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babies + names

the babies are getting big, fast.  that's just the way it is with babies, i guess. 

chased lizards with Quinn today.

 

lost two babies.

last night i spent a long, quiet time sitting on my sunroom floor holding a baby bird as she took her last breaths.  i don't know when, but somewhere along the way my thoughts changed from "come on baby, you are strong, you can do it"  to "it's okay.  let go."  and finally she did.   she curled inwards, took in a deep breath and then stretched out her small body as long and wide as it could go - the way you might stretch when you climb in bed for the night.  though her eyes had been closed all day, she opened them and looked right at me.  they slowly closed again as the breath and life seeped out of her.  life is magic.  and there was a moment when i felt that magic as it left her little body resting in my hand.

all life is noble. and every death is sad. 

we had two deaths this weekend.  the little wyandotte i knew was struggling.  the other was the marans - a shock.  she was fine and then the next time i looked in on them, she was dead.  gone before i had the chance to try to save her.  that is the way things are sometimes.

raising chickens is not for the feint of heart, i've found. 

more baby photos. sick little one.

a few more baby photos - they will have changed so much by tomorrow!

new babies!

the babies are here!!  like last time, i ordered them from my pet chicken.  they hatched on monday and arrived at my post office on tuesday.  i was, again, totally giddy driving home with the little peeping box on the passenger's seat.

petting zoo

 while quinn loved the goats and sheep at the petting zoo, asher and his cousin preferred to pretend to BE goats at the petting zoo.

quick and chilly trip to the beach

three hens

my three hens seem to be finding a rhythm in their days together.  i am happy watching both spring and eliza learn to forage and roam freely in their space - something neither of them were able to do before coming here.  venus is a good teacher.

visit to Blue Heron Farm

our family trip to visit the goats of Blue Heron Farm was fantastic.  we enjoyed the goats (and the dogs, pigs, chickens...)  and learned a lot about them.  after the tour we had a snack of Blue Heron Farm cheeses and crackers at long picnic tables beneath the trees and lisa and christian graciously answered all the questions we could ask.