Looking through my photos today it appears that my children have gone wild and we are growing some really pretty carrots!
Silas is all of a sudden into everything and climbing too. Oh my goodness.
The big kids are playing with fire again. Seth is melting metal and the other kids are cooking carrots that they dig up in the garden and then have Jonny or I slice up for them.
This is what summer looks like!
The chick that I suspected of being a rooster…
He started crowing this week. His future depends on the choices he makes over the next few months…and on whether or not I can get over my irrational fear of having a bird rush at me with his feathers fluffed up. I really hate that. Honestly, I don’t even like looking at this guy’s picture. He reminds me too much of Harriet.
Kris says
I’ve been meaning to comment for a long time, but this post prompted me! I love the pictures of summer and the photo of kids playing with fire makes me unreasonably happy. Brought back memories of doing exactly the same thing with my brother as a child – only we were playing in trash lots in Mexico (not quite as wholesome, but still). The husband is not quite ready to let the kiddos play with fire, but as soon as he is, I’ll be all over that.
Really, your whole blog is a highlight of my day.
Sonya says
The carrots are gorgeous! Wow!
Herma says
Amazing your summer!!! I love the pictures!
With love, Herma
Maria says
Bea is starting to look so much like Larkspur! And Silas like you! It’s fun seeing everybody grow each season.
Meg says
My carrots are beautiful also. Or at least I should say the carrots of my son Chris who is 5. Every one of my 7 kids plant and cultivate special seeds of their own so we can say at dinner “these are Chris’ carrots.” etc….Makes them very proud. Also thanks for the motivation to start knitting again, I started a shawl just for me! I love your little farmette, it reminds me of my childhood days growing up on a small farm.
Sarah says
These pics remind me of this book:
http://www.amazon.com/We-Were-Tired-Living-House/dp/B000TX7BWS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1339272055&sr=8-2&keywords=We+Were+Tired+of+Living+In+A+House
Ginny says
Oh my goodness, that is one of my absolute favorites from childhood. I had completely forgotten about it. I called my sister and she recently bought a thrifted copy and is going to send it to me. Thank you so much for reminding me!
lori says
hee hee. baby in the cupboard. so many pretty photos and funny chickens.
Christina says
Love the carrots! How do the taste? Any different than orange ones?
Ginny says
They all taste a little different. Honestly, I have yet to grow a carrot that tastes as good as basic grocery store organic ones!
Kim says
Oh my, so much fun happening in those pics, love it!! And a rooster, I am with you. We have 8 baby chicks right now and we are laying bets on which one is a rooster, at least we hope there is only one rooster in the bunch…if there are two, yikes!
Ginny says
There ended up being four in our last bunch!! Three of the four would attack the small children (and me!)
Ellen says
Lovely chickens! What kind are they again? I forget. So, you might keep him? For fathering more chickens?
Love too, the little smoking fires (showing undies is a must! 🙂 )
I’m thinking that Beatrix will become a make-up artist for film & television. Very creative.
Ginny says
If we keep him it will just be for the sake of having a rooster to watch out for the hens. The only way we will keep him is if he is 100% non aggressive. Out of our last group of roosters 3/4 were mean and they terrified the girls.
Ginny says
Oh-and breeds are rhode island red, ameraucana, columbian rock cross, and silver lace wyandotte
Wendy says
As much as I love my kids, the get-into-everything stage is one of my least favorites!
We’re hoping for some carrots in those colors, too!
Jenn says
Looks like a fun day. I hope you enjoy your weekend! 🙂
Trista says
As always, I am enjoying your beautiful pictures Ginny! Bea is always putting on ‘make-up’! She looks like a natural born actress! Silas is really mobile now! All the children are so adorable. We are still waiting for our Summer out hear in Seattle area, so it’s lovely to see your weather. Fun to see the chickens growing up too!
Lisa G. says
Ginny, I was just looking though a Yankee magazine from last fall – they highlighted a young man, 15, who has a blog devoted to his chickens and his bees; apparently, he’s quite knowledgeable. In case you’re interested (or have time!) http://happychickenslayhealthyeggs.blogspot.com/
Ginny says
thanks!
Teresa says
We have had many roosters and most were monsters but the one we have now is a sweatheart. He does a great job of protecting the hens but doesn’t view us as preditors. So maybe give yours a chance before you make chicken soup?
Ginny says
I doubt he’ll end up as soup whatever we decide…but yes, he will get a fair chance. Three out of our last four roosters were aggressive, so there is hope…a little bit of hope.
heathermama says
your chickens are beautiful. and those carrots! wow!
i just love the pictures of your kids getting into mischief. hilarious!
Katie says
Your roo may end up surprising you. We ended up with three of them in our first batch of chicks. One was given away as soon as we realized “she” was a he, so we never got to really see his personality (although, up to that point, he was the most timid of my chickens and almost never left the coop). The other two were both the same breed (silkies). One of them (Roocifer), lived up to his name and would attack whenever he got the chance. The only way I could keep him in line at all was to chase him around until he would hide from me. Sometimes, I even got thick gloves and would pick him up and carry him around talking to him like a baby and petting him. It sounds ridiculous, but I swear it worked (for awhile). We gave him away when he started attacking our other rooster (Mac). From what I hear, he has just gotten more ornery as time has gone on. But our last rooster? He’s great. As long as no one intentionally antagonizes him or does anything that he perceives as a threat to the hens, he leaves us alone. He’s protective, but not aggressive. If the hens split up and go to different parts of the yard, he checks on them and even calls them back to the coop if he thinks they are going too far. He does exactly what a rooster should do. As long as he keeps that attitude, he gets to stay.
Becca says
looks so beautiful! I bought some pretty carrots this year too! Tried growing them but it was too late in the season here. Can’t wait to eat some!
Meryl says
Ha! Love that comment about the roo. Your hens are beautiful though! And little Silas is too cute. I have one that’s at the into everything stage also.
Kara says
Beatrix looks like she stepped out of A Midsummer Night’s Dream – the green fairy paint, certainly, but the eyes and even the head tilt and movement of her arm… you might be dealing with a stage career. :o) (Or just extra fairies in your woods attracted by a new friend.)
Did you paint your cabinets green or did you get them that way? If DIY, what did you use? Love them!
Ginny says
We painted them–just semi gloss paint from Lowe’s I believe.
Julie says
Oh yes. We had one of THOSE too. His name was Big Herb and he became Big Herb and dumplings. Roosters can be so mean!
Heather says
Oh goodness…your rooster looks an awful lot like one of my chicks…hmmm…I might need to figure that one out! How old are yours now? This is our first year with chickens, and we aren’t allowed to have a rooster in town. I’m not sure what to do with him if it turns out I am right…
Ginny says
They’re about 12 weeks old. I could tell he was a rooster early on.
Jessica says
Fun, Fun, Fun! Do you have face paints? Where do you get them?
Ginny says
markers 🙂
annita says
Love all the pictures… but I’d come to visit just to see Silas! Your kids are blessed! +JMJ+
Heather says
Just show him who’s boss. Love the crazy summer photos. We often have face painting here. Love it.
Ginny says
I can’t. I’m too afraid. Completely irrational I know. And the little kids are just too little to stand up to him, and that is the real concern. The poor girls were attacked by our last roosters many times.
Truly Myrtle says
I just love the photos of your kids all painted and “cooking” their various bits and pieces. Just how it should be 🙂
Not sure about that Rooster though – can’t say I’d fancy the rushing, feather thing!
Nadja says
Oh dear…Adrian has been talking of setting up a forge and making swords. At 7, I think he’s a bit young for that, so I let him burn things with a magnifying glass. Sebastian likes to make elaborate castles of cardboard and then torch them in the yard. What is it with boys and fire?
I love your black and white chickens…what breed are they again (I must have missed it or forgotten)?
Not all roosters are necessarily mean. We had some we had to get rid of, they were so aggressive and tried to attack us, and we’ve had some very docile, friendly ones. Daryl, may he rest in peace, ate out of the kids’ hands. Bertram Chanticleer, our current Man on the Farm, is very timid with us, and a great comedic genius. You just have to see what you have.
I love Bea’s new look…
Ginny says
Silver lace wyandotte!
Tracey says
I have a few roosters myself, they don’t like me nor I them! I have one rooster who especially doesn’t like my pink crocs and will attack upon seeing them, scares me everytime!
swanski says
Maybe if you rush at him with your feathers fluffed you will win the chicken yard? I hope he knows what is at stake…. I always enjoy the face paintings in your photos, have a lovely weekend Ginny!