Thursday, September 20, 2007

A couple of weeks ago...

... was really crazy busy, but we had such a good time, I wanted to make sure I wrote about it and posted pictures. Matt celebrated his birthday a few days early because Mom and Dad would be out of town the weekend closest to his birthday (we never celebrate the day - it's a week!).

Brother John and his kids came down as well - It was Labor Day weekend and the last day of summer freedom for his bunch. We'd already lost ours mid-August.

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No family get-together is complete without a hot, smoky grill manned by Dad and the wonderful barbecued chicken that comes out of it. After eating a lot of trial and error, I think he's finally got it! And of course, there was the Circus Cake.



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After lunch, we all gathered 'round, sang an off-key Happy Birthday song to Matt (who couldn't keep a straight face to save his life), cut up cake, spooned ice cream and generally collapsed into a sugar-induced daze for a little while.

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The quieter pasttimes of a hot afternoon went on during the dazed-time. As always, some gathered around the computer (how weird is that?), and some constructed items of great structural stability and creative invention.

Look at these faces. These are the ones that were gathered around the computer.
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What could possibly be the cause of such consternation, incredulty, and hilarity all at the same time?

This... Watch it ALL the way to the end.

At least he's sincere.

After we'd laughed off a few calories, it was time to go outside and explore the wonders of the eggmobile and meet the new sisters.

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The Eggmobile is a portable hen house. This is what enables the chickens to be "free range". They have a safe place to go at night (or when the fox or hawks come around) and they come out during the day and scratch around and eat for about 2-40 feet around it. Then after a few days, the Eggmobile moves about 50 feet away and they debug/fertilize the area around it again. There are compartments for nests and the resultant eggs. I'm collecting my egg cartons now in anticipation! They'll be old enough in about 3 months to start laying. Who're they?

Why, "they" are the girls - living right now in this newly refurbished hen house that had fallen into serious disrepair during the previous owner's tenancy.

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And of course, being a "farm" there are vegetable plots to raid as well.
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Maggie and Deacon (Uncle Dog) ran. Dad rode in style.

When we got there, we discovered these charming vistors had beaten us down there.

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Maggie dug sweet potatoes, W walked the perimeter, and Gareth stayed behind and made beautiful music.

The fruits of Maggie's labor. All but two of them came home with me. YUM!

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Kida got to come along too. It was her first trip to the farm and her first introduction to Deacon. They ran around like mad, then bolted in through the doggie door to the customized laundry room. It's been customized with a large ceiling fan, a water tower just for Deacon, and a baby gate to keep hot, panting dogs out of the rest of the house.

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Can you say "HAPPY DOGS"?

And just because I like him, I will share this:

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He used to live on a rock next to Dad's fishpond at the other house. Now he sits on the arm of a chair in the yard. Looks pretty happy to me in his new digs!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love me some sweet potatoes....roasted, mashed, baked...yummmmmmmm!

Anonymous said...

Have you been busy or what?
Wow! Are we having fun yet?
Great pics. Enjoyed ALL of them. Also, love the music below that made me jump up and down, too.
Will visit your pirate post in a minute or two.
Have some errands to run first.

kitten said...

Sounds like yall had fun, but that dude sounds drunk! LOL!

Anonymous said...

Great post! Consider me appropriately impressed with the eggmobile.
-phre3D

Stepping Over the Junk said...

I'm hungry for cake.

Steam's neighbor has chickens and a hen house!

SwampAngel65 said...

You guys seemed to have had a great time! BTW...I'm still cracking up over that video... poor guy, but his heart was in the right place!

karisma said...

Oooh I love the gargoyle he is really cute. I also love the little green lizards and sweet potatoes are a favourite too!

The mobile chicken house looks fantastic we are looking for ideas on how to build one at the moment. A bit smaller for us though!

WeeeSplat said...

That dude needs to take his meds... and singing lessons... hee hee love it :)

Anonymous said...

Oh, the eggmobile is AWESOME! I wish I lived nearer, so I could try the eggs.

-Cordie

Anonymous said...

What a great day. And pictures too! Love the green lizard and the gargoyle and the happy dogs and everything.

That rendition of Amazing Grace was P-A-I-N-F-U-L.

If that was a funeral I hope the coffin lid was nailed shut. The singing was enough to raise the dead.

The Ex said...

Looks like FUN!!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing! Now I'm hungry AND want chickens.

Hubby seems to think they would be against the neighborhood association rules, but I think if we gave them fresh eggs they'd let us slide.

And my three year old? Loved the photo of the lizards! Thanks for making his day, too!

Anonymous said...

Ohmygoodness you've been busy and had LOTS of fun!

How'd those people in that church not die from laughter right then and there!!!