Welcome to the Family… ZEUS

so so allergic..

to so so many things..

Things we love

things we want

some of us have allergies to wonderful things like..

gluten

casein

soy (ok so that is not so wonderful)

one of us is allergic to grapes

yes..

grapes!

so sad

and cats

dogs

beets

red dye #40

onions

certain medicines

and

oodles of yucky things..

like 

certain pollens

dustmites

perfumes

certain chemicals

blah blah blah

it's UBER annoying

but

we find ways to cope

maneuver around things

and do most everything in life we want to do.

I research LOTS and find substitutes for foods

and beverages we love

so the pain of not having pancakes 

IS NEVER FELT

because we have them 

OFTEN

they are just gluten free pancakes!

and they are delicious!

As for pets…

so far we are all ok with the rabbit

and the ducks

the horse lives in a barn…

so far no problems there..

but…

still they long.. long for a puppy..

and so I researched 

and researched

for

a

breed that would fit our families 

VERY specific constraints…

and my answer had been

one of three breeds (check)

PSP 

(portugese short haired pointer)

ESP

(english short haired pointer)

GSP

(german short haired pointer)

it had to be

hypoallergenic

great with kids

a bird dog/gun dog/hunting dog

not hyper

and...

What I found was…

a

hypo allergenic

english shorthaired pointer pup

aka gundog

aka hunting dog

aka bird dog

aka acceptable breed

yep..

a weekend with Leeloo did the trick

they've hoped and dreamed…

I had said

WHEN...

WHEN Little Man is potty trained (check)

When we find the breed we want (check)

and only in spring or summer (check) 

one that is already crate trained (check)

preferably on sale.. not a high price (check)

so…

welcome to the Family!

Zeus

a view

this is one of my favorite views

from the front porch..

i had to stand on my

VERY 

tippyiest toes

so you wouldn't SEE

the ginormous trash dumpster parked just out of sight 

on the bottom right

or all the construction junk

scattered on the bottom and to the right..

the porch is nearly fully complete

finishing touches

like

railings going up

this week

I hope…

isn't this such a nice view :)

looking forward to sitting down 

and seeing it

California's

Having the California Family come up to the farm

was SO MUCH FUN!

They are such a joy, worked so faithfully alongside us

all the while we enjoyed good fellowship in Christ with them!

I love these shots of them after a hard days work on the Farm.

Here is Mrs. California with their WONDERFUL dog 

Leeloo…

We love dogs here at the farm..

but are VERY allergic…

Leeloo, was SO obedient and faithfully stayed in the 

great hall only

which is SUPER easy to clean and keep aired out…

Leeloo really got the Blessings all bellowing for a dog..

and Machine Man is in love too..

Ohhh for Hypoallergenic hunting dogs..

maybe some day..

really dogs as well trained and obedient,

as loving and affectionate as Leeloo

are a tribute to all dogs everywhere…

we were glad to have her come and visit.

Mr. & Mrs. California not only brought their beautiful daughters

their fun dog

but Grammy

who our whole family adopted as our 

Grammy too…

We love love love this beautiful family!

And are SO glad they came to celebrate 

Memorial Day with us

at Blessings Farm!

The California's!

going for a walk

going for a walk

after a long season of indulgence 

isn't easy for any lady

even if she is a mare

first walk was as to be expected.. 

beautifully snotty… 

yes..

both beautiful

and 

snotty

so thankful the weather is getting better

with it usually temperaments improve!

so tell me about.. the minions...

Minions are adorable…

Despicable Me is

one of our Families FAVORITE films…

many of our Vegetarian friends feel VERY Strongly 

against our eating our chickens…

in fact...

many chicken eaters 

seem to feel strongly opposed to us eating our

own chickens..

seems Americans would rather buy theirs 

pre packaged at the store…

than know where their food comes from..

but WE at Blessings Farm, would rather raise ours...

we LOVE our Minions..

we try to give our chicks/minions only the best!

We hope to always have minions..

lots of them…

hence "we are despicable"… 

but you love us anyways..

and

We love pastured poultry and this is why we call our chicks

the Minions..

they are SO cute and little, and yellow when they come to us.

we also want the children to learn to  understand the difference 

between the purposes of the layer and the broiler..

and how valuable and worthy their lives are..

how their lives, albeit shorter than our own

help to sustain our own

and we should therefore do all we can to make theirs 

as pleasant and happy as we can...

because we want them safe, 

because there are REAL threats to their safety,

BECAUSE we want them ON the range

eating yummy bugs

and grubs

and weed seeds 

and grasses..

BECAUSE we want them scratching at the earth

and pecking at things

and doing their chicken thing

we got the minions THIS

it's a Chicken Tractor

a traveling gypsy caravan

It is actually pretty enormous..

I should have made a child stand next to it for comparison sake..

half of it is strong mesh for sunshine

half totally solid for when its rainy and yucky out… or for shade!

here is the watering system

the hose feeds into their tray drinkers

see?

one lid for lifting 

two for pulling all around the yard!  

see, here's one of the minions drinking..

we love how much sunlight it lets in..

but you are thinking..

seriously… you don't let them out?

sure we do..

but not when we aren't home..

and if we are gone,

our neighbors or guests can move the tractor FOR US,

and the chickens still free range

and no one has to minion sit… 

it's a win win..

here is their door

for their out and about days

here is the feeding area

i can lift it easy and pour the food RIGHT in

it's cute to see their little beaks rush to the food!

see all that space?

it's VAST!

we move it about every day, or every two days…

you'd not believe how much they work the soil!

It's wonderful..

and More Minions arrived just days ago!

under a lamp as I write this..

so so sweet!

Building a Castle

ok..

perhaps it's not EXACTLY a "Castle"

but rather

a proper "coop" for my Queens

I know.. you are wondering who the Queens are….

right?

Queens are those chickens predetermined to LAY the eggs

as opposed to

Minions.

Minions are delightful chickens predetermined to be 

pastured

also known as

Broilers…

yes

we will eat these…

Todays post is about building a Castle for the Queens

first step was all about 

FOUNDATIONS

foundations are SO important

if you don't get the foundations right…

later

it won't matter how great a job you did building your castle

it'll fall to pieces..

ya REALLY need to spend the time to get the foundation

of WHATEVER it is your building

done RIGHT…

be it your marriage

your kids

your home

or

as in this case

your chicken coop

the guys take it pretty seriously

this was a SEVERAL DAY PROCESS

thanks greatly to the VERY

uncooperative weather

We were SO thankful to the California Family for joining in the work

here at Blessings Farm.

Mr. California

is pretty wonderfully OCD when it comes to things like 

FOUNDATIONS

and frankly

I loved it..

being a Christian

I am a firm believer in GETTING your foundations ROCK SOLID

and seriously sound and level

it just seems SO much like a Proverb…

or..

a parable

there were real moments..

these.. very raw moments

these.. 

stuck in the mud moments…

moments 

JUST like the moments we have in

 REAL LIFE

moments when you were looking for level

by a string

because you couldn't' trust your own eye sight

couldn't' TRUST your own sense of balance

There were thoughtful moments of reflection;

reworking ideas;

thinking through;

spacing OUT;

getting hungry;

really,

of ALL of the above;

and some of it..

all in the span of FIVE minutes

I kid you not.

Do you SEE how we are building on a slanted hill?

Do you LOVE our great foundational 

CORNERSTONE as much as I do?

because I do..

Whilst this Rock may be the Cornerstone of my

Queens Castle,

it represents

the One who is the Cornerstone of our Family

of our Farm

of our Faith..

yes..

I get seriously deep and philosophical about all this..

these men & Fathers are doing something GREAT

yes..I wrote, GREAT

and while it is true that Mr. California is..

a little OCD...

and Machine Man has his quirks…

God is working through them!

and...

we are going to be SO extra thankful for that later!

sprinkling extra earth

beneath

to get it JUST right

exactly right

see my lovely man?

almost there

no.. not quite

but almost

maybe now?

no

perhaps?

YES!

now they'll be clipping along

check out the progress…

brilliant!

imagine the mossy in-between

all filled in

and lovely

it will look ancient

here Machine Man stands upon the Cornerstone

truly a momentous moment

Due to days of rain..

endless rain the fellas built the walls in the "shop"…

Mr. California..had by this time of the project 

HAD to leave with his beautiful family

though he stayed longer than planned to try to finish..

the weather simply did not cooperate!

C.S. and Machine Man grabbed every moment of sunshine

(yes… i refer to moments because honestly..

it's Spring in Wisconsin people

and THAT is sometimes all you get)

and they worked fast

and hard

not taking many breaks..

notice the change in wardrobe..

it went from EXTREME heat

to freezing cold

Here they used Mr.T's skid steer..

Standing at times IN the bucket

to reach what they needed to put on the roofing

The Queen's Castle really IS built at a height

and it's NOT an easy task to get this roofing on...

Teamwork prevails

and the two of these men are getting the job done!

It is the first shed they have put up..

We did choose a kit because of time constraints

It was purchased from 

www.costco.com 

pretty much it took longer than it promised it would

mostly due to weather

but..

they will all tell ya it still would have taken longer than they advertised..

AND the roofing boards

were not the right pieces…

We had to have Mr. M our Amish friend who did our roof

come over to help..

he was quick to spot the problem and sort out a solution..

not our guys making a mistake

a problem in the packaging

we ordered the actual metal roofing from the SAME 

local Amish roofing Manufacturer we used for our home..

so it will match..

we will be painting the shed white

to match the house

it was VERY interesting watching it all be built

even Buddy got to help out!

TaDah!

Remember all that mess…

well it's getting there..

We are cleaning it all up, and slowly

it's getting there..

next to go up will be the aviary for the hens

and an aviary for the ducks!

so so exciting

for now though…

we shall finish putting up the trim pieces

paint it

and convert this shed

into a Castle for our Queens !