Happy Tenth Anniversary!

To commemorate this momentous occasion, we attended Apple Butter Makin' Days in Mt. Vernon, MO. This is a country festival in which local craftspeople gather to display and sell their wares, as well as obviously tout the marvelous apple! For our gifts to one another, we purchased hand thrown pottery mugs. Wayne selected a mug that is so dark blue, it's almost black. Very handsome. My mug is quite unique. Some might even call it imperfect. All the more to cuddle up with!We also purchased some handcrafted soaps and a wooden soap dish, and what I've been informed was a rubber band sub-machine gun.

Osha

I've been battling a virus for over a week. I tried to let my body wage this battle on it's own, but a couple days ago it became apparent that my body was not getting the job done on it's own. I pulled out the Osha, and began taking it, two dropper fulls three times a day. It has worked wonders! This morning I could tell my energy level was better, and my throat wasn't nearly as sore. However, my chest still felt tight, my sinuses were clogged, and I had a slight earache. Around lunchtime I really started to improve. Now, at 5:30 P.M. I am much, much better. My chest barely hurts, my ears aren't hurting, and my sinus congestion is diminished. OSHA ROCKS! If you haven't tried it, you really should. Warning, though, it'll put hair on your chest!

A Meal Fit for a Queen

Last week I had a stomach virus. After a couple days it developed into a cold, which has progressed to the point that for the last two days all I have wanted to do was melt into a bed. Last night, when I arrived home from work, my wonderful husband had prepared this scrumptious meal for me. The chicken was the best I've had in a really long time. It was so tender and flavorful. I felt that it's memory should be preserved for all posterity! :D

A whole summer's work!

This year I planted Black Aztec corn. It is an heirloom variety that is certified non GMO. You can eat it in the milk stage like corn on the cob, can it, or freeze it. You can also let it dry and grind it for cornmeal. I planted five rows of about 20 stalks per row. This is my entire harvest. It's been a learning year, to say the least! First of all, I planted WAY too late. I didn't plant my corn until the first week of June. On top of that, the weather has been unusually cool, rainy, and therefore cloudy. Nobody's crops did particularly well, and everyone I have talked to mentions how late their plants were in being ready to harvest. To make things even worse, the chickens discovered the delightful contents of those ears, and ate more than their fair share. I am going to save all this for seed, and next year I'll be planting much earlier, and I will also fertilize a WHOLE lot more! (Not to mention the fence that will appear around the perimeter of the garden!)

Chicken Update

I know y'all are *so* excited to hear more about my chickens, but, believe it or not, a friend asked! These are the adorable little black and yellow fluff balls that were in the blue cage with the dogs gawking at them. They're all grown up and looking pretty fine. My Brahma hen is in the center. She is named Buttercup. I don't think she is laying yet. The white rooster is named Bud. He's one ornery old cuss. He keeps ALL the birds (and Wayne) in line!

This is my Black Australorp hen. I don't believe she is laying yet based on appearance. I have not yet checked her bones to see, though. We are getting around five eggs a day. I have another B.A. hen, named Sissy, who keeps to herself. She roosts in some secret hideaway, and we only see her early in the morning, before the other chickens are released.

These are some of the "gang." They are old enough for the freezer, but we haven't gotten around to that yet. They keep things in a tizzy around the yard, always fighting and chasing the girls.

I have two Silver Laced Wyandotte hens. (I call them both Sylvia - can't tell them apart!) I do think they may be my best layers. I think they started laying first, and I also think they are more consistent layers.

This is a side view of a Silver Laced Wyandotte hen with Bud at her side.