New chicken!

My SIL saw this chicken at her church's rummage sale and thought of me. She knows me well. I love it!
Totally off the subject, we have been back at school for 3 weeks now. My teaching assistant and I have 24 pre-kindergarteners in our room. We are exhausted. Our campus opens at 7:00 a.m. We dismiss at 3:15 with and teachers must stay until 3:45. (can be as late as 5:30 on faculty meeting days.) Pre-kindergarten has adopted a new curriculum so I am staying until 5 most days to work on lesson plans. Often with errands or other after school business, I don't get home until 6 or 7. I am wishing for a long weekend to take the camper somewhere. Sadly, there are none for quite awhile. I was so tired that I didn't even make it to our local Master Gardener plant sale this morning!
Y'all come back, 
Lorilee

Rooster tray

I love my new rooster tile tray. A friend gave me the rooster tiles several years ago. She had planned to use them on her backsplash during a kitchen remodel but changed her mind. I boxed them up and thought about them every now and then. This spring, my brother and SIL re-grouted the tile on their kitchen counter. I came across my box of tiles and said to myself, "Hmmmm, ---- just re-grouted his countertops. I bet he still has grout and the tools". So I found a wooden tray on sale at Hobby Lobby and took it along with the tiles to his house. He did all the work for me. My brother is a sweety that way!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Birthday Roo!

 I celebrated my 47th Birthday in October. This handsome rooster was a gift from my Pop and Stepmom!

I think he is so handsome!
Y'all come back!
Lorilee

 A few weekends ago, I arrived home well after dark. Hubby had fed the pets, but Bella (our youngest kitty) had not come from outside to eat. I went out to look for her. I called and called. I heard owls hooting in the distance. Then I saw a big rat snake on our privacy fence. There was a smaller rat snake crawling     up the wire fence under our bat house. I was feeling pretty creeped out and upset that I couldn't get Bella to come. Brian came home from work and started helping me look for Bella. Then he decided to catch the snake. The other cats were also interested in the snake. It let out its defense odor. YUCK. He did catch it. He put it in a bucket, promising to relocate it in the morning. Bella finally came--early the next morning. That evening, she knocked a basket with a 1/2 dozen eggs off the counter. What a mess. I was ready to put her back outside with the owls and snakes. Oh, and Brian did let the snake go--right back in the pasture behind our yard. I'm sure I will be meeting it again, probably in my chicken coop.

Y'all come back,
Lorilee

An Evening with the Critters

 Rascal likes to be on top of the chicken run. He especially likes it when sparrows have gotten in and are having trouble finding their way out! 

 Buffy has started bringing her chicks out of the coop. It is so fun to watch them run around with her.

I love the way they seem to disappear into her feathers when she is sitting.

 Somehow I caught Samson looking quite grumpy.

The dogs can't keep their eyes off Bella! She is in Dave's lap. School is out here for the summer. I have a long "To Do" list as usual. Rascal and Bella are starting to play with each other, but I just haven't managed to have my camera handy when they choose to play!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Where to start?

Where to start? I guess there is no real need to say that I have been busy! Most of my time after school has been spent outside working in my yard. My flowerbeds are FULL of weeds, so I have been weeding and mulching. I have also planted most of my veggie garden. I got a late start there. Hopefully, not too late!

 Computer time was spent editing photos for a group of youngsters that received their First Holy Communion. After having them printed, I had to sort and package them for mailing. Thankfully, Mr. CC made the trip to the post office for me. I will be taking photos for the Holy Confirmation group in a few weeks.

I have also managed a little bit of crocheting. I am working on an afghan now.
The chickens were thrilled with a little free-ranging time before I planted the garden! Chickens and seedlings don't mix!
Y'all come back,
Lorilee

Gottlieb

Gottlieb is my rooster. He is an Ameraucana. I think he is the most handsome rooster I have seen! He thinks so too. He struts around the run like a king. He is named after my Great-grandfather Gottlieb, who came to America from the town of Stein in Switzerland, located on the Rhine river.

I adore his muff!

There he goes! Off to strut!

Y'all come back,

Lorilee

Sunshine

I'm making progress on the Japanese Flower Garden shawl, but it is slow! I don't get to crochet every day, so I think I am doing pretty well!
Update: The pattern can be found here

I fed my yarn addiction with some yummy yarn. I plan to use this for some dishcloths.

It is definitely starting to look like spring in South Texas. I saw this Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on my Carolina Jasmine.

I'm thrilled with the sunshine. I'm torn between gardening and crafts. Gardening wins when the weather is this nice!

Soon my Cannas will fill this corner. I can't wait. I'm tired of the blahness of winter!

The chickens just want out to taste all the tender green shoots!

Y'all come back,

Lorilee

Madeline

Poor Madeline was the victim of a raccoon that found a weak spot in our chicken enclosure. She was probably roosting closest to the door of the coop because she was the lowest in the pecking order. Buffy has some missing feathers and a scratch on her back. We will be making a trip to Lowe's and repairing the enclosure. Poor girl. It makes me sad.
Y'all Come Back,
Lorilee

We've been having lots of rainy weather in my neck of the woods. This makes for a very muddy chicken run! I've been letting them out into the yard whenever possible.

Matilda is enjoying a little jog around the yard!

Madeline just spotted something--is it edible?

Gottlieb and Buffy seem to be after the same tidbit!

Y'all Come Back!

Lorilee

New Banner, New recipes, New year!

I hope everyone has a blessed 2011.

I am new to papercrafting, and I can't resist trying new projects when I see so many cute ideas on others' blogs. I used a set of "tracing letters and numbers" that I used in high school. I was in the drill team, and we had "locker boys"-football players whose lockers we decorated. I used lots of glitter back then, but none was as nice as Martha's! I don't have a mantle so I use our Stickley mirror!

I spent New Year's Eve afternoon in the kitchen!

I was inspired to try making french macarones after reading about them on Parisienne Farmgirl's blog. I used Martha Stewart's recipe and tips I found at Giver's log. I planned to make them raspberry flavored with seedless raspberry preserves for filling, but I didn't have raspberry extract. I used strawberry instead. I am pleased for a first try, although I would like to keep my batter a bit thicker so they don't spread as easily as they are piped.

I also made my 2nd batch of Pizzelles. One of the Christmas Cookie Exchange guests brought them to the party. My SIL and I loved them. I decided I wanted a Pizzelle press for Christmas. She made them with lots of anise, which my SIL and I love. The rest of my family doesn't care for that flavor much. Awwww, more for my SIL and me!

I am still thrilled when I gather eggs, so I couldn't resist one last photo for 2010!

Y'all Come Back,

Lorilee

Chicken in the kitchen!

I wanted to share a sweet gift from my dear friend, Martha. She knows me and my chickens well! She also has an awesome embroidery machine! She is a wonderful seamstress and soooo creative! Thank you so much, Martha.
Y'all come back.
Lorilee

Bristley Hen!

I have been meaning to share this sweet chicken bootscraper that I received as a Birthday gift in October. I think she is absolutely adorable! What shall I name her?

3 eggs and new toes!

I found these 3 beautiful eggs on Saturday.

I also prettied my toes. We still have flip-flop and sandal weather in South Texas in the winter!

I've also been decorating and sewing in between house cleaning and laundry.

Y'all Come Back,

Lorilee

The girls are not laying very frequently now that the days are so short. I still get one or two eggs most days. Today I was THRILLED to find my first bluish green egg!

Of course, I had to photograph and share such a momentous happening! I am not sure which of my Americaunas laid the egg. Their pea combs haven't gotten big and red like the other girls' rose combs.

Is in from Matilda?

Or did Madeline lay the egg!

Photos are from a month or two ago. Madeline is pretty hard to photograph since she rarely stays in one place very long. She is afraid of the other hens since they give her a quick peck to keep her in her place. Matilda stays away from them too, but she is not quite so hysterical about it!

Y'all Come back,

Lorilee

Blossom vs. the possum

A possum proved that our chicken run was not completely varmint-proof the other night. I went out on Monday afternoon to find a possum "playing dead". We found a board that was broken off at the bottom of the wooden fence. Apparently, the possum slipped through that hole and squeezed under the chicken wire where I had been meaning to buy more stakes to keep it down. Once inside, he couldn't get back out.

Poor Blossom must have gotten into a tussle with it! She was missing lots of feathers that day and has lost more since then. Luckily, fall is mild in South Texas!

She doesn't act as though anything is amiss!

I'm pretty sure it is more drafty than usual for her!

Y'all Come Back!

Lorilee

Broody Hen

This is my broody hen, Buffy! I haven't left her any eggs, just the golf ball that stays in the laying box to remind the girls where they are supposed to lay.

This is how she looks if I touch her! She also makes a gurgling cackling noise to let me know she is displeased!

Y'all come back,

Lorilee

Wet Hens

It has been raining here. A lot! My backyard is looking like a swamp.

I've been trying to let the chickens out into the yard since their run is pretty muddy. She looks as mad as a wet hen. Oh, she IS a wet hen!

Here comes the wet rooster.

They are thrilled to be out of that muddy run!

It seems that wet feathers require extra preening.

I am so ready for some sunshine! My cold is getting better, but I still have an annoying cough.

Y'all come back!

Lorilee