Winter in the Country

I realize I've not updated the country stuff lately. Thing is, it's winter. Sooooo.... not much happens. I mean there are some beautiful sunrises and sunsets, but otherwise it's gray mornings and evenings throwing food at ungrateful animals who are tired of being stuck in small (but warm) spaces. The last couple of days were nice enough to let the chickens out. They were so excited my hen that was attempting to hatch a ginger ale can even left the nest.

This chicken.... mmmm...... probably not as happy as the rest of them......

It was even warm enough to send my flock outside. What better way to let the girls feel involved while keeping them out of my hair so I can do the real cleaning than to send them outside with sponges and repurposed windex bottles with a few drops of dawn in them. The outside toys are now thoroughly clean and so is my kitchen. Score for us all!

What this would be farmer is doing with her winter - planning.

I've been looking over the catalogs from McMurray Hatchery and Meyer Hatchery for egg layers. I prefer the Brahma and Orpington, but that's just me. I need to find someone to go in on an order with me. I don't need 25 more chickens.

If any of you reading this are looking for DIRT CHEAP meat chickens, look no further than Central Hatchery. You have to call to order and send them a check, but it's worth it! I ordered from them a few years ago. They sent two extras and they were great stock. All but two survived to butcher.

And seed catalogs! This will be my first year ordering seeds online. These are sites my uncle recommends. He is a pepper and tomato god. Which is why I probably won't plant any, he's had more than enough to spare the last few years :)

HPS Seeds - This was his number one pick for price.
Trade Winds Fruits - This was his number two pick.
Hippy Seed Co - This was his third pick.
Pepper Joe's - They have the hottest pepper in the world, the Carolina Reaper. It could be yours! If you don't mind spending a dollar a seed!

You know how I said some time ago I would never save another toilet roll. Well, I take it back. Check out these reused seed starters!

 

This site is in french (I think that's french isn't it?)... but the concept is pretty straight forward.

There's also this:

I wouldn't use newspapers though. Most papers these days use soy ink. I'm anti-soy. Don't ask questions, I have my reasons. If soy doesn't make you raise a brow then by all means go ahead. I'm thinking of all the cardboard I get in the mail.