Crazy chicken lady

My husband thinks I might be turning into a crazy chicken lady. We currently have 10 chickens- 3 full grown hens, a full grown rooster, a pair of cochin approx 10 weeks old, and 4 3 week old chicks (one of whom I suspect is a roo). Just because he comes home from work and I am sitting in the yard with chickens in my lap, or because the babies cry every night starting around 530 until I go and pick them up, does not make me a crazy chicken lady. I prefer to look at it more as I am raising healthy, happy chickens who in turn provide our family with healthy food. Much better than the mass produce chicken factories most people get their eggs from.
But, I have been seen walking around with a chicken or 2 perched on my shoulder... Maybe that has something to do with it.

One hot week

What a week! In a state where we think its beach weather when the thermometer reads 55, dealing with multiple 90 degree days was rough. The kids toughed it out much better than Justin and I did and I have no trouble admitting I was one whiney baby through it all.
The family is currently on our first camping adventure this weekend. So far, its going great. But take a minute to picture us: 2 adults, 4 kids, a german shepherd and a newfoundland sharing a tent. We are a traveling circus.

A little bit country

A few months ago, stuff went south fast financially speaking and I had to figure out a way to cut costs around here. The first things that went were frilly things- cable, internet, etc. but it was still tight. After some research we brought home a few hens to provide us with eggs (I know, I know who adds more mouths to feed when things are tight already? Those that know me will immediately tell you I do!). We were chugging along, barely treading water, and I was noticing how good it made me feel to raise the hens and know that I was, atleast in a tiny way, helping with the family budget. That got the wheels in my head turning and I decided to try a couple other things. I made my own laundry detergent, and then my own dish detergent. So cheap and easy to do AND they work great! Since those experiments I have discovered cleaning with distilled vinegar (seriously, it cleans everything! Clothes, carpets, toilets, tarnished metal, dishes....) And today made my first batch of regular dish soap. We planted a very small (and somewhat unsuccessful) veggie garden and plan to can/freeze whatever we can. I make all our own bread (definitely need to keep practicing that one) and all our pasta. Plans are in the works next year to expand and upgrade the veggie garden and also try our hand at raising meat birds.
This all sounds very old- fashioned and country to my "city girl" ears. But it has seriously cut back our spending! And it makes me feel so good to know that I can do it and that my girls are benefitting from it. Might be a little bit "country", but just wait til we can afford a few acres and see what I can do!

A little about me...

Before I jump into the world of blogging, I thought I might get my feet wet with a little background info on myself and my family.
My name is Anna. I am married to Justin, mother to Natalie, Leah, McKenzie and Alyvia. We have a german shepherd (Gala) who is 11, a newfoundland (Calypso) who is 1, a sugarglider named Mantaquilla, an 11yr old lovebird named Tex, 3 hens, 1 rooster, and 4 chicks (it was 5, but thats for another post....). As you can see, we are a big family with a lot going on! What follows will be the ongoing antics, heartaches, triumphs and everything in between of life with the Keeneys!