urban farming success

Our ladies have started laying! Woo hoo!

So far, we've gotten 7 eggs over the last week! They are called 'pullet eggs', meaning they are on the small side, but will get to their 'normal' size over the next few weeks. Pullet eggs are still edible...it just takes a few more of them to make a decent scramble!

Anyway, 5 of the eggs (lighter tan in color) are from our black Australorp hen, Ophelia. So far, she's been the most consistent layer...at least one egg every afternoon. She climbs up into the coop, nestles down, does some awesome squawking and PRESTO...produces an egg.

The other 2 eggs (darker tan in color) are from our black and white Brahma hen, Dharma. She's the biggest hen of our 3 and will produce the largest sized eggs but will probably not produce as many as the other gals as she's not a breed known for their laying capability. But the couple eggs she has given us thus far are quite lovely...just small...we know she's capable of bigger.

So, now we're just waiting for our orange Araucana hen, Ginger, to start laying. We know she hasn't laid any eggs yet because hers will be anywhere from olive green to blue in color. I can't wait to see them!

So, our foray into urban chicken raising has finally paid off! And it's pretty exciting! Soon, we won't be making any egg purchases at our local grocery store as we'll be fed solely from our ladies!

AHHHHH

Well, after my last post, I pulled myself together and slugged out the 6 days until our vacation started!

I'm writing this entry while in post vacation bliss...we got back yesterday afternoon after a wonderfully relaxing 8 days/7 nights at the Oregon Coast.

AHHHH!

It was exactly what we needed...no agenda, no plans, plenty of cable television, gorgeous weather, accessible beach, comfy cozy rental house, a ridiculous amount of food, lots of card and dice games, a cooperative and pleasant Monkey, fellowship with dear friends, Tre and my celebration of 8 years of marriage together, book reading, sunset watching, beach combing, laughing over Lelia's adventures in the sand...and water, ahem! Just perfect and lovely and exactly what we needed to refuel and replenish ourselves!

AHHHH!

I didn't take many photos of our time at the beach. I think I was too busy soaking it all up and encouraging myself to let go and be 'in the moment'. But here are a few...

Lelia and Papa after a day on the beach

A sandy-nosed Monkey

Back at the cabin...Lelia enjoying the shovels with a sandy face, soaked pants and wet toosh!

Someone LOVED the beach!

You can't tell...but Papa and Lelia are enjoying the beginnings of a sunset from the deck

Phew or I'm so stinkin' tired my hair hurts

WOW.

It's been a very L-O-N-G month since our vacay down to Santa Barbara. Seems like a lifetime ago, actually! And not in a good way! :(

Since our return, Tre and my schedule has been a little more crazy than normal. For instance, by working a couple double shifts, he's been away for 6 out of the last 10 days. So, that's 6 days I'm single Mama'in it, 2 days I was working at my job and 1 day we had together as a family. Phew. Normally, I can totally handle Tre working doubles and I can rock single Mamahood.

But.

Lelia has been a nightmare lately. My sweet girl, who is usually the smiley-est happiest kiddo has been making whining seem like an art form. What? Where's my sweet happy baby gone? My little Lelia, who usually goes down around 8-9 at night and sleeps through until 7-8 the next morning...well, she's been waking up SCREAMING at least 5 times a night for the last week. Uh. What? I don't know how to cope with a baby that doesn't sleep! Since her arrival on this side of the womb, she's been a stellar sleeper...maybe a few nights she was partying like a rock star, but otherwise...a good little sleeper! So, after doing some research (i.e. prying open her mouth and finally noticing the ridiculous amounts of drool coming out of her) I realized that she's probably teething. And they are her molars. Two of them. Poor thing! No wonder she's been screaming like a banshee!

So, all that to say...I've been really exhausted lately! REALLY exhausted! Between the sleepless nights, then crazy days at work all while being pregnant and chasing around an active little girl...I've hit my wall of pain.

SMACK!

The good news is...we have a lovely week of vacation coming up in just 6 days. We'll be at the Oregon Coast (one of my all time favorite places EVER) with some really fun friends for a week of playing games, watching TV (such a luxury), walking on the beach and EATING good food. So, there is some light at the end of my tired tunnel.

So, sorry for the lack of blogging lately. But here some some pictures to hopefully make up for my absence...

Lelia and her buddy John at the zoo

Tre showing Lelia that goggles are cool so she'll wear them in swim class

Lelia likes to look out at the neighborhood activities

Lelia's food/hair/body masterpiece the other night at supper

If you can't play IN the pool, why not ON the pool?

Being goofy with her firefighter hat on

She likes to wear 'necklaces' now...dog harness, socks, towels...anything will do

Sweet Lelia Drew

a new camper at cl8n camp

Meet 'Little Bug'

portrait at about 13 1/2 weeks

profile portrait at about 19 1/2 weeks

We'll be welcoming this new member to our family in early 2011! I'm about 20 weeks along now...HALF WAY THROUGH...feeling great and sporting a nifty little baby bump that is sure to grow larger over the coming weeks. Lelia and Bug will be just a bit over 17 months apart. While we didn't necessarily 'plan' this, we were open to having our kiddos close together and are excited for Lelia to gain her big sister status and give lots of hugs to her new little brother or sister (we're keeping the gender a surprise until delivery again)!

We're overjoyed to be welcoming a new little person to our growing camp!

California Roadtrip

Tre and I spent our week long August vacation travelling down to Southern California. We left Portland on Thursday July 29th and returned on Saturday August 7th. Here are a few highlights of our journey.

Day 1- Thursday, July 29th: Portland to Bandon-by-the-Sea via I-5 and Hwy 101

Lelia at Face Rock, Bandon, OR

Family self-portrait at Face Rock, Bandon, OR

Day 2- Friday, July 30: Bandon-by-the-Sea, OR to Eureka, CA via Hwy 101

Port Orford, OR

Lelia's first trip to California!

Our good little traveler!

Our first adventure in drive-thru trees, Redwood Nat'l Forest

An outhouse made out of a hollowed-out Redwood tree

Day 3- Saturday, July 31: Eureka, CA to San Francisco, CA via Hwy 101 and Hwy 1

Lelia LOVED being in the driver's seat...scary!

"Hi" from inside a hollowed-out Redwood

Our second drive-thru tree experience

Day 4- Sunday, August 1: In San Francisco, CA we watch the Giants v Dodgers at AT&T stadium

Tre and Monk outside the park

The view of the park from our seats...second to last row in the entire stadium. Packed out game with almost 50,000 fans. Crazy but quite exciting!

Tre introducing Lelia to some favorite ball players

View of the Bay Bridge from AT&T Stadium

Day 5- Monday, August 2: In San Francisco, CA where we took in some touristy sights such as The Painted Ladies, Golden Gate Park, Fisherman's Wharf, Ghirardelli and we took the BART to Oakland coliseum to see Oakland v Royals.

The Painted Ladies

Leelee and Mama in front of The Painted Ladies

Papa and Leelee in front of The Painted Ladies

Golden Gate Bridge and some classic SF fog

Lelia loves Ghirardelli

Fisherman's Wharf boats

Papa and Leelee on a SF trolley

Day 6- Tuesday, August 3: San Francisco, CA to Santa Barbara, CA via Hwy 101 through Monterey where we went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and ate lunch at Cannery Row. Then down Hwy 1 along Big Sur...by far the most beautiful part of our trip...and arrived in Santa Barbara late in the evening.

Seeing some fishies at Monterey Bay Aquarium

seahorses

another seahorse

Lelia's first encounter with sea creatures

Jellyfish...my favorite thing to watch at aquariums

jelly

I think it's called a Leopard Jellyfish?

View along Big Sur

Enjoying the breathtaking view along Big Sur

Hibiscus at our hotel in Santa Barbara

Day 7- Wednesday, August 4: Visit with our friends, the Shatttenberg's and Lassiter's in Santa Barbara. We enjoyed some time at a local park in the morning, a trip to the beach where a sea lion was just a few yards away, and a wonderful supper in the evening.

Isabella pushing Lelia on the swing at the local park

The kiddos: (l-r) Eliana, Wes, Isabella and Wyatt before supper

Day 8: Thursday, August 5: Santa Barbara where we enjoyed a relaxing day walking around a local park, taking in Fiesta in downtown Santa Barbara, a nap and supper on the pier just a couple blocks from our hotel.

Old RVA friends. I've known Jamie since 8th grade and Carrie Lynn since we were born. I feel so blessed to have such amazing people in my life!

Group family shot: The Shattenbergs, The Lassiter's and The Clayton's

Lelia loved swinging at the park

A beautiful Monarch butterfly at the park we visited

Day 9- Friday, August 6: Santa Barbara, CA to Redding, CA. We spent almost 12 hours driving with few rest stops. We did swing by Tre's old neighborhood (where he spent his grade-school years) to see the changes that had taken place in the last 20 years, grabbed a burger from In n Out but otherwise enjoyed the sights (ahem) along I-5.

Day 10 - Saturday, August 7th: Redding, CA home to Portland. We enjoyed a beautiful drive seeing Mt. Shasta, stopped at our favorite winery in Medford for some bottles of vino, munched on some ice cream at the Umpqua shop in Rice Hill and arrived home with lots of stories, pictures and memories. Our first family roadtrip was splendid!