Chickens!!

   So this is the hub getting some fencing around my new coop yesterday, after working an arduous day in the studio, because I told him I had found my chickens, and would be picking them up today. What a trooper!

We chose the area in front of our patio...

   This is the EXCITING part: we now have FIVE hens! I found a sweet older gentleman selling them on Craig's List. Three aracauna (the 'Easter Egg" kind I wanted) and two mixed breed. They are all buddies, and a bit shy, but if you look to the right of the coop, you can see some of them hiding.

   After I picked the monkey up from space camp, I found that they had devoured the watermelon I gave them, rind and all. AND...there were already three eggs in the nesting box! The light washed it out in this photo, but there were two green and one very light blue egg (or was it the other way around...?). Anyway, we were so stoked! I'm hoping for the best with the doggies, and hoping to train them to not want to eat the girls. Hopefully my next posts will continue happily, and not be sad (fingers crossed).

Gardening Update and NEW Boots!

  Growing asparagus requires a lot of patience. This is year two of my asparagus planting, so I only get to harvest a few spears. Super-excited to have any, though! Next year is when we are supposed to enjoy the rewards of letting the bed establish...

   This is my corn plot which I hope will be productive this year. I have corn in various stages, and just added more seedlings yesterday.

   The monkey and I transferred the pumpkin seedlings to the corn area yesterday, and we are nurturing the basil and eggplant sprouts.

   I no longer have to envy others' hollyhocks: I have them growing in three different spots, and have three shades so far. This plant is by my back steps, and I have some sweet peas I am coaxing along as well. My favorite bouquet ever, was a mass of sweetpeas the hub gave me years ago...

   I was SUPER-excited, that my new Justin AQHA boots arrived yesterday! These will be my 'dress-up' boots. The price was VERY reduced, courtesy of Zulily...I love a bargain, and I love these boots! My old boots have a hole in the bottom, and my resoled Noconas are about 14 years old, and need tips. These are so comfy, and the square toes are my favorite shoe style. Everyone knows I LIVE in boots...woo hoo!

   Last night, we broke out the little fire pit my friend gave me (free, from the dump!), roasted marshmallows with our buds, C & L, and enjoyed some very tasty sangria and stargazing...fun!

Summer Yum = Summer Fun!

 So, while the monkey was spending the week at my fab sister's, & attending Camp Cauhilla, we had some fun grown-up time. We went to our fave hip eatery/bar, the Brimstone, in the Padre Hotel with our buds C & L.  We ordered a bunch of small plates, like the spinach/artichoke dip with naan bread, and the fried clams/shrimp/calamari seen above...

   Of course, we also had to have the truffle fries and rice paper wrapped sashimi. The mac/cheese was good, but not as good as last time (it changed to a corn/pork). We pigged out & got our drink on...fun!! When we all got back, mojitos, stargazing & great conversation...

 On July 4, we celebrated with a motorcycle ride to Reyes Creek Bar & Grill, at Camp Scheideck. Exactly as I expected, rough & tumble, with great burgers...

  This cute doggy was cooling off in the creek. She did exactly as I expected: ran up to us in the parking luot to share some mud & love...lol.
   Monkey came home last nite, & I surprised him with the news I have agreed to try raising chickens. My neighbor's gift of more delish eggs was the tipping point. I ordered a coop from Hayneedle; will post about the assembly...

Fun Floats with a View!

The hub has done an immense job of brush clearance this year! After a day of hard work, he & the monkey enjoyed some refreshing floats...

 Note my gardening endeavors in the backround. Orange/vanilla 'creamsicle' float for the monkey...

and a traditional root beer float for the hub. The sky looks grey because it WAS! Saturday night some clouds rolled in, and it felt like coastal weather. Right now we are having a heat wave...yuck.

Open House

 Open House was a few weeks ago, so clearly, I am behind on this. The children's projects were based on my favorite theme: farms. I'm looking forward to next year, and a new theme. They planted corn, learned farm animal poems, wrote about farm animals, made a book about corn, and made a pop-up farm animal book. Sadly, only 8 of my children had parents attend. I will be striving to convey the importance of Open House next year, and increase our attendance. Kinder 'graduation' will get a fab turnout, so I need to get that kind of enthusiasm generated for Open House...

Another Art Project

Ai yi yi, I am behind on posts! I had to get this one out, though. This photo is of my favorite wildflower spot on Cerro Noroeste (soon to be Hudson Ranch Road, & knowing the WHOLE story behind the change as I do, I wholeheartedly support it).  Somehow it is a little distorted on my blog; it is really narrower. ANYWAY, it is the inspiration for my latest painting, below (the two side paintings were purchased at a fundraiser at Tejon Ranch, but I emulated their style in mine).

  I like my take on the photo. I plan to paint more this summer & experiment with various subjects & styles...

A Creative Spurt...

   I have been on a creative kick lately. I painted this portrait of Kahlua tonight (photos can't really capture the colors quite right).

The flash kind of bleaches out the color. I'm very happy with the painting, though. It looks better in person...

I also made two pizzas tonight: the usual pepperoni for the monkey, and a chevre, parmesan, bacon, onion & brussel sprout one that was inspired by a CPK pizza my sis & I had the other day.

I took the monkey to a great allergist earlier today. He had quite a few skin tests, & his back lit up like a Christmas tree. The most severe reaction: dog dander! I expected pine pollen, but nope, it was dog dander. He had NO reaction to cats (that is crazy). So, he has some good meds, & I feel good about his prognosis. He's also allergic to a multitude of weeds and molds...ai yi yi.