What have we been up to lately...

This month started off with Jon going to Guatemala. Diane and I did not go, as neither of us does well heat. Guatemala gets much hotter even in March, than either of us can handle without becoming ill. You can see Guatemala on the map - it's in the lower right section.

As soon as Jon got back, we pushed in to high gear on our projects. We finalized the colors for about half the house and got the paint. I am hoping we can start painting before the end of the month.

We have been in contact with the contractor for the barn and that is moving forward. His team will put up the outside and we will customize the inside. Llamas have some similar needs as horses, but many are different. So we decided it would be easier to do that part ourselves.

The garden is moving forward. We got the lumber to make the raised beds, and our seedlings are looking good (they'd look better if Diane's cat would stop sleeping on them). She's all for sharing as long as she gets the best sunbeam. Our biggest concern is that all this white stuff is gone before we transplant the cabbage in 3 weeks. Another good reason for doing raised beds - the ground won't be frozen.

Diane's cherry tomatoes are doing well, as is her cabbage. The first set of onions is up, and the second should start sprouting any day. The broccoli is also doing very well, even though it's not in the picture. Diane's herbs are doing so so. The three that chose to grow are doing really well, the other three aren't growing at all even after a second planting.

Knowing that Diane's chickens should arrive Mon-Wed; we spent yesterday getting ready for them. She has wanted her own an egg business for about 5 years now. Back in January we got them ordered. She got 4 each of Buff Rocks, White Orpingtons, Spangled Hamburgs, and Araucanas (Easter Chickens). A neighbor agreed to fill out her order (she needed 25) and got 9 Rhode Island Reds. They are all supposed to be females, but we will see. The deal was though, that he couldn't take them now, so she will be raising his chicks as well. Here is the expandable hatchery we set up for them yesterday. It's in the basement as the barn isn't ready, and the garage and mudroom are not insulated.

With this being Maine, we wanted to experience a real Sugaring (collecting of maple sap and making it into syrup). We had hoped to have some maple trees on our place to do our own. We have the trees but they are too young. I found a place about a half hour away where we can help gather the sap, and then return another day to boil it into syrup. We decided this would be a great chance to hit the hardware store and get the extra lumber we need for the bookcases and the chick feed.

Just before we left the house, the post office several towns away called. Her chicks had been delivered to them, since the closest post office to us was closed today. We canceled the Sugaring and headed out to get her chicks (picking up some feed on the way). In case anyone has ever wondered, no, chicks do not like taking a car ride. They told us about it the whole 45 min's on the way home.



We know better than to bring an animal into the house without introducing it to Freya. It completely stresses her out and makes her ill. So we very carefully showed her the chicks. She decided they were too small to eat and they smelled funny. You have never seen a more unimpressed cat. It was very much - call me when they are big enough to eat.
We also very carefully showed the chicks to Amore - Diane's cat. Amore didn't know what to think of them. She backed away quietly. She wasn't afraid, but definitely confused by them.

Next step was the put them in the hatchery. But you can't just release them. You have to "drown" them first. You hold their beaks under water until they drink.
Not wanting dehydrated chicks we drown them.

After that we released them and let them wander about finding their food and getting warm under the heat lamp. The reason the pictures are so red/pink is because of the red light in the heat lamp. I've included one sepia print here as to make it easier to see the chicks.

At one point, Amore came down into the basement with Jon. I held her and let her observe the chicks for bit. Then Diane picked up one and let her sniff it. Amore gave it a good sniffing and decided right there and then - it was evil and to be avoided at all costs. After all she had lost her basement privileges and her Diane in one puff of fuzz. To make matters even worse, Jon was late starting the fire in the wood oven for her. Needless to say, she has spent the rest of the day pouting.

Diane has spent most of her day down with the chicks - singing and playing her zither (lap harp) for them. And reading chemistry to them.