weekend whatnot

two new hens.

play date with Grandma.

one hen returned.

car spewing oil (and smoke) on the highway en route to Charlotte.

happy birthday to my love.


That's the weekend in a nutshell.  We welcomed two new girls to the "flock" on Friday, only to quickly learn that one, the leghorn, was a bit too flighty for our accommodations.  Seeing as how we didn't want her to end up as a chew toy for our pup and I just couldn't stand to clip her wing (especially since it wasn't her fault I failed to do my breed research) we decided to return her to her previous home where her flightiness was a nonissue.  Another lesson learned in chicken farming; do your research on breed characteristics before bringing home a new lady.  Check.

My mom came for a nice 'just girls' visit on this gorgeous Saturday morning and the three of us (she, Claire and I) walked to town for iced coffee and bagels and then spent some time playing on a couple of the local playgrounds.  This girl of mine loves her Grandma and loves slides.  Together?  Fabulous.  And the dose of mama time for me was just what I needed.  Somehow I always feel like I have a clearer perspective on things after I spend a bit of time with my mom.  It gets me back to the place where I'm able to let more things slide off my shoulders and allow fewer to get gunked up and weigh me down.  Thanks, ma~

Sunday, on our way to Charlotte to visit with Mike's sister and a dear friend, my car started to smoke and smell horribly.  We quickly pulled off to the side of the road to see that my engine had gone the route of dumping the majority of it's oil onto the asphalt.  Lovely.  Mike on the phone with AAA and I on the phone with our neighbor, and within about 45 minutes the car was being towed home and we were back on the road in his vehicle.  In the interim, no less than a dozen kind souls stopped to see if we were okay.  Surely the fact that I was standing on the side of the road with a baby on my hip contributed to the good deediness (yes I know that's not a real word) that we were on the receiving end of but people, generally, are pretty good, aren't they?  We've been discussing the possibility of looking at a new car for me in the near future, but hadn't anticipated being rushed to make decisions about it.  Hmmm.  Car shopping.  Worse than jeans shopping, I think.  And there aren't too many wagons out there these days, which is what I'm looking for.  I'm a wagon kinda gal.  We'll see.

And that brings us to today, Mike's 31st birthday.  He was supposed to work, but came home early so we could go look at some cars.  At first it threw me off because how was I supposed to get birthday surprise affairs in order with him home?  But then I realized him being home meant I didn't have to walk a few miles with Claire to the store to get the remaining cake ingredients, so it worked out after all.  Bacon cheeseburgers for dinner, homemade chocolate cake for dessert.  Grass mowed, hen yard extended to over double it's prior size, the garden is coming to life, seeds are sprouting....... kaput car or not, life is damn good.