Overdue Update: The front porch makeover

Rocket just had to help...

     It has been too long since we have updated anything about the happenings here at Newport Oaks. We have been very busy trying to stay caught up on all of our projects. Since the weather has been nicer, we were able to knock out a project we have been planning since last fall.

Dad prepping the surface

     .

 Back this summer, we had discussed extending and tiling our front porch. Melissa found a great deal on some discount tile in the exact amount that we needed AND style we wanted! Since purchasing the tile and making the plans for the remodel, we have been bombarded by either rain, wind (blowing leaves and thin-set don't mix), cold, or just too busy with something else. Alex finally got a perfect couple of days and was able to get it knocked out. Melissa loves it, so needless to say, it was a huge success.

Waiting for it to set up

     We are currently discussing whether or not to put up a nice picket railing around it, but we will cross that bridge when we get there (I'll probably have to build the bridge too).

Finished product

Meet 'Fluffy'

 

     Some people have lap dogs to affectionately cuddle, or maybe a cat, but us... well, we have a Sizzle chicken named Fluffy. This is the most peculiar animal we have ever encountered. When you think of a bird, you don't really picture them coming up to you, expecting to be petted, or following you around the yard just to see what you are doing. Fluffy does. Most birds are skittish, cautious, or even down-right scared of the slightest move you make. Not Fluffy.

     We were informed recently that Fluffy is a Roo (rooster). He has feathers on his feet and a bright blue dot just behind his eyes. He gets to go outside occasionally to get some sun, and he loves just scratching in total freedom in front of the other chickens. It is funny watching him walk around the outside of the chicken coupe, taunting the other chickens as if saying "Look at me!" Little does he know that he would be plucked instantly if we ever let him inside of the coupe.

     Fluffy is more than just another egg producing chicken here at the farm. We view him as almost a mascot. The kids love him. Melissa loves him. Alex is getting used to the idea that we can't fry him. Newport Oaks just wouldn't be the same without our fluffy, feathery friend.   

Putting Out the Fire



      After cutting a lot of trees down for the pig pen, garden space, blacksmith shop, etc., we had an abundance of limbs and brush piled up. After giving it ample time to dry, we finally got a calm day (rare here in Oklahoma) to get rid of one of the piles.   

 

     When burning, I get very serious about fire safety. One, I will not burn if the predicted wind values are above five miles per hour and/or we have been in a dry spell. Two, I prepare the pile efficiently in order to avoid any stray flames or embers being launched into an undesirable location. Three, I always have a sufficient water supply and proper tools for maintaining the pile BEFORE ever lighting a match. Since we have neighbors in the vicinity, we always want to be courteous and cautious when burning.

 

     After about six hours of burning and maintaining this particular pile, it finally consumed the last bit of branches, leaving nothing but a piping hot pile of charred embers. Since we didn't have time to start another pile, we ensured that we got plenty of water stirred into the bed of coals and extinguished the hot spots to prevent a flare-up. Eventually, we will stir this rich charred ash into our garden before tilling time to help enrich the soil.

 

     In case you were wondering, this is only one of about six massive piles we have to burn off. Provided the weather stays nice and the piles continue to dry out, we should get it completed before spring. 

Farm Fresh Eggs

 

     I know what you are thinking... Easter already? Yes, it is January and spring is a ways around the corner, but our chickens just couldn't help themselves. There are no camera filters, no paint, not even spritzes of water for glow. These are straight from the chicken to the carton. It seems that as the chickens mature, the eggs are getting bigger and brighter in their presentation.

 

Not much of a 'blog post' but there's not much to say. Just sharing our beautiful array of the eggs our chickens decided to lay. 

An Egg with NO Shell

 

 

     When we started getting eggs, we expected some to be small or discolored, but we never expected this. The egg in the above photo has no shell. It looks like it has a discolored, rough shell, but in fact, it is just the membrane frozen by the overnight air. We tried to decide what to do with it and finally concluded, "waste not..." It thawed out in the frying pan and made a delicious breakfast. Since finding this oddity, we have not had any other "weird" egg-laying occurrences.

      After a little research (which it seems we are always doing), we started feeding the layers some shell crumbles, oyster shells, and layer pellets to their scratch diet in order to increase their calcium intake which helps produce sturdier shells. After about a week of this new diet, and the shells seem brighter and firmer than before. And did I mention, Oh, so tasty?! 

OUR SEEDS HAVE ARRIVED

          As a kid, going to the mailbox is always exciting. Growing up, our driveway was lengthy, so it was a long walk to the mailbox. The anticipation of not knowing what had arrived made it even more exciting when we would go and find our name on a card or a package.

          As an adult, my view of going to the mailbox has changed. I find this is probably common amongst adults. We find doctor bills, house payments due, electric bill, advertisements for things you really can't even buy. There is usually NOTHING good in the mailbox.

         Today, I got to feel like a kid again. We got a box. It way so exciting for us because it contained part of our seeds for the garden! This little box prompted us to plan our garden. for now, we have planned out the dates we plan to plant and to gather. Soon we will have a garden planned out with exactly what needs to be planted where.

        

Our FIRST Eggs!!!

This is one of the most exciting days on our little farming adventure we have had so far! Our first set of chicks hatched out August 4, 2015 and they arrived to us on August 7th. We have waited 5 months for them to lay their own eggs. Obviously, we didn't expect it right away... Actually we were thinking that it would happen closer to the beginning of March. We don't keep a light on them, so I thought there weren't enough hours of light in each day for them to lay.

This is the first one (pic. left)!!!! It was from our Black Australorp. I know that because it was brown. Although, the color in the picture doesn't do it justice. The picture on the right was sent to me about an hour later. I couldn't believe that we had two eggs in one day!

 

As the day progressed we ended up with six eggs! The Black Australorp laid the brown eggs, Ameraucana laid the green/blue eggs, and the Buff Orpington laid the beautiful pinkish colored eggs. And, because Jett broke one, he got to eat it and said it was delicious!

 

 

Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.