Chook Update:

 Our new girl Ebony-Rose is settling in nicely now. The other chooks are more or less just looking at her in the backyard now. The chasing has settled down alot. She still sleeps separately at night and will for a couple more weeks at least. During the day if I can't watch them outside, they take turns at free-ranging. But she has become quite close to the cat! They sit together quite often now, very cute!

She's very friendly and prefers to hang out with us more than being a chicken! She sits next to us outside (hence the old blanket on the chair!)  and climbs up on the windowsill to see what's going on inside!

Omelette had a great time this afternoon in this dirt heap!

 The girls enjoyed a treat of pasta and yoghurt. I love how they get it everywhere!

The Alien

Kates two electives for high school this term are textiles and art. In textiles, she's been making an alien and finally the finished product came home this term. Isn't he/she cute? She also made a little pillow to go with it. There are still 2 lessons next week before the holidays and she's allowed to make whatever she likes, wonder what she will come up with?
(ps the crutches are actually mine for a torn muscle but the kids keep sneaking them!)

In Chook News ...

 I learnt something new today. That a chicken can lay 2 eggs in one day. That's what Omelette did today. She is our only chook who lays white eggs, so easy to tell. She laid the first around 9am, and the second was there when I got home at 2pm. After doing some research on the subject I found out it's not an everyday event but is not unheard of either. It can often follow a period of not laying (she's been laying just fine) it can happen right before they go broody (she must be due to again soon!) or often one of the eggs might be soft shelled, a slightly different colour or have no shell at all. (both eggs are perfect)

Anyone else out there have any stories to tell about their chickens laying more than once a day?

Wrapping up the Weekend!

We have had a super weekend starting with friends over to celebrate my birthday on Friday. The kids all had such a great time and outlasted the adults! The weather was glorious all weekend, temps around 34 deg. We baked a banana cake. Ate our traditional Sunday pancakes. Played ALOT with the chooks. Was amazed at our biggest egg yet. 102 grams. OUCH! We finished off with an ice cream treat. Hope your weekend was just as wonderful.

Welcome Ebony - Rose!

 We added this beautiful black chook to our family today. She's a (black) Orpington. Very docile and cuddly. Perfect for the kids. Of course they both wanted a different name. Ella wanted Rosie and Kate wanted Ebony. I wanted something completely different. The girls comprimised and she is Ebony-Rose. Nicknames will be a variety I think!

Lake Leschenaultia

While the weather is still so gorgeous, we decided to spend Easter Sunday up in the hills at a favourite spot for the locals.

We threw some food in the picnic basket (we bought lunch up there, but well you know kids and fresh air = never stop eating!)

The water was icy cold despite the outside temperature, but that didn't stop lots of kids swimming.

After lots of swimming, the girls wanted to go canoeing! So we hired a canoe and rowed on the lake for an hour!

After the canoe, we had ice creams and then the girls had a final swim. By then it was nearly 4pm and they were starting to get cold. So we went for a walk, then back to our spot, packed up our things and headed for the car for the long drive home!

Easter Sunday!

Kate woke Ella up at 6am, then they woke me for their Easter egg hunt! It was all over pretty quickly. They were thrilled with what they got, plus new pj's and slippers (a tradition here) Lots of chocolate to get through!