Kimber An's Blog, page 15

SUGAR RUSH Gets Five Stars

Thanks, Debbie!  SUGAR RUSH at I Heart YA

Building My Layer Flock in Alaska

Good morning, Blog Buds.  As you know, I've been obsessed with chickens lately.  If I started dressing Bessie and Amelia in doll clothes, my family is going to haul me away, I swear.  Anyway, I've learned that building a laying flock in Alaska can be a unique experience. 

Bessie and Amelia are Americaunas.  They will lay light blue or green eggs.
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If you glance at a map of North America, you will notice Alaska is located thousands of miles away from most of the rest of the United States.  And most of the hatcheries are located in the Lower 48 states too.  So, if a farmer wants to buy new chicks, she's got two choices.  One, fly them up from the Lower 48 and hope they survive the trip.  Or, buy from our neighbors.  Last time I checked, we only have one hatchery in operation up here right now, the Alaska Triple D 

Okay, so if I'm afraid to fly day-old chicks up thousands of miles on a cold airplane, I need to buy locally.  And that got me to thinking scientifically.  Alaska farmers are a generous and cooperative lot and I'm really enjoying getting to know them.  But, I was thinking, if we're swapping animals back and forth, what does that do to Genetic Diversity?  From what I've seen, the animals are healthy and happy, so I guess that hasn't happened.  Still, it sets off the Sci-Fi part of my authorly persona.  What would happen to a colony on Mars if their livestock became inbred?
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These are Black Copper Marans.  They lay dark brown eggs.

In any case, I would like to raise Americaunas, Black Copper Marans and Buff Orpingtons.  You can learn all about them at my favorite chicken lovers' website- Backyard Chickens - Breed Chart
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These are Buff Orpingtons.  They lay light brown eggs and they're also beautiful and loveable.

Dinner Was On the Table, or Wherever the Heck It Got Flung

*This table setting can be found at Rocky Mountain Decor

Something occurred to me this past week.  I was contemplating a a major upcoming shopping trip, which will necessitate massive meal planning for my large family. 
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I hate this.
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I hate cooking.  I hate shopping.  And I hate sitting down to a family dinner.
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I asked myself "Why?"  I thought it over and realized I hated all this because dinnertime was a battlezone when I was a kid, the food was terrible and sometimes we didn't have much of it, and I hated it.
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So, then I thought, "But, wait.  I'm a grown-up now.  My husband and I and our children have worked hard to have a harmonious home.  So, why am I still hating dinnertime?  It's not fair for my husband and children to suffer for the way I grew up.  They deserve much better.  They deserve my absolute best."
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So, I'm on a personal mission.  I am going to learn to love family dinnertime.
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We are going to have a beautiful table with delicious and healthy food, but that's just the start.  I'm going to sit and relax and enjoy being with my family.  I'm going to breathe and be calm and not leap away at the first possible opportunity.  There's no reason for me to run away from my husband and children!  I love them.  They're good and kind to me.  The Run Reflex is outdated and obsolete.  I am home safe now, living happily ever after, free and in the wild.
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First things first, we're going to need a new table that we can all sit down to.  There's six of us and we have a teeny-tiny table we cram around.  And I want mismatched chairs like Mrs. Weasley's in Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets.  Yes, that's the look I'm going for and I can get it dirt-cheap at yard sales.  Dark red and denim, those will be my colors.
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And I must learn to like cooking and cooking with my children.
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That's going to be so much harder!
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But, I will do it.  I will.  I just need a plan, a step by step plan.  First, I'll make a list of all the dinners we like best and who likes what the most.  Then, that child and I can make that child's favorite dinner together.
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Next, I'll set up the weekly schedule around Husband's work (crazy airline pilot hours) and children's school and homeschool.  And then I'll make up the meal plan.  And finally the shopping list.
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And I'm going to buy new plates just like these at Target-
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I'll need to buy two sets, because it's only a service for four and we passed that up two babies ago.
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I can't change anyone or my past, but I can change myself and my future.

Dinner's On the Table, or Wherever the Heck It Gets Flung

*This table setting can be found at Rocky Mountain Decor

Something occurred to me this past week.  I was contemplating a a major upcoming shopping trip, which will necessitate massive meal planning for my large family. 
.
I hate this.
.
I hate cooking.  I hate shopping.  And I hate sitting down to a family dinner.
.
I asked myself "Why?"  I thought it over and realized I hated all this because dinnertime was a battlezone when I was a kid, the food was terrible and sometimes we didn't have much of it, and I hated it.
.
So, then I thought, "But, wait.  I'm a grown-up now.  My husband and I and our children have worked hard to have a harmonious home.  So, why am I still hating dinnertime?  It's not fair for my husband and children to suffer for the way I grew up.  They deserve much better.  They deserve my absolute best."
.
So, I'm on a personal mission.  I am going to learn to love family dinnertime.
.
We are going to have a beautiful table with delicious and healthy food, but that's just the start.  I'm going to sit and relax and enjoy being with my family.  I'm going to breathe and be calm and not leap away at the first possible opportunity.  There's no reason for me to run away from my husband and children!  I love them.  They're good and kind to me.  The Run Reflex is outdated and obsolete.  I am home safe now, living happily ever after, free and in the wild.
.
First things first, we're going to need a new table that we can all sit down to.  There's six of us and we have a teeny-tiny table we cram around.  And I want mismatched chairs like Mrs. Weasley's in Harry Potter & The Chamber of Secrets.  Yes, that's the look I'm going for and I can get it dirt-cheap at yard sales.  Dark red and denim, those will be my colors.
.
And I must learn to like cooking and cooking with my children.
.
That's going to be so much harder!
.
But, I will do it.  I will.  I just need a plan, a step by step plan.  First, I'll make a list of all the dinners we like best and who likes what the most.  Then, that child and I can make that child's favorite dinner together.
.
Next, I'll set up the weekly schedule around Husband's work (crazy airline pilot hours) and children's school and homeschool.  And then I'll make up the meal plan.  And finally the shopping list.
.
And I'm going to buy new plates just like these at Target-
.
I'll need to buy two sets, because it's only a service for four and we passed that up two babies ago.
.
I can't change anyone or my past, but I can change myself and my future.

Cassandra Reviews SUGAR RUSH!

SUGAR RUSH at Book & Movie Dimension

Bessie and Amelia Free Range

Bessie and Amelia got their first taste of freedom outside their coop and run today.  We let them 'free range' around the yard when we're out there to scare off the eagles and such.  They were very eager to get out, because I think they free ranged at their old home.  But, they were also scared out of their minds.  I guess my massive herd of offspring can be overwhelming, especially the toddler who just loves them ever so much and wants to hug them and kiss them and call them George.  Finally, they came out and pensively started to peck at bugs.  They stuck to the corner of the yard and totally freaked out when my husband came out.  Well, he is a skyscraper and...well...
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He was barbecuing chicken on the outdoor grill at the time.
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No one they knew, I'm sure! 
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Ha!  Poor things.  We herded them back into their coop, which is the place where they feel safe.  I'd cleaned it and their outdoor run.  Later, I gave them our corncobs from our dinner and they forgave us.
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I think.

Baby My Chickie-Poos?

I don't know where my husband gets such crazy ideas.  I would never baby my witto itty-bitty baby chickie-poos.  'Scuse me, must go see if they had sweet dweems last night.

Chickie-Poos Survived the Night! My Americauna Chickens

I checked on Bessie and Amelia as soon as it got light and since this is Alaska and it's summertime, you know that was pretty early.  They were walking around their coop wondering about breakfast, no doubt.  And, there was poo all over they're outdoor pen, which means they've been on adventures and are comfortable and happy.  Yay!  Sure wish we could have brought their brother (big tail one on the left) home too.

Americauna chickens are very beautiful too.  From what I've read, they're a cross between the South American Araucana and some other chicken.  I don't even think they're an officially recognized breed in the United States yet, but more and more hatcheries are selling them and there are a few families up here who have them.  One day soon, Bessie and Amelia will start laying blue or green eggs for us.  I think their beauty, their personalities, and their pretty eggs are the main appeal of this breed.  So far, Bessie and Amelia are kinda little, so I don't think they'd make good meat birds.  Of course, we'd never eat them anyway! 
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In other news, we're scrambling like crazy getting ready for school.  Of our four offspring, I will homeschool the two younger ones and the two older ones are going to a regular school.  I do not like shopping.  I mean, really, have you ever hauled a massive herd of cranky children through Walmart?  Not fun.  But, once they're all in and going, things will settle into a routine and then it's all good again.

We Have Chickens!

Meet Bessie and Amelia, our Americauna chickens,

named after two other famous American female flyers, Bessie Coleman

and Amelia Earhart.

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Americauna Breeders' Club
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Bessie Coleman
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Amelia Earhart
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Sadly, Bessie and Amelia's brother, the chicken on the left with the big, beautiful tail, was too noisy to bring home.  But, once we move into our own home, we can have a rooster and then we'll have chicks too!
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Bessie and Amelia were terrified when we brought them home, all huddled and shaking in the corner like we were grizzly bears about to eat them, but now they're walking around and eating.  Amelia still hides under Bessie when I check on them, but I think they're going to be just fine.

Guess What? We're Getting Chickens Today!

I think I'm so excited because it seems like we've rented forever and we couldn't have feathery or furry pets.  We're still renting, but we have permission.  And, hopefully, soon, by Spring anyway, we'll move to our very own home and we can have lots more chickens, and also I want Nigerian Dwarf Goats, cats, dogs, and one of my girls is crazy about bunny rabbits.  The above picture is of our new chickie-poos, Bessie and Amelia.  Unfortunately, we can't have the rooster on the left, because roosters crow.  Check out my new book I just got yesterday-


I want to go with the miniture goats, because I can't handle raising goats by myself.  Most of the goat care will depend on the children and we feel we can handle the little ones best.  I've discovered there are several families here in Alaska who raise Nigerian Dwarf Goats, so we can obtain stock and the advice of experienced goatherders right here.