Eggs

I just found an interesting website about commercial egg production.

While I know that commercial operations are run this way, it just strikes a different note seeing the photos. I'm glad we now have our own chickens (10 total) that have been laying eggs for a few weeks now. Our production started at one egg, every other day, and now we're up to 7 eggs, every day. We have Barred Plymouth Rocks, a breed known as 'dual purpose' - meaning they are decent layers but make a decent roasting hen as well. They lay eggs in a variety of light brown hues, and you can tell when a new hen has started laying due to the very small egg size. We've had a couple of 'extra extra large' eggs which have had double yolks.

Next spring our chickens and guineas will have a new home; I've finally figured out a plan for a new coop that I'll build. Currently, the chickens and guineas live in the barn. A lot of my 'city' friends have never heard of guineas. Guinea fowl eat a lot of bugs, especially ticks. When we first moved to the farm, we had so many ticks outside you couldn't walk into the yard without picking up at least one. I remember my grandparents having a flock of guineas on their farm, and after some research, I found that guineas love eating ticks. So, I was sold. I currently have a flock of about 20 - 7 pearl guineas (the grey ones) and about 13 white ones.

So, to get back to the eggs, I have to figure out what to do with getting about 50 eggs a week. I think I'll offer up eggs for sale, with delivery! They are guaranteed fresh, with all the benefits of farm eggs. I can sell eggs by the dozen or half-dozen. Now I just need to come up with pricing. Any takers?

Ah .... Holidays

This has to be my favorite holiday movie!

Goat Update

Since inquiring minds want to know...

Awhile back I posted (with enthusiasm, I might add) that I was CERTAIN the goat was pregnant. And now, here we are, 6 months after getting the goat, we still have no babies. The average goat gestation is about five months. So, I think it is safe to say that we've been duped once again by the flea market. (For those that don't know - I bought 5 "hens" last year and they turned out to be roosters). I'm not sure I'll be getting any more livestock there!

So close to finishing I can almost taste it...

The weather hasn't been conducive to finishing up all of our outdoor projects, but we're making progress. The landscapers are doing lots of rock work and things are looking good outside. The pool house/cabin is all but finished; we're just lacking some minor trim work, painting, and HVAC work. The deck is finished, with the exception of getting a gutter put on the UnderDeck system and some staining.

I can't believe we've been working on this place for almost 2 years. 2 years of stress and headache! Whatever will I do without having crews of people here all the time?

Christmas is coming up, and I'm wanting to have a party in the worst way. Perhaps since I've seen this place at its absolute worst I'm still self-conscious about it. A new, 5,000 sf house on a mountain it is not! Will people drive all the way out here? Will they even want to stay for a couple of hours once they get here, or will they be turned off by our 'ruralness?' I suppose I'll have to make a decision and get the invitation out soon.

Eggs

The hens are really ramping up egg production these days. For the past two days, I've collected 5 eggs each day. Do the math, and you'll determine 5 eggs a day is a lot of eggs, more than I can keep up with for our family! If any of you in Huntsville would like some eggs, please let me know. I can deliver them!

Economic Stimulus

I just read with interest Barack Obama's proposed economic stimulus package. This, paired with the recent bailouts, has me feeling...well, I'm not quite sure how to describe it.

Holidays

...are here!

I have some years where I'm not 'on my game' when it comes to being prepared. I'm happy to say that this is not one of them. I'm finished shopping for Christmas, though I'm looking at the pile of gifts and realize that I should have set a cap on how much to spend this year. This year is rather tight. I'm done with Christmas cards - addressing, stuffing, and sealing the envelopes. All that's left is taking them to the post office. All the food for Thanksgiving is in the kitchen and ready for preparing.

I've been enjoying the last couple of weekends with the kids. I think everyone is getting in more of a festive mood. Last year, Judy gave me a cookie cookbook. The kids & I have been having fun picking cookie recipes and trying them. This weekend it was 'snowman cookies,' ie Mexican wedding cookies. They were easy to make, and are a short-bread type cookie.