Busy Like a Bee

It's been busy busy around here since I got back from Utah. I can't seem to get caught up or get my act completely together (I missed the kids' guitar lessons 2 weeks in a row which is really not like me).

Last week, I redid the kids' rooms. They were a mess. Same baby green paint from when the rooms were nurseries and if you have had boys, you know what they can do to a place. So we cleaned, we painted, we rearranged furniture, and got them new bedding, lamps, and pictures. They look like young men's rooms now. The boys are very proud and taking excellent care of their new digs.

I bottled the beer and Skeeter Pee (hard lemonade). It really came out good. Tastes like a nice white wine! I'm going to get another batch started. I really hate sterilizing bottles though.

Friday, I saw an ad on CraigsList for silkie roosters about an hour away from us. My son has 3 hens and ordered 2 roosters from an auction on Backyard Chickens back in December! We sent the seller $35 for the birds and shipping and still have not received them. The only thing keeping me from being steaming mad is that he hasn't cashed the check.

This is Oreo:

And Mist:

After getting these boys, I asked the BYC seller to send my check back or send me a picture of it ripped up. I still haven't heard from him. Cole is looking forward to selling chicks to earn a little money. We just need the hens to start laying again!

Last weekend was bitterly cold here. So what did we do? Ate raw oysters and pretended we were at the beach. Mom and Hubby are expert shuckers!

This cold snap has me down to the dregs of my seasoned firewood. I have about 3 days worth left. The weather had better change soon! Sunday, we bundled up and split and picked up the tree we felled at my friend's farm. Then went next door and got a load of odds and ends our next door neighbor didn't want. He likes his wood uniform to stack in his wood sheds. I'm not so picky. Odds and ends burn well and do just fine under our upcycled redneck pool "tarp".

Monday I planted the tomato and pepper seeds. I'm a little late getting them started. Like I said, I can't get my act together after being gone for a week.

Yesterday, the kids talked me into some chicks from TSC Chick Days. We have enough chickens, but most of my original Red Sex Links have died. They are the sweetest birds and the best layers, so I don't suppose it will hurt to have a few more.

Cole has a Spelling Bee on Friday. At 9:00am! Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to get anywhere by 9:00am? I am not much of a morning person and I'm going to have to get up by 6:30 to get ready and finish my chores in time. The next 2 days are devoted to getting through his lists of words.

And speaking of bees. Yesterday I ordered two 4# packages of bees from Wilbanks Apiary in Claxton, GA. I'm going to have to go pick the bees up in May. I am determined to get at least 2 strong hives going! Beekeeping is such a challenge (and so expensive) with all the imported pests and environmental hazards the bees face today. Honestly, to make any money on it, I'd have to charge $50 a quart for honey (which I'm not going to do). And people wonder why they can't find local honey. It's so precious, I don't want to sell it.

Aspartame in Milk!?

I just read this article stating that the dairy industry is petitioning the FDA to allow it to put aspartame in milk and milk products without having to list it on the label.

I find that outrageous! It didn't come out of the cow (goat, sheep, waterbuffalo etc.) with artificially sweetener in it, so it's not milk and should be listed as an ingredient.

I'll admit, I haven't done a lot of research on the effects of artificial sweeteners- I just try to avoid anything that wasn't food 100 years ago. Milk sweetened with aspartame would not pass my litmus test.

Night Bird

I love mockingbirds. Really I do. I once heard one mock a seagull. I love how they display their white wing flashes to other mockingbirds. I love that they eat lots of insects. I love watching them chase crows away.

I don't, however, love the mockingbird that has taken up residence in the tea olive outside my bedroom window and wakes me up singing every morning at 5:45.

Utah

I'm back from a trip to Utah. I hate to fly, but I was sorely in need of the break. The boys learned to ski while I spent a few days reading in the hairy-hide wing chair by the window. Occasionally I'd look up from my pages to see them ride the lift and come down the slope right out the window.

It was gorgeous out there. The people were so friendly.

On the way in, we sighted a moose on a mountainside. Then I saw Mitt Romney at ski school. No, I didn't give him a piece of my mind for not winning. He looked happy and relaxed with family. I was relieved for him. I imagine it'd be hard for the POTUS to take his grandson to ski school (though I have my suspicions that the current pres would just buy out the whole place for the week for his entourage at some enormous taxpayer expense).

But I digress....

I found the Wasatch Brewery and was able to get some of this yummy stuff to go. One of my dear friends had shared some with me after we butchered her chickens last spring. I've been dreaming of it since as it's not something I can get in the store here.

I managed to talk hubby out of an "I've tried Polygamy tee". Not something this wife wants her significant other sporting around town.

My MIL had me try on these boots. Aren't they gorgeous? I was glad that the 9 was a little too small or I may have been tempted. Waaaay out of my price range but I may have tried to rationalize it with the fact that lift tickets and ski school are way out of our price range and we have nothing but memories to show for that.

Returned home to more rain. And rain. And mud. Dirty eggs and dirty puppy. And neighbor's dog barking incessantly all day long when he leaves her out. Will definitely need to talk with him about that before I want to leave the windows and doors open to catch spring breezes.

Herd Sire

Little Raven's Haven N Magnum was born on Valentine's Day. We are going to go pick him up in a week or so.

I know that the breeder bottle feeds her babies, but didn't put it together that I'd have to bottle feed him when I get him. Duh. Not really looking forward to that one, but we'll survive. And hey, no running around two states trying to get goats bred next fall.

They're Gunning for your Guns

Missouri democrats have introduced a piece of legislation that would make law abiding citizens felons for exercising their second ammendment right.

Here's a part of the bill:

4. Any person who, prior to the effective date of this law, was legally in possession of an assault weapon or large capacity magazine shall have ninety days from such effective date to do any of the following without being subject to prosecution:
(1) Remove the assault weapon or large capacity magazine from the state of Missouri;
(2) Render the assault weapon permanently inoperable; or
(3) Surrender the assault weapon or large capacity magazine to the appropriate law enforcement agency for destruction, subject to specific agency regulations.
5. Unlawful manufacture, import, possession, purchase, sale, or transfer of an assault weapon or a large capacity magazine is a class C felony.

It appears that the same bill is being proposed in Minnesota.

It's getting ugly out there, folks. I encourage you to speak out. Join the NRA. If it's right for you, get a gun. Don't forget the ammo.

Prayer Breakfast Speech

Just in case you missed the National Prayer Breakfast speech by Dr. Benjamin Carson, here it is. I think everyone needs to see it. I promise you, it's well worth the half hour.