lady cordelia

adopt-a-chick

Once in a while, a hen gets "broody."  That means she sits on a pile of eggs and waits 21 days for them to hatch.  If, however, the eggs are not fertile (there is no rooster around) then the eggs will not turn into chicks. (I'm hoping you knew that already.) Thing is, hens don't know if their eggs are fertile or not.  (Hens are amazing ancient creatures, and they are certainly not stupid. But sometimes, like the rest of us, they are also not too smart.)  In other words, they will sit on their eggs and wait for them to hatch even if there isn't a rooster around for miles.

We went through the process several years ago of obtaining some fertile eggs from a farm down the way and putting those eggs under our broody hen.  21 days later?  Voila.  Five little chicks!  But this time we tried something else.  We let our hen sit on unfertile eggs (which we changed out every few days so they didn't rot) for about 21 days.  Then we purchased two 1-day-old baby chicks from the local feed store and put them under the mama when she was about to go to sleep. We had no idea if she would take them in as her own. But she did! 

She looked a little confused when I set the chicks next to her.  She knew something wasn't quite right.  She looked at me, and then she looked at the chicks and then she looked at me again. I acted real casual, you know.  I was like: La ti da ti da.  Ho hum. Like this was all the most normal thing in the world.  Then she put out her wing and pulled those little babies under her really fast.  And they are all a super happy little family now.

I just can't help but give these broody hens of mine the babies they deserve.  Brad on the other hand, is not so amused. He knows this means we now have 9 chickens when we supposed to only have 4.  Whoopsie.  Sorry Brad.  But to take away from a hopeful deserving nice lady her right to have babies!? Well, that's just a sad, sad thing.

So, I thought you might like that cute little mothers day story today.    I just love having baby chicks around.  It really does make the world a little sweeter.

I hope you have a fantastic tomorrow and I will see you on the flip.

XO

p.s. been working hard this week, there are a few more new smaller sized quilts in the store if anyone is interested.

p.p.s. please come on over to instagram and follow along if you like.   I'm not one of those people who take 20 photos throughout my day (though there is nothing wrong with doing that, of course!).  I have a goal to do one a day and make it separate from blog photos.

until you succeed

 





“Take risks, and you’ll get the payoffs. Learn from your mistakes until you succeed. It’s that simple.” ~ Bobby Flay

I've always loved that quote. Simple, direct information to remember and live by.

Here's what my world looks like under that lens (most of you are well-versed in these still "very real" realities of mine.)

~ A little tiny veggie patch is beginning to thrive after a lot of hours and days of nursing.
~ A doggie who we were told was "a risk" to keep alive is back with a vengeance (and dirty socks.)
~ A hen, who is determined to make a batch of infertile eggs hatch will, when the time is perfectly synchronized with her little hen homones, be given (by us) her own day-old chicks to raise as her own.
~ A business dreamed up just a few months ago by a mama who wanted to find a way to make some money through art and stay home with her kids...well...isn't quite booming yet, but hey...it's most certainly rolling!

Determination.  What a fine word. 

What are you determined to do these days?

 

insta report

Sharing some instagram photos today.  A few snaps from the last few days. 

Spring time weather that is beautiful one moment, and less so the next.  Looks like wind this weekend will possibly make it impossible for me to sell my wares at the two ongoing art shows I now take part in every Friday and Sunday.  Art Shows and weather do not mix and The Brad has complained about it for years.  Now we both complain.

Also in the news: my mom wondered what to get her granddaughters for their birthdays. In a world in which we are neck deep in plastic crap that passes for educational (and blatantly non-educational) toys, we decided on getting them each their own "easy-build" garden bed,  a bunch of soil and compost and whatever the girls wanted to plant.  The older wanted only seeds (sunflower, sage, daisies and sweet peas were her choices) the younger wanted a couple of flowers and mostly, strawberries.   Now that's a present!

I gardened too, of course.  My tomatoes are sporting their first flowers!!! Since I raised them from seeds, it's kind of like finding out you are going to be a grandmother. At 41, I feel a little young to be a grandmother. But, I am really very happy and proud none the less.

And of course coffee.  Before I had my first child  at 33 years old, I never drank coffee. And let's just leave it at that.

Also: I sucked it up and got myself a Facebook Business Page.  If you feel like heading over and "liking" it, I'm not yet sure what it can do for me professionally but it will do wonders for my ego. 

And lastly, a friend of mine alerted me to this cool info page that lets you know what makeup companies do and do not test on animals. I mean come on, man. It's 2013 and this world has a lot of sophisticated shit going on. Do we really need to still test on sweet little bunnies? I think not.

 p.s. a few of you asked for my instagram name: dearcordelia

 

 

La ti da.

Does every 6-year old need a Betta fish or what?  Whilst in the pet store getting 2 goldfish for the outside plantaquariam thingy (see pic) I remembered that I had a Betta fish once when I was a kid and thought my older girl might take to a blue fancy fish.  She did.  She read to it all afternoon and drew it pictures and pulled up a chair and ate lunch next to it.  She pets the glass like you would pet a kitten. 

I think it looks kind of cool in the dining room.  I like pretty live things.  (As opposed to pretty dead things?  Or ugly live things?)  Anyway,  I wanted to name the fish Herbert.  Of course she wanted to name it Sparkly.  Then she changed it to Romeo.  Even though that is our cat's middle name.  Oh well.  You can't convince a 6-year-old of much.

I spent the better part of the afternoon in the garden.  You know that old commercial "Calgon, take me away..."  That's how I feel about my garden.  I really can't wait until there is a plethora of food.  I'm working very hard to get it going.  You know that about me.  Everyday I put a few more seedlings in the fenced beds.  I have short legs so sometimes one leg doesn't quite make it over the fence and I fall with one leg up in the air and my butt on some newly planted chard.  That makes me kind of mad and I say a few really bad curse words. And then I kind of laugh and am glad no other human saw me, especially Brad.  Sometimes when I fall over the fence, a hen will look at me like: What an ass.  And I'm like..You know what hen? I could serve you for dinner.   But by then she's usually over eating stuff in my flower beds.  Chickens can really be snotty.

Brad mowed the lawn.  Is that a green lawn or WHAT?  If you're gonna have a lawn, have it green, right?   Heck, I don't even fertilize it.  I'm just lucky that way I guess. Plus I have a peach tree with pink blossoms.  But guess what, I can't "tap my own maple syrup" and stuff,  so.....we all have our longings.  Just let 'em go and be happy for what you have.  I have so much sometimes I think about it and it just blows my mind. 

La ti da. I plan to go to bed early and read David Sedaris since I'm on a severe Sedaris kick.  Truly.  How can one little man be so funny so many books in a row? 

I do need to get to some quilt making the next few days so I will see you towards the end of the week.  I'm really kind of tired out from running my own business and stuff.  You know.  Feeling solid though, after yesterday.  La ti da.  La ti da.

By the way, how loud are sheep?  I really think I could use a sheep or two.  Don't tell Brad.  I would have to do it without his knowing.

 

'round here

Well.  Off to market this Sunday.  I know I don't have really enough stock.  But, it's enough to start.
(Brad says I spend too much time blogging when I should be sewing.
I told him I just sold a small bunch of
bunnies through my blog.
Burn. On. You. Brad.)

I guess I shouldnt get too frustrated with The Brad.  He made me those really nice price tags and also some business cards.  And he's also preparing me to not sell anything.  He says: You have to hang in for 6 months at the art show before you judge it. He's done the show for 10 years, like I've told you.  So...I'm thinking he knows what he's talking about.  Sometimes.  But not all the time.  Maybe half of the time.  Or less.  But this time, probably. 

I have to keep you updated also with gardening.
Home Depot has blueberry bushes for $7.49. 
Who can resist that?
If you get some, get a few different varieties as they are not good self-pollinators.
I know I sound so smart by saying that, but the truth is, I just read it in a gardening book yesterday.
(And that photo of the ugly lawn chair isn't the same one I put up the other day. 
My father-in-law thinks I double post photos sometimes.
NO.
I don't.
This one has blueberry bushes in it.)

Also: See that wineglass by the seedlings?  I told them to stop drinking so much.  But you know how seedlings are. Always thinking they have their drinking under control. 

Anyway, I really have to go NOW and try and bang out a bigger sized quilt before Sunday.
The Kavinace I mentioned last post is working really well by the way.  I woke up several times last night, but fell right back asleep.
& I'm multi-tasking my ass off.  Just like my MD!
Then again, at this rate I really seeing myself crashing by noon.

Peace. Out.

this week's end.

I find myself moving into the weekend with some new, different materials to try for dolls & several new "simple square pattern" quilts to back and finish.

Oh, and yes, are you wondering how I keep the house clean with all the time I spend working now?  I make my four-year-old do it all.  Is that bad? That's her with a mop.  She's great at floors. 

Seriously though, I've actually moved into the other direction where I am asking less of my kids.  I decided to trust that they already know that "clean is good."  And while they don't pick up their rooms quite as much as I would like,  other things are done w/out my asking: beds made, homework finished, and socks matched from the HUGE bottomless pile of "loner socks" that come out of the dryer.  My mom got us a bag to fill with pairs of dirty socks - the bag goes into the washing machine and dryer and the point is that you don't end up with a bunch of loner socks.  But, we still end up with a bunch of loner socks.  In fact, I just noticed a stray red sock on the dining table in that photo of my girl and the mop!  Socks are everywhere!  Damnit! I really think I hate socks.  We're all going to go caveman/hippie barefoot for the rest of our life, I just decided.

On the homesteading front, I have had four tomato plants eaten by either the chickens or snails- despite the huge amount of wire I put around the bed.  I know.  I told you this.  But the situation isn't get any better. You know as well as I do that I raised these seedlings from seed and I'm pissed. Chicken for dinner sounds really good right about now. Or escargot.  I could go either way.

So, this weekend I'll be back out there, trying to secure chickens and protect my precious plants.   Clearly, it's something the universe really wants me to be spending a LOT of my time on.  I know some folks are like..."Really Cory?  You still don't have the whole chicken/garden thing worked out?"
No.  I don't.
And you know what?  I will someday.  I WILL prevail.  It will all work out becuse I will f***ing MAKE IT work out. 
I am very Zen like that.

Have a fabulous weekend.

XO

 

quick.

a very quick check in.
The Brad is seriously cracking the whip on me.  he says: I want to see 2 dolls and a quilt a day.
I say: Umm... do I see the words "Boss of Cory" on your desk?
Anyway, he's out.  So.. I can sneak in a little blog.

Ow. I need a massage from the little Chinese Massage place down the way.
Just a 20 minute chair massage will do ya.
I'm gonna.

Ok.  More dolls.  Now kitties are joined by some simple little "folk owls."  The quilts take a while, usually a day or more each, but the little dolls...I want them to be made within an hour or just a little over.  They will be priced to grab (hopefully grabbed, that is.)  Would look so cute in a baby's crib.

Also: an infant "soft book."
Right? Right? 
Gotta have something for the infants.

Another quilt now? Oi Vei.
Quilts pile up. 
Sheesh.

Oh.   And: I planted a few tomato starters (a trusted source said I could do it this early.)
The chickens ate them.  Luckily I have 400 more plants.  Or at least 14.

I clipped their wings, the two I could catch.  I said: Now try and fly over the fence of your VERY LARGE run!
They tried.
I said: No!  BAD CHICKEN!  I put up my fist.
They said: "Bawk."
(Translation: Yummy tomato plants, lady!)

Seriously.  I gave them so much land.  And they still need to harsh on my buzz?
No one tells you that hens are jerks. 
It's something you have to learn on your own.

Talk soon.
XO

spring beginnings

I see pics of the East Coast and I'm like: f*** man, that looks cold.  But it also looks beautiful.  My 4-year-old asked me if we could go to the snow someday....  Hmmmm.  Don't know.  Not today. 

Today there was our life. Pink flowers falling into the coop. 
I'm living with greasy hair (we ran out of shampoo). 
I'm the girl with 3 year old mascara and I should really trim my eyebrows.  (Some girls never run out of shampoo.)
I'm the girl looking around the yard seeing everything I need to do and also admiring what we have.
I'm looking in the mirror, going: Come on. Who the hell cares if I have a few lines on my face.
It's natural.  Petals unfurl. Petals take your breath away. Petals loosen. Petals fall.

I'm just living.  Walking the dog.  Feeling I should do it more often (they say exercise is good for you.)

I'm off to have a glass of wine, get dinner going with The Brad.
The days pass by into Spring.
Soon it will be deeper Spring.
I'll be planting the tomato seedlings.
I'll be hoping the soil is good.

xo

 

 

 

donuts and chickens

Had a nice weekend.  A good friend came to visit.  I've been so holed up in my studio that I've not had any spare time to "hang", as they say.  But this weekend brought a friend from the town we used to live in.  It was a nice shift from the usual.

This friend is someone I trust for an honest opinion..and luckily for me, she had good things to say the work I've been doing (quilts, dolls, etc..)  And because I  love her sense of art and creativeness, I was so happy to hear her words I almost cried!  It gave me the courage I needed to push on.  She especially loved a mobile I had finished a few weeks ago and had hanging in the girls room...she said she wanted one for her room.  Hmmm.  Mobiles for adults.  Interesting concept.

Today we dropped the older one off at school, went and got donuts, and drove an hour away to a chicken farm to get 2 more young hens as we are just not getting the amount of eggs we need from the 4 hens we have. 

It's hard to introduce new birds to a flock as there is the pecking order.  It's a very real and pecky thing.  It's loud.  And can even get bloody in the worst of situations.  So, you have to separate  the flocks for a while.  Thing is, the new ones always want to be with the established flock and will do anything to get to them.  It's like being the nerd who wants to cruise with the cool club even though the cool club thinks you're a real loser and isn't at all afraid to tell you so to your face.

I really wish we had just started with 6 hens in the first place.  I knew we should have!  But, you know, The Brad.  He always talks me out of farmy things I know I shouldn't let myself be talked out of!  And now he's complaining because there's never enough eggs.  So now I have to deal with chicken bullying! Sheesh!  MEN! 

 

 

Let's Garden ~ A Giveaway

I had a brilliant idea the other day.  I was prepping one of the many little garden areas I am getting up and running and I says to myself, I says: Boy, they sure give you a LOT of seeds in one packet. I can't possibly use them all. I just don't need 70 bell pepper plants!

So, here's my offer to YOU.  Do you want what's left in my seed packets?  Most have a good amount of seeds left in them (only one packet has just a few.)

All seeds are organic and from very reputable companies.  All were bought this season. 

Heirloom Stupice Tomato ~ Early/Container (this packet has the least in it, just about 5 seeds left.)
San Marzano Tomato
Cascadia Snap Pea (I will also throw in an innoculant for the peas to help them flourish and produce well)
Golden California Wonder Sweet Pepper (Starts green and turns Yellow)
Rainbow Chard

I've started all these inside except the peas which I started outside.  I also read the directions on all the seed packets.  Wow.  That's heavy, right?  At least it's something I've never done before.  And...I hopefully have composted and mulched my garden efficiently.  I am very nervous about that.  I have read not to over dig a garden space that has been used even once before.  Instead to just pile a bunch of compost on the top layer.  It's amazing what you can learn with a little research.  I hope it all pans out for me.  I'm 41 and I really need my garden to ROCK.  I don't know why those two things are in the same sentence.  But they really are.  And they need to be.   I need a rad garden and, quite frankly, you could use one too.

If you would like to enter the giveaway, just leave a comment.  I would love to send you these special seeds that have been bestowed with my best wishes for a pretty and yummy garden. 

If you're anything like me, you will love your seedlings very much and feel they are, in a sense, the third, fourth, fifth, sixth (and so on) children you couldn't have because your husband ran and got himself snipped while you were still post-partum and thinking to yourself that was fine with you.  Oh well.  It really turns out that two kids and a lot of seedlings are plenty enough work for me.

I will let the contest run for a few days.

AND! Before you comment, please know that you will possibly NOT see your comment after posting.  Typepad is having an issue (that they are working on) and many non-spam comments are getting sent to Spam.  I can, however, get them out of Spam and post them.  So if you write a comment, post it, and don't see it...don't worry!  It will be there shortly after I fish it out of Spam!