I was thrilled to have another opportunity to do engagement photos, and even more thrilled that it was for a good friend of mine and her fiancé.
We were challenged by dreary weather, but blessed to have no rain… and really, how could I go wrong with all the happiness oozing from these two?
Congrats to you guys! I can’t wait to be a part of your wedding day!
This one is about chickens. I know, I know - I am maxing out my self-imposed one-post-a-month-about-chickens/eggs-limit, but this post is worth it.
For the past few weeks, we have been watching a “broody” hen that just would not quit trying to hatch her eggs. I say trying because we have no rooster – her eggs are not fertilized.
No matter how diligent she was to sit on that nest all day, every day, she would never have the little peeps she desired. Still, she would not leave the nest, insisting on incubating those hopeless eggs. When we would get the eggs out from under her, they were hot to the touch, and it had gotten to the point where we were nervous to eat the eggs she had laid on, especially if we went out of town and she had set on them for a few days. We would crack them each individually, occasionally finding a foggy one that we would throw out in case it had been compromised by too much warmth for too long.
But, my husband came up with a solution to help her move on, and though I was skeptical, I obediently acted upon it…
Of course I did, what else could I do when he said we should get some little baby chicks? =)
It is not within my power to resist baby chicks.
After a little playtime in the grass, it was time to make some introductions. The man at the co-op where I purchased the chicks and asked about the likelihood of our plan working out, said that we would know right away whether or not the hen would accept the chicks. Ty and I joked about putting the chicks in plastic Easter eggs to seem like they were hatching, or covering the hen’s eyes while we snuck them in, but in the end, he just went for it…
It was nerve wracking at first… she either seemed irritated or completely ignored the little chicks…
We weren’t sure she was the elated mother she should be – it is somewhat difficult to read chickens’ emotions…
Ty decided perhaps we were making her nervous, so he said we needed to give her some room.
Of course, I backed off a little.
Then Ty informed me that he meant put down the camera and get out of the coop.
I was just sure she would massacre my little dears while I was away. But I heeded his advice and we let her have some privacy with her would-be family.
After a while I checked up on her, and called Ty over because it seemed she was pecking at the chicks. Ty tucked the babies under her, which is what she had apparently been trying to do, and she was completely contented with the little ones safely nestled under her protective warmth.
That first day, the other hens didn’t want to stop laying eggs in their preferred nest and kept trying to get in and evict her…
She was a good mama and pecked out every last hen that tried to get in her nest.
For that first night I put a lid on her nest to help teach the other ladies to use the other nest and leave her be…
She seemed to be happy with her new little family, and by end of the second day the chicks were walking around the nest frequently to get to their food and water, then returning back to hide in her warmth.
They only stay out for a couple minutes at a time, then they get chilly and rush back under mama…
The third day was exciting! As the man at the co-op had told us she would, the new mama carried the chicks out of the nest by herself and took them down to the floor so she could get some grub and stretch her legs. But when Ty checked on her later, she had gone back to the nest without them! I guess that is like us mom’s letting our babies fall off a bed or (gasp!) changing table. Come on, if it hasn’t happened to you, you can be sure it has happened to someone you know.
So we moved an extra nest box down onto the floor and she readily adopted it as her new home. The chicks and mama can now easily exit the nest to stretch their legs and the other hens have learned not to mess with these babies.
That is really amazing, because the other hens would normally kill chicks this small and even teenager chicks, without a mama to protect them, and this new mama is so good at it, the other hens don’t even try to mess with the babies!
When they’ve had enough crumbs and adventure to satisfy themselves, they find their mama wherever she is, and make their way inside to warm up.
In this next picture, notice her shape compared to the hen to the right. She squats down a little and hangs her wings to the floor to keep her little ones encompassed in warmth and safety under her…
And then they head back out…
And back in…
I never thought this idea would actually work, but I am so glad it did! It has been fun for me and the kids to watch this mama take such good care of these adopted chicks, and so impressed that our Creator built in such strong instinct in his creations. And I am happy that we get three more laying hens without me having to keep them in a separate coop – feeding, watering and cleaning in two separate coops until baby chicks grow big enough to defend themselves against the masses is the only part of having chickens that is not fun for me!
I know my friend Sarah did this with a bantam hen and duck eggs… has anyone else tried it? I am probably the last one to do it! =)
Each year, our church hosts a Ladies’ Tea. It is a fun event where ladies decorate tea tables, and we invite women to come and share a meal and some inspiration and fellowship with us. There are always many friends of friends and friends’ family members to meet, as it brings in lots of new faces from all around.
This year was the third time I have decorated a table.
My friend Sarah and I teamed up and did a “vintage country” themed table. That picture is kind of misleading. It makes it look like I put a lot of time and effort into this event. In the interest of full disclosure, my life became especially crazy just before the tea, and I scraped it together at the last minute. All I did is write guests’ names on tags, bring a bunch of dishes and linens and make a little bunting.
Anyway, without further ado… here’s our table! We used Sarah’s vintage Corelle dishes for each place setting…
We used mason jars for drinking glasses, with paper straws, and it was basically my favorite part of the table! And I would like to report; I was concerned that the straws would get wet / soggy / slimy / weird… they did not! The straws were totally fine for the whole tea!
Here are some shots of our centerpiece…
I had asked my hubby for the wood slabs months ago, and forgot to remind him as it got close to the tea. I reminded him the night before while we were setting up, thinking there was no way… and he was able to make them and showed up with them just as Sarah and I were finishing up. They worked out well! Thanks honey!
Sarah made the bookmarks as favors, and brought the paper flowers and the sweet floral sifter.
The table cloth was from farm chicks. The wire tiered server and the ceramic baskets were from Target the night before (hehe). The footed milk glass bowls, jars, water pitcher with red design and most other random pieces were thrifted. Sarah decorated the sugar cubes with her frosting creations – lovely!
Once everyone arrives, we get to eat and visit for a while.
After devouring fruit, scones with cream, lemon and jam, drinking lemon ginger tea, cream puffs, tarts, cucumber, chicken salad and divine ham sandwiches and other fancy treats, it is time for some talent and inspiration…
This little dear was not even nervous for her big singing gig…
It was precious!
There was also a gal who sang funny songs for us, one about growing older called “the gown that opens down the back” which had us all laughing. There was also a women’s quartet and a lovely speaker, who also sang for us. I took pictures of all this, but forgot to ask if I could post them, so I’m leaving them off.
Here are some detail shots from other tables around the room…
That little cake was so delicious! Someone didn’t show up at that table and I kissed up enough that the lovely hostess was so sweet and gave me one. I believe I can safely say that a lovely time was had by all! What a special savior we have who delights in us as much as we delight in gathering in a special time of fellowship surrounded by pretty things. I wonder, will there be tea tables in heaven? …
