{Find a Reason to Smile}

*Today's post is brought to you by the magic of Google Awesome, which, without my knowing, backs up my pictures from my phone and does silly things with them.

The last week or so has been, to be frank, BLAH. There's been a lot of stress and rotten news to go around, for both Jeff and I and people I know, and in dealing with it, I've been focusing on things that make me happy in my life, and bring a smile. 

Like these lovely ladies. They are goofy, moody, sweet, and entertaining to just sit and watch. They are always so happy to see me when I get home in the evening, that I don't even mind cleaning up after them! 

I know, I know. I'm a little obsessed, and everyone things this about their own, but my dogs are pretty darn awesome. Just when I think my day is going to be outright terrible, they pop up at my side and make me laugh and forget myself for a few minutes. 

This Guy. This guy puts up with my impulses, harebrained ideas, and high maintenance temper. I am sincerely lost without this guy.

Oh, to have a space to sit and be. We finally got the Adirondack chairs put together and stained, a canopy for shade, and now, combining watching silly chickens with Jeff and the clown dog duo is now a breezy relaxing activity that I look forward to. 

I'm certainly glad and grateful for the simple things in life that make me smile even on days when I feel less than happy.

{ Chicken Update }

The goal for this year was to work towards a larger idea of self-sufficiency, and a more immediate desire to spend more time outside doing and enjoying this summer.

So far. So good.

The chickens are pretty low maintenance, especially compared to the dogs. They do however seem to REALLY enjoy when I get home in the evenings, as they all come rushing out of the coop, or whatever object they were pecking out, and are eager to get out the run to explore the yard. That includes Cooper and Kate, who they seem to have no fears of.  I'd like to think that I worked really hard with the two pups while we were brooding the chicks to help them understand that the chickens are not like the other birds outside and are not to be chased or eaten - and to my surprise, they do really well with them! At best, they show a total disinterest, and at worst, they nose them around, and get their feelings hurt when the chickens come right up to their snouts and peck at them.

This is not to say I trust them alone together, because I don't. I know both my dogs well enough that given the right trigger, they both have excellent prey drives and that a flighty chicken may quickly become a dead one.  So, direct supervision only - and the tiny suburban backyard farm continues to go smoothly!

{Spring Weekend}

Jeff is gone six days and home for two in his work rotation. So, the days off he gets rotate. This past weekend was the first full weekend we have both had off together in over six weeks. Lucky for us, the sun shined, the breeze blew, and we made the most of a spring weekend in Kentucky.

We started it off with a lunch date to Windy Corner Market, a quaint local restaurant that is accompanied with a beautiful drive along well manicured horse farms. The food was delicious and had a laid back atmosphere that you could soak up.  It set the tone for the rest of the weekend, which was spent building and planting the vegetable garden we've been talking about, getting herbs started, and spending time down on the farm with family and the dogs watching the semi-annual LDS conference.  

I left this weekend feeling refreshed, optimistic about this summer, and contented with my life. 

In two planters, we have starter herbs for basil, mint, parsley,cilantro, rosemary, and lavender. 

Jeff also planted a peach tree this weekend! While it may take a couple of years to bear fruit, the blossoms that we get to enjoy now are gorgeous!