremendously difficult. I thought I'd need grow lights and shelves and space in the house for the little guys. So, I just never did it. But with the encouragement of some good friends who have amazing gardens, I ordered some heirloom seeds and jumped on it in January.

Anyhow, last Friday I decided it was time to transplant over 100 of my little plants. I had several varieties of tomatoes, peppers, huckleberries, echinacea, toothache plant, wormwood, broccoli, lettuce, etc. I set up my cheap $30 greenhouse in the driveway against the house. I figured my little plants would get all that southern exposure and a break from the north wind. So, I spent all afternoon tucking them all in -- being very careful with the roots. I went inside the house to plant some new seeds in my flat on the heat mat. When I came back out front, the entire green house had fallen over, dislodging and crushing most of my transplants. I was seriously bummed out. Turns out the cheap plastic piece-O-crap from China broke. Yes, the plastic foundation just cracked.

And because I am a glutton for punishment (and didn't have time to build a real hoop house) I purchased another cheap-O green house made-O-plastic. But this time I made sure it had some structural integrity. Most of my plants, although really shocked and knocked about made it through the week. Even the night it dipped to 22 degrees.

But, alas, last night we encountered 50 mph winds.



Oh! The humanity!!!

The good news is the plastic was not broken. So, I spent the afternoon re-potting the survivors. Also, last night I attended a homeopathy workshop and we talked about using aconite for things like shock, post traumatic stress disorder, exposure to cold wind, restless anxiety ...oh, and for plants it's apparently good for transplant shock. So, after I re-potted the survivors I popped some aconite in a watering can and let it sit for a bit and watered all my little guys with the aconite water. Can't hurt. Who knew homeopathy was for plants?

Speaking of homeopathy, I happened to bring up that our dear Buffy has seriously nasty scale mites on her feet. I had slathered them with vaseline in the past hoping to smother the little buggers. But I wasn't diligent about it. Now her feet are all swollen and nasty and the scales are all pushed up. The homeopath suggested sulfur or staphysagna for the chicken. Really? So, today I soaked some sulfur in water and then soaked quinoa in that and gave it out as a treat. I'll let you know if it works.

Okay, back to the wind report. If you're going to encounter annoyingly harsh winds out here on the northern prairie of Chico, then you may as well make the best of it. Rex created a new toy during our windy storm last week:



He mounted a mast with square sail and a rope to his long board and rode this down the driveway all afternoon. So, when my kids grow up and complain about how I wouldn't let them play video games and watch television all day, I'll point out all the cool things they did instead.



Here's another cool thing they whipped up recently. Amira received a gift card to Target for her birthday. After trolling around the store and really not being able to make up her mind about so many things, she bought a ton of balloons and turned the living room into a ball pit. You can see Rex on top here. Valerie and Amira are buried beneath.

February Birthdays

Last weekend saw us celebrate the end of Michael's birthday season and the beginning of Amira's. With birthdays just 10 days apart, it's kind of fun for them to share a celebration. Amira made the above card in honor of her dad's birthday.

Valerie created the "life like" card below ... a little too lifelike. Hey, is that Cream on Cookies?



We all ate way too much. Amira wished for BBQ country ribs and Michael wanted a porterhouse steak. So those items were served along with part of the giant hubbard squash, some kahlua yams, sauteed kale and a salad. Here we are before piling our plates high. Did I mention that Michael stood outside in the rain to grill? Wonder if he'll wish for a cassrole next year?



Then we all decided to adjourn to the living room for a gift exchange while we attempted to digest dinner and make room for the fantastic gluten free cake baked by Neni.






Look at this impressive work of art:



It was a dream come true for Michael and Amira. They got their cake and could eat it too!

Amira finally got the honor of lighting the candles this year.



Happy Birthday Amira & Michael!!!

Hot Chicks!!!

Here's an inside look from the "chick cam". They are about 2 weeks old.

Hack-a-Squash

Michael hacks up the worlds biggest squash which was given to us by Grampa Alligator.

Home Spun!

I'm not one to brag ... well, yes I am! Check this display of home grown eggs:



And check out this comparison. One of these eggs is from our girls. The other two came from a reputable egg vendor at the Farmer's Market. And either of these choices would blow doors on the ghost of an egg picked up at the grocery store. I recommend keeping chickens!



Also, Valerie finished another knitting project at school. I'm sorry to say I didn't grab a photo of the mittens she finished, so we'll just go with the socks:





And we'd really have bragging rights if we actually had the sheep, sheared them, carded, spun and dyed the wool. But get real. I'm not that crazy. Yet.

Plus, if we had sheep, they'd eat my garden. Here is a February progress photo:



We've got some garlic, onions, chard, kale and pansies. Can't see the back ... but there are some tips of peas trying to break up through the soil. And I have to say that I saw my first almond blossoms yesterday (February 8th). So, I'd better get some more veggies in the ground!

Chick-a-palooza

I'd like to begin this post with my apologies for the lack of pictures on today's post. It's not that I didn't take pictures. I actually have quite a few on the camera. But I cannot find the card reader anywhere! I'll do my best to be a little more descriptive. (02/09/12 UPDATE: Michael just arrived home and found the camera card ... in MY desk drawer where it is supposed to be kept. Hunh. Who woulda thunk?)

First of all, I'd like to say that last week I went toe to toe with Mr. Johnson. I was cooking up dinner and looked out to find that Mr. J had flown over the orchard fence and was scratching away at what appeared to be my newly planted peas in the garden. Normally when a hen gets in the garden it is my fault. As we've clipped their wings they don't usually fly the coop. And when they escape, I can pick them up or herd them back into the orchard. Silly me. I attempted the same approach with Mr. J. And that guy got his hackles up and came at me with his talons. Good thing I was wearing my tall leather boots!



I realized I was going to have to trick Mr. J. into making the decision to return to the orchard on his own. I walked down the fence line calling his girls, "Here chick, chick, chick!" Of course they all realized that means I have some treats. So, they started following me. Well, Mr. Fancy Pants rooster was all a twitter at this. I just lured away his harem. So, he began to chase me. I ran right through the gate and into the chicken yard headed for the can of organic scratch. He was going to let me have it. But before he knew it, he was stuffing his crop with corn and I latched the gate shut behind him. Ha! Take THAT!

Later, I saw how he escaped. See this picture of Agnes deciding to jump back into the orchard instead of the garden. What a good hen!




So that night, for our entertainment, we hired Rex and Valerie to go out and give Mr. J the old "one wing" treatment. Now, this is where I needed to insert the picture of those two all dressed up. They put on their heaviest coats, gloves, goggles, boots (and some chain mail) and headed out the back door with some pitch forks and torches -- I mean, scissors and a flash light. We admonished them on the way out that we did not want that rooster injured. He's a good guy and does his job well. Rex and Valerie returned covered with feathers and collected their cash for a job well done.



On Monday morning of this week I got a call from the post office informing me that my chicks were in. I was so excited. And then I realized, Hey! To arrive on a Monday, those little critters had to have been shipped on a Friday. Can you imagine? 27 little fluff balls crammed into a dark box without food and water for three days bumped around from Iowa to California? I was kind of bummed they didn't ship on a Monday to arrive Tuesday. But, hey. I guess I wasn't the one in charge of making those decisions. Some really thoughtful person at McMurray's Hatchery decided that was a good idea. Nice going.



I opened the little box of peepers and picked them up one by one, dipping their beaks in water and setting them under the heat lamp. I ordered 25 White Plymouth Rock Roosters. They gave me a bonus rock roo. And then they also gave me a bonus mystery chick. So, I have 26 classic yellow male chicks and 1 fluffy brown chick whose gender and breed remains a mystery. Seriously, I'll put up some pix as soon as I find that camera card. They are pretty darn cute.





Even with the heat lamp, it was too cold in the garage. So, I moved them back into "Valerie's Pet Shop". I would like to thank Valerie for being such a sport. And really, you can't smell the chicks because the smell of the rats over power everything. Did I mention that her room is like cat bait?

Speaking of Mr. Whiskers, aka: Steve Austin: the 6 Million Dollar Cat ... he is no longer allowed outside. He's too expensive. So, he's inside lazing around and getting bored. He managed to get into Valerie's room the other night while I was out at my organic gardening class. Poor Shaina, our sitter (for pets and kids). She's been through everything with the pets. She was the one who had to inform us that Turbo Fluff died while we were in Costa Rica. And she's also the one who had to inform us that Lucky went missing while we were in Santa Cruz. Well, fortunately nothing died Monday night. But there was a bit of a scuffle with Mr. Whiskers and one the of the little chicks was later found on the opposite side of Valerie's room behind her dresser. Valerie put the semi-injured chick into a box within the box under the heat lamp with a couple of its friends. By morning they were all flocking together in the brood box and tragedy was avoided.

Shaina, I would like to thank you for continually coming back to sit for our kids and pets in spite of everything you've experienced!

In other news we're planting 25 five gallon potted cherry laurel trees along the back fence. I was going to put black berries back there (natures barbed wire that makes a fine cobbler!) But Michael really wanted a nice green wall that would block out the neighborhood lights behind us and the sight of their Hummer. How obnoxious is that? So, we've been doing a lot of digging. And I'll admit, it's nice to have something evergreen back there. It will make a nice wind break and habitat for birds and stuff.

I also replaced our dead avocado tree with a donut peach tree. And I replaced the four grape vines I killed with 4 new ones. (Red flame, Thompson's Seedless, Chardonnay and Muscat ... yum!) In the front yard I planted a small ceanothus tree and an elderberry bush. Yes, this is getting a little expensive. The good news is that the gardening class the other night was about propagation. So, anyone willing to donate cuttings ... I'm ready for you!

Before taking off for Chicago Michael designed, built and installed the world's longest clothes line. I guess I could do laundry for the whole neighborhood. I have to measure how long it is. But I would say at least the length of a full ladder fire truck.


I've got my little pepper/tomato/huckleberry starts in my office window. Yay! They look like they are doing okay and happy. I can't wait to start another round of those guys.



Also, the kids worked hard in the orchard last weekend. Rex painted white socks on all the orchard tree trunks to prevent sunburn. And he put together signs that Amira and I painted so that we know what kinds of trees we have back there. The only two that didn't get labeled are the Bing Cherry and Emerald Pluot. But it's so nice to look back there and know that this is the Muir Peach and that is the Fairtime Peach. Oh, and this is the Eversweet Pomegranate and that is the Ambrosia Pomegranate. I get a lot of satisfaction looking out there at those signs and those trees!





I picked up some pallets upon which my bee hives will sit. I'm counting down the weeks until I've got bees to deal with too! I want to paint their new home too. I'm not an artist or anything. But I like that homespun kitschy feel. And I finally ordered some turkeys from Carol Albrecht out at Chaffin Farms. She thinks she can hatch out some Bourbon Reds. Waaahoo! Can't wait for those guys ... well, yes I can. I really have a lot going on.

Oh, and someone is dropping off an incubator today. Yes, just what we need. I think we'll put that in Valerie's room too! I'm going to get a sign that says, "BARN ENTRANCE" and put it above her door.

So, this is all what is going on here. Still sheet mulching the front. Kids still taking music lessons (piano, cello, etc.) I'm dreaming of an edible yard. Michael is bucking up and funding this whole adventure. Thanks, Honey!