We've Got Eggs!

Hi. It's me, the blogger. Oh wait, the UNblogger.

I find myself blogging in my head... just another way to talk to myself, I guess. So in my head I've posted three blogs already. And they were really good; full of insight, humor, gentleness, sound values and everyone was nodding and agreeing with everything I said. It was great!

ON to the real world! =)

We have the long-awaited announcement to make. But I'm going to make it with a story.

I ignored my chickens yesterday, as is my wont. I often "wont" to ignore them. They have five gallons of water, a yard to play in, a feeder full of nutritious, organic layer feed and they don't lay. So sometimes I ignore them for a day. When they see me poke my nose out the back door, they all come and gather around the gate area, clucking at me. But yesterday I ignored them anyway. This morning I felt neglectful and decided to give them some unfrozen water, compost scraps, feed and love. Maybe a little snuggle or two.

So they met me at the gate with enthusiasm because although chickens are very, very dumb, they can smell food a mile off. Bang an empty compost bucket at them, and they'll ignore you. Secretly carry one tiny scrap of... nasty junk in a completely different container and they'll clamor about your feet and trip you. But this morning, only four chickens met me at the gate. This has never happened in their lives before. I had visions of blood and feathers, and began looking all over for "Big Mama", my large, black australorp whom I suspected would lay first. And I felt dismay that she was eaten or lost before she got a chance to prove me right. Then I hear a scuffle from inside the coop, which also never happens. The girls don't dally about inside their "Coop du Jour". (Shane just needs to make the sign) So I peeped in, trying to prepare myself for killing a half dead bird. But as you may have guessed by all the foreshadowing, she was sitting in a nesting box (!!) and had laid an egg! Ta da!!

I'm not sure if she's responsible for both of the eggs, but they are both australorp eggs, since the americauna's lay blue-green ones. I raced into the house to get the camera and the boys.

We were so excited, and got our special egg collecting basket to carry them inside. Finally, the girls are laying eggs!! =)

And we have one other special event to celebrate. Lucas has learned to ride a bike. Here's a couple shots from that great event, and more can be seen once I load up the month of November on Picasa. I love my boys/men. They are so great!

And Lucas was so scared and so proud, it's been fun to watch him. We knew he could ride a bike ages ago, but he's just a nervous kind of kid, and very cautious.

And that's our big news! =) Wonder when you'll see another post again??