Is she or isn't she?

We can't figure out if Jemima is trying to brood or not. She sat on her eggs all Monday morning and we figured she was definitely trying to hatch them. But, since then, we haven't caught her sitting at all. Perhaps she does overnight and that's enough warmth for them to hatch. Who knows. Geese are very strange creatures.

Ds#1 swore Peep, one of our Buff Orpington chickens, is getting broody, but since we haven't seen Nick (our new rooster) mating with any of the hens, we will assume none of the eggs are fertile and therefore not worth trying to hatch.

Dh finally got a bunch of seeds planted, including spinach and lettuce. It's been a busy spring for him. I miss eating fresh spinach.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Laundry and phoebe

Spring milestone: I hung out my first load of laundry of the year! Woohoo! Spring is officially here, and it's a bit lionish too.

Our resident Eastern phoebe is back. Some winters, it doesn't even leave, but this year, it did go south (I'm assuming it was south...who'd be crazy enough to fly north for the winter?). But a couple of days ago, I noticed it was back from the singing. Today, it began building its nest in the usual spot: over the back door light. At least that's a better spot than over the back porch door where it leaves lots of poop on the door handle. I need to look up whether males or females build the nest. I have been assuming it's male, but I could be wrong.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Spring! And sick of the geese

The daffodils were up and blooming when we got back from visiting dh's dad on Saturday. They are so pretty, perky, and yellow...definitely a sign of spring. We have the mini ones, at my request. Maybe it's because I'm short and petite, but I prefer the miniature version of many flowers to their big, bulky counterparts, irises in particular.

Stupid geese are such pains. We have big, deep puddles all over and they have 9 eggs in the nest, so you'd think they wouldn't wander, but they did again this morning. The boys had to go out in the rain (luckily, it seemed to have stopped thundering at the moment) to chase them back from the creek across the road. After the geese and dog are gone, the only animals I want to keep are chickens.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

I love sunny days!

Even when it's below freezing outside, if it's a sunny day, our living room, with its huge south-facing windows, is like a tropical paradise (the banana plants help with the illusion). Too bad we have to go out in the afternoon tomorrow; I just want to stay home, lie down on the floor, and pretend I'm at the beach.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Alpina the Brave, and Smart

Not only does she range widely, and alone, when we let out the chickens, but she also seems to know where and how to get back to home base...unlike the dim-witted Australorps who couldn't find their way back the other day. We ended up having to let them into the fowl hut because they refused to be herded back to the orchard where the chicken tractor is currently. We should definitely try to hatch out some Alpina eggs in the spring.

I don't know where the name Alpina came from; ds#2 named her.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)