Summer in Full Swing

Bees are so very busy, almost time for our first honey harvest.  The chickens are laying an egg a day.  Our garden is giving us fresh veggies to eat, although this year's tomato crop is not looking so good.  Usually tomatoes are my pride & joy, but the plants look a little sad this year.  The kids are breathing in as much summer as possible.  And, we are outside as much as possible.  This absence from the inside of the house means it is usually a mess, but I am ok with that because summer is sweet and fleeting.

The Polar Vortex and Our Crew

It has been a very cold and snow-filled winter.  Some days dipping to -30+ wind chills.  Yikes!  In hibernation mode trying to accept the season as a time of rest.  As much rest as you get with 3 children that have been "cooped up" for months - so much snow but too dangerously cold to enjoy.  It is funny how many sayings come from the chicken world, such as the above "cooped up". The ladies got put in an inexpensive coop in our garage on the extreme cold days.

 I am sure they are growing just as impatient with the cold and confinement of winter.  On days that are at least above 0, we let them stroll and pick at the snow and veggie scraps we leave out for them.

There is hope of spring as we reach the end of February.  I dream of the wonderful smell of thawing earth!  Until then, the kids will revel in snow fort building on the days we get that aren't polar vortex extremes.

MIA

 Yeah, fail - haven't been so great at keeping on top of the goings on.  At all.   Well, the chickens are all laying now.  The youngest laid her 1st egg on New Year's Day.  Nice fruitful way to begin the year.  I am not superstitious, but I am going to say that is a good omen for the year to come!  

What's the Buzz?

I always liked the idea of having bees, but I really never thought it was attainable.  Like all other things in life, you gotta just do it!  Something I keep learning, again & again & again. 

I had been looking into hives and hive management and was really interested in the alternative to the langstroth hive, the warre hive, and happened to find someone who makes them at the WI/IL border through craiglist.

My husband added the copper roof to deck it out and to protect the wood.  We lamented over the best placement and even considered modifying our roof (a part that is slightly slanted) to completely have it out of the way.  We ended up opting for it tucked behind our chicken coop, entrance facing the 6 foot fence.  The idea behind that being bees will fly up and out over any barrier.  We also placed a little water bowl for them to drink from near the hive, as suggested by the many books and websites I have looked over.  The hive is complete with plexiglass covered viewing windows.  The boys have loved looking at their bees in this completely safe way!  

Having the bees has been an excellent experience and I am so glad we jumped in!  They do not bother us at all, even when the kids are downing mommy's homemade fruit popsicles outside.  The workers live to do their job.  They are amazing creatures and it feels good to be part of keeping them in the city.  Sweet success so far - no stings.  Although, we keep epipens on hand "just in case" the kids or a visitor happens to be allergic.

Empty Nest

How did this happen, how is my first born baby ready to go to kindergarten in less than 1 week!?  Full-day kindergarten at that (all CPS is full day K).   I have been in denial, but reality is around the corner.  Don't get me wrong, some moments I delight at the idea of having a daily break from my darling eldest son.  However, when he is gone, it just feels weird.  I feel like I need to tell people "I have one more" when we are out and about, as if I am explaining/ justifying why I am missing a piece of essential clothing - heck, a limb. No more impromptu field trips with all 3 to places that are insanely busy and best avoided on weekends. No more leisurely getting about our day, or late nights to bed.  No more seeing my kid for more hours a day than anyone else.  Ugh!

Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, this is a major milestone and life experience for my big boy.  A milestone he is elated to conquer thankfully!  I wish for him to stay this excited about school.  I try to leave my own bittersweet apprehension to myself - well, to myself and to my husband after kiddos are in bed.  Homeschooling has crossed my mind. I just wish there was something in between; something that allowed freedom for real life learning and also providing the life lessons being in school teaches.  On a bright side, my middle child can receive a bit more attention now, something I think he needs before I am going through this same trepidation over him hitting the school halls.
 

Parenting is hard.  Some days are so slow and trying on every part of my being, but then you wake up and years have flashed by!

First Came our Chickens, We Finally Got an Egg!

Hooray, our first egg!  I heard a ruckus in the coop and thought either they were ganging up on girl Vespa.  OR, could it be an egg???  Been looking every morning in hopes one would show up soon.  We are not sure which lady did it, but the whole family was very excited!  We all took a little bite of the first egg, but the prize went to our youngest lady of the house.  Our 1 yr old had it for dinner and gobbled it up!  Our first egg had a double yolk too. . .not sure what old wives tales are about that, but we got a kick out of it.

On a side note, Girl Vespa seems to have been accepted in to the flock.  She is low in the pecking order, but they roost together at night now and cohabit without bloodshed.

Gender Bending Chicken

Well, we have 6 chickens. . .of which we thought all were egg-laying ladies.  However, one morning as I was sitting upstairs (pumping milk for my youngest, as I was to be gone on a garden tour of oak park that day), I could hear what sounded like a child talking.  Before even mentioning it, my husband said to me, "I think Vespa is crowing" - I didn't want to believe it.  I thought maybe it was a sound made after laying; I heard they do that.  

I went to my garden tour with friends, leaving inspired about my own gardening endeavors.  But, in the back of my mind wondering about my chicken's gender issues.  I investigated Vespa's features, looked some stuff up online, asked my fellow chicken owner friend and the conclusion - almost 100% sure we have a boy.  My she is a he.  

Soooo, weighing my options: store takes him back and I get refund ($4 and nothing for the months of organic food we have been feeding), store exchanges for a hen of similar age if they have it in stock, OR. . .i have my dad butcher him for soup stock?  Must talk to the nice folks at Belmont Feed & Seed and we'll see.  

To add, roosters are not allowed in Chicago.  Keeping her/him is not an option.  There is no keeping a cockadoodle doo on the down low.  Ah, the perils of raising livestock, even on the small scale!

UPDATE:  talked to Lydia at Belmont Feed & Seed and this is definitely a boy Vespa.  They had a hen of the same breed, but a few weeks younger, and we decided to go through with the switch.  It was hard to pack up boy Vespa, but it had to be done.  The boys said bye and sent him on his way with some blueberries they thought he would like.  Girl Vespa or Vespa 2.0 is now part of the flock.  She seems sweet, although it might be a while before the existing girls let her in their clique!  Adventures in poultry.  Below is the female golden-laced Wyandotte.