Lazy weekend

Nathaniel had to work Saturday, so the kids and I had a pretty lazy weekend.  Lydia discovered the boys' felt boxes, which my sister and brother-in-law made for them several years ago:

Those gave her loads of entertainment.

Also, the chicks finally got brave enough to go outside.  They happily explore the yard now, and they will eat out of our hands.  I'll have to get some more pictures of them some time this week.

I also planted some tomato plants in the garden, the red cherry ones and some hybrid mystery pack I got for free.  I plan on planting more this afternoon.  Nathaniel tilled the big garden for me Friday night, so I'll have lots of area to plant now.

Malachi attended his first sleep-over Saturday night and had a great time.

And wonderful news!  Nathaniel walked the yard with me yesterday and showed me a great place to plant several trees.  I kinda forgot that it is part of our yard.  Anyway, we ordered the "postage stamp orchard" for that spot, which is 6 dwarf fruit trees you can plant on a 10' x 20' space.  It includes a plum tree, a red delicious apple tree, a yellow delicious apple tree, a peach tree, a cherry tree and a pear tree!  And we ordered 2 persimmons and a mulberry, because you know I'm a little crazy about fruit trees, and those can go in the 3 spots I'd been eyeing for plum or peach trees.  I do find myself wondering if next year I can plant a pecan tree....

Hens and Chicks

It's supposed to rain all weekend.  It's been really cool, too, and Leaf has been molting, so not only is she missing most of her back feathers from the (late) rooster's attentions, but she's also missing her underfeathers now.  I decided that she needs to be back in the coop, so last night, I opened the doors.

The chicks are terrified of the hens.  Leaf seems pretty spooked by the chicks, too.  Crest ignores them unless one gets too close, then she pecks at it, but she doesn't chase.  They are all alive and well this morning, so I think it went ok.  I opened the door to the second chicken yard, and the hens are out scratching.  The chicks aren't brave enough just yet to go outside.  One will go to the doorway, look out, then zip back into the coop.  It's cute.  It hasn't started raining yet, and I don't know that any chicks will get up the courage to actually explore the yard today, but the hens are really enjoying it.  I think it's going to work out all right.

Planting and dreaming

Well, this weekend didn't go exactly according to plan.  Malachi got a stomach bug, and Nathaniel pulled a muscle in his back, so there was a lot less work getting done around here.  Lydia and I have transplanted some broccoli and brussel sprouts into the garden, though.  So far, we've planted a dozen of each in the garden.  The four broccoli plants I put in the strawberry patch are doing fine, too.  And, surprise! some of the strawberries are looking great now, and there are about 25 plants, which is far fewer than the 75 I had planted, but still more than I thought I had left.  Maybe we'll have a few berries, after all.

I've been dreaming about fruit trees since we moved here.  I'd really like a little orchard, but I obviously don't have room for that here.  So I've been scouting the yard for good spots for fruit trees and trying to decide which fruit trees to plant.  I'd really like to plant 3 trees, but I'm having a hard time coming up with three good spots.  One of the spots I thought might work turns out to be in the field bed area, so that's a no-go.  Nathaniel and I have been really considering plum trees, which means we'd need two.  Elijah has been lobbying really hard for peach trees.  I'd love to have one (in addition to the plums), but space is an issue, so we'll see.  I need to have Nathaniel walk the yard with me again and see what we can come up with.

One highlight of the weekend:

Lydia helped me make Bulgarian Pitka bread, which was delicious!  Basically, it is homemade crescent rolls with honey and butter inside them piled up in a pan and baked for a pull-apart bread that's delicious dipped in honey butter.  I found the recipe here: http://www.orgasmicchef.com/bread/bulgarian-pitka-bread/  and thought it looked like a good thing to try.  I was right.  And now I can use the basic dough recipe to make regular crescent rolls, which are Nathaniel's favorite and not one that I've ever attempted from scratch before.  Lydia really liked brushing the melted butter on the layers.  She's into being a helper lately.

Purple Muffins

No need to adjust your monitor; these muffins really are that bright, neony purple (and no food coloring).  Have you guessed yet how they got that color?  My kids didn't, so that was probably a good thing.  Nathaniel, Lydia, and I really enjoy these muffins.  The boys deemed them "ok," and they ate some for snack.  That's a pretty solid review from this household!

Purple Muffins

1 egg
1/2 c applesauce
1 T olive oil
2 T water
1/2 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c wheat flour
1 T wheat germ
2 T ground flax seed*
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 c mini chocolate chips (or regular ones)
1/4 - 1/2 c blueberries
3/4c grated beets (about 1 medium beet, peeled and finely grated)

Mix it all together.  I add the blueberries last so that they aren't all totally smushed.  Bake at 350 for 12 minutes for mini muffins or 16-18 minutes for regular ones.

* I have been experimenting with adding fiber to our diets, and ground flax seed is good for that and other reasons, but if you don't have any, you can leave it out or substitute a bit more wheat germ.

Etsy Finds

Good morning!  The boys are at a chess tourney, so Lydia and I are home alone today.  I have been looking at the Castteam etsy items today.  Check these out:


https://www.etsy.com/listing/78443186/personalized-photo-noahs-ark-storybook


https://www.etsy.com/listing/122787845/cake-topper-rose-and-chinese-jasmine


https://www.etsy.com/listing/127253399/paper-bead-coil-bracelet-sunflower



https://www.etsy.com/listing/126177782/fishing-verse-plaque-cast-your-cares-on



https://www.etsy.com/listing/113362396/heritage-childs-cup-and-bowl-feeding




https://www.etsy.com/listing/129693214/the-lime-green-white-chevron-infinity

I'm a member of the Castteam (Christian Artists Street Team), and we're promoting each other's items today.  Happy shopping!

Getting Feathers

I haven't mentioned the chicks for a few days.  They grow so fast at this stage.

The chicks are in that half-feather/half-fuzz stage, so they look a little weird.  Lydia isn't fazed, though!

They are all over the coop, flying a few inches, running, jumping, and very active.  They eat a lot, play a lot, and sleep a lot.  You know, they're toddlers!

Blessings

My list of blessings for today:

1. The friendly and efficient people at the county clerk's office.  I just realized that I ran out of certified copies of our marriage license.  I thought it would be a long wait and a fee to get more, but they are mailing 2 copies out for free for me today!

2. My Mama, who's picking up some more paperwork that we need for USCIS.  (government approval to adopt)

3. My husband, who has been working his butt off to rip up the carpet and get it ready so we can lay more flooring  tonight:

You can see the black area where we're laying floor next.  There is still carpet to the far left.  We're doing our room in thirds, as we are moving furniture around rather than hauling it out of the room. (And when I say we, it's mostly Nathaniel moving all that heavy furniture.  I can't budge the dressers or the bed.)  It will look great when we're done, but right now, our room is a disaster!

4. My kids, who make me smile every day, even days they drive me crazy.

5. Spring!  Sure, it's rainy today, but when I look out my window, I see bright green, and check out this tree in my front yard:

I took this picture right here at my computer desk.  This tree is what I see when I look out the window here. I thought this picture turned out especially good when you consider that it was taken through a window with a screen on it!

6. Maddie, who is coming to babysit Friday night so Nathaniel and I can go out for our anniversary!! I am so glad that I've found someone I can trust to watch the kids, plus there's that benefit of the fact that her mom is my friend and lives nearby, so if anything came up, Maddie has quick backup.

I'm feeling very blessed today.  I hope you all see God's blessings today, too!