Thinking and reminiscing about chickens part two

Having had one lot of chickens , I couldn't resist - the chicken bug had taken over!

The second set we went for were pure breeds- a Light Sussex, a Cuckoo Maran and a Rhode Island Red.      

Magnum and Edwina Mai

 These came from the same breeder and all got on very well.

Magnum , the White sussex was quite placid and not very bright.

Stardust

 The Cuckoo Maran, we called Stardust, used to bustle about quite like Queen Victoria in her dark skirts and was often prone to getting broody. We likened it to her having the vapours! She was also very much the boss. The Rhode island Red - Edwina Mai was our definite favourite- keeping out of everyones way and the most amenable to being picked up and had a fondness for sultanas and currants. They all loved playing tomato rugby and we were entertained for hours watching their antics as they chased each other for the cherry tomato. grabbing it at an opportune moment and then running with others following, waiting to tackle!

whats going on out there?

 We lost Edwina Mai suddenly. We had a rethink -the pure breeds were large- probably a bit to big for the Eglu and run and they were making a big mess of the garden. They were great diggers- not sure where they were hoping to go! and so it was decided the last two would go to make friends with other chickens nearby.

 In fact one of our chickens became very chummy with  one of the chickens in the new place called Cookie who had been bullied by her contemporaries. The two became inseparable and it meant that Cookie and her new friend were reintegrated into the group again! I'm so glad that one of my chickens helped Cookie rehabilitate into the group!

ohhh how I miss them bustling about calling in the morning, and  charging up and down the run when they saw movement in the kitchen!  I must try and remember the mess they make- but it is soooo good for the allotment dont you know!!!! and the eggs  the yellowest of yolks and all so fresh  !!!!!!

No we really are very camera shy today!

Thinking and reminiscing about chickens in three parts- Part One

 Recently I  have been  thinking about the chickens we have had and whether I will have more and in order to help me think I thought I would tell you about them. 

It only  seems like yesterday but It was Christmas 2007 and I  hard started to think about having chickens- we had an allotment and it seemed a natural follow on to keep poultry. I really became obsessed with reading everything to do with chickens. I spent a lot of time on the Omlet Forum but how was I going to persuade Mr H?

Getting used to their new surroundings

 It didn't take much I think he was so fed with me on the forums that in the end he agreed as long as I spent less time on the computer - Hurrah a result!

The chickens and eglu were ordered ( before Mr H changed his mind) and we were given a date! We couldn't wait and when the van drew up I was sooo excited. The delivery man was fantastic- he helped put the run and house together. He was so knowledgeable and reassured us. He then brought the chickens out  of the van and showed us how to clip the wings and we settled them into their run.
 The fun started that night as they didn't found their way into the coop. We ended up opening up the house from the side and shining a torch in and they eventually were drawn to the light and once one went in the others followed. At last they were tucked up for the night!

Sun bathing  in the run

Babs Ginger and Betty Boop free ranging

finding yummy things to eat

we so love free ranging

Mountaineering - instead of going to bed!

First egg - hmm hope the cost of these comes down!

Its getting dark now perhaps we should head home

 I really enjoyed having my chickens. I have since had two lots more. This  first lot of chickens were  two  Gingernut rangers  called Babs and Ginger and a Miss Pepperpot called Betty Boop.  The red girls bullied my poor Miss Pepperpot who appeared to be a few weeks younger than them. Those girls were very naughty and were very definitely characters and despite there naughtiness were very endearing. We had a lot of fun with them. One day I looked for them  free ranging in the garden and couldn't see them from the kitchen. I panicked, opened the back door to go searching for them and there they were huddled up together next to the back door on the mat listening to the noises in the kitchen!
  Their habit of pecking each other did get to me and eventually they had to take a trip to a local farm where they then stayed in the company of lots of other chickens and a cockerel who told them who was boss!
Part Two tomorrow see you then...........

Tynemouth Longsands

We had a fabulous couple of days up in the North East visiting family. Well it was really only a day and a bit, once we took travelling time into consideration. We all love visiting there so much- spending time with family and there is always plenty to do and lots of places to visit.

We invariably make a visit to Longsands which is just down from Tynemouth and this weekend was no exception. The beach is wide and has the most beautiful sand you could imagine! There were lots of families out as well as dog owners walking their furry friends. Its so heartening to see people out taking advantage of the dry weather and getting fresh air and exercise!

Isn't this just such a lovely view- from the top of the cliff before the descent down to the beach1

I love this sign so polite but self explanatory- It wasn't quite sun bathing weather so we didn't need to take the sunscreens this time!

This is our favourite cafe which is right down on the beach . It has seating both inside and out and serves no  nonsense food- from panini s - e.g. tuna melt with jalapenos_( yummy) to cheesy chips- all at a very good price and decent portions. The rule in our family is that we have to do the walk first. So after a quick look at the menu we headed out onto the beach

Lots of families and dogs all playing and enjoying the fresh air! Even my young people reverted to the child within and chased about with seaweed!

The views were lovely if a little dark and wintry

and once you start you can find lots of things to photo!

At last we claimed a table and even sat outside the cafe and enjoyed the view

Lots of hungry eaters and their coffees! and of course the cheesey chips!

On the way home the signs on the arches in Gateshead made us smile  as we have been watching episodes of Vicar of Dibley  this Christmas.! Good family viewing everyone was happy to watch ( and  that can be difficult ) for both those new to the programme and those that had seen it before!

Christmas and our trip up North have been  a lovely bonding time! and now sadly back to work, college , Uni and on with all that 2013 has to bring us!

We've been visiting the north east for a day or two!

Hi
 Just to say we have been up north for a day or two and have a a few photos to post - so look out for the next post!
 I have been thinking about new resolutions and what means the most to me. Santa was lovely and left me a Kitchen garden magazine and I used to be an  an avid reader but time got the better of me. Anyway suffice to say - my love for growing vegetables was always there- its just had an extra Christmas boost so watch this space. I hope to blog about my  plans my successes and and of course  my failures! I have an allotment but hope to keep that for longer growing vegetables and fruit. I  will grow some vegetables at  home as well for quick picking! I know I will miss the chickens but I think we really need to let the area rest for a year or so! The area will definitely be well fertilised!
I love growing our produce and finding ways of keeping it for the new year. I am so excited for 2013!   and hope to update you with my successes and failures with regard to preserving!
 First on the list will be the satsuma and cranberry relish which I will post in the next few days - this was described as sublime! so watch this space !

Wishing you a very happy new year !

We had a lovely Christmas with all the young ones back in the nest.

 We got our tree from a local farm and had great fun choosing which we should go for. 

Typically we all wanted a LARGE tree but had to remember that if the tree looked big in the shed then it was going to be humungous and too tall for home. Also we wouldn't be able to get it home! Whatever we bought had to fit in the car

 When unpacking the tree we found a birds nest near the bottom . I hope we didn't make any birds homeless for christmas. My son pointed out that in the cold they often hunker down in nests. I just hope this was a vacant one!

 Once the tree was decorated the cat was quick off the mark  and procured himself the best seat in the house-

I made hampers again filled with homemade goodies including a fun christmas apron and a variety of preserves including seville marmalade ( I started last January), apple and chilli jam  ( lovely a sweet with a delayed kick), autumn chutney ( made with some difficulty as at the time of making only one of the rings on the hob was working and that was the small one- It took some time to get the right consistency.) I also included a jar of luxury dried fruits soaked in Sherry- lovely with ice-cream and last but not least a jar of satsuma and cranberry relish which has been highly recommended!

I parcelled them all up in the brown bags as above. My daughter helped stencil them. The bags were saved from work- deliveries arrive in them and usually they are binned. I really wanted to reuse them and so came up with this idea. I  am really quite pleased with the outcome! and also very enviromentally friendly!

 Elder daughter wanted the cat to have a Christmas outfit and so she made him a bow tie with a velcro fastening- Cute eh? He actually didn't mind - I think he just loves being fussed over!

 We had a trip down memory lane with plastic soldiers and little dolls-

 I think Tinkerbell and friend have had tooo much to drink !

We had scratch cards with our crackers on Christmas day- ( now that they are all old enough) and that apparently made my younger daughters day!_ even though she didn't win any money!

Ohh I nearly forgot I wore my apron on Christmas day from Mrs Thomasina Tittlemouse's giveaway earlier this year. Its soo pretty and is very much prized!

Cheers to you Mrs Tittlemouse - hoping you had a lovely Christmas! I  am soooo looking forward to catching up on all my blog reading and finding out about everyones festive time!

Thats just a brief snapshot of our Christmas- hoping you had a christmas full of memories too!!

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

I can't believe its been a month!

 

I really can't believe that its been a month since I last posted. We have been busy here as usual but I have been particularly caught with making things. It all started with a message via Facebook did I want to have a stall at a christmas fair? Did I ? Well the crafting has taken over rather and I did and do still need to move items- as my sewing room -well actually the spare room- is full of bags of cushions, lavender bags, bags , christmas stockings, aprons- mostly in a completed state. There is however the mountain of fabric that I seemed to have accrued. It has become quite obsessional.

 Needless to say I did say yes to the fair - as I really needed the prompting. My stuff wasn't going to sell sitting in my back bedroom.  I have long been following Christian from Christians blog and his stories of his craft stalls have inspired me to have ago too- so thank you Christian.
 The date of the fair grew closer and closer and the closer we got,the more things I felt I needed to make!

 I had a tablecloth ready, float, bags to put sales in  ( recycled brown paper bags from work- which my daughter and I stamped with a cream paint leaf design), spare sewing kit, lunch and of course all my goodies.

The morning came and off I set. I had planned my table sort of in my head. I didn't really know the size of the table so I knew I had to play with the arrangement once I arrived. I found the hall and parked and there was my table with my name on- it was very exciting. The adrenaline was flowing!

 My table was ready to go - all we needed was the customers! I don't know what happened but there were 36 stall holders and only 50 odd customers all day ! I did make a couple of sales which went towards the cost of the stall and I did manage to part with some money for some Christmas presents but  that was my day. It was a bit of an anticlimax but hey I did my first stall! And I met some lovely stallholders!

A friend also had a Christmas evening and I made far more sales then- so at least I can get into the back room now! I now have a few orders to make for people and I will be concentrating on these before thinking on what we need  and all that christmas shopping I need to do!

Ps sorry for the quality of some of the photos but I have dropped my phone and the back is cracked and its affecting the quality of the shots - sorry!