Cultivating Joy

Maybe not farming-related, but this video speaks to everything I am trying to teach my children about self-worth, values, and what is truly important.

Let's cultivate joy.

First Harvest Approaching!

The vegetable garden is healthy and green, but it will be a while before the veggies are ready to harvest.

The lemon tree, on the other hand, is just about there. It has been tempting us with its luscious fruit for months now, its branches laden with more lemons than it could seemingly support. But they have been green all this time. And now the first and biggest one has turned a sunny yellow (check out the lemon at the bottom of the tree, in line with the trunk). I'll be picking it soon.

And then the dozens of others will turn yellow all at once. The kids will try to become multi-millionaires by hawking lemonade to passers-by. And then we'll be giving the lemons away to friends and neighbors because you can only eat so many lemon squares : )

Update: Together We Can Fly

Just found out that this photo that William submitted to the school's Reflections Art Contest has won, and will be moving up to compete at the school district level, against a couple dozen other elementary schools. So proud of my little photographer!

Chicken Ethics

My Uncle Tom, and some other expert sources, say you should feed chickens eggs from time to time for their health. So tonight we made some scrambled eggs and served them a nice warm dinner.

They loved them, and dug right in. Obviously they were oblivious to the fact that their meal could have been their second cousin twice removed.

I can't be the only one with a creepy feeling about this. It's not quite cannibalism, but somehow it just seems wrong. Of course, not as wrong as feeding them last night's coq-au-vin.

Indiana Jones of Weeding

Not wanting to step in the garden and potentially smash a little seedling, William has taken to "stunt weeding".

Bon Appetit

Special day for the chickens -- we introduced them to a new food! Chickens love to eat (proof being my dwindling supply of chicken feed) and they are old enough to experiment with new things. I knew they were ready when I caught them nibbling at Indira's oatmeal this morning (she had brought it out of the kitchen).

So I got them their own treat: plain yogurt (sprinkled with a bit of feed).

They didn't know what to make of it at first, but China eventually stuck her beak in the bowl, and was pleasantly surprised by what she found there. Not one to be outdone, Snow Angel stuck her foot in the bowl. And then she dug in too. They are now realizing there is a whole world of gastronomy out there, waiting to be discovered.

Bon Appetit, babies!

Together We Can Fly

William is submitting an entry into the Reflections contest at school. This is a PTA art contest where the winning entries at the school level compete at higher and higher levels, all the way up to the state. The theme for this year is "Together We Can."

William has a wonderful photographer's vision, and he took this incredible photo of China. If you look carefully, you can see the shadow of the extension of her legs and feet as she prepares to take flight.

Chickens are Just Like Us

Who knew? Chickens are just like us:

They like to watch TV.

They like to play cards.

They like to sunbathe.

They like to just hang out.

Little Sprouts of Hope

We got the little veggies in the garden on Sunday night, and sowed the seeds on Monday afternoon (I would have done it Monday morning, but the kids insisted I wait until they get home from school so they could do it.)

And then the rains began. In our drought-ridden desert-y home, the skies actually opened up. It rained Monday, Tuesday, most of Wednesday... and I had visions of the seeds rotting in the drenched soil before they could germinate. The sun came out again yesterday, but I wasn't hopeful. I had all but convinced myself they had no chance of surviving.

Then today I peeked on the garden to see how things were doing. And I was blown away to see a row of clustered sprouts. Spring (fall?) has sprung in our little garden. What a miracle!

Feelin' the Love

Tomorrow the chicks will be three weeks old, and we are astounded by how much they have changed already. They have quadrupled their birth weight. And they are almost completely feathered. Pretty soon they will be able to stay outside for longer periods of time.

They are also completely comfortable with our home and with us. As you can see, they have no problem getting up close and personal with us.

** and no, I did not put her up there.

** and no, she did not poop on my head.

Phase Three Almost Complete!

Hard work at the Marchand house this weekend. Phil dug up a portion of the sprinkler system...

And the men went over the plans to extend the sprinklers...

Until voila! The soil was in, the sprinklers were laid, and the plants and seeds are ready to be put into the earth.

It's a foreign but amazing concept -- winter vegetable gardening! We are planting herbs, lettuce, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, Swiss chard, radishes, snap peas and onions.

I am so excited by the concept of making meals for our family with vegetables we grow from our own garden. The kids will actually see their food grow -- and help it grow (oh yes, they will be working in the garden! I can hear the whining already). What a way to learn the value of getting your hands dirty.

Tomorrow we plant!

* Shout out to Living Green Garden Center on Jeronimo -- they were incredibly helpful and informative.

Little Divas

Two weeks old and already they are too lazy to walk???