Rain, Cold and a Chicken update

I said that I would try to get more posting done and this a step in that direction!

The past few days have been nothing but rain and cold! The sun did come out this afternoon for a little while, But the temps did not get out of the low 40's and tonight I had to let the truck warm up to get the frost off the windows so I could drive home from Terri's place. And it's just next door! But the frost was heavy enough that I ran the defroster just so I could see to get out of her drive way and into mine.

 You see I spent the day over there washing sheets and blankets and helping her get the house cleaned up for the Holidays. We also decided on the menu for Christmas dinner. There will be 12 people here for Christmas and we are going shopping for the things we need to put it all together.
The menu will be.....
Roasted Turkey,
Baked Ham,
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy,
Brussels Sprouts (done 2 ways... 1 will be Roasted Sprouts with Bacon, Garlic and  Cheese and the other will be steamed Sprouts for our friends who do not eat meat!).
Stuffing,
Corn pudding,
Candied Sweet Potatoes,
Gallo Salad with Pecans, Cherries, Pineapple and Cottage cheese,
Parker House Rolls,
Relish Tray (Pickles, olives, Carrot sticks, Stuffed Celery and Deviled Eggs )

And desert will be....
5 or 6 different kinds of cookies, Better Then Sex Cake, Cheery Pie and 3 or 4 kinds of home made Candies.
That should let every one eat all they want and be very full and ready for a nap!

I wanted to give you an update on the Chickens. The rain has made a mess of the whole place, with standing water all over.

As you can see, Water every where. This picture was taken from the back deck \looking  to the back of the Homestead. and the area in the fore ground is the Garden area. We did not get much of a garden this year because of the rain last spring and all the weeds! There are new plans for this area come spring 2014!

Here are 7 of the 10 Girls." Cuddles" is the light colored one and the only one that has a name. She is a real sweet hart and is the only one that will let me pick her up and she will set on my lap or arm to be petted!

And here are the Eggs that I have gathered over the past 3 days! 21 washed and drying, To be placed in cartons and then into the fridge.

As I said in a previous post, The Girls had been in Moult for 76 days with no Egg laying . But on Nov 13 I got an Egg and at that time the total for the year was 1712. As of today that total is up to 1845! That's an increase of 133 Eggs! I  have plans to increase the size of the flock this Spring and to get a Rooster to allow them to set and hatch Chicks of their own. They are 20 month's old now.

So how are you doing with prep's for the Holiday!

Tom