I’m Blessed

We celebrated the fourth with pie at the lake as usual.  I’m getting pretty much strawberried out.  I’m having some friends pick from my patch this week, as I cannot possibly hold anymore.  I can tell the patch is starting to wind down, but there’s still lots there.  Raspberry picking will start this week.  The peas will likely be ready as well, and maybe the green beans.  

Knut and I celebrated our 12th anniversary this weekend as well.  I was glad we were able to get away for dinner, as it feels like it’s been a long time since we’ve had the chance.

I need to make a decision about chicks today.  The red fox has taken every last one of our young pullets as Missy had been resting from her surgery.  We have only the 7 full grown layers left from last year.  I’m just devastated about it.  I’ve been mourning them for a bit, but have to face the facts that we need more birds.  10 will feed just our family, and 20 will feed our family and pay for all the birds’ feed.  7 means we’re rationing them out so that we don’t have to actually buy eggs.  Our coop can comfortably fit 20.  Where’s the “I’m Blessed” twist?  There has to be one.  I’m blessed I have options in front of me.  I’m blessed it’s merely a decision of how many and from where, and which kind.  Many families around the world would love to be “stuck” with those decisions.

We’ve unleashed Missy to hunt down the fox at night, though he has still been seen, even once creeping up about 20 feet from Missy while she was napping on the driveway.  We also see evidence in the yard that Missy and the fox were in a fight.  How that fight ended is still unknown.  Missy, of course, is fine.

We’ve decided to add a rooster to our coop.  I know, I know.  I’m not a fan of roosters.  On the other hand, I’m sick and tired of buying chicks all the time.  Also, I think it would just be one more layer of protection for the hens.  The kids are delighted to start candling eggs, and seeing broods of chicks under   the soft feathers of hens.  It might be easier letting the hens raise their own as opposed to keeping the chicks separated in a brooder.  It’s one less thing for us to do, you know?

My canning pantry is getting full, the vegetable harvest will begin this week, new chicks are (again) on the horizon, we begin our 13th year of marriage, there’s so many blessings.  I’m eager for some time for us to catch our breath.  I wish I could say that July won’t be as busy as June.  I have 2 knitting submissions I was hoping to get done in the next 2 weeks.  The county fair is coming up, and the kids’ 4H projects will be due, and the kids’ cousins just moved back to town for the summer.  Not to mention, if I thought strawberry harvest was busy, it’s just the tip of the gardening season.

I’m blessed to not be bored, idle, or watching everything fall apart around me without any way to stop it like last summer.  I may be up to my neck in life, but I’m not sure I’d have it any other way.