tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40322323990599674952024-03-04T20:04:07.701-08:00Our Crazy CoopWe are a family of six. We have been married for many years and would love to live on a true farm. However, we live next door to my parents and the benefits of that are priceless. So, we've chosen to make the most of the place we have and we're bringing the farm to us! We will be learning as we go and will post pictures along the way. Hopefully, this blog will capture what life is for us...welcome to our crazy coop!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-32741750428083903132013-03-28T21:37:00.001-07:002013-03-28T21:37:12.845-07:00Hard Work on the Homestead (Part One) With Spring and Summer just around the corner there will be a lot of outside chores demanding our attention. So, we've been spending time lately getting things done on the inside while we can. I created a mile long list of things that needed to be done before outside duties call. So, in the last several weeks, my husband has been hard at work checking off my seemingly never ending "honey-do" list. I found it only fitting to take a moment and dedicate a blog post to him. He's spent countless late nights working on projects and hour after hour trying to perfect his amateur skills. We've been married for seventeen years and he has never been one I'd consider a carpenter. However, he's proven to the both of us that with a lot of practice and determination he can pretty much build whatever I dream up. And, now that a few projects are under his belt, he's not looking very amateur anymore. Below you will find some pictures and some bragging. Maybe you'll be inspired. If we can "do it ourselves", I know you can! :-) <br />
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The first picture I'm sharing is a before that doesn't yet have an after. For those of you that follow us on Facebook, you saw posts asking for well wishes as we began the project of hanging beadboard in the kitchen and breakfast nook. That project took about two weeks to get on the wall and a few days past that to get it all painted. Although my husband has come quiet a long way in improving his carpentry skills, his caulking and painting still leaves a little to be desired. This is a good place to state that as long as we've been married, very few projects have made it to the "complete" status without help from my sister-in-law and my mother-in-law. Regarding the recent projects, they've stepped in to do caulking and painting...that's their "usual" job. And, might I add they do it from the heart. So, that saves me a TON of money. I must also add we are very fortunate that my dad has A LOT of power tools. He has willingly loaned them out to us without hesitation. If we didn't have access to the tools he has, I'm not really sure how the "honey-do list" would be getting these big DIY projects checked off of the list.<br />
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Above you can see that the beadboard is up. In this picture, the trim wasn't up nor was any of it painted. Before an after picture is posted, I will have to get the table back. That's the other area where my sister-in-law helps get projects to "complete". If anything needs refinished or refurbished, she's the one to go to. Currently, she has the table and is in the process of giving it a facelift. Although I do like the traditional country style of this table, I am ready for a change. I figure it can always be sanded back down to the original finish in years to come if we decide to do that. (Check back later when Part Two is posted to see the finished beadboard and how the table turns out.)<br />
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The main area of the kitchen and breakfast nook now looks refreshed and brightened with a nice coat of white paint all over the newly installed beadboard. However, the island/bar in the kitchen is the place where all four of my children and all of their friends gather. They are there for breakfast, for snacks, for homework, and for just hanging out while I'm cooking in the kitchen. You can imagine the wear and tear that area receives. So, we decided to paint that just a little bit different. <br />
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If you notice, not only did the beadboard change from white to black, but the barstools also received a facelift and went from black to distressed red. (Another thanks to my sister-in-law). I wish I had thought to take the TRUE before picture which was of the bar area with no beadboard at all under it. It was just the painted sheetrock wall. <br />
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After the beadboard project was complete, the DREADED garage project began. Not to be redundant but we have four children ages 12 and under. So, you can imagine how quickly a garage gets out of shape...piled with bikes, riding toys, balls, gloves, sidewalk chalk, "junk" from a quick car clean out, etc. You name it, it was in our way in the garage. So, I actually got to be helpful in this project. I spent a LONG time cleaning the garage in order to make room for a project I've had my eye on for quiet a while. The inside of our house doesn't lend the space that's needed for a mudroom area like I'd love to have. So, we decided to make the best of our garage and create a "mudroom" in the space before you walk into our home. In this picture in the bottom left, you can see just a taste of how out of sorts the garage was. But, now we LOVE the space. It's like a little bit of square footage added to our living area because it has turned out to be the mudroom we never had. The top picture shows how it looks now...the same space where all the junk used to be. Let me brag really big here...my husband built 98% of this all by himself! He had a great friend come over and help him get the frame all squared up but he did all the rest. I gave him a picture from Pinterest and said, "Here...build this please." He under estimated himself when he didn't think he could do it. I'm proud of him that he did. (Don't tell him that he only proved how many other things he can do!) We still have to add one more hook to the far right cubby and do a tad bit of caulking but it is already a very functioning space. <br />
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You'd think after all of the above work I would let the poor guy rest. BUT, he has just today completed yet another project from the "to-do" list. And, it was yet another first for him. He installed hardwood floors in our bedroom. He did a fabulous job! Tomorrow we get to move all the furniture back in and reap the full view of that DIY project. But, I have no doubt it's gonna look great. One bedroom down and two more to go. He is almost worn to a frazzle but much more confident in himself and his handyman skills than he was just a few weeks ago. </div>
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Thankfully, I have a hard working husband and a very supportive family that steps up to the plate working tirelessly for hours on end. Without everyone working together my "to-do" list would still be sitting there because my budget wouldn't be able to afford the labor of getting it all to "complete". </div>
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We've made a huge dent in our list but stay tuned for Part Two of this post to see the rest of our work. Don't forget that in the midst of all these chores, we've still been "bringing the farm to us". Today we reached our record of three eggs in one day. We got two eggs yesterday. We are well on the way to all seven of our current hens laying eggs. And, in a few short weeks we will add several more chickens and five ducks to our backyard flock. You guessed it....one of the things reaching the top of the to-do list now is the construction of a duck house. Not to mention getting ready for our garden. And, have I mentioned I'd like to learn to can?? Work on a homestead is never complete! </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">THANK YOU to everyone who has helped! It takes a village!!</span> </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-29810776394593456292013-03-03T20:34:00.002-08:002013-03-03T20:37:29.723-08:00ALMOST Homemade Orange Cinnamon Rolls Although it's nice to make things 100% from scratch, sometimes we have to find just a little bit of a short cut to help us out. Not long ago I was watching The Pioneer Woman and she made homemade orange rolls. I've been craving them every since. They looked really tasty and eventually I will get around to making her recipe. But today, I didn't have the time to make the dough and let it rise but I did have enough time to enjoy a few minutes of baking. I love to be in the kitchen and baking is one of my favorite hobbies. So I made ALMOST Homemade Orange Cinnamon Rolls. Below you will see the steps I took and you'll quickly see the catch as to why these rolls are "almost homemade". <br />
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Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and gather these ingredients:</div>
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~Crescent Rolls (2 big packages or 4 small packages)</div>
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~Butter</div>
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~Orange Marmalade</div>
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~Brown Sugar</div>
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Open the Crescent rolls and roll them out flat with a rolling pin. </div>
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Once you've gotten a nice sized rectangular piece of dough, spread butter and marmalade all over the dough. Then, sprinkle brown sugar all over the top. (A light covering of butter will do. I learned, although I thought a thorough covering would be best, I think they will keep their shape better with a light coat.)</div>
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Next, roll the dough into a jelly roll shape, pinching the dough closed along the way. Don't worry! It's okay to get a little bit messy.</div>
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After the dough has been rolled up just right, slice it into cinnamon rolls and place onto a baking pan. </div>
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Place the rolls into the oven and bake for 12-14 minutes. Remember, all ovens bake a little differently so keep an eye on your rolls and bake them until they are a nice golden brown. </div>
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While you are waiting for the rolls to bake, mix up the frosting. You'll need these ingredients:</div>
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~Powdered Sugar...about 2 1/2 cups </div>
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~About 1/4 cup of milk</div>
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~1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon</div>
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~1 teaspoon of pure vanilla flavoring</div>
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Adjust the ingredients to fit the consistency you like best. </div>
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Mix the above frosting ingredients with a mixer until nice and smooth. </div>
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Pour over the orange cinnamon rolls.</div>
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Transfer them to your favorite serving platter and enjoy!</div>
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This was a quick and easy way to make orange cinnamon rolls. I took the shortcut by using the crescent rolls for the dough, thus the "almost homemade" part. But, I added all the other ingredients from scratch and made a breakfast the family enjoyed. PLUS, my daughters got to lend a helping hand. It was a win-win. I hope your family can benefit from this recipe. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-3615833465776406212013-02-20T13:52:00.001-08:002013-02-20T13:57:39.534-08:00Couponing 101<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those of you that are familiar with our blog and Facebook page already know that we are a family of six. That means it takes a lot of money to do most anything in life. Especially, keeping the pantry stocked. In today's economy many are trying to make every dollar stretch to a bare thread. I know we are. A couple years ago, a really good friend got me started in couponing. It was a huge blessing. Couponing allows me to purchase several of a particular item that I would otherwise probably not buy at all because of the price. In our family, one box of cereal barely makes two breakfasts, one box of "treats" has 8 or 10 at the most and will fill only a day or two of lunches, and a bag of apples might last three days. Couponing brings the prices down to affordable and allows me to purchase the name brand items. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-list: Ignore;"> However, for the past several months (since before Christmas), I've taken a break from it. I didn't really do that intentionally. I just got distracted with holidays, with home projects, and with "bringing the farm to us". BUT, it's made a dent in the budget by not using coupons. Not to mention that my children and even my husband are frequently complaining that "there's nothing to eat around here". Obviously, we are far from hungry. We are fortunate enough that although the pantry may not always hold the exact special something somebody is craving, we've never had a truly empty stomach. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-list: Ignore;"> This past week I told my husband that I am ready to get back to keeping my coupons organized. It just so happens that I've had more than one friend from my personal FB page ask me to share tips they've seen me share in the past. SO, what better way than to write a blog post? This way, I'm sharing to those that have asked and hopefully I'm introducing somebody new to the beauty of couponing. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-list: Ignore;"> First of all, get familiar with Coupon Lingo. Here are some terms you will see as you begin to search links for coupons. </span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-list: Ignore;">(Remember, sales are regional. So be sure to check with the stores you frequent for their particular terms and guidelines dealing with coupons.)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Coupon Lingo</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></b><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> B1G1, BOGO, B1G1F – “Buy 1, Get 1 Free”</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">$/$$ - Dollars off wyb XX dollars </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">.50/1 - Fifty cents off one item</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">.50/3 - Fifty cents off 3 items</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">DND5 - Coupon says Do Not Double, but the bar code starts with a 5, most computers will still double it</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">NED - No Expiration Date</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Blinkies - Coupon dispensed near product, in the store (usually from a “blinking” red box)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Catalina - Coupon dispensed at the register at the time of purchase (on separate paper)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Peelie - Coupon that you peel off the package</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Tear Pad - Pad of refund forms or coupons found hanging from a store shelf or display</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">FAR - Free After Rebate</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">IP - Internet Printable (a coupon you print off the internet)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">MFR - Manufacturer</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">MQ - Manufacturer coupon</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">MIR - Mail in Rebate</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">OOP - Out Of Pocket</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">YMMV- Your Mileage May Vary (you may find the item priced differently or it may not work for you the same)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">PG - Proctor & Gamble Sunday insert coupons</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">RP - Red Plum Sunday insert coupons</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">SS - Smartsource Sunday insert coupons</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">V - Valassis (former name of Red Plum inserts)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">FLIP - Food Lion Internet Printable</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Regional - Coupon value only distributed to a certain area</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">UPC - “Universal Product Code”. It is that box of black lines that the checker passes over the scanner at the checkout. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">WYB - When You Buy </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">WSL - While Supply Lasts</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">SASE - Self Addressed Stamped Envelope</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">CRT - Cash Register Tape (coupon that prints on your receipt) </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">ECB - Extra Care Buck (CVS)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">ESR - Easy Saver Rebate (Walgreens)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">IVC - Instant Value Coupon (Walgreens store coupon, found in Walgreens Easy Saver Catalog and on in store tear pads)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">RR - Register Rewards (these are the Catalinas that print out at Walgreens)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">SCR- Single Check Rebate (rebate system at Rite Aid)</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-list: Ignore;">Here are some other things I do that I think you'll find helpful: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you haven’t already, subscribe to the Sunday paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> For now, the paper is still in print so we may as well take advantage of the coupon inserts. </span>This is where you will get many coupons from Smart Source, Red Plum, and P&G.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If you have friends who get the paper but don’t use the coupons, get the word to them that you’d like to have their extras…all of the inserts or the ones they’re not using.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason for this is because in cases where you want to buy more than one of something that’s a really good deal, you’ll have a coupon for each of the items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Recently, Smart Balance milk was BOGO and having a coupon for each one allowed me to get it for free.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If there is a really good coupon, you may even want to go buy more than one of the Sunday paper. A paper only costs a couple bucks and sometimes there can be one single coupon for $5 off of an item.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Keep all of the coupons until they expire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never know what you’ll try if it’s cheap enough and you have a coupon to go with it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO TRY THINGS THAT ARE ON SALE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means, you can’t say, for example, “Well, I won’t buy that 'x brand' peanut butter because I only like 'y brand'.” If you have good coupons for a certain brand, be willing to try it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be flexible about what types of snacks you want to have around the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It's always exciting when our local store as a Buy One Get One Free (BOGO) item that I happen to also have a coupon for. That item will for sure be a snack purchase! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-spacerun: yes;"> (With all of that said, only buy what you feel sure you're family will like or be willing to try. Don't waste your money on something that YOU KNOW your family won't eat or consume. No matter how cheap it is, if you won't use it or donate it to a good cause, it's a waste of your hard earned money.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Get an organizational system for your coupons. There are a couple of different methods for this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Your personality type will dictate which system works best for you. </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Cut every coupon out and organize it in categories such as dairy, personal care, meat, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can buy accordion style 4x6 folders for this. The plus of this is that you can get into a habit of cutting coupons every week and when you're ready to use them, they are already cut out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Separate each sheet of the coupon inserts and place them in sheet protectors in a three ring binder….place them alphabetically by product. This allows for page length pages to turn. The plus is the add is easier to see but the negative is that you'll have to cut the coupon out right when you are ready to use it. (Or when you sit down and match coupons to the weekly ad.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Buy a 3-ring binder and fill it with baseball card protector sheets. Each little square section a baseball card would normally go in is where you put the coupons. You can use tab dividers to organize by category.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">What I do as of now: I keep the coupon inserts intact and write the date on the outside of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That way when a website refers to where to find a coupon (IE: in the Smart Source from 7/18), then I go to that particular insert and only cut out what I know I need.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Coupons can be printed. Below is a list of links I frequently visit to see what coupons are available and print out the ones I need. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/view.php?pg=cpngenerator" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/view.php?pg=cpngenerator</span></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.southernsavers.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts"><span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">www.southernsavers.com</span></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.iheartpublix.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts"><span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">www.iheartpublix.com</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.iheartsavings.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">www.iheartsavings.com</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.twothriftysisters.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">www.twothriftysisters.com</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.couponmom.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">www.couponmom.com</span></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.coupons.com/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">www.coupons.com</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><a href="http://publixpennypincher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #0066cc;">http://publixpennypincher.blogspot.com/</span></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.addictedtosaving.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #0066cc;">www.addictedtosaving.com</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><a href="https://madison.k12.al.us/owa/redir.aspx?C=b46df1777eb941e382212c0b701964b7&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.target.com%2fcoupons" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: #0066cc;">www.target.com/coupons</span></span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><a href="http://www.hip2save.com/"><span style="color: #0066cc; font-family: Calibri;">www.hip2save.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Couponing is time consuming. However, once you get the hang of it you will have a system that works for you and it will get easier and easier. Some people make "dates with friends" to do couponing. Socialize with a friend while you work together to clip and sort coupons. You may not be able to break free every week to do it. Just find time to do it in a way that supports your shopping budget. If you stock up on things monthly, be sure to do the coupons at least once a month. If you shop every weekly sale, then clip or print coupons weekly. You will be surprised at how much money you can save when you spend time preparing for the sales. Don't get hung up on it though. Do what works and do it to make your life easier. It's okay to pay full price for something if you're in a crunch. <strong><em>Sometimes</em></strong> paying full price is worth the peace of mind of just getting "it" done and getting on to the next thing on your list. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Here's a photo to encourage you:</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7mppw6C9dTkR-Nd7YY9FEmJ-9izd1RlErXcqksx0IvapBAasnigIurowRt0LxbybJ6-pQ7mK9-qbO0cY8iPUEfBkpdkdMHmVgwXCJkk6l53vE4ycHCbRqPazRwb1GU2fARPH0yAkCSY/s1600/coupons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7mppw6C9dTkR-Nd7YY9FEmJ-9izd1RlErXcqksx0IvapBAasnigIurowRt0LxbybJ6-pQ7mK9-qbO0cY8iPUEfBkpdkdMHmVgwXCJkk6l53vE4ycHCbRqPazRwb1GU2fARPH0yAkCSY/s320/coupons.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By using coupons and taking advantage of the weekly ad, I saved $120.55 on this purchase. My total out of pocket was $91.90. That's pretty good considering it included the big ticket items such as washing detergent, diapers, sunscreen, and canned drinks. <br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope these tips have been helpful and will encourage you to get your pantry stocked in a budget friendly manner. Happy couponing! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**This post is written based on my own personal experience with couponing. I am not affiliated with nor am I advertising for any particular link listed. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-10553377302661780482013-02-06T13:51:00.001-08:002013-02-06T13:51:29.518-08:00Which Duck Breed is Your Favorite? We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our backyard ducks. They won't be here until June so we have a while to wait. We need that time to get their house and run area built and ready for them. While we are waiting, we are reading about the breeds we chose in our first online order. We are getting tips from all resources we have available. As we did with the chickens, we are just jumping into being duck parents and learning as we go. So, I figured why not ask our followers? Below you will see images of each breed and a small description of their temperament. These are not our ducks. They are the various breeds that will be in our backyard soon. (I do not take credit for taking the pictures. "Google Images" is the source for the photographs. The description of each duck is taken from <a href="http://www.meyerhatchery.com/">www.meyerhatchery.com</a>. I trust this source to provide you with accurate information regarding each variety of duck listed below.) Use the provided information to vote on your favorite breed. You don't have to own ducks to vote. You can vote based on your experience with each breed, appearance, temperament, or level of egg production...pretty much whatever suits your fancy! <br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> CAYUGA</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPVqhwnia6yxYgT0oWc6ztfB9TeTL6L28gyNfjP9ugU9jdDUnvtN7V4_Xyw_EIAkAVV8I0g102F1X_uO2Xh-MH4CwzqC5Eo-pwMVu801xhfbpBaT-xgA8irqyBu1ioQ_re6UgKMDkIhk/s1600/cayuga.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPVqhwnia6yxYgT0oWc6ztfB9TeTL6L28gyNfjP9ugU9jdDUnvtN7V4_Xyw_EIAkAVV8I0g102F1X_uO2Xh-MH4CwzqC5Eo-pwMVu801xhfbpBaT-xgA8irqyBu1ioQ_re6UgKMDkIhk/s1600/cayuga.bmp" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Cayugas are named after the Cayuga Lake in New York. The history of the duck is unkown but it shows characteristics of a Mallard based breed. Their feathers can change colors throughout their life, gray colors can show up between 4 and 18 months of age. Cayugas are medium-weight ducks that have beautiful, iridescent, greenish-black feathers. This is a quiet, hardy breed that lays dark, grayish colored eggs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Average mature weight: Drake 7lbs., Duck 6lbs. </span></div>
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Hardiness: Good</div>
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Personality: Calm</div>
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Production: 130-180 eggs per year</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Khaki Campbell</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMl-5cc0SV-qTpILCl12xrhf1GfVk4iPZPP0PDlU5v10JlwRO68WOcaXANJ4Ta1zPM6uIm6lPO9c4oAqPQi3ymf5ZbL66lN1bv1lhtERCFiMOkaOM2XWOiYb8YNiuyvAyHpXaDX1tdKpU/s1600/khaki+campbell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMl-5cc0SV-qTpILCl12xrhf1GfVk4iPZPP0PDlU5v10JlwRO68WOcaXANJ4Ta1zPM6uIm6lPO9c4oAqPQi3ymf5ZbL66lN1bv1lhtERCFiMOkaOM2XWOiYb8YNiuyvAyHpXaDX1tdKpU/s1600/khaki+campbell.jpg" /></a></div>
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The Campbell was developed in the 1800's in England. Adele Campbell the maker of the breed selected for a large carcass size while maintaining egg production. By the 1920's this breed became recognized as the most abundant layer, laying around 340 medium size eggs per year. These beautiful ducks are a warm khaki color, similiar in tone to brown military uniforms. Adult drakes should have slightly darker brown head.<br /><br />Average mature weight: Drake 4 1/2 lbs., Duck 4 lbs.
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Production: 220 eggs per year</div>
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Personality: Nervous, Possible Flyer</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ROUEN</span></div>
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<br />These large ducks have similiar color and markings to wild Mallard ducks. However, these ducks are considerably heavier and do not fly. They were developed in France but the English influenced the Rouen into what we know today. The English increased its weight, changed its shape, and improved its colors. The production type are good foragers, calm, and have gentle disposition. They are known to wander far distances which can make them easy prey. Nice and meaty.<br /><br />Average mature weight: Drake 8-9 lbs., Duck 6-7 lbs. </div>
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Hardiness: Good</div>
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Personality: Calm</div>
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Production: 140-180 eggs per year</div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">WELSH HARLEQUIN</span></div>
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The unusual look of these ducks originates from a flock of mis-colored Khaki Campbells. The Welsh farmer who first discovered the mutation began breeding for the unique color around the middle of the 20th century. A couple of decades later, the first hatching eggs, followed by adult breeders, were sent to the United States. Just like their predecessors, these ducks are great foragers and prolific layers. </div>
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Average mature weight: Drake 5½ lbs; Duck 4½ lbs.</div>
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Personality: Very calm, non-flyer</div>
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Production: 150-200 eggs per year</div>
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Please feel free to leave a commnet about this blog post. Helpful tips and suggestions from duck owners with experience are gladly welcomed. Don't forget...go to the poll and vote! When the poll closes I will post which breed was voted the favorite among our followers. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-13309357971057332422013-01-31T20:41:00.000-08:002013-01-31T20:41:44.837-08:00Justified! WOW! I've just finished reading the first edition of <em>From Scratch Magazine. </em>In the "farming" and homesteading blog world there has been much hype of its arrival. After much anticipation, I was able to read the virtual copy for FREE. It does not disappoint. <br />
Every article was well written, the magazine is overflowing with beautiful photographs, and filled to the brim with information. There are a couple articles in particular that stand out to me. They gave me an extra boost of confidence that what we are trying to do with our small space in rural Alabama is really a good thing. I will talk more about those later. But first, let me go astray for just a bit to give you a little more in sight to Our Crazy Coop and how we got started with the idea of converting our regular home to a homestead and how we began "bringing the farm to us".<br />
It is very much still a work in progress but it really has quiet a humorous beginning...and maybe to some, a rather ridiculous idea that prompted this journey. I was shopping with my mom and sister-in-law when we came to a store that sold things for the home. These things included picture frames, knick-knacks to sit around, and figurines. All were of a rustic and "farm" style, suiting my taste "to the T". We wondered around and so happened upon a section of ceramic roosters and hens...decorations that prior to that day I had not really been inclined to collect. But, the comment was made, by one of the two women accompanying me, that having a decorative chicken displayed somewhere within a home symbolizes the homeowners ability to decorate well. REALLY?? Guess what? I didn't have A FAKE CHICKEN in my house just sitting around somewhere. LOL! But, just in case that old saying was a true one, I had to make sure that I found the just right ceramic beauty to display...one that was suitable for my rustic style but not too terribly "country". <br />
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I purchased the little lady you see in the picture above and placed her in the perfect spot on the kitchen counter. Then, I showed her to my children. Our girls absolutely loved her. They began petting and kissing that figurine...making a big fuss. So, I said to my husband, "We should get real chickens if they love this one so much!" Our second son was beside me when I said that. The thought of us getting real chickens was as exciting to him as it would've been if we had told him we were putting Disney World in the backyard! We spent the entire next afternoon after church, just surfing the net reading about chickens, coop plans, the general cost for raising them, and everything chicken. We watched one YouTube video after another. Within just that short time frame, we were convinced that we were going to be backyard chicken owners. It was only a couple days later that we downloaded plans to build the coop and placed the online order for baby chicks. <br />
When we spread the news of that decision to our family and friends, we are pretty sure they thought we were crazy! (Thus, the name of our blog was created.) As if having four children, one outside dog, and two inside dogs wasn't enough?? But, many of those same people also thought we were crazy when we had child number three and then child number four. And now, they wouldn't know us any other way. It is Our Crazy Coop and we love it. That brings me to what I was writing this blog entry for in the first place.<br />
Although we are very much enjoying the journey, we are early on the path and we are frequently asked, "Why??" When trying to answer that, especially considering the out of the norm way we came to our decision, I find us trying to justify to some people why we'd want to add all this extra responsibility. Although this new found passion has won us over, once or twice we've double guessed ourselves with questions such as, "Do we really have the longevity for this? Are we in it for the long haul? Are we able to make the sacrifice of time and money that it takes for this?" <br />
The first edition of <em>From Scratch</em> <em>Magazine </em>has helped me answer those questions and put some of those worries at ease. Page after page kept my interest and I'm so glad to know that it will continue coming each month having pages overflowing with information. In this edition Lisa Steele, from Fresh Eggs Daily, shares her valued opinions and eagerly accepted advice in a question/answer feature, you can read about starting plants from seeds, gardening, canning, and much more.<br />
Now, back to those couple articles I referenced in the beginning. The article that really sums up my feeling for the new lifestyle we are starting begins on page 36 and is titled "The Farmstead" by Rachael Taylor. The first quote from her that stands out to me is,<span style="background-color: #ffd966;"> "Chickens are the gateway drug to a farming lifestyle."</span> I laughed out loud when I read that quote because it is so fitting for our family. My friends would certainly agree that my having chickens has given me a new high and yet another thing to be passionate about. You can't have just one or two chickens! From the moment we got them an instant desire to "bring the farm to us" evoked. This all started just a little more than four months ago and in such a short time it just seems so perfect. There are challenges. It takes a lot of planning and a lot of time to make your backyard a homestead. And, we are only just beginning. While I'm sure there are plenty of things we are yet to face, I know this...the animals need to be good quality, they need to be fed good quality food, and their housing/fencing requirements need to be met in a way that will protect them and keep them healthy. Ultimately, the animals are there for our family so their health equals our health in the long run. I'm not a patient person when it comes to getting things I want, so this has been hard. I'm also a perfectionist. I want everything to be done right and I want our backyard to look like a "farm" not like a junkyard. Again, I agree with Rachael that <span style="background-color: #f1c232;">"the biggest challenge is always money."</span> Everyone knows raising a few kids keeps the budget stretched and the calendar busting at the seams. They are going to want to participate in sports and dance and cheer. The animals are going to need feed and fencing and occasional medical care. I'm finding though, that being passionate about making this work makes me do without a few things. One less take out dinner, one less new sweater, one less whatever...is a little more money left over to buy feed for the chickens and save for our other goals. There are other homesteading things you can do to help save money. Emily McGrath of Our Little Coop gives great tips on pages 58-60 to start your own mealworm farm. That's a great way to save money over time for the "extra snacks" we spoil our chickens with. We've passed by the mealworm treats more than once while out buying feed because those extra treats can get a little pricey. (Just this week, I emailed my husband with a link provided by <a href="http://www.farmchickchitchat.blogspot.com/">www.farmchickchitchat.blogspot.com</a> about growing mealworms.) I was happy and thankful to see Emily's helpful article included in the 1st edition. That'll be yet another project added to the never ending to-do list. <br />
So, for now, we've got chickens in the backyard, we've acquired a Ranger ATV that we are excited to be able to use in things such as gathering vegetables to deliver to neighbors and transporting the coop cleaning materials and feed across the way. We have ducks scheduled to arrive in the summer, we've created this blog, and we have a Facebook page for Our Crazy Coop. I've found more "friends" on line than I ever thought were out there. It's been wonderful to find a network of people sharing the same interests and passions. It's also great to know that they are only a keyboard away and ready and willing to share advice about things that work and don't work in the areas where they have more experience than we do. This network of people is a network that is willing to share just because it's a friendly gesture and not because something is expected in return. <br />
Today, there are many who can't understand trying to create this lifestyle in such a chaotic world. Again, the magazine wins me over with another article beginning on page 51, written by Melissa Jones. It's titled "5 Ways to Make Your Homestead a Success". As the title suggests, she points out five things to focus on when planning your homestead. Points number three and four are my favorite. She says, <span style="background-color: #f1c232;">"Homesteading is all about community"</span> and <span style="background-color: #f1c232;">"Making connections with people and businesses is more than just trying to sell products from your homestead--it is about fostering a community that encourages the importance of family, self-reliance, and a simpler way of life."</span><br />
That's what everybody is really searching for... a simpler way of life...isn't it? Sometimes it means giving up other things to be able to do this. I worry about that because with four children, we are bound to have other things that will pull us away from home on weeknights and weekends and will keep us with a packed schedule. But, it's the big picture that matters. We are hoping given the young ages of our children, the exposure to this kind of life will take root and let them see the quality family time that can come from it. <br />
Sometimes "being weird" and not doing what everyone else is doing is okay. Some people really may find it strange that we'd want to grow a big garden, have chickens and ducks, and maybe one day a couple of miniature goats. Especially since we are not on a "true farm". But that's alright. Yes, it is work. Yes, it may make us have obligations that cause us to have to pass by some things that we otherwise wouldn't have had to pass by. Yes...it IS worth it. Quoting Rachael Taylor again, she says she has traveled all over the world, <span style="background-color: #f1c232;">"...And yet, none of that quiet compares to your very own bit of Earth--a homestead--to call your own."</span> Thank you <em>From Scratch Magazine</em> for highlighting all the reasons having a homestead is okay and for letting us feel <strong><span style="color: black;">JUSTIFIED</span></strong> in our new journey. <br />
(You can keep up with us while we are "bringing the farm to us" by visiting our Facebook page, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/OurCrazyCoop">www.facebook.com/OurCrazyCoop</a>) <br />
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BLOGS I REFERENCED IN THIS ARTICLE:<br />
<a href="http://www.fromscratchmag.com/">www.fromscratchmag.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/">http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com</a><br />
<a href="http://ourlittlecoop.com/">http://ourlittlecoop.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ourcrazycoop.blogspot.com/">http://www.ourcrazycoop.blogspot.com</a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-52530971627582358702013-01-23T08:46:00.002-08:002013-01-23T08:46:47.423-08:00From Classroom to Coop I am a second grade teacher by day, and a "farm girl in training" after hours. I'm a mama of four and a wife all the time. Our family is relatively new to being backyard chicken owners and we are learning new things every day while "Bringing the Farm to Us". So, when I can take advantage of the opportunity to unite all my titles, it's a good day. <br />
Let me first give credit to a blog I follow titled, <a href="http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/">www.fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com</a>. It is spending time reading their blog that gave me the idea to sprout lentils. (They have a link on their site with directions.) Being that it was in perfect timing for Science objectives that needed to be met in my classroom, I figured we could do a lesson that could go from classroom to coop and benefit both my students' education, and the health of our chickens. (And, as I explained to my students, if the chickens are eating healthy, they'll give us healthy eggs, and therefore the food my family is eating will be healthy...and that's another lesson on another day!) SO, project "How to Sprout Lentils" began.<br />
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On day one, our class went to the science lab. While there, the students were divided into five small groups and each group prepared a jar of lentils to observe. (I wish I could include pictures of each group of students having such fun, but unfortunately, I can't put my students on the internet.)<br />
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Step 1 </div>
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If you notice, the jar lid has been replaced with shelfing paper. This is a great item to use in this project because it allows the water to be drained out of the jar very easily. Just place the ring to the jar on a piece of shelfing paper, and cut around the paper so that it will fit inside the ring. </div>
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Step 2</div>
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We placed a heaping tablespoon of lentils in the jar and covered the lentils with water. The jar sat on our classroom counter over night. </div>
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Step 3 (and this is repeated daily)</div>
The next morning the students got back in their small groups and each student got a turn to drain the water, and continue shaking the jar until all students had a turn and all water was thoroughly drained. Every day of the project, the students had to rinse and drain the lentils and write an entry in their Science Lab Journal. The entry had to explain what changes they observed from day to day as well as how we were taking care of the lentils on each day.<br />
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After the first day of rinsing and draining, and the lentils had been left on the counter over night, the lentils started sprouting. The students were so excited to see the small sprouts beginning to form!<br />
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Every day, the students made an entry in their journals. Keeping the Science Lab Journal: How to Sprout Lentils, helped the students be an author to an informative little booklet that they could take home and share. And, our neighboring second grade class is now doing the same project. So, my students are excited that they are able to provide directions on what to do each day. </div>
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After about five days, the lentils had filled the jar more than half way up. It was amazing to see the excitement in the students when they could see such an obvious growth from day to day. These are the kinds of projects that make a teacher smile. <br />
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When the project was complete, it was a win-win situation. My students learned a lot and they provided a healthy treat for our chickens. Taking the lentils from classroom to coop is something we will continue to do!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-46577258552805358362013-01-20T21:49:00.000-08:002013-01-20T21:49:49.725-08:00Then 'til Now<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Having never had baby chickens before, we were almost like new parents (not quiet as nervous) awaiting the arrival and a little unsure of how the whole process was going to go. Here (in the photo above) is where it all started. A phone call from the post office early on an October morning, let us know our babies were ready to be picked up. By the way, we found it unbelievable that we were going to have LIVE CHICKS arrive BY MAIL! Until you have chickens, that's not a topic that just comes up in conversations. Therefore, we didn't know much about them. Amazing how once you do have them, you will find a segue to chickens in most any conversation. <br />
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Although we were newcomers to the hobby of raising backyard chickens, we had done a lot of reading and new a little bit about what to expect. We had their brooder box nice and toasty when they got to their new home. Above, you see their first picture. <br />
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Of course, once we dedicated ourselves to being "chicken parents" I started shopping for chicken gadgets. It seemed appropriate that their space should be named Mother Hen Drive, so why not buy a sign?? This picture was taken on the third day we had them. <br />
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For the first several weeks, we fed them medicated starter feed. We had no trouble with it and the chicks seemed to love it. <br />
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The thermometer was placed in an easy to view spot so that we could be sure to keep the temperature right about 95 degrees for those first several days. </div>
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To the left and the right, you see the Rhode Island Red named Pretty Is. This is about the time she was realizing she actually has wings. </div>
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The above two pictures are Black Jersey Giants named Gertle and Gussy. This is when they were about a month old. Even at that point, we could tell a noticeable difference in their size. "Giant" is a great part of their name. </div>
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Francine is the Barnevelder. It took us a few weeks to figure out if she was a Barnevelder or a </div>
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Partridge Rock.</div>
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Hissy, named by our eight year old, is a Partridge Rock. This is her at about 4 weeks old. You can see how it was hard to distinguish her from the Barnevelder.</div>
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Rainbow, appropriately named by our now five year old, is a Golden Campine. </div>
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This is Shelly. We are not totally sure what she is because we only ordered two Black Jersey Giants. BUT, she is very much like a Black Jersey Giant and we are beginning to think maybe she is one. Our order form says the seventh chicken is a "rare maran" but she looks just like the giants. Time shall tell.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYob5-XRYtVYw4QTq2VTsz_t1mP7dd6GoRucLZPByovl78RnDGlVLMhUinRVxIUxbSSYoitwef7teThLvJQryBJ9tpRFnooXOuuUtGjGmFhF8_K4O-G8uzI8XyI52lyIUjYYCTeX783aU/s1600/IMG_2745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYob5-XRYtVYw4QTq2VTsz_t1mP7dd6GoRucLZPByovl78RnDGlVLMhUinRVxIUxbSSYoitwef7teThLvJQryBJ9tpRFnooXOuuUtGjGmFhF8_K4O-G8uzI8XyI52lyIUjYYCTeX783aU/s320/IMG_2745.JPG" width="320" /></a>They've always been good eaters. Looking back at this picture now, they seemed so little even when at the time we took this picture, we thought they we so big! (Notice how much bigger the Black Jersey Giants are than the others.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcNj5ocisa5DxQFiI4OgiLJpCbY_hYDjk_yI7bQJrzTmo5U1vHwVJkx4gEZRaRqqov0PtjFRtLYEu8R09y2B7wdhHrsfY_BhsNwleDGX7qB2_S5LHZ3PlNfi1tt_rpek38dVEWgITAC8/s1600/chickens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcNj5ocisa5DxQFiI4OgiLJpCbY_hYDjk_yI7bQJrzTmo5U1vHwVJkx4gEZRaRqqov0PtjFRtLYEu8R09y2B7wdhHrsfY_BhsNwleDGX7qB2_S5LHZ3PlNfi1tt_rpek38dVEWgITAC8/s320/chickens.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
This picture was taken just a couple weeks ago. They were eating sweet potatoes and cottage cheese. I find myself laughing at the extent I go to, making sure the girls get good treats. And, on a regular basis, we mix the The Breakfast for Champions. You can find a recipe for that at <a href="http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/">www.fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com</a><br />
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If you had told me a year ago that I'd be tending to chickens, and going the extra mile to make sure they get a healthy diet, I'm not sure I would've believed you. Funny how actually getting them will make your love for chickens take a 360 degree turn. Well, maybe I shouldn't say it exactly that way. I suppose it was never that I didn't like chickens, it was just that I had never put a lot of thought into them. Now...I can't imagine not having them!<br />
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Today, the chickens are almost four months old and look like this. They are growing and thriving and are such a joy to observe.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMrycu9HYbpItJt3OWgep8LPu3reP6nLtmcaMIanHFXNFCIe8T3Q0DKdEJNJqWgWbYqlVoBBJIuY2b11QmgE83U4czlx91YHIzDrnQ88yLDS7lxDto475m4BGIKLTANsy8M48VhaaNBU/s1600/barnevelder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMrycu9HYbpItJt3OWgep8LPu3reP6nLtmcaMIanHFXNFCIe8T3Q0DKdEJNJqWgWbYqlVoBBJIuY2b11QmgE83U4czlx91YHIzDrnQ88yLDS7lxDto475m4BGIKLTANsy8M48VhaaNBU/s320/barnevelder.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This is Francine, the Barnevelder. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-q__x5nSwslyaf5tY6vhxTgL6FMLixn5WNJuLwYmgaw2Y-kqisSZU-MGNzq9avGeaK7X6uyuUUhvW5Iv207PIoIzFiV1hSxUn0Z0th0JnSMaIdMxxr8PYQ2o9ioSEEeyyZUdfBjr8Bg/s1600/jerseys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-q__x5nSwslyaf5tY6vhxTgL6FMLixn5WNJuLwYmgaw2Y-kqisSZU-MGNzq9avGeaK7X6uyuUUhvW5Iv207PIoIzFiV1hSxUn0Z0th0JnSMaIdMxxr8PYQ2o9ioSEEeyyZUdfBjr8Bg/s320/jerseys.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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Gertle and Gussy have no problem holding their own...the giants that they are. :-) </div>
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Rainbow is the Golden Campine. She is a very unique little chick. She is also one of the most stubborn in being still long enough to get a good picture. <br />
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Pretty Is...isn't the name just perfect for her? A Rhode Island Red, she always seems proud to grace the camera with her presence.<br />
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This is Hissy the Partridge Rock. Funny how all the names they got as babies are turning out to fit them just right. She doesn't exactly hiss but she does make a sound and get out of the way when you're trying to get her to be photogenic. </div>
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Then 'til Now...it's been just shy of four months and I'm so glad to be at now. Each day with this new found hobby is an adventure. Having backyard chickens has been such an inspiration for our family. They've made us want to do more things to become a little more self-sufficient. They are the building block of this sweet little homestead we've found right in our backyard. Because of them, we are now anxiously awaiting the first eggs and planning a garden to have fresh and homegrown vegetables to eat with our "homegrown" eggs. We're "bringing the farm to us" and we are loving it!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-32679076432844796802013-01-17T19:10:00.000-08:002013-01-17T19:45:11.372-08:00Snow Day Dumplings<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Only in Alabama does school dismiss early with the slightest mention of the "S" word...SNOW, that is. Today was one of those days. Students and teachers alike, spent most of the morning anxiously awaiting THE WORD. And, by mid-morning it came....School is dismissing early due to the possibility of developing hazardous road conditions. YIPPY! So what's a mama to do?? Of course, she is to get home and make something good to eat so kitchen duties can be done early and everyone can cuddle up with each other and have unplanned quality family time. So, that's what I did. Besides, it was just another reason to use my newest pan...the red cast iron one given to me by my family for Christmas and that has of late, stayed right on the stove top waiting for yet another reason to be used. </div>
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Now, our bellies are full, the kids are all bathed and we are going to bed just a tad bit happier than norm because we got some extra time off today, and even better, a two hour delay tomorrow. And by the way, do we have snow? If you look really close on the roadsides, and in the crevices of rooftops, or if you travel far off the beaten path, maybe you'll see a little. But that's enough to celebrate in Alabama! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-28241240482779687232013-01-16T14:25:00.001-08:002013-01-17T19:24:47.820-08:00Lovin' It<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Inr1-mx4ek73iswSBDb3EFTziwYnMsC-XppB-HAarmUBTsot6hwbL8L0m-dtnuU0mpwZsqoGfEnbHTnudg6Kw0240M9Pyrcs7jhtCdEJ1HIeD5coOJBfimE3umYwZZJMwmNFjktdseA/s1600/Collage+2012-12-09+22_39_20%255B1%255D.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Inr1-mx4ek73iswSBDb3EFTziwYnMsC-XppB-HAarmUBTsot6hwbL8L0m-dtnuU0mpwZsqoGfEnbHTnudg6Kw0240M9Pyrcs7jhtCdEJ1HIeD5coOJBfimE3umYwZZJMwmNFjktdseA/s320/Collage+2012-12-09+22_39_20%255B1%255D.PNG" width="192" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is hard to believe that we have had chickens for just shy of four months. Who ever would've thought they would be such a topic for conversations? When we first got them, we thought we were a rare couple doing something so out of the norm that people would think we were truly crazy! (Mind you, we have four children and some people who know us already thought we had enough "crazy" in our "coop" without adding other responsibilities. Thus, the name of our blog was created.) But, we've found that having that added responsibility, in some odd way, invites a calm to the storm. When we go out to feed them, no matter the weather, no matter our schedule, it is easy to take a moment to escape and just observe what's going on. It gives time to take a deep breath. There's a lot to be learned from chickens. They are a motivation to try to make our family the best it can be....to make the most of the time we have together. Hopefully, in the coming months we will continue to be more and more self sufficient while creating our homestead to be exactly what we want. We love "bringing the farm to us" and hope to share some of our joy with everyone along the way. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-90060988869157298912012-11-20T07:44:00.003-08:002012-11-20T07:44:28.107-08:00We are Expecting!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guess what?? We're expecting even more chicks! We have ten more chicks coming the week of November 26th. These will be Australorps, Easter Eggers, and Silver Laced Wyandottes. Can't wait :-) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Of course, we will keep you posted with pictures when they arrive!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-25926628362868657172012-11-20T07:40:00.002-08:002012-11-20T08:10:50.549-08:00One Month<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've now had the chicks for one month. It's really neat to watch them because an obvious growth spurt takes place at least every two or three days. They are so much bigger now than when we got them. They are beginning to grow their feathers, and much of that soft baby chick fuzz is gone away. It's so interesting to watch them eat and watch their behaviors. So what all have we done?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1. We brought them home on day one to their homemade brooder box which was nothing more than a large plastic container. Dave (my husband) cut a hole in the top of the container and covered that hole with screen. We kept a metal folding chair right beside the box so that we could clamp the heat lamp to it and have it be above the container just enough to provide the heat needed to keep the box warm. For the first week the temperature needed to be around 95 degrees.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">2. Pretty quickly the chicks out grew that box and by about week three we moved them into a large box made of ply wood. That will hold them until they are ready to move to the Hen House.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">3. My husband has been working diligently with a friend, keeping late nights and any other free moment, in order to have the Hen House ready within the next couple weeks. We plan to introduce them to it when they are six weeks old. We have the primer on and it's ready for paint. The run is almost done too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">4. For the first month we fed the chicks medicated chick starter feed. Now, we've changed them over to a special mix of feed. We got the recipe from a great blog called Fresh Eggs Daily and a link to that recipe is here:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/10/mixing-your-own-layer-feed.html">http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/10/mixing-your-own-layer-feed.html</a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They've only been eating this now for about three days but we expect great results from this mix. Apparently, the better you feed your chicks, the more healthy their eggs will be. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">5. WATER!! They drink SO MUCH water! I never would've thought something so small could drink so much. Be sure to check the water daily and keep them provided with fresh water.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">6. We have used pine needles as the bedding for their box. They seem to love it. We just rake the needles up from my grandmother's yard and bring them to our house. We don't make it hard...we include the leaves and whatever else is mixed in. The extra little things give the chicks something to peck at and keep them from being bored and pecking each other. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">7. We will keep you posted...it's been a lot of fun so far. A little work, but it's worth it. Can't wait for them to lay eggs in the spring!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-69181695340121533822012-11-06T19:15:00.001-08:002012-11-06T19:15:25.885-08:00And the Winner Is...THE WINNER OF OUR NAME CONTEST...drum roll please...GUSSY! Check back real soon to see her photographed with her ribbon. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-45195229949651082172012-10-27T20:48:00.001-07:002012-10-27T20:48:23.844-07:00ContestIf you go here:<br />http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brinsea-Products-Inc/140621339296778<div>
You have a chance at winning an EcoGlow 20 warming light. Leave a comment on their facebook page under the contest post.</div>
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Check out the product here:<br /><div>
http://www.brinsea.com/prod-EcoGlow_Chick_Brooder-239.aspx</div>
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Thanks to Fresh Eggs Daily for spreading the word. I love that blog!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-83132752321543176442012-10-24T19:38:00.002-07:002013-01-17T19:43:50.425-08:00Photo Session Uploaded...Go Vote!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-oZEASmO2De2eTKqv9b8wh3y0gFqkR3IkjdrCzpNZDp9ZvHcwEnmjkgVUhbnyDPy9qdcAnwPT4VzkaPppwZ1fzl591KE6jDea7WvMI3NztwNI_O7YmfThlQkMUmBpqVA27iCROhoRew/s1600/Shelly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-oZEASmO2De2eTKqv9b8wh3y0gFqkR3IkjdrCzpNZDp9ZvHcwEnmjkgVUhbnyDPy9qdcAnwPT4VzkaPppwZ1fzl591KE6jDea7WvMI3NztwNI_O7YmfThlQkMUmBpqVA27iCROhoRew/s320/Shelly.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelly, maybe a Black Jersey Giant but not sure, named by our 3 year old</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbow, Golden Campine, named by our 4 year old</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Finally! I got all eight pictures uploaded so you can see an up close and personal of each chick. It's neat to see how much they've grown in a week. They are still mostly fuzzy, but we are starting to see their wing feathers a little bit. </span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I posted last night about voting on the names...please do! The vote is not to choose which name to use because our children have already named all eight...that didn't take</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> long:-) The vote is to see which name is the most liked. We are just curious. Within our family, we are deciding which we think the winner will be. I'm even going to poll the students in my class to see which name wins with them. When the poll closes on October 30th, the winning chick will get a special post to show her fame. Thanks for making this fun!</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryX1CdzKzqzhT3O2KtuhJCyhydUwmF_4KOjGvIf0_-mzuOr78jtF_gubfk9qlBtjHmASGyvEQeNvzTxWRWjnOz_Mui6hGFA0JmzhfeIucxKNKdDcqqf7grPmg6NPT0yRc7r3-zU0VrQE/s1600/Pretty+Does.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryX1CdzKzqzhT3O2KtuhJCyhydUwmF_4KOjGvIf0_-mzuOr78jtF_gubfk9qlBtjHmASGyvEQeNvzTxWRWjnOz_Mui6hGFA0JmzhfeIucxKNKdDcqqf7grPmg6NPT0yRc7r3-zU0VrQE/s320/Pretty+Does.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty Does, named by our 4 year old, Rhode Island Red</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHsHm2TKorsSPc9IA6aiO8SaPjIpIFBiktijlUoSkkHdXb2NwcXgX_1dLtBosZzk83WWPSWy2MaHrKRasnvAUbZ3ZZYARsLlyn-Q1jgv8_-oQEFSyYQ_v1wNqjypx3cSQKEtNclQ8gqw/s1600/Gussy.1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHsHm2TKorsSPc9IA6aiO8SaPjIpIFBiktijlUoSkkHdXb2NwcXgX_1dLtBosZzk83WWPSWy2MaHrKRasnvAUbZ3ZZYARsLlyn-Q1jgv8_-oQEFSyYQ_v1wNqjypx3cSQKEtNclQ8gqw/s320/Gussy.1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gussy, named by our 12 year old, Black Jersey Giant</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqyyKknALITHi6svTOK-wa4tHeK3IFi4uXxGNBdDqXDaW2JkvIyOZ0ZoMWAbA-6nk26q5_446Qv_-XMA5bOMNU8lhy5d-WgUbvcCNxxPH0rmHieHs491-SOOQQSDg-zDORFseG_MnsF4/s1600/Pretty+Is.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqyyKknALITHi6svTOK-wa4tHeK3IFi4uXxGNBdDqXDaW2JkvIyOZ0ZoMWAbA-6nk26q5_446Qv_-XMA5bOMNU8lhy5d-WgUbvcCNxxPH0rmHieHs491-SOOQQSDg-zDORFseG_MnsF4/s320/Pretty+Is.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty Is, named by our 4 year old, Rhode Island Red</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qt8prOqy1jXroL5XcDQ5cFUNNkPLWIKlDgqE80kGXQRl-6D_YAPwLLur8YDHtnB7x7fRHg4kDZ4SruJWNEEQ6LW13nklKA9Nvrmjt-V0atQDWvv95nI5jNlBPSgeQcudY2zMze5H-GU/s1600/Francine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qt8prOqy1jXroL5XcDQ5cFUNNkPLWIKlDgqE80kGXQRl-6D_YAPwLLur8YDHtnB7x7fRHg4kDZ4SruJWNEEQ6LW13nklKA9Nvrmjt-V0atQDWvv95nI5jNlBPSgeQcudY2zMze5H-GU/s320/Francine.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Francine, Barnevelder</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVgdVi-VWMQXe_OwhrqHS6cXMRWmeke88exPCWjeI8JX_PW2GiF5uTNSu_iquXnim5J9EdEqfI_ULcGMkpuz4u7G9uisK6_flKuGWXa-QJEaKfg5EACjPQatvCLRNvmv2TqcWnLOsHUw/s1600/Hissy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVgdVi-VWMQXe_OwhrqHS6cXMRWmeke88exPCWjeI8JX_PW2GiF5uTNSu_iquXnim5J9EdEqfI_ULcGMkpuz4u7G9uisK6_flKuGWXa-QJEaKfg5EACjPQatvCLRNvmv2TqcWnLOsHUw/s320/Hissy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hissy, Partridge Rock...named by our 8 year old</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsl9E_VYjeEcOCK5MYXmCRJWKKRM-q-7wNSfgoRiJ2qi059PRFpYHc4fuIi0UxTWVcN3SBROoUMCRJisMXRTX18iTtbwM15d-7ko4LhlTskAzu2hGkeQ6LgKC70qDmwae38xVCkMFGCc/s1600/Gertle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" jea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsl9E_VYjeEcOCK5MYXmCRJWKKRM-q-7wNSfgoRiJ2qi059PRFpYHc4fuIi0UxTWVcN3SBROoUMCRJisMXRTX18iTtbwM15d-7ko4LhlTskAzu2hGkeQ6LgKC70qDmwae38xVCkMFGCc/s320/Gertle.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gertle, named by our 12 year old, Black Jersey Giant</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-47359949623983549082012-10-23T19:04:00.001-07:002012-10-23T19:04:05.887-07:00Photo Session<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anybody that knows me knows that I LOVE LOVE LOVE to take pictures. So, adding chicks just gives me more subjects to photograph! I added the first two tonight. I had planned to add the entire "photo shoot" but as mentioned in an earlier post, the computer is just WAY TOO slow for me tonight. I'll let you see the others really soon. They are just too cute!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-43333957794664596802012-10-23T19:01:00.002-07:002012-10-23T19:01:36.569-07:00Poll for Names<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I added two polls. I really would've preferred only one poll, but I simply couldn't figure out how to "add more choices" as it seemed to give me the choice to do. BUT, our computer has been in SUPER SLOW SPEED tonight and that may be the cause. At any rate, between the two polls, there are 8 names that our children have named the chickens. Only vote for one between the two polls and let us know your favorite. Can't wait to see...</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-90716059903734095112012-10-22T19:29:00.001-07:002012-10-22T19:30:23.659-07:00www.mypetchicken.com<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just wanted to take a moment to brag on the customer service department at www.mypetchicken.com</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They are fabulous! If you're thinking of ordering chicks from a hatchery, you'll be pleased with them. We ordered nine chicks on our first order. They sent ten because, as I've read, it is fairly common to lose one or two chicks in transport, so they send an extra or two to account for that possibility. We did indeed lose two the first day. BUT...the other eight are doing really well. I sent an email within the first 48 hours, as is their policy to replace the unfortunate chicks. Today, customer service gave us a phone call WITH A REAL PERSON on the phone and we got it all set up to have the next chicks delivered. The lady on the phone was very personable and showed concern for us in making sure everything was the way it should be. AND, she called back a second time just to clarify a question she had. It's not often now days to have that kind of service! Another plus in our adventure so far:-) Check out their website: <a href="http://www.mypetchicken.com/">www.mypetchicken.com</a></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4032232399059967495.post-28021986643990908242012-10-21T19:42:00.002-07:002012-10-21T21:48:22.049-07:00They're Here!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> One day in the middle of September, I went shopping and brought home a ceramic hen. All of the kids thought it was so cute and acted so excited over something so simple. So, I said to Dave (my husband), "We should get real ones!" I don't think he took me completely serious at first as he said, "Sure." So, the next day, we watched a lot of YouTube videos and did a lot of reading on the internet. We decided that we did indeed want to give this "backyard chickens" thing a try. We have four children and although to that point we had never thought of chickens, or of the benefit of fresh eggs, it just seemed the perfect family project. My second son was so excited when we told him we were getting chickens and building a coop, you'd have thought we told him we were putting Disney World in the backyard. We've always had the thought far back in our minds of living on a true farm, but we decided that we'd just bring the farm to the ideal living arrangement we already have. While it may not be a full blown farm, we plan for it to give us just enough of that life to keep us happy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"> So, within the next week of that original conversation, we had placed our order from <a href="http://www.cleancoops.com/">www.cleancoops.com</a> to get blueprints for a coop and had contacted <a href="http://www.mypetchicken.com/">www.mypetchicken.com</a> to place an order for chicks. Since then, the coop is almost complete and the chickens have arrived. They are living in our garage in a brooder box. With the use of many power tools my dad has (thank goodness!), my husband along with a very good friend, continue to keep late night hours to get the coop...or the hen house, as I call it...ready for the chickens by the time they need it. (That'll be a few more weeks.) We've only had the sweet baby chicks for four days but we already find a lot of entertainment and joy from watching them and caring for them. Although we both have some grandparents and great-grandparents that knew a lot about farming, we are the first in the family in quiet a while to tackle such a task. However, the more we've discussed it, the more we've found some people in our social network that have chickens and we never even knew. Funny how chickens can open up such a new world of conversation! Through this blog, we hope to spread a little information to all the people out there like us who have some crazy thought and decide to act on it...to let you know you really can do it. That's just it, you have to do it! Together we can learn along the way. We'll let you know the things we find that work and the ones that don't. Welcome to Our Crazy Coop...</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07719043650503837572noreply@blogger.com0