So Much Rain

We have had so much rain in the last few weeks it's been really hard to get out in the garden and get things prepared. Rain or shine this weekend I'm measuring beds and digging. We have a canopy, so I'm setting it up and away I will go!

We did have a small break in the weather yesterday and I might be able to get a few things done during the day today if the sun lasts. Yesterday I gave the chicken coop a good cleaning. With all the rain and wind the inside had gotten wet, not to mention my chickens love to run around in the rain and slurp up fat worms that surface, so they end up soaked. When they are finally full they take their wet selves into the coop and that adds even more water. I cleared all of the wet wood chips, chicken poop and any food leftover. It all went into the compost pile to cover a nice new layer of food scraps I had taken out. I sprayed out their water bowl since they are constantly getting dirt in it. I need to buy a feeder and watering system for them, but just haven't had the money. Lack of money just means more work to keep it clean, so that's what I do!

All this time I had been having trouble reaching the nesting boxes (not that any of them lay in the boxes as we had thought) and yesterday I discovered the hatch over them DOES open as Jerod had planned. I thought he hadn't gotten to it yet. Turns out he hadn't gotten to a way to keep it open for egg collection and cleaning (again, not that the egg collecting part counts). Needless to say the nest were a mess since they had been hard to manage before. They are nice and clean now. The chicken were given nice fresh wood chips to nest in, kick around and just plain enjoy, which they do.

I have a ton of starts in flats that are so ready to see daylight outside. I just need a break in the rain long enough to get them in. I also need to grab some organic compost and some hay. Then I am completely set to go!

I cannot wait for spring and the abundance of wonderful food my garden will be giving! I cannot wait until my days are spent less in the house and more in the garden. Nights by the fire instead of on the couch with the tv. I'm getting giddy just thinking about it!! But I am thankful for the rain. We need it here and it is making my digging efforts easier everyday that it comes down. So thank God for the rain!

On to another topic....today I will have my first sewing lesson. Ok, not my very first. My Grandmother, Elaine, tried to teach me several times when I was young, but I just wasn't having it. Now I wish I had. So I have enlisted the help of a friend who I love to chit chat with and don't get the chance as often as I'd like. Monica and I will attempt to start one of the several projects I have. I'm very excited and I plan to take pictures and of course post them here.

That's all for now!