A Post in Parts

Part 1:  The Jungle

While we were away, our weeds invited all the other neighborhood weeds over to our house for a block party.  Okay, well, maybe they had started coming over a bit before we had left but we were too busy packing up, making food and arranging animal and sunflower care to notice.  So, now?  Our garden is a jungle and needs a lot of attention that will be hard to come by.  If it wasn't for those weeds going to seed at some point, we might be about ready to throw up our hands and go back inside.  I even saw a monkey in there.  I did.

Part 2:  The Flirt

The hen with her six pullets have been stirring up trouble two doors down.  She and her brood have been wandering farther from our yard and showing up over at the neighbors.  Our neighbors are just as sweet as they can be (all of them are) but last week, the hen started causing some trouble.  Our neighbor two doors down has two tame roosters that get along with each other.  Go figure.  AND!  They get along with his cat (Somersault's son) and his dog to boot!  Any, our hen stirred things up and his two roosters started going at it.  To the point that he had to break them up for fear they'd really hurt each other.  When he told me, I went right out and lured that hen and her pullets back into the chicken tractor with treats. 

In a matter of a few days, Sam noticed Mama hen was really picking on the runt pullet.  A lot.  He couldn't stand it and planted himself right beside the chicken tractor (you know, a peace presence) until Jamey got home and could remove the Mama.  We've noticed this tendency before- there comes a point when the pullets get older that the Mama starts to treat them roughly and we need to split them up.

So, Mama is back with the other chickens and the pullets are still in the tractor- except for brief periods when we let them out on good behavior.   Problem is- they're really getting too big to be cooped up in the tractor AND they're still too small to go into the chicken yard (the established hens will chase them out of the fence).  It's good these birds lay wonderful eggs, or I'd just about be ready to throw up my hands and turn them over to the possum (not really...but kind of...not really).

Part 3:  The Change

No, I'm not talking menopause.  Yet.  We started back to school yesterday.  Yes, it's a bit early but, you see, my tomatoes will likely come in full force the week the local public schools start.  So, we're going to get a week or two under our belts and then take a week or two off to tackle tomato projects without having to worry about doing school at the same time.

Another reason we got started was because the kids saw all their books out and were actually begging to start school.  I, on the other hand, did not feel psychologically ready.  I needed more summer.  But, sometimes doing helps in the wanting-to-do department and that's what happened yesterday.  I find that I really do miss that one on one time with each child.  And, I love learning.  Sam is studying the Eastern Hemisphere this year and we're starting off studying China.  We love learning about other places and cultures, so I have a feeling this will be a great year.

Our school room looks very much as it did last year in case you want a peek.  I'm trying a new behavioral rewards system for school this year.  I'm going to give it a few weeks and then let you know how it turns out.  Also, I have a new favorite tomato recipe.  I'll share that soon, too.

Sam's school shelf

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