Chicken Crazy.

Colonial Heights City Code says we can have up to three chickens. I also see we have to get a (revocable) permit. Not sure how to go about doing that yet. I would just skip the permit and have illegal chickens, but we have a corner lot, not to mention some really nosey folks around. One in particular does her morning walking picking up trash, which is super cool… until you met her. I’ll just call her “Fancy Pants.” It is a guarantee that the second we had hens in our backyard Fancy Pants would call City Council, the Police, and run us out of Colonial Heights on a rail. I don’t think chickens are in her plans for city beautification. Little Rhode Island Reds running around is exactly my idea of city beautification.

I spent some time looking at chicken coops on line and craigslist and discovered those suckers are expensive. I’m talking $650-1,500 expensive. I hate to tell the buyers of those coops that the chickens just don’t care. Mostly, a chicken coop just needs to keep the chickens safe. Growing up we used an old honey house as a chicken coop. Over time a Racoon tunneled in. It wasn’t pretty (it was really, really sad actually). The only one left standing was our ridiculously mean rooster.

There are some cute chicken coops, that I’m sure anyone with a high school wood shop carpentry skill level could make. I mean, it’s a box. Even if it has shingles and looks like a cottage, it’s still a box. Unfortunately, I can barely put prefab Ikea furniture together. Backyardchickens.com has a really inspiring photo gallery. A girl can dream right? My husband told me I was “chicken crazy.”  He’s probably right. This as been going on for about six months.

My Uncle Robin and Aunt Susan had city chickens when they lived in Monrovia, Ca just twenty miles outside of LA. They converted a greenhouse/shed the previous owner had and my grandfather built the run. I wish my grandfather was closer. I wouldn’t be typing this up, I would be posting pictures of a chicken coop. Aunt Susan suggested a booklet that Lehman’s carries. Side Note: Lehman’s is the coolest hardware store on the planet. If you ever find yourself in Dalton, Ohio go there. You’ll thank me.

Anyway, I didn’t see the booklet that she was talking about, but I did find The Chicken Tractor by Sue and Richard Merriam. Sue also has a great website on Organic Gardening and Homesteading if you are interested. You can order the book directly through her website for only $12.95. Her book gives you the plans and building materials list to make the cute little coop on the cover. And if you are a chicken raising novice (I could use a refresher course), she has lots of other information in there as well. DIY projects are not only much cheaper, but way more gratifying. A friends dad built his entire house, attached greenhouse and barn from salvaged and reclaimed wood. I’m hoping he can help me get my hands on the materials this winter.

A chicken tractor is a bottomless, mobile coop. You can move it around your garden bed or yard and the chickens free range, eating your weed seeds and dropping there magical fertilizer. It will allow our chickens to be free range, which is what gives them those yummy dark yellow yolks (loaded with vitamin A, beta carotene, omega 3 fatty acids, lower in cholesterol and taste like nothing you’ve ever bought at the grocery store), while still protecting them from neighborhood strays.

Why chickens? I think the country girl and city girl in me are in conflict with one another. I like our manageable city plot, walkability, parks, friendly community and neighborhood kids running around our front yard after school. I also want to give Owen a taste of my childhood. While I can’t give him sheep and feeder calves, I can give him homegrown vegetables and chickens (and a rabbit. That’s a another story). That and I really want the manure. I’m obsessed with my compost pile and chicken manure is a much desired ingredient (this is actually where Mr. Rabbit comes into play as well). I actually paid a lady $.10 a pound for manure. Country people think that doing such a thing is ludicrous. Oh the things we take for granted. Eggs are a kind of bonus. A really tasty bonus.

I also recommend The City Chicken sight if you are a city slicker who is interested in have feathered friends of your own. Imagine, fresh eggs right in your own back yard. Not to mention the fact that chickens are more entertaining than television.

To Be Continued…

A Tale of Two Costumes.

Still without a costume the day before Halloween I decided Owen was going to be a robot. We’d just spent Friday morning at a playdate and my friend Melissa had made a robot body out of a box and duct tape for her kids to play with. Owen thought it was really exciting. At home I didn’t have duct tape, but I did have tin foil. This is what I came up with…

… It wasn’t fantastic, but it was good enough. Owen loved the robot body…

…he refused to wear the robot head. We even tried scaring him.

Which was fun, but didn’t result in Owen wearing the robot head.

Don and I thought wrapping Owen’s bike helmet in foil was a good compromise. Owen disagreed.

I ran to the store and bought face paint…

and glued felt to his clothes and stuck gym socks to the side of his head…

…and he was a puppy. A darn cute one too!

Colonial Heights has a fantastic community Halloween event at the park. We went there first and played games and looked at all of the cute costumes, got candy and ate popcorn.

The weather was perfect.

The volunteers let Owen cheat at bowling…

…and at football.

This is the closest I got to being dressed up.

Joe was the cutest skunk on the planet!

Drew and Shea dressed up as each other.

This lady let stand close and throw the ball five times.

The park filled up pretty quick and we moved on to Owen’s first time Trick-or-Treating. He got over being shy around strangers really quick. Ha! And he was good about saying “thank you” so folks could hear him (he usually whispers it when he doesn’t know someone). There was only one house he found too spooky to walk up to so they brought the candy out to him. He took it — suspiciously.

After on block of candy collecting we hung out with some friends and watched the kids coming up to their house. This was Owen’s favorite part of the night. He gave the other kids candy out of his bag and made commentary on the costumes. My personal favorite was, “That guy Crazy!”

How was your Halloween?

Better than the original

Let’s start with the obvious. There is not question as to who owns this 80’s gem:

With no disrespect to Bob Dylan, I love this cover by Magnet. I wouldn’t say better, but it’s goooood:

Ted Leo covering Kelly Clarkson/the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Genius. So enjoyable in fact, that I couldn’t even be mad about the most perfect pop song ever not having original guitar riffs:

I found this video via So Fawned yesterday (which is fabulous blog btw). 5000% of Beyonce fans are actually hipsters. Who knew:

What covers do you think are better than the original?

Owen’s Church Shenanigans

Like many churches, Highland has a “children’s time.” Truth be told, this little segment of Sunday worship is just as much for the adults in the congregation as it is for the kiddos. Today I asked Owen if he wanted to go up to the front when Rev. Keith signaled the youngest of the congregation for children’s time. Usually Owen isn’t too interested. I ask him ever week and ever week he says, “No thanks.”

Then he has become the Associate Pastor’s biggest fan. He thinks Drew is the cooooolest. So this Sunday when I asked if he wanted to go up front he started to say “No thanks” and then he saw Drew. Owen said “Yep” and ran down the center aisle, rushed right past Rev. Ritchie and the other good little tikes sitting around his feet and hopped right up behind the pulpit where Rev. Wilson, Drew, was sitting. “Flushed with embarrassment” would be an understatement. Drew graciously brought Owen down with the other kids and sat with him. And then I, and everyone else at the morning service, found out Owen is going to be Batman for Halloween. Does anyone have the slightest idea where I can find a Batman costume?

This isn’t related but I’ve been in a music mood lately and I looove this song. I have Blitzen Trappers “Wild Mountain Nation” album, but heard this song for the first time today via Ms. Milkweeds facebook page. It gives me goosebumps.

Goosebumps. And it’s a story about a guy who turns into a wolf. It’s beautiful. Here are the lyrics.

Greem, Yew-wo and Orangin

I’ll be so sad when Owen starts to pronounce words the correct way. He used to say “greem” and “yew-wo” but now they are just plain old “green” and “yellow.” He still says “orangin” instead of “orange,” which I love. Another favorite is “chicken” instead of “kitchen.” Conversations go something like this

Mom: Owen, where’s Zach’s Spider Man figure? We need to give it back.
Owen: It’s in the chicken!

That’s awesome. The neighbor kids giggle and say, “he said chicken. haha” and I kindly tell them not to correct him.

Happy Friday folks. Have a good weekend!

I love these lyrics. They remind of living in our Church Hill apartment above Wilhemenia.

But in the meantime we’ve got it hard
Second floor living without a yard
It may be years until the day
My dreams will match up with my pay

Dear Ira Glass,

You’re awesome.
Many Thanks,
Morgan Mark

If you’ve never listened to This American Life these episodes are a good place to start: The Breakup actually made me appreciate Phil Collins; 20 Acts in 60 Minutes was the first episode I ever listened to and I’ve been a die hard fan ever since; Superpowers, Invisible Man vs. Hawkman is great (and for the record, I would pick invisibility); What is this thing? features a story about “the greatest love story of the 21st century” and will make a Sarah Vowell fan for life. View from the other half is a great story too.; Switched at Birth is unbelievable, but be prepared to cry and/or get more than a little angry.

Happy listening. What’s your favorite episode?

Took the words out of my mouth…

I just discovered a great blog today. Each entry is a pleasure to read, but when I read her post Church I felt like I’d known her forever. What a writer that Ms Cary Milkweed is!  Don and I recently found a church that we attend on a regular basis. *Gasp* In fact, we weren’t able to go last Sunday due to sickness and I missed being there. I was really excited to get to Bible study that night (an Invitation to John… I think I’ve mentioned this).

My new found excitement for God, Church, religion has caused some discomfort in more than one friendship. I’m certain that this will work itself out. Especially when my friends realize I’m not going to join the man I was stuck behind in traffic today with his huge, lift kit pickup with the cab reading: REPENT followed by a scripture, which I never got to because I was so fixated on the 500 point font. Shiver. I had to repeat, “don’t be judgmental. don’t be judgmental. don’t be judgmental” over and over again.

However, I had an epiphany this week while my friend Zoe was standing in my kitchen. She asked me how my friend was doing with me being a Christian. Me? A Christian? Normally, upon hearing with the ‘C’ word I would’ve cringed inside. Until recently “Christian” is not a label I would’ve wanted for myself and once I wanted the label I didn’t feel very worthy of it.

Owen and I went out to Leslie’s folks house to help decorate for the wedding and I told Zoe about my “A-ha” moment. She gave me the greatest compliment anyone has ever give me. She said (I’m paraphrasing here), “You should own it. It suites you.” Wow. What a nice thing to say to someone.

So I’m going to church and I’m thrilled about. I’m sorry I missed it last Sunday, but I was there two weeks ago for this sermon. I’ve been wanting to blog about it for awhile, but I didn’t want folks to think I’ve gotten too churchy. Maybe I have, as I’ve been patiently awaiting the podcast of the sermon I missed. Cary, pass me the chocolate.

Meet the Elstons!

Zoe and Leslie Elston. October 17, 2009.

What an amazing wedding! Their vows were incredible, everything was homemade (and I mean everything!) and you couldn’t meet two lovelier people. A lot of love went into each aspect of the ceremony and reception and it really showed. Here are just a few shots on Don’s photo page, but ya’ll don’t get to see any more than that until they do Congratulations girls! Thank you again for sharing your day with us.

One Year Ago Today….

a little lady named Frankie Love (real name) married us in a gazebo in her backyard in Nelson County. How are we going to celebrate? We are planting an apple tree in our front yard. I hear the first year is paper. Paper. Trees. Close enough.

sethrobertsphotography.com thanks again seth and emily!

Carytown. Richmond, VA

Checkout that Obama t-shirt!

best wedding photo ever

to be continued....

More Morning Musings with Owen Bruce Mark

He’s at it again. I love this kid.

Owen: I want to watch cartoons.
Mom: No honey, it’s too early for cartoons. Don’t you want to hang out in the kitchen with me and listen to music?
Owen: I don’t waaaant to listen to music! It makes me sick.
Mom: It makes you sick?!
Owen: Yes. Will you go to Dr. Suess with me?

Owen uses “sick” in a lot of ways now. When he doesn’t want to eat something it’s because it makes him sick or it’s stinky (italics because there is a LOT of voice inflection). This morning he wanted some of the pumpkin bread I made yesterday. It’s more like cake than bread so I said we should save it for later. I offered up some onion cheese loaf I also made as a better breakfast alternative. He ate it up yesterday, but today it makes him sick.

How about some more music? It’s Friday. Why not. This is Breathe Owl Breathe. My friend Sean had their song “Playing Dead” on a mix he made and that was my first introduction to them. The album is Ghost Glaciers. This video is from Bliss Feast in Northern Michigan. Are you serious?! I love N. Michigan… and BLISS FEAST? How awesome does that sound?!

p.s. Owen loves watching this video. His response was, “I can do that with my guitar.” Someday kiddo. Someday. In the meantime he bangs empty paper towel rolls together (in pretty good time I might add) while he stomps his foot.