Kitties See the Sun

Friday I transplanted little tomato plants from open trays to their own individual cells.  There was a little over 200 tomato plants in the open tray to the right with 10 different varieties of tomatoes.  I planted them deep because the bottoms of their stems are fuzzy which will grow into more roots.  I trimmed the roots to encourage more root growth.

Today I planted onions into the ground.  They smell so good!  Jay trimmed the tops and the roots to encourage growth and make them easier to transplant.  I planted about 3 to 5 individual onion plants in the ground with 6-8 inches apart.  We can plant a clump of 3 to 5 together because they can still grow large when they are together, unlike beets and carrots.  If you don't make room for each beet or carrot then they will not grow much.

Jay opened the door this weekend to the room the cats had been staying in. They had been hesitating to adventure too far.  Today I urged them to come out into the sunshine.  They weren't too sure.

But with a little time they started to wander and play!

Jem.

Fresh eggs from the ladies and chives growing randomly in front of the kitchen.  It's normal to everyone out here to have food growing outside their home...but it's super special to me.

So You Wanna Be a Chicken Lady!

Here is how to be a chicken lady...

This is where the chickens live.  In the morning you can hear them clucking because they want out to eat!

I go inside to grab a big scoop of grain for them and they know it.  I pour an 8 foot line of grain in the road.

I open their tiny door and the race to food begins.  Every single one tries to get out at the same exact time.  This is my favorite part.

Three chickens do not fit through this door...

Maybe two will fit...

They get in line to eat the grain, their fluffy bums in the air!  So beautiful!

Then I go back inside to collect their eggs.  I reach in under their fluffy bellies to grab their warm eggs.  A chicken can lay one egg a day.  They don't like this and usually peck my hand but it doesn't hurt.  You have to be gentle and do not hesitate.  I talk to them softly and say thank you.

Sometimes I am lucky and there isn't a chicken in the box.  There are 6 nesting boxes.

Fresh eggs!

I put them here until I fill the whole thing.  It takes 2 to 3 mornings to fill it.  Then I take them to the kitchen.  An egg can stay out of the fridge for a month.  Once they are cleaned they have to go in the fridge.

At night they roost here.  They are not all in yet but this is most of them.  The little rooster, Mr. Daisy, is on the far right!  Their tiny door gets closed and they are safe from predators...hopefully.

Goodnight ladies and Daisy!