Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Pavlov's Chickens

We decided to do a little Pavlov-esq experiment with our chickens to see just how easily they could be trained. 

 
And guess what!?
 
 
It worked!
 
Not only did it work, but it only took them a handful of times to catch on!
 
 
Remember that little knocker Jason put on the outside of the coop door?  It was the knocker from the front door of our old house.
 
 
We decided that we would knock with it two times anytime we were bringing them a treat. 
 
 
After the third or fourth time, they started coming right around the corner after I knocked.  This has also helped them not be so skittish around me.  A few of them will eat right out of my hand now.  They used to wait until I dropped the food and stepped back before they would eat, but not anymore :)
 
 
Bork is almost always the first one around the corner and to the food.  We're wondering if she is at the top of the pecking order.  She also will peck at my thumb/finger in between bites until I drop whatever food I'm holding.  It makes me laugh every time!

 
Here is a little video I shot from my phone.  I apologize for the shakiness - hard to video, knock, hold a banana and feed the chickens with only two hands!
 

 
They are still a little unsure of me, but I'm working on it. 
Just let me love you chickens!!
 
~ Sara :)

Friday, June 26, 2015

Friday Favorites!

Another week down! 
 
Let's do this!
 
[One]


We have been pounded with rain this month!  It has been both good and bad for our garden....mostly good.  We are starting to see a lot of crops popping up.  We even harvested our first zucchini last night! 

 

[Two]

Kombucha.

Have you heard of it?  Maybe you're a 'booch lover yourself?  I went to a class last week and came home with my very own baby SCOBY.  I added my tea to it and now it's fermenting away in my pantry.  I'm so excited!!


[Three]

The kids both went tubing for the first time this past weekend.  Well, Ashlyn didn't really go tubing, but I got a picture of her in the tube!  Once she got in she said "back in the boat!"  Ha ha!!

 
[Four]
 
 
They're so big!!!  We are *hopefully* only about a month away from them starting to lay eggs.  I have been taking them a treat every day because they seem to be scared of us and I want them to like me!  I've been trying to get them to eat out of my hand, sometimes I'm successful, other times I'm not.  Fork (or maybe it's Bork?) just pecks at my thumb/finger until I drop the food onto the ground.  It makes me laugh every time!

 

[Five]
 
Did you see my Father's Day craft the kids did?  I'm still loving how it turned out!!
 
 
Well, that's all for this week!  Until next time...
 
~ Sara :)
 
I'm linking up with, Darci, AprilNatasha, and Christina for the Five on Friday link-up Party!
I'm linking up with A Little Bit of EverythingMomfessionals, and Grace and Love for my Friday Favorites!
I'm linking up with September Farm and The Farmer's Wife for the Oh Hey Friday linky party!
I'm also linking up with The Diary of a Real Housewife for Friday Favorites!

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Rain, Rain, Go Away!!!

Michigan has been a wet, sloppy mess for the past month!  We've had so.much.rain.  It has been both good and bad for our garden. 

First, the bad.

Between the bugs getting to them first and them rotting from being so wet, we lost out on the last two weeks or so of harvesting strawberries.  We had an excellent season though - better than we ever had thought.  We harvested about 25 pounds this year - 25 pounds from our small little patch!  Even though the rain kept us from quite a few, I'd say that was a huge success!

Speaking of bugs, the mosquitos are horrible now.  We literally can't walk outside or in our garage without being swarmed and bitten.  It's awful.  The kids can't even play outside in our yard without jeans, long sleeves, shoes and socks on.  Obviously, this is not ideal considering it's in the70's and 80's every day so, we just don't play outside at our house.  Happy Summer!!! 

One positive is that we've only had to water our garden once in the past three weeks.  The garden is looking good.....as long as you can distinguish what's a crop and what's a weed....

The weeds are out of control!  I vaguely remember having this idea of putting straw down around our plants to help control the weeds and being immediately shot down by a certain someone.....wonder if that certain someone is thinking that maybe that wasn't a bad idea afterall....
  
 
 
Because of how awful the mosquitos are, this is Jason's weeding gear.  He already had the hat on hand from when he's gone on fishing trips in Canada to keep the black flies away from his face.  Wearing that very head net, he broke a record by catching 122 fish in one day with his great uncle.  (he wanted me to add that in ;) Bet he wishes he was fishing instead of weeding.....or that we had put straw down....
 
 
Now, onto the good - our crops!

I was so excited to see so many veggies beginning to grow.  Our beans, corn, carrots and pumpkins are all doing great.  These were what we started from seed.  I'm just amazed at how you can plant a tiny seed in the ground and then it grows into something so big!  It's so awesome!!
 
 

We have baby broccoli, tomatoes, cucumber and zucchini growing too. 
 
 
 
 
Our cabbage, onions, watermelon, Brussels sprouts and lettuce all seem to be chugging right along as well.
 
 
 
 
Our peppers, eggplant and spaghetti squash are struggling a little bit.  Some type of bug loves our eggplant leaves - hoping they don't totally destroy them.  I need eggplant Parmesan!!!
 
We also planted two year asparagus roots - they've sprouted right up and are beginning to flower!  It will still be another two years before we can harvest them, but still exciting to see.

 
We're looking forward to our first veggie harvest very soon!
 
~ Sara :)

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

D-A-D Craft


I wanted the kids to do something fun and crafty for Father's Day this year.  I had seen the idea of having kids hold the letters D-A-D, taking photos and then framing them together a couple years ago.  I've thought about doing it every year, but this year, I finally did it!
 
I picked up the letters from Hobby Lobby and, my first thought was to paint them myself.  But then, why not have the kids paint them?  They each got to paint a 'D' and then they both painted on the 'A'.  Worked great!
 


Once the letters were painted and dried, I got the kids dressed (In Michigan State gear, of course) and headed onto the back deck for a photo shoot.  The kids did exceptionally well getting their picture taken.  You just never know what you're going to get when you break out the ol' camera!

 

 
 
 
Ashlyn was incredibly photogenic that day - I had a hard time choosing which photo to use!
 
I also took the opportunity to get a picture of them together in their State gear for Jason's office or desk at work:
 

 
I picked up a 3 picture frame from the store and put the photos in their new home.  We also wrapped up the letters that the kids painted and gave them to Jason as well.  A simple, inexpensive, thoughtful gift!

 
What did you do for Father's Day?  Anything fun??  Don't forget to link up with Marie and I for our Monthly Meet Up Party.  This month is all about Father's Day!!
 
http://greatdaysofhayes.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-monthly-meet-up-fathers-day.html
 
~ Sara :)

Friday, June 19, 2015

Friday Five!!!

Hi!
 
It's been awhile....I thought that I would have all the time in the world to do everything and anything once school was out.  I think I'm busier now than when Redmond was in school!  Hoping things simmer down soon so we can relax and enjoy our summer!
 
First step?  Get back to my blog!  What better time to start than on Friday!?!?!?!?
 
[One]
 
 
Jason and I celebrated our 6th anniversary last weekend.  It was such a great day.  We dropped the kids off at my in-laws early in the morning and then spent the morning/early afternoon antiquing.  Yes.  Antiquing.  And, it was Jason's idea!!!  We were on a hunt for a china cabinet and we found one!  We love it and it fits perfectly. 
 

 
I also got a cute little table for my little corner of the living room as well.  We had dinner at a great restaurant and just enjoyed each other's company all day.  Great day spent with my favorite person.
 
[Two]
 
My Polar HRM that I loved and used for almost 6 years recently quit working.  I debated on getting a new Polar or a Fitbit.  I decided to go with the Fitbit Charge HR and love it!  This little thing gives me so much information.  Do you have one?  Want to be fitbit buddies? 
 
 
[Three]
 
It has been raining and raining and raining here in MI.  So. Much. Rain.  We haven't had to water our garden in almost two weeks because it's been raining nearly every damn day.
 
Thankfully, it's not raining all day, so we are able to get outside, but when you do, you had better douse yourself in bug spray.  Mosquitos.  Mosquitos everywhere.  I'm itching just typing that.
 
Anyhoo, it has been great for the crops in the garden, and even better for the weeds.  Problem is the mosquitos are so bad that when you go out to weed, you get eaten alive! 

There's carrots in this mess somewhere.....
 
[Four]
 
Sibling love.....is there anything better (or cuter)????
 
 
[Five]
 
Father's Day!!!
 
I'm so excited to give Jason the gift the kids made for him for Father's Day.  Jason reads my blog, so no sneak peaks, but you better believe I'll be posting about it Sunday or Monday!  And, please join Marie and I for our Monthly Meet Up Link Up Party and share your Father's Day happenings!! 
 
 
Hope you have a great, dry, weekend!!
 
~ Sara :)

I'm linking up with, Darci, AprilNatasha, and Christina for the Five on Friday link-up Party!
I'm linking up with A Little Bit of EverythingMomfessionals, and Grace and Love for my Friday Favorites!
I'm linking up with September Farm and The Farmer's Wife for the Oh Hey Friday linky party!


A Small Tribute to My Main (Little) Man!

Phew!
 
I'm not quite sure what has happened in the past two weeks, but this is not how I envisioned summer vacation!  We have been go-go-go and I just want to be able to sit-sit-sit (with or without a cocktail).  Ha!
 
I wanted to dedicate a post to my sweet little boy.  His first year of preschool is done.
D-O-N-E!
 

 
 
How this happened, I'm not quite sure.  He is becoming such a little man and is such a good kid.  So sweet, caring and just plain awesome!
 
 
He has grown so much in the past year.  So. Much. 
 
 
Obviously, he's gotten bigger, but the things he's doing and saying now. 
Where'd my baby go!?!?!?
 
 
He's morphing into "boy" right before my very eyes.  His imagination is out of this world (quite literally!).  He's always got a story to tell and loves to make you laugh.
 
 
His grandpa is his best friend, but his sister is a close second.  He loves his sister (most of the time) and is so good with her.  The two of them are so fun to watch.  I hope they stay this close forever.
 
 

We could not be more proud of the little man he is becoming.  So thankful to see his smile and get his hugs every day!
 


 

~ Sara :)