Eastside Farm Girls at Play!

It was such a gorgeous day yesterday that I just had to let the girls (and guys) out to play! They LOVED the grass and picking around in it gave them such joy!

I had to laugh when Tyner ran over to me, asking for more of her special food. I swear that girl eats a LOT! She had such fun running around.

I also couldn't help myself. I am (shhhh!!!) so in love with our rooster, Eric. I followed him around and took several pictures of him. I think this is the cutest one...

We are selling eggs now at 3 different Farmers' Markets and find ourselves running out before we are out of customers. We also heard that our favorite live chicken store had in a fresh shipment of chickens, so Farmer Jeff and I EACH bought 3 chickens that are due to start laying in 4-6 weeks.

We ended up with 2 Red Sex Links (they were bred with White Leghorns and Rhode Island Reds), that are red with white tail feathers and 4 Rhode Island Reds that are red with black tail feathers. You may recall the movie we had for the new nesting boxes where Ruby couldn't make up her mind which box was perfect. Ruby is a Rhode Island Red.

When the chickens are out of their pen, the dogs are either locked up in their pen or in the house. Let me tell you, it was not a perfect arrangement for them. To add insult to injury, Ginger has taken over one of their favorite sleeping spots.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I leave you with a picture of the new "Queen of the Dog Bed".

Indulging the Kids

India has claimed ownership, or at least sleeping rights, to the chair in my office. As you can see, I also use this chair as a place to temporarily store fabric! I am gearing up for the next set of bag production, hopefully in time for Valentine's Day! I pulled out fabric with hearts, red fabric, and apparently fabric that works as a good chin rest.

Last night I re-washed and ironed ALL of it in preparation for cutting out/sewing. In addition to that bit of laundry, I also did a few other loads. I tell you, animals have an uncanny sense of things. The minute I had the load out of the dryer and has just started folding it, Chloe was on the bed and starting to make a little nest out of it. I asked Chloe if she thought the world revolved around her, only to see her look at me, saying...yeah...and? Kids!

PS: the chicken that was the plaything of the dogs is just fine. I have no idea what happened to the little dog and frankly, I have been afraid to go and ask. I just keep praying for a positive outcome. Thanks for all of the concern and good thoughts!

There's no Place like HOME!

(India, the dog, and Chloe, the cat, on our bed!)

Farmer Jeff and I rolled into the driveway at 1 am on Tuesday morning from our restful 10 days away from home. We did get some rest, along with colds! No fun while on vacation. I did get some knitting time, as well as time to nap and relax.

Honestly, though, there really IS no place like home. We have gotten so accustomed to sleeping on a rock hard bed that we had trouble sleeping! We also have such a quiet place here that anywhere else is noisier!

The best part about coming home? The Kids!!! We guessed that India would be the one that missed us the most, but I think that she might also be tied with Chloe and Ginger. India insisted on sleeping between me and Farmer Jeff the first night home. Not only was she smack dab between us, she kept her paw and head on his shoulder all night. I had Chloe and Ginger sleeping either on me, much like a hood ornament, or snuggled under the covers with me.

I even think the chickens missed us! I took out a bowl of scraps to them today (made some comforting lentil soup last night) and they sure sounded happy to see me! Or was it the food?

The Dogs of Naples and Pompeii

The highlight of our trip to Italy was venturing south to Naples and Pompeii. We had no idea what to expect in Naples, other than great pizza and the ruins of nearby Pompeii. What we were NOT expecting were DOGS!!! Dogs were everywhere! Dogs were at the outdoor cafes, dogs were in the piazzas, dogs were all over Pompeii and they were all happy!

We saw dogs on patrol, dogs digging for ...who knows what, dogs on patrol and more dogs sleeping!

Here we see them doing all of those activities, just as they have been for over 2,000 years!













We saw a dog that looked like she was the cousin to our girl, India and another that looked like a cousin to our little guy, Tasso.













I wonder if the the little fellow in Pompeii (or as the Italians pronounce it, "Pom Pee") snores and makes all kinds of noise when he dreams?

Spring is here!

Spring = flowers, doesn't it?

The light of spring is beautiful. Life is bursting out all over.

We have been enjoying soft spring weather. Warm, but not too warm, a few clouds, but not too many, soft orange, pink sunsets and happy animals.
Our sweet pup, Callebaut, aka elder statesman, got into a tussle with our little guy, Tasso, and ended up with a hurt pad on his foot. Does it slow him down, or make him cranky or keep him from being his normal cheerful self? NO. He is our darling sweet boy.

Little Tasso has been under house arrest ever since he began, um, "marking" in the house. He is a very willful little guy. He gets to run and bark and do dog stuff while outside, but once inside, he is carefully watched!

Miz India, on the other hand, is a good little girl and does not require close supervision. The kids have all been happy to have Chicken Mama home (while she recovers from sinus surgery) and India takes full advantage by climbing up on the nap couch with a stuffed toy, and zonking out!



Whilst walking back from locking up the chickens one night, I saw a really fat earthworm on the path. My mom taught me that earthworms are invaluable and if you ever see one on the sidewalk after the rain, pick it up and move it back to soil. I was following this advice and as my hand reached for the big worm, I noticed the slightest flick of a tongue. HM...this is NOT a worm, but instead, a baby snake! I called friends of mine with little boys, thinking it would be a fun thing for them to see, but then we all agreed it may be in the snakes best interest, and let it go.

Our hens have been most generous lately! We are getting anywhere between 18 and 24 eggs per day! Thank heavens for spring. I am happiest of all to report that Tyner, our little Ameraucana hen with the scissor beak, is now laying eggs! Hers are the tiny green ones. Farmer Chef Jeff has just changed the menu at the restaurant to reflect Spring and has a warm Asparagus Salad with House Bacon in Sherry Vinaigrette, Eastside Farms "Sunny Side Up" Parmesan Baked Egg.


Julian likes to help dad to wash eggs. He is also hoping for a light green salad to appear on his salad plate. The cat is a nut. He loves his salads.


The sweet, darling of the house, Miz Chloe, poses for her close up.





Ginger declined to be photographed for this blog. Something about not getting the right amenities in her dressing room. Princesses!

PS: Happy Spring!