We planted some herb seeds the other day. It was a really fun project. One that left Mommy's neck in knots. You know the type. They involve dirt, water, and sharp pointy objects. :)
There was some digging in the soil...
And some watering...
And some planting...
And some dreaming of fresh, mid-summer pico de gallo seasoned with the cilantro which will hopefully grow from these seeds...
And labeling...which Mommy primarily took care of because the wind kept blowing everything away, and I just wanted this project D-O-N-E before someone became entirely coated in mud. :)
And we managed to come up with these...
Lily planted some bean seeds during her science class on Wednesday. In one pot, the bean seeds are planted in soil, and in the other pot they are planted in "ghost crystals." (Does that make them hydroponic? Must research.) The crystals grow when we water them. Pretty neat.
And here are the marigolds that the children planted at the farm show many moons ago. They are growing well, but beg me every day to re-plant them either out-of-doors, or in bigger pots. I haven't obliged them yet. I have three, little mouthes to feed. And they should be thankful that they are getting water from us on a daily basis.
Between the beans, herbs, flowers, chicks, and children, I am feeling the pressure to sustain living things on many levels. :) Maybe that is why my neck is in knots??
And, um, speaking of the chicks. We didn't "sustain life" very well in one, particular case.
One of the chicks (I think it was John Thomas...isn't it sick that I know which one it was??) was born with what I think was a deformity (which is pretty common). I described it over the phone to my chicken-expert-friend, and she said that it was probably nothing to worry about and gave me some instructions on how to handle things. (Notice I am being vague here? I'm trying to spare you the gorey details. Your welcome.)
But after a day or so, I was beginning to think that the matter was more serious than originally determined. Little JT was beginning to worry me. Although he was acting fine.
So my sister and her hubs brought their kids over to "see the chicks!" Woo-wee, what a fun night! Our kids loved showing off "their" chicks and the cousins loved seeing them.
Katina and I ran to CVS to get our deals... (For you CVS crazies like me: I spent $5.88 OOP, rolled over $50.87 ECBs, added $18.49 ECBs, left with $49.42 ECBs (some from last week), and came home with $126+ in merchandise...pretty cool, huh?)
...and when we came back, Katina and Sophia ran down to see the chicks one last time. But it was not the sweet farewell they had anticipated.
Little JT lay in the middle of the brooder, flat on his BACK with his feet straight down, stone-cold, DEAD!
I kid you not, the position he died in looked like a cartoon. Picture the Road Runner after Wile E. Coyote does something to frighten the RR and he falls over in a faint. That's what the little chickie looked like!
Thankfully, the next morning when I broke the news to the children there were no tears. I think the fact that he looked like there was something wrong with him from the beginning helped make his death more plausible.
Of course, I wanted to send away all of the chickies at the very instant that we found him dead. But Scott reassured me that they are doing fine and that we will hang on to them for a few more days. There have been no more fatalities. Although my hearts stops for a split second every time I go down to check on them.
And my teasing hubs "got me" really good yesterday. When he came home from work, Joey and he went down to "check on the chicks" together. So when they came up, I asked how they were doing. And Scott replied, "Oh fine. One...or maybe two, are just sleeping on their back."
In the split second it took me to whirl around, I gasped so deeply that I think I breathed in all of the available air in the kitchen. Only to be met with a sinister grin on my hubs face.
He was SO not funny.
And he had better tread very, very carefully. Because I haven't forgotten that one. :) Although I am not nearly as good at "getting him" as he is.
Regardless, seven chicks persist.
As do a myriad of plant life.
And a few cute kids. :)
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