Day 21

Sorry about the lack of blog posts recently, but I have been unable to log into bloger for a while, however, tonight my son has has done some techy wizardery, and we are back in, yeh!

So, onto the important news - an update on Edith, my broody pekin bantam. I said in my last post that we had to wait 21 days to see if any of the eggs hatched, well, I shall keep you in suspense no longer, at the last count just before it went dark this evening, we have four beautiful irresistable dark grey tiny chicks

Here is a photo of number one, peeping out at this strange word. More updates tomorrow.

Happy weekend : )

meeting Henry and other bits and bobs

Meet Henry, Henry has been made from a bear kit that I bought from The Old Pin Cushion on Etsy. You buy the pattern (Chopper Bear) and the kit separately, so if you wish you could make your bear in something other than bear fur material.

The pattern comes with very clear instructions and useful tips on how to distress your bear - in the nicest possible way!

Before I move on, I forgot to say in my last post that I had added to my felt stash recently from the wonderful Felt Fairy, great range of colours and fast delivery.

Spring feels like it is on its way today, we have a beautiful clear blue sky which is very welcome after the bitterly easterly winds that we have experienced the last couple of days. There are even a few touches of colour around the garden, although I have to admit the primroses were bought in from the local garden centre and so are a little earlier than normal.
It is always a joy to see the nodding heads of the snowdrop appearing and bulbs are pushing up all over the place. I made a big effort last autumn to plant loads, and I think it may have paid off. First crocus well on their way too, and yesterday the hens did me proud, with two eggs being laid including Edith's first egg. Looks like scrambled egg is on for lunch today! added later: The scrambled eggs were delicious and the most golden yellow I think I have ever seen!

chickens in the garden

I have for a long time, had a hankering to have a few hens. Whenever visiting friends who were chicken owners, I would admire them and enjoy the tasty eggs and think how lovely it would be to have some myself. Then I would come home and look at my garden and my beloved herbaceous perennials and change my mind.

Then last summer, there was a piece on the radio about owning hens, most of which I missed, but I caught the end where they were saying 'if you were worried about your garden, then go for something like a pekin bantam'!!! My interest was immediately aroused. However, I had never heard of a pekin bantam, my friends all had large impressive looking birds. So I googled them and in an instant my heart was lost. I had discovered the most delightful little hen with feathery feet and a fluffy pompom of a tail. The search was on, I scoured the Internet and poultry magazines. I read and read and read, it become my sole topic of conversation, I must have bored people rigid. one of my sons' said 'it was just like this with the dog....

That was a few months ago, during August I managed to buy to lovely young pekins and then three more in October. So I have my flock and what a delight they are. then on 29th December, Betty decided to lay an egg!! Our first egg, we all looked at it as if it were the first egg ever laid. She went on to lay two more over the following days and then stopped, obviously she must have thought it was too cold to be spring after all.

They all have names, Arietty (lavender pekin), Edith (white), Betty (black) Lottie (salmon) and Spit (the cuckoo pekin!!)


I love them to bits, just watching them and having them take corn from my hand makes me smile.