The old ways

In this day and age, it's hard to believe that once upon a time things were much simpler.
A day when wars were fought on battle fields, when a truce was called just to buried their fallen.
When people had a common regard for hard work and weren't afraid to get their hands dirty. A time when they traded eggs for a bit of milk and neighbours would come with the true intention to help in times of need, with no other agenda. When the most wonderful memories were of a hard days work and a cool glass of iced tea on the porch after dinner, watching the chickens peck and scurry around the yard and the scent of clean laundry hung out in the breeze.

The food was truly home made and greatly appreciated. Children learnt many different skills, how to build a barn or how to run a household, instead of how to use a cell phone or how to shoot to kill in a video game.

Yes there was downfalls to those times and yes it was hard work. But weren't people happier? None of the hustle and bustle of angry people driving to work, living each day in a job that gives no satisfaction. People these day have become petty and mean, children have become cruel and unforgiving.

Working away from your home and children, missing all the best young days of their lives because you can't afford to not work. Back then your land was truly your land and no one could tell you what you could and couldn't do to it or on it and you took pride in working it, in your animals in your food and raising your children to be proud of who they are. these days by the time you get yourself home after a long day at work, most of us are to tired to deal with families, so we pick up that take out and don't take the time to inquire about every ones day.

Families gathered together more often and appreciated each other, never taking for granted the days they had together or the skills they could teach each other.

People were less rude, less in a hurry, less greedy and definitely less judgemental of each other.

I know technology is a good thing in some ways and I know that if it was taken from us most would be lost. But I truly believe technology has made us lazy. We let TV and video games raise our children.We can't live with out our cell phone or computer. Very few sit as a family and eat a meal and talk about the days events.

And we should! We really should take the time to appreciate each other, to learn about each other, as families.

To learn the pride of a hard job done well. To be able to count on your neighbours for help when you need it. To know that family will always be family no matter what the situation. to be able to take pride in all that you do, be it your family your home, your job your life, and on your last day on this earth to know your can be proud of who you are and who your children will become.

I truly believe we could learn so much from those days long ago.

 I really wish we could live that way again.

It may be just a dream of the past but I believe we would all be much happier and healthier and the generations to come would be better off.

Until next time

Happy homesteading!

Spring!!

Now that Spring is really here, the birds are singing , the geese are back and the days are longer, our happy little family of birds are enjoying the sunshine and fresh air.

The big guy is being nosey and checking in on the babies and their Mama.

We finally came up with a name for our newest addition to our flock, she is a barred rock x polish mix and as sweet as pie. We named her Lucy!!!... And Lucy as sweet and cute as she is, is a leader! A leader who leads the flock to places the flock should not be!

Yesterday, while I was at work my Hubby had to chase the flock back into our coop and out of the farmers barn. Lucy was sitting on the seat of the tractor, while the rest of the flock

clucked and peck on the ground below her.

Like I said, she is a handful but I think she just might be my favourite.

After playing in the coop, I decided maybe today would be a good day to bake the things that I enjoy the most. So, traditional Scottish shortbread cookies,

 Braided egg bread,

oatmeal cookies

and traditional Scots buttermilk bread, which happens to be my Hubby's favourite of the many kinds of bread I make.

Last but not least, I though some homemade raspberry jam would go great with

all this yummy bread.

So after all the baking was done, supper was made and everyone was full and content, I thought I would take the babies we have inside and introduce them to Mama and her babies.

Mama was not sure what to do with all the extra babies in her coop,

now she has 28 babies to deal with. Ha! busy Mama. She kinda looks a little overwhelmed

and confused.

Since we got rid of the big bad bully of the coop, we moved the older babies

to his pen. There's lot of room to play in the big old pen.

 And that's all that's up here on the farm!

 Happy Homesteading!

                                                              

I think Spring has Sprung

Today on our wonderful farm, there has been some pretty great indications that spring is
                                                                        here!
     Most of the snow in the yard has melted, Robin's in the front yard and mud everywhere!

It does mean that spring, if not here now, is just around the corner!

WOO HOO!!!!

Your time is up old man winter!!!

That means that letting the chooks out to free range and planning and planting the gardens are not far away. I can't wait to be outside in the sunshine. I'm sure my Hubby is NOT nearly as excited as I am.It does mean a lot of work for him. Luckily I am not as picky and demanding as some think I am! :)

Besides, it keeps him busy until football starts. Chicken and garden season first, Then football season. After football season, more chicken season, a little more garden season.

I have such a great Hubby!

So with that here's a little update from the coop!

Mama has hatched herself 8 beautiful little chicks.

and they are a handful.

                  She is often clucking and tucking them back under her when they misbehave.
                                               She is a great Mama and they are all doing great!

       We also have a new addition in the coop, she doesn't have a name yet and she is a little different

          but she seems to be getting along with the gang just fine.

           She is a barred rock X polish mix

             and she is pretty sweet.

She has quite the personality, she is a very funny girl!

                                                          And she likes to be up high.

We took the big Meany (The chantie rooster hates me) out of this pen, with the other hen and filled

this pen with babies.

                                      She is with the babies we have left from our last hatch

         and seems to be happy, even though she gives a peck and gets a peck once in a while.

She seems to fit in just nicely!

So that's all that's up at the Adams Farm.

Happy Homesteading!

                                          

This just in!!!

My broody little hen is now a proud little Mama, as of this afternoon she has two beautiful little chicks under her.

See the eggs shell just in front of her..? She pushes them out from under her after each chick hatches.

 And under her (not the best picture ever taken) without making the chicks to cold.

Now, there is way more eggs under her than she began with, as the other hen in the coop

kept adding to the pile. We are not sure how many she will manage to hatch so for now, we will just leave her be. We did however put a heat lamp in over her, so there would be less worry of her getting up in this damn cold weather. Hopefully it will warm up this week like the weather man keeps promising.

While in the coop checking on little Mama, the little Chantecler that we have in the other coop with the Orps, decided that he was much smarted than all the others and was not going to be cold tonight.

He sat right uner the light and made himself comfortable.

He is just cute as can be.

So that's it, Broody hen is now a Mama!

and everyone is happy as can be.

We will keep you posted.

untill then..

Happy Homesteading!

Pretty little Broody Hen

Well I guess we misjudged the date of her hatching those little eggs. 21 little chicks hatched from the bator on the 29th of February and she is still sitting.

So last night we went in and candled a couple of eggs, just to make sure all was well. We had to remove a couple that our other hen has been laying next to her and she just dutifully tucks under her. It seems that everything is fine the eggs are to term and still wiggling around. So we will leave her to her well done job and see what comes of it. It should be any day now!