Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Gwen is Gone

B went to show a friend her chicks yesterday but could only find two of them in the coop.  She finally found my chick, Gwen.  Sadly, it was only part of Gwen.  We are not sure what happened to her but something clearly did.

Gwen was the friendliest of the chicks.  She would come to you if you called her.  She also had the most color coming in her feathers.

We are really hoping the other two chicks are able to make it.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Chickens? Yes, Chickens!

So the girls wanted a new pet.  We thought chickens might be fun.  Barbarian's mom has nine chickens so at least we would have someone to ask questions, if we need to. 

To buy chickens here, you head to Grange Co-Op.  It's a farm, home, garden and pet store.  We tried to purchase our baby chicks the weekend before last but we were informed that they had stopped selling them the weekend before.  Gloom!  Despair!!  And agony on me!!!  But we pressed forward and called every single Grange Co-op in the valley.  Finally, the co-op several towns over said they might get some in the following weekend. 

I called them that Saturday.  They only had three left and the store is a good 20 minutes away!  They offered to hold two of them for us.  So off B and I went to the co-op!  Of course, once we got there we realized that we couldn't leave one baby chick behind.  So all three of them came home with us!

Since B went with me to get them, she got to pick her chick first.  She named her Hayley Leah, after her cousin and grandma.  I'm sure they both feel very honored!  I mean, who wouldn't want a chicken named after them?!

J got to pick her chick next.  She named her Loretta.  I have no idea why.  I had no idea J had even heard the name Loretta before.  And I know she has never seen Coal Miner's Daughter!

And this is my chick!  Her name is Gwen.  "She ain't no Hollaback Girl!  It's my chick.  It's my chick!"  Sing it with me now!...  Okay, maybe not.

Our chicks are Ameraucana (Araucana).  They lay blue-green eggs!  We can't wait to see those!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Table Rock

Last Sunday we went on a family hike up and across Upper Table Rock.  Upper and Lower Table Rock are cliff-edged mesa buttes.  At one time, they were a sanctuary for the Takelma Indians.

We saw lots of lizards along the trail up.  And gorgeous wildflowers everywhere!

This is what you find once you reach the top of the trial!  Once on top of Table Rock, it's a very open, flat mesa.

Barbarian needed to rest...

J, on the other hand, was feeling very powerful!

I love this photo of Barbarian and J with Mt. McLoughlin in the background!

And this?  This is just B being B.  Enough said.

This is as close as we dared venture to the edge!  Such an amazing view of the Rogue River.  So worth the effort.  We hope to hike Lower Table Rock soon.


Thursday, June 17, 2010

Roooooooad Trip!

Goodness, it's been awhile!  Sorry about that but life has just been so busy since we picked up my girls from Kansas City.

I flew home the Thursday before last.  Barbarian/Hubby had flown in two days prior to see his girls, load the trailer and get everything ready.  I arrived to find my girls having a pool party at my parents' house.  Seventeen kids total splashing around!  Oh my.  But it was great to see them having fun with their friends one last time before the move.  I received some wonderful wet hugs from my girls and their cousin.  So awesome to hold them again!

We headed out at 4:30 AM that Saturday morning.  It started out a bit dramatic.  The cats were not happy to leave the sanctuary of their home.  This resulted in Barbarian and I getting deep scratches on our arms.  Yikes!  Had to make a quick stop to get antibiotic for our wounds.  It was almost 5:30 AM before we were actually on the road heading to Oregon. 

This is Barbarian acting camera shy.  Yeah right!  Notice the lovely cat scratch on his arm.  But enough about him.  Look at the beautiful scenery behind him!  Gorgeous!

The drive was pretty uneventful.  The girls loved all the new sights!  I think they both took hundreds of photos.  They also sang and danced in their seats!  I'm really glad they got to see a different part of the country.

The cats were pretty good.  They sat under a blanket between the girls the entire first day.  They didn't want to eat, drink or anything else.  The second day one cat got spooked and started bouncing around the backseat, scratching the girls.  We had to quickly pull off the highway, catch him and put him in a kennel for the rest of the ride. 

We finally arrived here in southern Oregon around 8:00 PM Sunday evening.  We were all very tired but happy to be home.