It started out as a simple garden party, on a parched August day, with a few friends and lovely surroundings…
There was a whisper of mischief in the air and the ladies anticipated it with all their feathery delight. Slowly they turn, ever alert to what’s lurking in the background…
Let the games begin…
Ye Olde Chicken Chaser…Bad to the bone – just see that it’s not chicken bone!
Unless I am called to do otherwise, this is probably my last year for the Texas Home School Coalition’s Convention and Family Conference. In the beginning, I was completely overwhelmed with the daunting task of home educating my sons. But God!, led me to the Lamberts who are the leaders and wonderful godly caretakers of Texas home schoolers. They were on the front lines, doing battle in the court systems, way back in the 80’s when I was still in school. It’s because of their perseverance, hard work and dedication that Texas is a home school friendly state. As the battle to home school our children rages on, they have graciously served Texas home school families for years and I have felt safe and protected under the THSC wing.
This is a time where I load all my plans and ideas for the upcoming year in a tote with my Bible and a notebook to carefully seek God for what He has for my sons. I am learning to spend more time in prayer and less time searching for the right curriculum or the latest and greatest math program that can overcome my own math deficiencies. I am learning to specifically and intentionally pray for their needs.
When I get home, I would like to host a back to school prayer time for specific and intentional moms and grandmothers. If you are interested in joining me at my home for prayer for our children and a lovely tea, please email or leave a reply below.
On the front porch in a quaint and meticulous mud nest sit the three brothers with their chests puffed up and ready to take on the world.
They just appear to be a band of brothers as they gaze sullenly and confidently down upon me as I take their picture.
If they were sisters they would be chatting and tidying the nest and perhaps not so messy…
For some reason, their parents chose the column on the front porch, maybe it was because we discouraged their nest building endeavors on the back porch at least three times. After they informed me of a snake, trying to squeeze the life out of one of the chickens, by screeching and dive bombing under the porch on that awful morning to let me know there was danger, well, I relented and welcomed them to the fold or the porch rather.
Himself says it’s a mistake, ” They have friends, lots of them, and these brothers will come back to their original home with their lady friends to make new nests.” Secretly, I hope so but without the mess.
B & B, I dedicate this post to all the incredible and wonderful things you’ve built. My only regret is that we had to move and leave the shed and the porch swing, but I look forward to all the new things you are capable of building. Your wives will be amazed and very grateful that you learned how to do these things before you got married.
The Shed
Outside
Inside… all of your tools so meticulously placed. (I wish you would do that in the garage.. in our new house…soon.)
The Porch Swing
This kind of stings. I wanted to take it with us. The new owner wanted it to stay. You promised to build a new one…
B & B, Your Mom loves you so very much. I am so proud of you two.
Confessions are always good for the soul and I have a few about chickens that have weighed heavily on my mind. Please allow this post to serve as not only a confession time but also a happy homecoming for the chickens.
Fessin’ Up First
1. I gave four chickens away. There I said it and I feel better. I did it after the snake episode because…
2. I bring the chickens in to the laundry room every night in a great big box…
3. Chickens stink…
4. My chickens don’t stink…
5. Okay, they stink a little…
6. I sometimes wonder if I gave the good chickens away because…
7. The give away chickens sound really smart according to the new owners…
8. My chickens aren’t so smart, but…
9. A few of them can hug…
10. Okay, they kind of lean on me.
Homecoming
This was temporary housing that we set up because I couldn’t make up my mind on what type of coop I wanted and I secretly felt safer with them in the laundry room at night anyway. You can peek at the box they slept in and they really like their box or I should say boxes since several boxes became too malodorous to bring in the house and required a replacement. Malodorous is fancy talk for stinky.
B&B moving the coop which stands for Brothers & Builders or Bradley and Brett, my sons. They took over the design of the coop that I now call “The Coop De Ville”. After moving chickens in every night and every morning, they were highly motivated to not have to help their mom move chickens in and out every day.
Coop De Ville, First Floor or Private Sleeping Quarters
Coop De Ville, Basement or Parlor
All this work makes happy chickens! You know what happy chickens do? They give eggs, little ones at first, called junior eggs. Then you get the big ones like the ones with pepper on them in the skillet. Those peppery eggs belong to Himself, the man of the house. The junior eggs belong to Herself, the lady of the house.
Welcome Home Chickens! You deserve it for all the beautiful eggs.
