Look who is getting BIG!!!!

Here is an update of the chickens...we have taken them on a few field trips outside and they really are changing fast!

They have all learned how to roost and seem to like being as high as possible.

They are still very curious and seem to enjoy being outside in the grass.

They also like shiny things...like wedding rings and camera lenses...

Here is chipmunk, affectionately called Spaz. She really is a crazy little bird and is definitely at the top of the pecking order!!!

They even have more feathers since these were taken a couple of days ago! They are really growing up!

They even tried out their coop and ramp and were old pros. They did great. We stayed outside for a while and they laid right up next to the edge closest to us. They are very social!

We hope you enjoy this Memorial Day weekend. Love, Emily and Henry

More baby chicks...

Look who has arrived....

We have to start with the most important news of the day. Carson, our nephew, turned 5 years old today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CARSON!!!! We love you! Time certainly does fly.

Here is some of our spring crop...butter lettuce, romaine and baby carrots.

Here are our seed starters for our summer crop... okra, corn, cucumbers, and green beans here. We are also planting squash, zucchini, several varieties of tomatoes, and bell peppers. There is more, but that is all I can think of right now. See older posts for more info.

And here is our mint. After taking FOREVER to get started, the little plant is out of control. Sorry it is sideways. I forgot to turn it.

Here is Henry showing of one of our monster sugar snap peas. DELICIOUS!

And some more exciting news....these five precious babies came to live with us today.

There are two New Hampshire Reds like this one....

Here is a Barred Rock.

Another New Hampshire Red...This one has a VERY yellow head.

And another Barred Rock...these are the ones that you often see in folk art. Google them.

And here is an Ameraucana....also known as an easter-egger for the color eggs is lays. Right now this little one sort of resembles a skunk....she is really cute.

They like to huddle, make noise, eat, drink water and POOP. 

They are very curious ladies...

And very sweet...

Here is our set up for about a month and half. They have to live inside. We will gradually decrease the heat lamp. They will stay in the upstairs bathroom.

These two were VERY curious. I could have sworn I saw Leo roll his eyes with an attitude of...ARE YOU KIDDING??? And Josie was so excited she was running in circles and meowing. We have introduced them to each other, but will keep the door to the bathroom shut tight when we are not around.

We will post more photos as I know they will change quickly. I know it is going to be a ton of fun! Peace, Emily and Henry

A busy day...

Our front porch boxes are doing GREAT! We already have a ton of sugar snap peas.

Here are two heirloom tomato plants and a poblano pepper plant in front.

New seeds started...Okra, Cucumbers (Salad and Pickling), Green Beans, Sweet Bell Peppers, and Corn! On the right you can see our mint and basil plant.

We are running out of room, but I love that there is so much blooming! We added a new variety of tomatos today...Super Fantastic is what it is called. When we were choosing it, the one next to it was called Fantastic and I can't imagine why anyone would choose Fantastic when you could have Super Fantastic.

I finally gave in and picked a carrot today....so exciting!

We gave it the taste test and.....it was FANTASTIC....or maybe even super fantastic!

Our blackberries are beginning to look like berries...

And after a week and a half in Texas, we came home to a GORGEOUS blooming rose bush....

Henry has been doctoring it, hoping it would bloom. We fed it some egg shells because we heard roses like them...

I guess it is true...they are so pretty.

It was also time to turn the compost. This is before the turn...

And here is the completed, newly turned pile.

Our potatoes also went crazy while we were gone. They are doing great...three varieties.

And unfortunately, the weeds in the garden also went crazy. This is the garden before several hours of work....

And here it is after....

The leaves are supposed to help keep weeds down in the rows and also keep moisture next to the plants. We'll see whether or not it works. Our most exciting news is the new additions in our front bird house. Henry built this bird house in hopes that some birds would move in and have babies....and.....meet the newest members of our extended family....

I think there are five. Here is a video of the mama or maybe dad...I'm not sure....coming back to the house with a worm in its mouth. You will have to watch sideways, because I don't know how to rotate the video. We aren't sure what type of birds they are. I am thinking maybe Carolina Wrens, but I'm not sure. Look at the top right corner of the arbor and you will see the bird sitting there wondering what I am doing....

As many of you know, Emily's grandfather on her mother's side has been dealing for some time with Alzheimer's disease. Thursday he was moved to hospice and is being kept comfortable. One of the things Papa loved to do was work in the yard, garden and keep the bird feeders filled. He was very talented at all of these things and passed this love on to me. So we spent all day today thinking of Papa and working our tails off. It was a good day.

Peace and love to each of you,

Emily and Henry

A Great Week in TEXAS!!!!!

We flew to San Antonio on Monday, April 20th and Henry's dad Robert met us at the airport. He took us to lunch (TexMex of course) and to pick up his truck since he had to be back at work. We went and picked up Henry's youngest sister and brother (Brynn and Steven) from school and went to get ice cream at Amy's Ice Cream...a Texas original. Then we set off for the park for a couple of hours. 

We met some more family for dinner (TexMex again!) before being surprised with tickets to the SPURS playoff game. (Thanks Robert!) It seems as though we were good luck since this was the only game they won for the series...it was a TON of fun and there was a LOT of energy in that arena!

On Tuesday we got to spend some time with Katharine - relaxing, going to Trinity and running some errands. We even tried a Korean hamburger place...delicious!

On Wednesday we headed to Austin and got to see the recent addition to Emily's homechurch...Westminster Pres. in Austin. The new building is gorgeous and it was fun to see staff and friends. On Thursday we had lunch with Emily's grandmother, Marmee at one of our favorite Tex-Mex places...Chuy's! Later that night we had some friends over and we had a great time. 

Friday we headed for Frisco and the busy fun continued. We had a delicious fajita dinner on Friday with some of the best guacamole ever made thanks to Carson and Henry!

On Saturday morning, we watched Carson's soccer team...the flames...play an exciting game of soccer.

It was an EARLY game and I think Collier was smart to wear his pajamas and eat breakfast during the game.

He does this funny thing with his tongue...he loves to smile and make noises....such a cute baby. Here he is with my middle sister, Molly...or Aunt Moddy as Carson calls her.

Having fun with Uncle Henry...

Henry telling Carson what a great job he did in his game. Carson LOVES his Uncle Henry.

It is a tradition in our family for Mom to make a sign for whoever is celebrating a birthday. This was one of her best signs yet...it is hard to see, but the "60" is full of pictures from my dad's 60 years. Dad insisted that age is a state of mind and he has decided to be "40." 

And on Sunday, we continued the celebration with Collier's baptism. He wasn't too sure what his Aunt Memy was doing, but didn't object.

Collier was named after a close family friend....Sharron "Collier" Carnes. Sharron gave me this stole for ordination, so it was neat to be able to wear it for Collier's baptism.

On Tuesday, Henry and Carson got busy and worked on a new vegetable garden box. It was pretty tricky because the ground isn't completely level in this part of my sister and brother-in-law's yard. They spent a long time talking about it...making a list of supplies and deciding what to plant. They both had so much fun!

The best part...playing in the DIRT! And mixing it up of course...

Collier helped by staying happy and occasionally making noise. He is such a good baby...

Busy hands, hard at work...

The final product. I can't wait to see how it does. They are growing red bell peppers, tomatoes, okra, cantaloupe, green beans and slicing cucumbers. He is also growing squash and zucchini in a large pot that he had started a couple of weeks earlier that has already grown a lot. 

We wish we had remembered to take more pictures. We got most of these from Emily's sister Amy and we didn't take any in San Antonio or Austin. 

It was a fantastic trip full of wonderful people. We were glad to get home and continue to be grateful for such loving families and good friends.

Peace,

Emily and Henry