Tractor!

Dan has been doing a ton of research on the purchase of a tractor and implements. It's about the same money as buying a car, only we never did this much research and thinking on any car we ever bought! Yesterday, Dan called me from the station and we chatted about what Abby and I were doing, and plans for the day.(no mention of the tractor) Fifteen minutes later he calls me back, and say's he just bought a tractor! He got a bit of a deal and is signing the papers today. In case this means anything to you, it's a Kubota B7800HSD, and he bought the front bucket, brush cutter, and roto tiller. We are just going to buy a riding lawn mover instead of the finish mower attachment, so Abby can help with the mowing. I remember I was 12 when I was using the riding mower when we lived in The Lake of the Woods. However, I don't think she will be mowing like I did in a 2 piece bathing suit!

Earlier this week, Dan's dad came out and helped him get a good start on the chicken coop. It looks terrific! Very sturdy, with room on top for hay storage.
Abby is making a sign for the 'Chick House'. Our chickens will have a very cozy and safe place to live.

The chickens are growing, and getting their wing and tail feathers. One of the Black Australorp is very bossy, and will be either a rooster or a top hen, I think. We should be able to start telling the boys from the girls in a few weeks. Betsy has chosen to adopt the runt of the litter (that's how I chose Sam, too) She is a Rhode Island Red and seems to have very small wings and isn't getting the feathers that the others have. I mentioned that would be one to end up getting culled (dinner!) and she was very offended. She says she wants to keep it in her room! (won't happen...)

Today, Abby and will go outside and mark where the gardens should go. Room enough for a big vegetable garden, Abby's corn, and a big patch of mini-sunflowers!

Our Easter

Easter was rainy for us, and sad that Dan had to work. But we still had a great day. Abby, at almost 12, still wanted to color and hunt eggs, "just for fun." Dan hid them in the backyard before he left for the station, and of course we can't find two! One even has a dollar with it.
We picked up Betsy for church and Abby & Bets went to services together. I have to admit, I missed going to service as I was teaching the three-year-olds. I wonder how things went over when my threes went home to lunch with Grandma and shouted, "Jesus is alive! Woo-hoo!"

After church, we got a bite to eat and as we were getting ready to leave an old couple were seated next to us. When I went to pay the bill, the gentleman turned to Betsy & Abby and asked, "Did you girls go to church today?" They got to talking and found out that this couple goes to Grace as well. His wife has had Alzheimer's for 10 years and he was telling me about how he took her out of the nursing home and cares for her himself. (this guy is in his 80's at least). Anyway, after he told me about the 10 years, he says to me "look at her" and I do, thinking this is so sad, she doesn't function with him at all, then he says "Doesn't she look great?!" and he smiles. Thinking about it, I could cry. He loves her so much.

Later, we went to Easter dinner with the Nye's. My mom-in-law made a wonderful dinner. We celebrated Bill's & Betsy's birthdays and enjoyed being together. Visited Dan at the station and headed back home to check on my chicks! (they were alive & kickin after 11 hours alone, yea!)

NOW it's a farm!

I just don't think it's a farm until there are chickens!
Yesterday, Abby and I went with friends and we picked out 15 chicks. We have 9 Rhode Island Reds, 3 Black Australorp and 3 Red Sex Link (dumb name).
The R.S.Link is a cross between a Rhode Island Red male and a Leghorn hen.
Six of the Rhode Island Reds and the three R.S.Link are pullets (female). The other three R.I.R. and the Australorp are 'straight run', meaning they could be pullets or cocks. Usually, they say, you end up with about 50/50. I am hoping to get 2 or three males, and then I can pick the best one to keep as our resident rooster. The others will be dinner. My goal is to end up with 11 or 12 layers, plus our rooster.
It's been tricky keeping the temperature at 95 degrees for them. I woke up a few times last night to check on them, and this morning (thank you, God) they were all still alive! They are very cute. Right now Abby's rabbits and the chicks are in our garage because today we had a concrete floor put into the barn! It looks great, and it will be much easier to keep animals clean in there now.
Friday, Dan is going to pick up the materials needed to make the chicken coop. I think he is going to start Sat. He's working hard so he can have that day home at Chestnut Hill. We named the farm that because we have a chestnut tree up on the hill (well, a rise anyway)in front of our house. Dan wasn't too into the naming of the farm, but Abby felt it was imperitive that the farm be named. She liked Chestnut Hill, so there you go. She's also trying to name the chicks - I think that is hard, so many of them look alike!
Have a Blessed Easter!

Abby's quote/Betsy's home!

Best new quote from Abby: "I'm so glad I have a handy daddy!"
Handy Daddy took Monday off and wired up and installed flood lights in the barn. Yea! Now we don't have to take flashlights with us if we are down there after dark. He did a terrific job.
The second best thing he did was build a very sturdy and perfect stand for the rabbit cages. Now they are safe above dog level. Abby is feeling much better about that. Tucker is ok with the rabbits, as he is experienced in dealing with them. (neighbor's bunnies on Cheyenne)

Betsy is HOME! Well, she's not at home right now......she is off enjoying seeing her friends on her birthday. It's great to have her to hug and talk to in person! And she's 20! That blows my mind.......... One daughter out of her teens and the other not too far away from her teens.

Hershey & Little Bo Peep

Yesterday, as Abby put it, we got "our 3rd and 4th animals."
4-H friends of ours, who have been raising and showing rabbits for 12 years, are getting out of it and selling some of their rabbits. Abby and I went over and picked up a buck named Hershey and a doe named Little Bo Peep (Bo for short). They are both Dutch Rabbits. They have a color on their heads, white across the saddle and the color again on their ends, with other white markings. Hershey is chocolate brown, and Bo is black. They were mated last Wed. & Thur. and Abby will let them "get frisky" again today and tomorrow in the hope that we will have bunnies in 30 days! Abby is very excited to have them and especially loves Hershey. She will take Hershey to a local show on April 9 and get some experience showing him.
Abby said to me that she is so excited now that we are starting to do some "farm stuff!" - I agreed!