Snowy March Day.

What do you do on a snowy March day?

If you're me, you grab your camera and head to the chicken coop, 

to take pictures of the snowy coop before it's disturbed by the chickens or myself.

I clear a little area outside their door, so they can eat their hot sour mash and other breakfast goodies without standing in the deep snow.

Then, I leave them to eat and take pictures through the snowy netting until I get a lovely bokeh effect.

My fingers start to feel cold, so I head inside to turn the oven on, because somehow, baking bread seems like the right thing to do today.

I couldn't wait for it to cool.

What do you, would you, do on a snowy day in March?

Almost Wordless Wednesday - What I've Been Up To

Our new chicks are getting their own special area to the west, behind the house, complete with mulberry tress, which I'm sure they'll enjoy come next spring.  I'll have a good view of it from the kitchen window.

The chickens area is an area that was completely overgrown with brush and blackberries.  Guess what we've been doing for the last week...

Before and After Brush Clearing of Chicken Pasture Area

Armed with machetes, an axe, rakes, pruning shears, a pruning saw, Mr. B. and I have it mostly cleared.  There are still a few stumps left, but their numbers are dwindling every day.

Otis had to check out the newly cleared area.

It's fenced on three sides.  We'll add the front fence and gate, after we've finished building their run, or as I call it their "safe house".  The run will enclose the coop and be their safe area and protection from predators at night, and for when we aren't at home during the day.  I really want them to free range, so I don't expect them to spend a great deal of time in it.

The coop is built, but not in position yet.  We'll move it when all the stumps are out.

Our Chicken Coop

Who knew that eight little chicks could cause so much work!

The chicks are growing like crazy and because it's been so hot, they've been coming outside with us since they were a week and a half old.  They enjoy scratching around and catching bugs while we work.

The chicks first day out.  They grew so fast and now they're twice the size they were here, just a week ago!

We use our smallest dog crate as their home base, using cardboard to shelter them if it gets breezy or the sun is too hot.  They stay in it most of the time, making short little runs out and back occasionally.  As you can see we don't have grass left because of the heat.  There's even less green this week.

When we take a break from working, we sit down with them and they run over for a little handful of oats.

Chick Picnic.  The pretty little star of this photo is one of our Speckled Sussex chicks, Henny Penny.  Ringo , our Plymouth Rock rooster is sitting on Mr. B.'s hand.

Lacey, our one Silver Lace Wyandotte chick

I'll keep you posted with our progress on the run and of course I'll have more pics of the reason for all the work.

Linking to The Barn Hop

My Little Bliss List

This morning, while I was doing my morning coffee and browse before waking up my husband, Mr. B., I stumbled across The Little Bliss List on Choosing Beauty, thought what a beautiful idea and decided to link up.

I think it's a lovely idea to post about the wonderful, blissful things that happen to us, if for no other reason than to remind ourselves of them, because for some reason, we tend to forget them.

So here are the moments that made me happy this week.

My Bliss List

1)  Snapping this picture of Otis' "You talking to me face".  Makes me smile every time I look at it.

Otis' "You talkin' to me" face.  Photo by Tori Beveridge

2)  I ordered our chicken coop this week from The Chicken Saloon.  I took the plunge, because I know Mr. B. just doesn't have the time to build one, and me, well, I'm not the greatest with a saw, unless it's a pruning saw.  It's made me happy thinking about it.

The Rambler from The Chicken Saloon;  our new chicken coop is on it's way.

3)  I found new inspiration for my illustrations/lineart/digital stamps in old fantasy writings I used to do.  One in particular was a menu of drinks I made up for a fantasy tavern and the descriptions had me sketching and doodling with delight.

4)  All the rain has made everything super lush and green and beautiful.  I've had time to enjoy it walking the dogs, in between raindrops.

5)  I finally went to the library in the nearest town and got a library card and took out books.  I love libraries.  I forgot how much I love wandering around in them, browsing through all the books and knowing it will cost nothing to check them out.

6)  I'm reading Debbie Macomber's "The Shop on Blossom Street", just for pure fast reading pleasure at night before I fall asleep.  Yes!  I did get it from the library.

What made you happy this week?  Share your bliss.