When Chicken Goes Bad!!

 I knew, I just knew something was amiss on the farm. 

I first noticed quite a bit of hen pecking.  Writing it off as normal 'pecking order' behaviours, I just moved on.  They're just chickens after all.
 

Red and White - looking suspicious

Cornish Cross Meat birds... always trouble

Then it happened...  A cock fight!!!  I couldn't believe it! My chickens were acting this way!!!  I know I've taught them better than this!   You can see the video here  (don't judge me for everything out in the yard.  :)  This was the beginning of the kitchen remodel so everything was out in the yard... all very hoarder like, thank you)

Shameful at best.  But again, I wrote it off as a 'one time' deal.  After all, they're just chickens, right??

I began to feel maybe they were hanging out with the ducks too much.  You KNOW how khaki Campbells can be...  Rebellious little things who won't 'come' when you call.  Sneaky little buggers who hide (nothing good happens in secret, you know) Honestly, they seemed to avoid each other so I thought eveyrthing was going to be fine.  They're just chickens... they can be friends with who they want.

A rare shot of the infamous Khaki Campbells

I knew they were struggling.  I saw issues here and there.  BUT I didn't want to believe it, to accept it.  Then my imaginings were confirmed when I saw it... My heart sank... this was a REAL problem.  I could no longer deny it.  My worst suspicions were confirmed.  My chickens... My chickens *gasp... have a problem with...


GAMBLING!!!  1(800) BETS-OFF  
Be sure your sins will find you out, chickens... Be sure your sins will find you out (eye brow raised). 

Just so you know, this is not a staged photo.  This is exactly how I found it in the coop ;)

 Yup, I'm weird... accept it and move on.

The Full Moon - and I Don't Mean A Bottom Either

Each night after tucking my sweet children into bed and before I completely pass out dead go to bed I venture outside to the barn to feed, water, and 'put up' our animals.

 Most nights are pretty and cool, making it a pleasure to stroll outdoors for a little while.  Last night was amazing!  It was a full moon and just let me clarify as the 'moons' I usually see around here are cute little baby bottoms, this was indeed:  The lunar phase of the Moon when it is entirely illuminated and visible from the Earth.  Well, then, there you go.  

Anyways, enjoy the pictures.  As I enjoyed God's reminder to me that His power is amazing in creating and sustaining even the moon.  How much more power does He have in His child's life to create beautiful things and sustain me through all of life's troubles. Wow, God is an amazing artist!  I'd buy His paintings...

Big Families are CRAZY!!!

We have 8 children and I have always received amazed look, silly questions (don't you know how that (pregnancy) happens?), and many stunned responses.  People are amazed by my 'large' family.  Well, it doesn't seem large to me.  Crazy maybe, but certainly not BIG!
 

Fiorella, 1

Isaiah, 3

Joshua, 4

We recently had a visit from a family that has 14 children.  Single births and ranging from their 20's to toddler age.  They stayed in our 2,100 sq ft house with my 'BIG' family and I've got to tell you, IT WAS CRAZY!  Crazy AWESOME!  Want to see a family that jokes, plays, helps, encourages, fights, loves, enjoys each other, look at a big family.  The sheer size of this family may seem daunting but honestly they added so much joy to my own family I am literally sure I would enjoy having more children.  I thought maybe I was done.  Maybe I am,  but all I know is wow, this BIG family was a joy to behold.
 

Dinner with 25 people! Picture missing 8 people.

Dinner time with 25 people! Not everyone is even pictured!!

I'm not saying that BIG families are easy.  There are days that I want to tear my hair out... yeah, there are days my children want to tear MY hair out! :)  There are days where I'm befuddled at the army of small people I made and their chaos.  BUT there are days where I know where everything else I do will pass away I do know that 8 things in my life will last for eternity.  
 

Grace, 5

Micah, 6

Hannah, 8

Luke, 9

Dude, I made people!  That's amazing!  Our friends who came to stay with us, their mama, Steph, stinking made 14 people!  You know what, she actually made 18 people.  A few of those little people have returned to the Lord from her womb.  She is amazing.  I know those people will one day raise up and call her blessed!  How cool is that?  She is a mixed up mama that has helped bring into being something ETERNAL.  Something that will make a difference in the world.  She has made these CRAZY people who will go on to bless, build, encourage, and use their spiritual gifts.  They are worth while.  That mama and daddy are worth while.  AMAZING!
 

The Miszuk Family!  You're always welcome HERE!

So HERE'S TO BIG FAMILIES!  What am I saying?  HERE'S TO FAMILIES!  Whether your family has 2 or 20, families are amazing.  The more the merrier... the crazier the better ;)  I always say if you have something crazy to say... come sit by me! So bring your Big Ol Crazy family over here.  You'll be in good company!

Weathering the Storm

A few weeks back we were hit with a tornado while we were at church.  We sat safely inside as very high winds and hail beat at the church.  Being confident the Lord would protect I made the joke, "I hope it didn't take away or trampoline!"  If I only knew!

After leaving church and as we pulled down our driveway I saw that indeed it had taken the trampoline!  I was in disbelief as we pulled closer to the house that there were windows broken on our out buildings and our house.  Paint had been scoured off one of our buildings, and clearly the roofs on all of the buildings and the house were very damaged.  Lost outdoor lights, my grill ($400 boo!), and our trampoline for which I was very concerned was now buried in our woods!  The added bonus was as I went upstairs I stepped on glass cutting my foot from a window I hadn't realized was broken.  Nice.

4 hours after the storm there was still hail on the ground that was larger than quarters.  I will add that photo soon.  The report was they were the size of golf balls!  FOUR!  You can see from the pics that it indeed looks as though someone had played all 19 holes (or is it 18 holes, I know nothing of golf) up against our house.  Bummer, BUT, we are here.  The tornado hadn't taken down our house.  The winds had not blown it away, and the small army of children who live here and fine and happy.  These are just 'things' and although I want to get it fixed right away, we are blessed that we are well.  

I do not know if it is the town of Camden is raining down on us or if we have carried our bad luck (which I don't believe in) to our new area, but we have weathered two tornadoes in the last 2 weeks.  This last one a few days ago took out the town of Orrick, MO just south of us.  Praying for those families that lost homes.  I am so fortunate that our damage from the first one was just cosmetic.  There is truly so many reasons to give thanks.  We are here, weathering the storms!

Here are some photos of the damage to the siding... enjoy, ehrrr, don't enjoy ;)  The coin in the photos s for size purposes.  It is a quarter so you can see most of these holes are HUGE!

Here Comes the Sun!

Can I just say, I LOVE THE SUN, so I LOVE SPRING.  I'm not quite sure why but this spring means so much more to me than it ever has, and just a brief stoll outdoors makes my heart skip a beat.

I love lilacs!  They smell amazing!  

Maybe because of some 'difficult' things that happpened this winter.  Maybe because now we live on a farm and everything is beckoning me to come outdoors.  Maybe it's just the fact that I've been working inside the entire winter on the house and now I want out...  gotta break out, blow this joint, hit the road.  Well maybe not, but it's time to be outdoors!


Playing with my new camera I just took a few photos around our property that made me smile and thought I'd share them with you.  Mabye they will make you smile too.  And this gives me a chance to introduce you to a few of our animlas and a few blooming buds.  I love the sun... :)

Even more beautiful close up!  Can't you almost smell them?

Alex

Wire

This is Fedder... He thinks He is Bad stuff!

A few of Fedder's Ladies that we rescued from a large chicken farm out in Iowa

Ned our Billy Goat

Eggs and Bacon... cleaver names, huh?

Misty

Cookie - my buddy!

I'm in love with the plants around here!  Amazingly Beautiful!

Peonies

Make a wish!

What on earth is this?

Gracie picking lilacs!

A Beautiful Sunset!