Little baby duckies

As we're getting Stella ready for school today, it's the Jogathon today - can't miss that, I get a Facebook message from a lady that my partner and I have know for quite some years. She's asking me to call her mom at a school down the way as there's two baby ducks that need some care.

I called the school and long story short, Mrs. Wanda Daily, the schools amazing librarian and mother of one of our closest friends, asks us to take these two adorable, lost little duckies. It turns out they followed a child to school and lost their way. Part of me is glad that we can offer them a suitable home and that we're brooding other chicks right now so these little ducks can grow up as part of a chicken, turkey and duck family. Another part in me, a large part, feels just horrible knowing that there's most likely a duck mommy out there, missing two of her clutch, searching and worried.

Milk jug bird feeder

So, here we are, building another bird feeder. I think I must have 7 or 8 homemade bird feeders in the yard at this time. I just can't seem to help myself! I love the birds and I'm running out of ideas for reusing the milk jugs, so that's how we ended up making yet another feeder. This one is super easy. Cut a hole large enough in the milk container for a bird to get into, push two skewers into the bottom for roosts and add bird feed. For easy placement and removal on a branch, I used a wire coat hanger. Not rocket science but a fun way to spend a sunny afternoon with your children.

Along Came Calvin

After adopting Gretchen, we noticed that the laying ladies weren't being too nice to our newest addition. So I looked online for another duck to adopt. I didn't find another duck.

I found Calvin, the goose. He might just be the coolest goose I've ever laid eyes upon. Calvin is friendly and sounds like a dinosaur. Gretchen didn't seem to take any notice of Calvin until he waddled over to poke around the pool, at which point Ms. Gretchen chased him away with squawks and head jabs. Since then, they seem to be getting along just fine. Right now, until it's time to plant the corn, squash and beans, they're in the Three Sisters Garden.

Fencing, firepits and rescue ducks

No matter how hard we work during the weekend, we always seem fall into bed on Sunday night, joyous and grateful. This weekend was no different; we fenced and tilled and raked and worked the soil and rebuilt the fire pit - it was too small - and worked until our backs ached and the sun was going down.

There was like, a million kids over this weekend. I think we had 8 spend the night and 10 during the day on Saturday. The only kid to offer his assistance to Nik was little 1 year old Leroy. Great job kid! You build a mean fire pit!

Much to my dismay, Nik even found time to mow the front yard. Oh how I dislike a mowed lawn! I mean, sure it's beautiful, but it does nothing to entice the goats to halt in their escape attempt if they ever fancy a trip off the property!

And Along Came Gretchen

I'd like to introduce you to Gretchen. I don't know what kind of duck she is, but she is a duck. We found Gretchen on Craigslist; she had been mauled by a dog and her mate, Bob, murdered. Her previous guardian decided she belonged in a home without a bully breed dog. I just couldn't not go get her. She's just beautiful! Her wings are pretty messed up and one of her feet is mangled, but I think she'll be okay. She's absolutely gorgeous! We put her in with the chicks in the hopes that she'll bond. I'm leery of putting her in with the laying hens because I don't think she's well enough to deal with the whole pecking order thing. Anyhow, here's Gretchen!

Building the Fire Pit and Grill

After much debate and agonizing over where and how to build and place a fire pit and grill, we finally agreed on where it should reside. Nik scavenged a really cool grate that cleaned up real easy and the fire beneath our buns was ignited! The kids helped heave dirt back to the designated spot while Nik dug and placed and then replaced all of the concrete pieces. I stood, watched and photographed. When it was time, I did assist in in the building effort by hauling buckets of river rock and sand at Nik's command. It took him three solid hours, and well into the night, to finish this project. When it was all said and done and the children were snug in their beds, we initiated the pit with a nice, warm fire and a glass of wine. Great job family!

There is a new story out in the Oregonian called Radical Homemaking. Here's the link http://www.oregonlive.com/foodday/index.ssf/2010/04/radical_homemaking.html . If you can, check it out. I read this and I felt such an odd mix of emotions. Pride for what we're doing here at home, justification for doing what I feel is right regardless of the arguments put forth by others, camaraderie for those mentioned in the story. It's been said that for something to have progressed to the point of mention in print, it's a popular fad. Maybe I'm just out of touch but I have to say that I felt a huge relief reading this article. Finally, someone has mentioned what I do. Finally, I've read somewhere that it's okay and even right to lead the life that I lead. For so long, I've felt so lost within two worlds, a world of professional achievement and another of suburban homemaking; in neither do I succeed. I thought I might be crazy, leading this life. But heck, if it's in print somewhere, I guess I'm not crazy and maybe I'm just not in touch with others like me. Thank you, Leslie Cole, for running the story on radical domesticity. Thank you, Shannon Hayes, for writing a book about people like me. And thank you countless other women and families that live like I do. I don't feel so crazy today.