chicken coop...scratch that! (pun intended)

Ok...I have been studying all things chicken coops and urban chicken keeping and I have decided it is not for me.  I have also decided I am not going to be one of those types that blogs daily...it is what it is.

I have moved on to putting in my garden, which I have been thinking about for 2 years now.  It was just time to put my big girl panties on and deal with it.  I am doing a potager garden which is a fancy name for a french kitchen garden.  In order to qualify as a potager it must have vegetables, herbs and flowers and the most traditional styles have 4 boxes or beds with a center area of the garden for a centerpiece or sitting area. 

I have just barely started but thought I would show a picture.  I have 2 of my 4 boxes built, which are 4' x 4' and 12" high.  I am undecided on what I will be doing in the center but I will know it when I know it.

I have missed gardening...I am so looking forward to it!

A coop is the scoop!

My latest obsession...I am getting a chicken coop and 4 - 5 egg laying ladies.  I am so excited!!!  I am working with a local guy who is going to help me build it (my coffee lady hooked me up with him).  I know where I want it in the yard but I am still working out the style of coop that I want.  I love the idea of the freshness and being somewhat self reliant.  I am also going to be working on my raised garden best very soon.  These will not be in growing production until next year but by then they will be completely good to go and fertilized and will be a growing machine.

I want to have a better grip on what I am consuming.  I will never be all fanatical about it but every little bit helps.

I had my third fill today.  I am now at 5.8 cc in a 14 cc band.  This is the first fill where I think I might be feeling just a bit of restriction.  Oh how I hope so!!

Ok...I am off to look at pictures of coops.  I love it!  :-)

Happy Mother's Day!

As I was sitting here having my first cup of coffee before starting the day, I had a lovely little yellow visitor.  You can see him on the left hand side of the feeder, though this pic does not do him justice.  He was very bright yellow and very cheerful looking.  My camera was close at hand so I decided to take a picture.  It made me smile.

My heart is heavy today though because I am definitely still sick and will not be seeing my Mom.  I have a deep chest cough with phlegm and in her condition I think that could be deadly for her.  All I can do is take comfort in knowing that I have other siblings that she will see today and that I will be seeing her very soon.

Today my plan will be to work out in the garage with my son's help.  I am going through boxes and organizing for a community garage sale in my neighborhood on June 4th.  We were out there for several hours yesterday too and it was a good bonding experience for us.  We were finding all kinds of things from his childhood and it was nice to share in his joy as he had been thinking things were gone, when mom had simply put them away for safe keeping.  :-)

I am hoping for a good day again with him.  I really need that right now and I know he does too.

Another really bright spot to my week was the re-surfacing of a dear friend from my school days.  I had not seen her since my Dad's death in 2004 and she finally tracked me down.  We talked and caught up on much of what has transpired in the past several years and it is still so comfortable to chat with her.  She has always held a very special place in my heart and I love her very much.  I was the one who went MIA and I am blessed that she reached out to me again.  I will work harder to be a better friend but I doubt I will ever be as good as her!

Mother's Day...

I have had some bad ones...I had one with a little boy with the worst chicken pox you have ever seen...I have had some non-existent ones...I think it is safe to say this one will top them all, and be my worst one yet.

I have a cold.  I am trying to get rid of it as fast as I can because this Sunday will be my Mom's last Mother's Day.  I really really need to see her on Sunday and I am not sure I will be able to.

Blink...and a week is gone!!!

I just fixed a cup of coffee, having just gotten out of the shower, and I knew I had to spend a bit of time here this morning no matter what. 

The day after Easter life got a bit crazy.  I was summoned for jury duty but was not that worried about being selected.  When I arrived and was given the number 13 I was even more confident that this would be a quick in and out half day for me.  Nope.  3 days later, having found a man guilty which will in fact send him to prison, I had completed my civic duty.  I am glad I did it but for future reference...if you get in trouble and have a choice between the judge deciding or it being a jury of your peers, think long and hard about just having the judge decide.  I know that is what I would do!!!!!

The week also started out with some information on my Mom.  It is no big surprise that she is not long for this world, but it is still upsetting to hear it or see in in writing.  Having received an update from my brother it has been decided that those that need to come see her should do so soon.  I have a sister coming in a couple weeks from now and 2 brothers visiting the week after.  It will be nice to see them though I wish it were for happier reasons.  I suspect that the gathering that will have all 7 of us together at the same time will most likely be for a certain someone's 50th b-day.  Wow...I remember when the oldest was about to turn 50 and now it will be the 2nd to last who does, in only a little over 2 years.  And then it will be me...ok, gotta change the direction of thought here!!!!!!

I did get a surprise call from my Mom on Sunday the 1st.  My birthday was yesterday and I think she wanted to be the first to tell me happy birthday and wanted to tell me she did not send a card.  I told her I would rather hear her voice on the phone then get a card.  We had not really spoken and I have not seen her since last year.  It is complicated.  I will see her next Sunday for Mother's Day and I am really glad she called me.

That is pretty much the sum of the last week.  I was working in the yard all day Sunday and an now sporting a rather impressive back of the neck sunburn.   My yard is looking nice in most areas and I even spoiled myself and bought a cute little bistro table and 2 chairs for my back deck.

I had my 2nd fill yesterday and so far I am not impressed.  If I do not feel restriction after the next fill on 5/16 I am going to make the next appt. with the other girl in the office that does them.  It might be time to shake things up a bit.