Moving Day for Peeps

Goldie's New Digs

It's not much to look at, but it's bigger than a window well, the roof doesn't leak, it has a nice sunny window and its own private yard--which, as we know, is a prime real estate draw for a mother with eight children to look after.

The moving van, er, box, arrived Monday evening. Few amenities were provided (the box was dark and some complaints were heard) but the trip was thankfully short--just from the side of our house to the backyard.



Goldie quickly began to give her family a tour and, I imagine, to lay down the house rules.

The Big Outdoors

The fence provides no obstacle to someone this size. However, no one is willing to wander far from mom.



Everyone gathers round, perhaps for an important lesson.

Goldie continues with a demonstration; pupils are very attentive.

The step up into the shed poses a small challenge...

...but with a bit of practice, everyone seems to be getting the hang of it, even testing out those little wings.

Eggsperiment #3

Cats on Tuesday may be found below. Meanwhile, back at the Hall of Justice, I am incubating some eggs.
Last weekend I set up the incubator for the first time. Yes, it looks a lot like a styrofoam cooler, with windows. But it really is a Little Giant incubator.

I let it run for awhile and it does keep a fairly steady temperature.
It took me three thermometers (including two people thermometers) to make certain I had it right--102 degrees F (39 C) for a still-air incubator.
On Sunday I put 24 eggs into the incubator, small end down. The air pocket is at the large end of the egg and should go up; this is where the chick will develop.
This incubator has an egg turner which gently rocks the eggs back and forth, so you don't have to do it yourself. (Kind of makes me appreciate all the work the broody hens do.)
This is what a good egg looks like when you shine the light through it. You can see the network of blood vessels developing.
It takes 21 days for chicken eggs to hatch. On day 7, I candled the eggs by holding them over a bright light and looking for signs of life. Eight of them had to be discarded, but 16 of them showed healthy signs of development. So far, so good.
For comparison, this is a fresh egg, before incubation. You can see the little air pocket on the left. (If you have children, or are simply curious, Mink Hollow Farm has a great website on how eggs develop into chicks, with a teacher tutorial and kids activities. I've borrowed these two egg candling photos from them.)

Hopefully, in two more weeks, we'll see a few of these.

6 June 2007

I was just reading about how putting energy into the universe by being for something is a much more positive step than expending energy by being against something. (Me, I've always liked being against things myself. Back in college I was all about the rallies, the protest marches, and against dozens of evil things--stick a sign in my hand and I had a cause, a nice hefty dose of self-righteous anger, and was all a-bristle with fierce and persuasive arguments. Tons of fun!)

But back to my point. What I read said that it's more difficult to be for something, because then you have to come up with creative solutions for problems and work toward those, rather than just rail against all the wrongs--which is easy because problems tend to be so self-evident and, well, anyone can rant and rave and wave a sign in the air. (I get angry and wave my arms around a lot.)

The gist was that sending positive energy out is much healthier (not just for me, but in general) because it gathers creative and positive energy with it: "We can direct our energy and intentions into activities that promote peace rather than using our resources to speak out in opposition of war. On the surface, these appear to be two interchangeable methods of expressing one virtue, yet being for something is a vastly more potent means of inspiring change because it carries with it the power of constructive intent." (Daily OM, Putting Power In Perspective: Always Be For Something; May 18, 2007)

Then I saw this in the blogiverse tonight. It is a cool and very simple thing. I'm just sayin'. You could make a globe for your blog. Write a post on June 6. Whatever. I mean, if you feel like it.

But that thing about the positive--I never thought about it that way before.

So now I'm not quite as busy hating the war, despising Bush, being disgusted with the whole situation--it all really was wearing me out. I'm just trying to focus on peace. Dona nobis pacem. You go, Mimi.

Peace, my friends. And blessed be.