Happy Easter

I recently cared for my friend's farm while she was on a much-needed vacation. Among her chickens is a very broody hen, who threatened very unpleasant happenings on anyone who messed with her. I admired her dedication until her first chick hatched. She then decided she was done sitting, and had to tend her chick. This left 8 eggs that still needed some loving care and warmth. Fortunately, there was an up and running incubator waiting for them.

I gathered up the eggs, and noticed one had a "pip" in it. The chick was hatching, and had made a small hole through the egg shell. As I moved it into the incubator, the chick was talking to me. Peep peep peep!! I was so excited, and felt vested in this egg more than the other 7. I carefully laid it down in the incubator, and hoped for the best.

Hatching is a long process, taking 24 hours or more. But after 6 hours, nothing more had happened, and my hopes were dashed. I was sure this chick, who had been so chatty earlier in the day, had died. I was really feeling crushed and disappointed. I left for the day, not expecting anything more to happen overnight.

The next morning, I went about my duties, and finally made it to the incubator. With some trepidation, I picked up the flashlight, and peered inside. To my delight and astonishment, the egg was broken, and the chick was alive! I was so happy and relieved. Little chatty chick had a tiny little beak, little feet and feathers, and there he was!!

Isn't that what Easter is all about? The disciples had seen Jesus die on the Cross, and their hopes were dashed. This loving Messiah, who did only good for the people, who healed the sick, who preached peace and the love of God, had died most cruelly on the Cross. That was it, then, no one comes back from the dead. The disciples left the tomb feeling confusion, heartbreak, and wrenching grief.

Yet when the disciples arrived at the tomb three days later, it was empty! How can that be? Where was Jesus? Then Mary Magdalene spoke to a man near the tomb.He called her "Mary", and she knew her Savior was alive! How her heart must have leapt, and been filled with joy at the news. Jesus offers us the same eternal life that death cannot keep in the grave. We will live on in Heaven with Our Savior and Lord. All that we have to do is ask Jesus into our hearts, and tell Him we need this promise of eternal life. He loves us with unconditional love, and desires greatly to bring all of us home with Him. Happy Easter!

Be Still....

Recently, while pet sitting my friend's farm, I kept misplacing things. Food bowls, the scoops for food, buckets, my egg basket, things like that. Trying to locate these items in the barnyard was met by a pushy pony, goat horns, and a cacophony of hungry animals. Often, I'd have to work around it until the missing item reappeared.

It occurred to me that my mind was racing while I was caring for everyone. I'd be feeding the dogs, and my mind was running something like this: Okay, half a scoop of food per dog now, then half later. Did everyone get the same amount? Okay, the ties look good, I think everyone will stay put. Once they get done eating, I'll fix that one tie out. The kiddie pools are working great for water, I hope my friend approves of the idea. I wonder why they didn't do this already.

Moving on to the hens, Okay let's check food in this feeder, looks good. This one needs food. Where's my scoop? The waterer looks low, I'll top it off when I do the brooders. There should be eggs here, here, and here. Oh, she's laying, I'll get those eggs next time I come down. Gosh, that broody hen hasn't calmed down one bit since her eggs hatched. She's going to eat me one of these times. Why do the roosters have to be so loud?

This is all rapid fire thoughts in my head, constantly as I'm making my rounds. I'd set something down, but my mind is racing so fast, I pay no mind to where I set it. This must be what it's like to have ADHD. So this goes on all week, and I just can't really relax. At home, I'm trying to run my household, and worrying over my charges at my friend's house. At her house, I'm racing to get everyone cared for, and worrying over my house.

Saturday rolls around, and I have an ampitheater program at the zoo. It went well only due to my partner, a jr zoo who volunteered to help. I am so frazzled I can't keep my facts straight, and think like I need to be doing. After that, I have Mass to attend. I get to church, and completely relax. My mind settles down to concentrate on the Word of God. It's the first time I've relaxed all week.

Relating this later to my daughter, she asks me why I was able to relax in church, and not anywhere else. I don't have an answer at first, but I think on that question for a while. Finally I realize what made the difference. I was at Mass, and I didn't need to be anywhere else at that time. All I needed to do was listen to the Word of God, and focus on Him. I didn't need to be at my friend's house straightening up, taking care of dogs, or chickens, or the pony. I didn't need to be at my house washing dishes, or playing with the dogs, or working on the yard. I just needed to be in the presence of God, and worshiping Him. What a wonderful hour, I really needed that time to just stop and be with God.

God tells us in Scripture, "Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 "Come to Me, all who are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28. God is good, all the time. Amen

Starting my chicken journey

I've recently ventured into chicken keeping. I've wanted my own backyard chickens for almost 7 years now, ever since we found a flock in my neighbor's yard. We caught those, and they went to a friend's house as she had a better set up for them. I've helped with them, had ups and downs, and learned a lot. I finally took the plunge towards my own birds.

My first birds are 4 Rhode Island Red pullets from a feed store nearby. Well...not really, the feed store is actually about an hour away from us. It was worth it to me to get my first chicks though. At the chain farm store, you have to buy 6 chicks at a time. Most hatcheries require you to buy 15 so they stay warm during shipping. My feed store allows whatever you want to buy, so four it is!

Here are the babies the day I brought them home. I set up the brooder, set them in, and they all fell asleep-face first in the shavings:



Time went on, and they outgrew two brooders, so we had to come up with something that would last. Here is the brooder we built using a large dog crate, and cardboard.



It's been three weeks today, and I can't believe how much they have grown. I call them my ostriches because they are so big.



My husband needs to hurry up and build me a coop, these ladies will soon be ready to go outside. Keep checking back as I blog my exciting chicken journey.

God Bless
Chela

Don't Eat That!

I recently read a report online that said kale is bad for you. Good old kale, that leafy green stuff you pick up at the farmer's market, or the grocery produce aisle. Don't go telling our guinea pig Shadow it's bad for you, he loves the stuff!

So...you shouldn't eat kale. Hmmm...well fruit is tasty, and supposed to be healthy for you, right? No, not really. It has too much sugar. A zoo recently made the decision to stop feeding their primates bananas, as they have a high sugar content. Since scientists think we are just a less hairy form of monkey, we need to stop eating fruit as well.

Let's see...no fruit, and no kale. Okay, what about other vegetables like corn or potatoes, or green beans? Oh yeah, those are all genetically modified. So our favorite vegetables are out. That is disappointing, I love spaghetti squash.

We still have meat in our corner, right? Well no, meat is full of hormones and antibiotics, so that is no good either. Plus animals are raised in inhumane conditions, so it's cruel to eat meat unless you raise your own. We're rapidly running out of things to eat here.

Dairy, there we go! Milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream. Well...those are all carbs, which turn to sugar in your system, so those are out. Plus milk comes from farmed cows, so see above on that one.

We still have water, don't we? At least you can drink a glass of water at mealtime without upsetting anyone. Not really. Water makes you fat. You knew that right? It's true, because of the chemicals cities put in water, (chlorine, fluoride) and what is missing from it, (whatever that might be) it makes you gain weight. Or someone online said, anyway.

I guess I'll stick to just breathing air. Unless that is so polluted it isn't healthy either. So whatever you planned for your next meal, or whatever you have beside you right now, just don't eat it. It's not good for you!!

God bless,
Chela

My Valentine

There was once a good King, how ruled justly over His Kingdom, and all that He had made. He admired beautiful sunsets, heard the wind praising Him as it blew through the trees, and reveled in the majesty of the mountains as they towered over the plains. The great King also watched His people as they went about their daily lives. He saw babies being born, and farmers tending their fields.

Sadly though, the King did not see people following the laws He had given them. People were worshiping idols instead of their one true King. They did not keep the Sabbath holy, and were not respecting the name of the King. Marriage was not treated as the sacred sacrament it was meant to be. Murder had become the norm among the people. Stealing was common among the market, and the sacred temple was treated as a den of thieves.

The King realized something had to be done. The punishment for sin, breaking one or more of the Commandments, was punishable by death without exception. Yet the King loved His people, and wanted to give them a chance at Redemption. The King thought about this, and realized there was only one thing to do. He would send His Son to earth, to teach the people how to live in peace, how to follow God's laws, and how to live forever in Heaven with Him.

The King's Son of course deserved to arrive in the highest palace, with robes of finest silk. He should be welcomed with palms and blankets before His feet, with people bowing before Him. But the King was a very wise King, and knew His Son needed to live humbly, to be a King for all people, from the shepherds to the richest wise men. So the day came, and the King's Son was born in a stable, in the cold, to two poor people in a foreign land.

The Son grew in favor with the King, and very soon He was teaching the Rabbis, and performing miracles. He cured the sick, told the lame to walk, and even raised the dead. His knowledge of sacred Scripture was mind-boggling. He had a group of followers, but nowhere to lay His head. He roamed the land, healing and teaching as He went. He told them they were to love the King, and to worship nothing else. They were to love their neighbor as themselves, the most important Commandment.

People soon realized this Son had a lot of power, as if He was the King himself. They soon grew fearful of Him, thinking He would take over their positions of power. The people decided to crucify the Son. They arrested Him, and tortured Him, before nailing Him to a Cross. The Son had been given a heart full of nothing but love, so before He died, He forgave his tormentors.

You would think the story ends here, but the King is an amazing King. After His Son died, He was in the grave for three days. The He rose from the dead. He was alive again! With this Resurrection, he offered all of the people forgiveness of sins, and life eternal in Heaven, exactly what His Father, the King, wanted all along. All the people had to do was believe in the Son, and ask Him into their hearts, where He can still live today. The Son is named Jesus, and for all of this that He has done for me, He is my Valentine!

Hiking pictures

We took the dogs out today to stretch their legs and get some fresh air. They love going to the state park and hike, it is puppy Disneyland. Here are the photos we took:
A small pine tree:

Peaceful stream

A downed tree

A fallen tree with moss and mushrooms

Ferns

Hiking Pictures 2

Here are the rest of the pictures from our day at the state park!

Josh hit this tree and said it sounded hollow:



It was!


My favorite photo:


hornet nest:


Sweet Pea found this stick in the water to be very dangerous:



I hope you enjoyed your day at the state park. Get out and hike!!

God Bless,
Chela