Little Things Mean Alot!

What a beautiful week of weather we are having. Besides my usual indoor housework, I have been able to go outside and do cleaning there as well. I also had to replant one of my big pots because my little squirrels enjoy burying the peanuts I give them IN my pots :) How can I be angry? I just have to replant them. I'm thinking this is the squirrels method of food storage! right Gina? I would be much happier though if they would EAT what I give them instead of storing it. That being said, I still have a few extra plants to pot or put into the ground and then I'll be ready for round 2 of flowers in another week or so.

Billy is making great progress on our chicken coop/play area. Don't you love the big window he is putting in? That was from a home he worked on several months back. Her playhouse atop the jungle gym/coop will also have a deck with a chair and table for her to sit at with her little friends. I think it's coming out so cute. As for the chicken coop, we are getting different chicken wire as Bill fears that raccoons could get their paws into the holes of the one we have so he's going with a very small pattern. He is also putting concrete around the base under the dirt so raccoons can't dig their way in. The man thinks of everything! I contacted the one and only chicken hatchery here on the island. He was so nice. He said the other people who sell chickens on Long Island aren't hatching them; they're purchasing them and selling them. That's all well and fine, but I want to know what I'm getting and this gentlemen had an absolute love for his chickens! HE started out several years ago having some backyard chickens and had fun with them. Then they began breeding and so on. He and his wife raised five children and he said the kids grew up with their little chicken friends! Now he has a full business going! He was very honest with me and actually said certain ones he has he won't part with because he has had them for so long. Then he had turkins which are chickens that have a bald neck like a turkey, and he said he had two of those but he wouldn't sell them because he is so used to them wandering around that he'd miss them! Finally I told him that I liked Rhode Island Reds and other breeds. I settled on Red Sex Link chickens so far. They are very friendly and sturdy birds. I told him these would be pets and the eggs are just a bonus! Once the coop is built I will give him a call and pick up my chicken friends.

My son is already on his trash days hunt. If you read my blogs from last Fall you'll remember that my son loves to go on his bike on the two trash days of the week to go hunting. He brings home incredible things. Now I know why our Good Will Store or Thrift stores never have good treasures--around here no one gets in the car to drop them off. It's easier to put them out for garbage! I, for one, get mine to a church thrift store in Northport. I can't fathom putting such good items to use out on the curb when someone else could use them! Well, my son started the new trash hunting season off with a bang bringing home a beautiful artificial potted mum that still had it's tags from Michaels Crafts on it. In perfect condition! He also brought home two scarecrow picks (also with tags attached) and a very nice basket with little ceramic plaques attached to the front. It was clean and nice and will surely be used by us! I caution him to never open garbage lids but just view what people put out for pick up. He only comes home with good stuff! Again I must ask "WHY WOULD THEY THROW IT OUT?" Go figure.

I'm putting together an icecream social for Caitlin's final Daisy meeting of the year on May 20th. It's gonna be a "make your own sundae" event! Our group of girls is very sweet and two of them gave me very heartfelt compliments the other day. I truly believe that in our society if you guide your children and keep them close with good people and good values which is what is in my life, that your children can lead a good and full life without straying down a dangerous path. Preparing our children for the world instead of completely sheltering them from it is a valuable tool. Letting them know that while there is good and bad in the world, it doesn't have to invade their lives and that is good life lesson. Home is always the safe place. I am grateful to our wonderful school district for allowing us to do so much with our children at Daisys/Girl Scouts and all the other events they sponsor. The response of parents is heartwarming, and like me, they are doing the best they can as good Christian Moms and Dads. The outpouring of generosity for all our school activities is phenomenal. Our girls will be marching in the Memorial Day Parade cheered on by their community and supported by their school. I can't wait. Even at this young age, they feel the love!

Lastly, I love feeding the birds and providing them with clean water is a must. I have gone through countless bird baths in my yard but they last a few years and then crack. I found this adorable sunflower hummingbird feeder for $2.50 at Family Dollar and I'm using it for water! It's plastic but I think it'll do the trick. So far the color seems to be drawing the birds to it so I hope it works out. I know it won't crack. Sometimes the cheapest stuff or the "free" stuff is the best stuff of all!