New spring arrivals are here!

 A ball of fluff under the heat lamp in early morning.

Twenty-one pullets and one cockerel are amongst the new spring arrivals here.  They arrived through the mail to our local feed store.  I sent OnlyDaughter and her girls, Bee and Rootie Toot to go fetch them for me since Hubby would be late to town to get them.  The littles were thrilled, to say the least, that they would be able to enjoy baby chicks at their house for a little while.

When the chickies got home, I had a place all ready for them with cozy straw bedding and a little sugar water and chick feed.  Of course, there is always a nice, warm heat lamp above to keep things the right temperature for little fuzzball chicks.  This year I ordered:  Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rocks, American Auracana, and Red Sexlinks.  I didn't order a single white chick (or Leghorn) for some reason.  Everyone here made the honored walk out to the coop to see the New Arrivals -- Peach and Toodles and Little Boy Blue along with their mama and new DIL.  It's always a thrill to see the chicks.

I've been going to make a blog post time and time again and either decide there is nothing to say or I decide that I don't want to do it.  It's not that I don't think of you, I do, but the springtime bug has got me and I'm preferring to be out of doors rather than indoors typing on the computer.  We've had some really nice days and so all of us ladies here have been working on our lawns and sprucing up flower beds and veggie beds.  Not that one can do any sort of planting just yet, but it's fun to get things cleaned up and ready.  I felt of the soil in my veggie beds and it's quite cold yet.  Someone once told me that if you can sit comfortably with your bare butt in the soil, it's ready to plant. I did buy my seed potatoes and onion sets.  I cut up the spuds so they could scab over and soon I will toss those in the potato patch.  They can go in early-ish.

The men farmed up a 24 acre spot on the hayfield where we re-fenced last year and are seeding it now with barley, peas, and crested wheat grass.  We're hoping this is perfect timing because we are expecting moisture in just a couple days.  Hubs and I are aerating our lawn.  It surely needs some deep, lovingkindness.  We'll also over-seed it after that is done.

Miss Bee is having her 3rd birthday party today and we're all happy to go help her celebrate.  Papa and I will be taking Peach and Toodles with us.  There will be hamburgers, salads, chips, and angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream for birthday cake!  Wahoo!

Now I must away to the outdoors.  There is more dirt to shovel and fling on the yard.  One more thing I wish to share with you.  If you are like me and have rough, dry hands from being in the dirt and water you will like Salt Scrub.  It's so easy and very effective.  You can use this on rough feet too, but don't use it in the shower or the oil will make the floor slick enough to fall.

Salt Scrub

1/2 c. salt (fine sea salt and course salt)
1/3 c. olive oil (or other oils you prefer)
Essential Oil of choice to desired strength of smell.  (I used lemon oil and lavender oil)

Mix in a small mason jar and stir well.  Set by the sink where you wash up from outside chores.  I wash with soap first and then with the Salt Scrub.