Quail_Antwerp: Words from the Barnyard...

[Quail_Antwerp]

WOOT! I am so excited to have this section!

Name: Aly
Birthday: Coming up too soon
Hometown: Too many to choose from, we moved a lot as a kid LOL
Current Residence: Ohio
Relationship Status: Happily married to Enabler #1
Political Views: I think we should go back to Constitutional basics!
Religious Views: Christian

Activities: Hmm, not sure what you would want here. I don't do much of anything outside of the home, or off our own place. Does nursing a 3 month old every 4 hours count as an activity? Currently working on my first breeding project with my Mille Fleur chickens! Oh and I am hatching eggs for the first time in an incubator.

Interests: Chickens, gardening, chickens, reading, writing, spending time with my kids, chickens, cross stitching, sewing, baking......did I mention chickens?

Favorite Music: Classic Rock, the stuff from the 80's, Country

Favorite TV Shows: My Own Worst Enemy, CSI, NCIS, Ghost Whisperer, and Moonlight (if they ever bring it back!)

Favorite Movies: Dragonheart, Princess Bride, Transformers

Favorite Books: The Bible, Anything by Janette Oak, The Inheritance Triology, The House of Winslow by Gilbert Morris

About Me: My DH and I are working hard to be Self Sufficient on our own 7 acres, without having to work outside of the home. We enjoy being together everyday, all day, and getting to watch the kids grow up. We do everything together.

I currently have 100+ chickens, and might be adding about 10 more...I have eggs in the incubator due to hatch next Monday, more due to hatch a week from this Friday, and about five more after that due to hatch November 2.

I have been putting a lot of heart, soul, and planning into my chickens. The goal is to eventually have a small hatchery in operation here. We chose the title Hobby Farm Treasures for our small operation, as each and every critter is a small treasure to us. My DH has two goats that is part of the treasure and we hope to add a few head of beef and a hog or two come spring.

We are also raising ducks and turkeys, and have one annoying pair of geese that we are hoping to find a new home for soon. (The male likes to bite my husband and he said that's it! They have to go!) They are Chinese geese LOL DH has a pair of Broad Breasted Bronze Turkeys he calls Long Neck and Short Neck. I call them Thanksgiving and Dinner.

We also have a pair of Royal Palm Turkeys that I named Lance and Gwen.

I learned how to bake bread this year. My first batch wasn't the greatest, but I was so excited about it. DH and I ate the whole loaf in a day. Just something about freshly baked that is sooo much more appealing than store bought.

In a few days, I will have my journal flooded with pics of all our critters!

 

[Farmfresh]

I don't hang out here much either. Sure have missed you though.

 

[FarmerChick]

Cool Quail. I enjoyed reading about YOU.

These journals will be a great place to chat amongst ourselves about what is happening in our lives. Neato! LOL

 

[pioneergirl]

Isn't that first loaf of bread just the coolest? Hehe, I made one the other day, forgot to add that 1tsp of salt, boy, won't do that again!!

These journals are neat, and I look forward to reading how much we all have in common on a day to day basis...woot!!

 

[TanksHill]

Breast feeding is a sport.. It's you against the clock, dishes, laundry etc.... I feel for you. It does get easier in time. Big rewards for you little one.

Wow, 7 acres sound like a good nuber. Still enough room for all the critters but manageable???

Thanks for sharing, gina

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

ROTFL that's true about breastfeeding! I just started the fixings for dinner, and Logan wakes up wanting his dinner. So here I am, typing one handed while he eats! LOL

Well, the chickens don't take up too much space right now. Two large coops for them to live in, some free range time during the day, and a third pen for ducks and geese and the turkeys.

The goats have about an acre fenced in and we converted our wood shed into their barn.

 

[punkin]

Aly,

I loved Moonlight, too. You and Karen both sound like you have your hands full. Makes me wonder why I don't get more done during the day.

 

[Henrietta23]

You're an inspiration that's for sure!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Oh no, I am not an inspiration! If ya'll look closely at the pics I posted in the Homesteading with animals thread, you might see our yard is a mess! The kids have toys strewn about (definitely can't hide that we have kids!) and there's a pile of scrap lumber waiting to be cleaned up from where we replaced the roof on one of the coops. Just not enough hours in the day to get everything done, so everything is a continuing ongoing project.

One of these years, my house will be spotless (when the kids are grown!) and we will be able to walk through the yard without tripping over anything (again, when the kids are grown!) LOL

I thought ya'll might like to know that I loooove cross stitching. I find it relaxing, it cheers me up, and helps me to unwind. I plan on plunging the needle through the fabric this evening to work out some of the tension from the visit with my SIL this evening (or should I say the lack of visiting?) Wonder if I can cross stitch and post at the same time?? hmm...that's a multi-task I haven't tried yet!

Today I made chili for supper. I started it early and let it simmer until around 6, and then we sat down to eat. I meant to bake cornbread to go with it, but that just didn't happen. Kids and DH didn't seem to mind, or miss the cornbread. Kids even ate seconds on their chili...hmmm that doesn't happen too often!

Now they are all tucked in bed for the night. A little earlier than normal, but we had a looong day. And it is nice having an evening of quiet. Dh has a nice warm fire going in the woodburner, and it is just feeling cozy right now.

I don't know how, but I managed to mess up my knee a few days ago. I keep thinking I should go to the ER and get it xrayed, I just haven't convinced myself yet. :/

DH was splitting firewood today and found a whole mess of ants in the middle of a log. Of course he has to run and get his pet chickens, Sgt. Pepper and Butter, and serve them ant ala cart. They had a lot of fun scratching around in the leaves and eating the bugs around the woodpile.

Here is where they stopped for a morsel at the "Lawn Chair Cafe" and found a smorgasboard of bugs.

Then they ended their "date" with a brief stroll through the underbrush. (I thought this pic was soo cute! almost looks like they are taking a stroll through the woods!)

 

[Beekissed]

I have a feeling this is one journal we will follow with great interest!!! Lovely pics of the chicks, BTW! Pooh on your SIL, she wouldn't know happiness if it jumped up and bit her in the armpit!

ETA: Anyone with that many kids and animals(including the husband) is an inspiration to everyone!!!