summer is flying by way too fast.
i have been spending lots of time tending to my flowers because i looooove my flowers!
and kittys.
and dogs.
and chickens..jpg)
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i am not ready for school to start (and early mornings and games and more games)
nope.
i just want to chill here at home and do summer for like…6 more months.
is that so much to ask?!
Category Archives: chickensi have been attempting to write this post for over a week but my computer is being dumb. my mind has been consumed with thoughts and planning for Camp CREATE coming up next week.
Love Rend Collective and can only imagine the energy live and in person! I love Marshall’s and TJ Maax as well – you never know what you might find there. And your tulips – lovely. Love your photos! Can you share your source for printing on canvas? Thank you! I loved this post Meg…all the great pictures etc… (my your kiddos seem to be growing in leaps in the last few months). I especially love the last pic of the cute pups in your sparkly clean house! Happy Friday, Oh that picture of you and Annie! Be still my heart! so your rend collective picture…….well first love the panda heads. great…..but second the girl in the picture (her profile) looks like drew berrymore Love everything about this post! Ok, so i can’t stand it when people say *where did you get that?* and *what color is that?* BUT………….. Angela conoil@yahoo.com I have 20 of those state plates and I’m moving so I can’t keep them. I’d like to give them to you for all the joy you’ve brought to my life. I live in Wisconsin but will be in Newton this Thursday-Sat. Are you interested? I bought two of those rugs at Marshall’s for the same reason – they make me happy. I got orange and teal and while they make me smile, they don’t wash up so well. The colored ‘ribbons’ come un-tucked from the tan body of the rug, if that makes sense. Ooooh you know CU-Boulder is a great college town 🙂 just sayin! Also – I have collected about six of those green glass water jars (found one even with the original yellow lid). I love them and haven’t found any for a few years so I’m quite tickled you found one. I found four at a small town Nebraska thrift store, and two in different stores in Colorado. Coveting yours! “because cookies”… story of my life. That rainbow hello t-shirt is THE BEST! Great post! Yes, next week is definitely going to great ;)! Love that cow, I have the exact same one hanging beside my sink! Found it at an antique shop for $7 and felt like I won the lottery! Your pictures are always so bright and cheery, love checking in on your blog just to see all of the fun pics. 🙂 Hey meg. Since I’m older than you but not as old as your grand mom, as a teen in the 70s in the Midwest I bought a similar white ceramic head to hang my bathroom towel. Not a cow, but another barn animal … Pig? Duck? don’t remember. Has same eyes. I guess they were a thing. I collect vintage souvenir plates too. Many often have a sticker saying “not food-safe” … And often the original stickers are gone. You don’t want to be eating off a lead-based paint. Carry on …. I love that cute cow! Also, I feel that you are my soul sister in a lot of ways. Lover of color, lots of creative endeavors. I enjoy seeing what you write about here. Carry on and here’s to a happy and creative week! it’s safe to say we are enjoying the warm weather and spending LOTS of time outside.
🙂 I would buy a canvas of the kittens and chicken in daisies! Love the animal pics, so pretty! pretty. so pretty! I want the calico kitten! Can you bring it to California please? I should probably know this, but I don’t think I’ve ever read it here…did you study art in college, or are you just a natural? Your photos are so gorgeous. I love your composition, and wish I had your eye! Some of the photos with a single hen in the daisies should be offered in your shop! Thank you for sharing your art of photography. Absolutely beautiful pictures. Those daisies couldn’t be a more perfect backdrop for your chickadees! 😉 All of those animals made my day! The geese freaked me out a little bit. Geese here in Minne are mean! Can’t believe you were so close and didn’t get chased! lol…it is a lot of cute animals…you could have named the post…chickens, the frog, the geese, and then the chickens…oh, and the kittens…lol…loved them all…especially those tiny kittens! your life is so beautiful! love love love! are you using a macro lens for the kittens? those frogs (toads?) are funny. they remind me of my baby — all floppy armed and double chinned. ha! 🙂 The photos of the chickens should be for sale on your site. They are really fun shots! I mean how could you go wrong with daisies and chickens?! I adore each and every one of these photos, Meg. You have a great eye! You need to make a canvas of a chicken in the daisies. What a gorgeous post! Such amazing photos. It’s like distilled 100% pure summer. Meg! These pictures.. so, so, good. LOVE! I want kittens, chickens and even toads now! Do you take these pics with your iPhone or with a digital SLR? They are beautiful. Would you stop it with those kittens?!? I’m not a cat person, but your pictures are making me want one! So cute! Meg you are an amazing photographer!! ha-ha! that weed could have it’s own movie!! (and i mean weed in the regular old-fashioned weed way ~ lol.) Fantastic pix! The snake ones cracked me up. dear moderator, see my comment above? please remove my last name- thanks If you were to sell the 4th picture in your shop ( brown chicken in the daisies, trees in backround), I would hang it in my kitchen! daisies, chickens, kids, dogs and kittens… does life get any better!?!?!? Aww, some of my best memories growing up were when our mama cat had kittens. I had so much fun with them! Your kids are so lucky to have all of those animals in their life. Teaches responsibility and compassion! Love your chicken. I am too lazy to take care of chickens! 🙂 I am a child of the South and I love it but oh my goodness your neck of the woods is gorgeous!! 1. prom 2. invisible fences 3. birthday cake 4. His Safe Haven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . scott went to prom last weekend! it was cute to see him get dressed up and be nervous and then know that he a great time.
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i have had some questions about our Invisible Fencing system we put in here at this house.
we bought the Innotek Basic In-Ground Pet Fencing System, SD-2000
and since we have more than one dog we ordered the Extra Collar For Smart Dog
our yard is bigger than the amount of wire that comes in the kit so we ordered additional wire to go around the whole yard.
my sons and craig put it in in a weekend and it was not difficult. the only times our dogs have gotten out of the yard is when the battery has died in their collar.
this fence made my life easier and kept my dogs safer. it doesn’t keep other dogs from coming into your yard but it keeps your own dogs from running away. now if only it would work on chickens…
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i used this recipe from Javacaupcake for the cake.… yum. (i could not find espresso powder so i left it out) for the frosting i used: 1/2 cup room temperature butter Cream together the butter and peanut butter. Then add in powdered sugar slowly and add milk a little at a time until frosting is the consistency that you prefer. i added chopped Reese’s Mini Peanut Butter Cups to the top.
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and saving the best for last… These are some of the foster moms who care for the children of His Safe Haven. I can’t stop laughing at your chicken picture – they crack me up! I think that should go in your shop 🙂 a couple of notes: That cake looks so delish. My hubby is allergic to peanuts so I can’t enjoy treats like that frequently. He is out of town for the next four days. I wish you could box it up and mail it to Alabama. My kids and I would gladly eat it. Meg…how in the world did your son grow up so quickly. What a handsome young man….he sure does resemble your husband! I just love to see pictures of your dogs….they are all so cute, but that waffle is adorable! and wowza….your chicken looks a little testy! 1. Oh, to be young again!! Part of me wants to go back…part of me would dread it! 🙂 2. Those dogs! And Chickens! I Die! Oh. My. Cuteness! 3. That cake…my Dad would love it! Maybe even my son-in-law…and he doesn’t like cake! What?! I know! Who doesn’t like cake? But he Loves cheesecake…ok, he’s back in good graces! 🙂 4. And your daughter! (well, they are all awesome in their own right!!) But So proud of Talby!! I too pray that she gets to meet those ladies someday! How amazing would that be?! 5. Look at that! A bonus comment!! Your stairs! You are killing me with all your color! Will you Please come do my house? I’ll cook for you…and I’d even help! And that chalkboard wall! Fab-U-Lous! Your IG = happy part of my day! Hugs! Oh that cake! I’ll have to keep that in mind for my hubby’s birthday. Yum!! I am secretly glad that one of my children is allergic to peanuts, such that the presence of that cake in my house would be an actual threat to life. Because if it weren’t… oh, Lordy. Also, my husband, who adores Reece’s cups is on a low-carb diet. All the world conspires against me! @Kristin S. – I’m one of the #500 too!! I love finding people who love all the same things as me – Meg’s blog, Jen’s book #FortheLove Fixer Upper…so fun! So, I live very near a “highway” that is also the main road and very busy and packed and 55mph speed limit. I drive it to get my son to and from school and I pass a bunch of chickens that are free to roam who NEVER go into the highway. I finally asked my husband how on earth those people ‘taught’ their chickens to not cross the road and he thought it was the invisible fences people use for dogs. We’re both allergic to everything and not pet people so we don’t know a lot about it but….maybe there IS a way?? LOL! Cried happy tears when I saw the pb Reese chocolate cake . . Then REALLY cried happy tears when I saw the feedback on Safe Haven. Love the pics and am so going to try that cake for my husband’s birthday. He loves,loves Reese’s Cups and oh how divine it looks! As for the foster moms at His Safe Haven, I would love to meet them all but…..especially that one in the middle. She looks like she has some spunk to her – that face is pure joy (and mischief!!). 1. Eeek. I see Scott and think of you and Mr. D in your dance picture from high school ….wasn’t it just yesterday? xoxo Tere. I am so in love with the news about His Safe Haven!! Tears spring to my eyes for those women and also for Talby! Great news!! Your blog and instagram pictures are a breath of fresh air during my busy, chaotic days! Thanks so much for reminding us of how everyday life, while sometimes hard, is truly a gift to be enjoyed and celebrated. Woo hoo we’ve been on the “fence” on what we should get for our yellow lab. The yard has thawed and we’ve been trying to pick what to get. Going to check it out I enjoy your blog so much! You are a great mom & wife – we can see how much you love and support your family. Love your thoughts and posts. Love your creative ideas. I want you to come decorate my house! Hurray for Talby and His Safe Haven! What an amazing act of service she has done. I too hope that she has a chance to meet those women. How awesome would that be? YAY for His Safe Haven! Way to go, Talby! Also, I am picturing all the chickens wearing the invisible fence collars. Haha! 🙂 Dear Meg, I will come and eat the cake with/for you and I would also like to hug and squeeze the pups, especially Waffle as he seems like such a sweet boy. Your faithful blog reader, Lisa 🙂 PS – Way to go, Talby!!! You must be famous..someone at my office showed up with this cake today…I’m guessing they saw it on your blog or instagram. I should go find out who it was so we can be real life friends bound by reading a common blog! 🙂 Also, I want a goldendoodle sooo badly! I call every one I see anywhere “Waffle”. Even my husband knows what I’m talking about. k, hope this comment made you smile. Great prom pics! So elegant! 35 yrs. ago for mine! Ack!! Of course, I was pretty trendy in my light blue HOOP GOWN lol. I also love the pics of your sweet pups and those gorgeously attired foster moms! Those bright colors! So cheerful & so happy. Did not love the picture of that sinful cake!! Made my mouth water & now I want a Reeses!! Debby, also in KS That is so great for Talby and those women! hi meg! I have been telling myself for months that i need/should email you and “introduce” myself! I feel a tad stalkerish! i have been reading your blog for – awhile now – i like it – i like you! i want to come to craft weekend as a helper! i follow you on instragram – i think you are funny, smart, easy going, down to earth, a girl after my own heart and someone I wish i could have coffee with! i live on the west coast! I try and blog but find it hard to find a groove. Instragram is good but it definately does not replace blogging – sometimes you need to write and share more, so I am trying! I am here finally commenting after your instragram of the yummy piece of cake! Hope you have a great rest of the day! xoTiffany totally teary about His Safe Haven…what a gift to those women to have each other for community! thank you for sharing with us here. I thought I’d better comment, since you asked us to on Instagram! I LOVE the chicken photo! Scott & his date look fabulous! The dogs are adorable. I would be eating the cake all day long! And whoo hoo to Talby! Love!the cake looks amazing, your son and his date were so beautiful, and your puppies? Oh so cute. I love the rainbow stairs!I showed my husband and we both agreed our next house will have stairs! Happy Thursday. you had me at that cake with 4 birthdays quickly approaching, but then then the photo of his safe house…..the very best thing i will see today. thanks for sharing it♥ I’m still reading every post! Keep blogging!!!!!! We use the same exact fencing for our 3-acre property, and have NEVER had a problem. It works so well on our lab, Dakota, that even when the battery is dead in his collar, he is afraid of going out of the yard 🙂 He has only gotten shocked once at the start of us showing him the ropes with the fencing, and he went too close and got shocked (as hard as it was, it was needed, because he will never forget, and it works on saving his life, to keep him in his yard). It’s so awesome. Like your family, we bought extra since our yard is big (3 acres) and my husband and son put it in and it was super easy. And it was EASY to train our dog, from the DVD that came with it. I also highly suggest it. It works so well on our dog, that he won’t even chase a ball (his favorite thing on planet earth) if it goes out of his boundary. He stops cold in his tracks and barks since he can’t reach his ball. 🙂 I so second Kelly – rainbows always make me think of Meg! That cake – fantastic! And I’m totally gonna cheat & make one tonight – but using a devil’s food cake mix. I know I’m probably missing some of the fantastic, but hey, we have baseball practice & the icing sounds so amazing I think it’ll make up for it. Loved hearing the update on HSH – that is awesome! It does not appear that comment on blogs is a thing anymore – but I sure wish it was! xo Complying with your IG request for comments. Cake looks very delicious – my family would have devoured it in three seconds flat! Going to look into invisible fencing – this winter with our four feet of snow made going to put the dog out on his lead AWFUL! Keep up the good work 🙂 okay, you asked for it… 🙂 1) thank you and thank you for sharing the Hatmaker Podcast 4) Every time I see a rainbow, I think…. Meg!! Have a great day girl… Visiting from Instagram and leaving a comment like the old days 😉 So glad to hear about your invisible fence!! We have a golden doodle who likes to go tromping through everything that he shouldn’t!! I am thinking maybe this fence will do the trick. I wouldn’t mind sharing a slice of cake :). Thanks for always sharing your happiness. I recently found you on Instagram and you sure have a happy feed. I’m going to have to try that recipe for my husbands birthday in June!
we just got our chicks at our local Orschelin. LOVE that first pic of Sundae – she looks like she’s a model on the catwalk! I was so close to buying ducks on Friday! Unlike Mr. Duerksen, my husband would’ve been, uh, less than pleased. 😉 I’ve always wanted ducks and chickens and your pics have been giving me chick fever! (Is that a thing? Just go with it…) Cuteness overload! I was scrolling through and thinking these diva chicks look like they are on a modeling shoot and then I saw you you referred to them as models at the end. They COULD be in a magazine for sure! This is the sweetest and funniest post and so cleverly written. Funny that you named them and I hope Greta Garbo doesn’t turn into Clark Gable either (the rooster with eyeliner!) It is fascinating to me that it is not evident that chicks are either male or female. I would love to have some one day, but right now are neighborhood association restricts it (that, and we live in a foreign country and travel frequently…). Anyway, I’m sure you’ve done your research, but have you seen this I got from successwithpoultry.blogspot.com?: – Pullets usually get their wing and tail feathers before cockerels (in the first week or so). All of these general signs are indications – not certainties. There are always exceptions to the rule, and not all breeds will conform to the general signs. You may have a really friendly timid cockerel in your bunch masquerading as a pullet (and vice versa). BREED SPECIFIC INDICATIONS Barred Rocks and Cuckoo Marans – Males have wider white barring. They will often appear more silvery-grey than black. The males usually have a much larger, splotchier headspot. Rhode Island Reds – By 5 weeks males have larger and thicker legs and a larger (pinkening) comb and wattle area. Salmon Faverolles – By 2 weeks you can usually see a difference in the colours on the wings. Black should indicate a cockerel. Salmon brown should indicate a pullet. Silkies – It can be several months before signs start to appear. Boys tend to stand more erect and girls more likely to be short and squatty. If the feathers swoop back towards the neck on the crest, then it is likely to be a boy. White Crested Polish – The females tend to get more fluffy, mushroom looking crests. OLD WIVES TALES – take with a pinch of salt! If you pick a chick up with two fingers by the neck, the pullets will draw their legs up to their body and the cockerels legs will dangle. Hold your chick on their back in your hand. If they stop kicking after a short time, it’s a pullet, if they keep kicking it’s a cockerel. Needle and Thread – dangle the needle over your chick … if it moves around and around it is a female, if it swings back and forth it is male – this is supposed to work for both chicks and eggs. However you try to determine the sex of chicks you won’t know for sure until it crows or lays an egg – but it can be a lot of fun finding out 🙂 I’m waiting on pins and needles alongside you. these chicks got swag. even when napping 😉 Fabulous photos–I especially love the ones of all the chickens together in lines!! Eeek!! I just love lil’ chicks!!! You have a sweet bunch there!! We have bought chicks, had mama’s hatch them and have incubated our hens eggs! It’s all so much fun! You should look into an incubator, there is nothing like counting down the days and watching those little babes break through those tough shells!!!! So cute! I work at the Orscheln home office – I was hoping you got the ladies from us! Meg, p.s.Thanks for the beautiful wrapping and terrific service regarding my new apron (Jane) and pillow cover (whales) I recently bought from you. Such beautiful work, I absolutely love them both. So cute! Too bad they grow into chickens…. I love to keep them as cute baby chicks forever!
i am hoping that this weekend is chicken maintenance weekend.
Hi there! I am always on the search for the perfect t shirts. I was wondering where I could find your love more t-shirt? Thanks! The light was beautiful and your sweet girls such good subjects (even the black and white beauty)! I just love your chickens…sigh… Bunting and party lights….I laughed out LOUD at that. you are too cute. Yes, wondering the same thing. Can you keep chickens all winter? Pics are great 😀 Meg….your pictures are so beautiful…..I am wondering how you care for your chickens in the cold, cold winter….how do you keep them warm? How serene and bucolic. I keep telling my husband I am putting chickens in our backyard. But our HOA says no and my husband is a rule follower. Lol. But ducks! Ducks are NOT livestock! I should totally get some ducks. Oh Meg! How I live vicariously through you in the chicken department. One day I will have some girls of my own, but for now I will love yours through your blog. Thanks for sharing. :o) In response to the bunting comment above.. you can buy a cheap, colorful vinyl tablecloth and cut diamonds out of it, fold them over waxed twine and use hot glue to glue the triangles together… waterproof bunting that lasts years! 🙂 I love your comment about the black and white lady, she really did give you the sink-eye! And, yes, to party lights and bunting! We winterized our bunny’s hutch last weekend. I wonder if there’s a way to add some tiny bunting to his house?? I love these pics! And I love it when you blog:) Okay…that one chicken really is giving you the stinkeye! For some reason that makes me think of all the hens in the coop on the Foghorn leghorn cartoons which is awesomeness! 🙂 Bunting and lights for sure! Lucky ladies! I think everyone needs bunting and party lights. Such beautiful photos. You have a lovely life. Beautiful! And how crazy grown are your kids that you can steal their clothes and fit into them! It feels impossible to me as my two so far are just 21 months and 4 months but it will happen someday. My sons will be big grown men! since we moved to this house and had the coop moved over here, the chickens haven’t been able to roam
yeah… that will wake you up on a monday morning! THEN i got to have more fun by taking stanley to the vet to get his stitches removed from being neutered 10 days ago. can i start my day over please? no? ok… i will just go paint something instead. We have chickens and dogs also and I am amazed at how the chickens do not learn to stay away from dogs. Ours can fly into a fenced area around the coop (that is how they get into the yard) but when the dogs chase them they seem to lose this ability 🙁 Too funny. Very pretty birds. The kitten is adorable. Unfortunately, I cannot see your pictures and your script because of a “Find New Roads With Your Family” ad from Chevrolet that has your picture on it. I love your blog. Please see if there is a way we, the readers, can remove the ad to view your post. Thank You I am in awe of your photography. Stunning. Thank you for sharing your talents! I can completely relate. So we just finished up with our permanent coop for our 5 hens this weekend. The previous coop was smaller and closer to our house, so they became used to that arrangement (they free range during the day). Well we began the transaction to the bigger nicer coop and let’s just say I completely understand how hens do not just follow a trail of treats or allow themselves to be easily caught. Hubby and I were out in the evening for over 2 and a half hours trying to contain the ladies and can I just add that I’m 38 weeks pregnant. Entertainment at its finest if anyone could have seen it! I love the photos! The black and white chicken is my favorite, altho the golden one is quite pretty too. The brown one looks a little cranky as if it might just peck that kitten if it came too close. I love this post and can so relate! My daughter and I were chasing chickens around the yard a few days ago after a stray dog came into the yard and got one of our girls. There were some electricians working in the yard next door to ours, and I’m quite certain they were bent over in laughter at the site of us chasing these silly birds. It’s very easy to fall in love with your flock of feathered ladies. We even have some watermelon out for our girls to snack on right now. I have so many animal questions for you, Meg. This makes me smile. Mostly because we got a new puppy on Friday, and today was the first day I had to deal with a puppy, and two kids, and trying to get myself ready and out the door by 6:30. I may or may not have been seen in my yard, in my jammies, pre-coffee…chasing a puppy and begging him to poop. Only 4 more days until the weekend…
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Tam - Gorgeous pics!
teyonce - sometimes I am taken back by just how good an eye you have, you set up the perfect shots and get the best results! I always love your posts (all of them of course) but when you post just streams of pictures I find myself going back, happy to look at them all again. i forget how talented my friend is!
Nina Newswanger - Your photos are beautiful!!
KATHY - Beautiful pictures….can’t blame you for wanting to chill 🙂
Kathi - Beautiful pictures! I love your kittens 🙂
Kerri - Wow – your flowers look gorgeous! The heat has been so hard on mine; has really taken a toll on everything (I am in Ellsworth County, Kansas). Sweet kitties, too.
Jill - Love, love, love your patio and yard pictures! Say, will you do a post about your chickens sometime with the details of your coop, your feeders, etc? I’ve always wondered how you have it set up inside the coop.
Tina - Your flowers are so pretty!! And I’m totally with you, I do NOT want summer to end. My 5 kids went back today. Sad face. But on a positive note, at least I won’t get a million calls at work today wanting me to referee a fight from home. LOL.
Angela - Co-sign on not ready for school to start! Your flowers are gorgeous!