tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56447984290308198532024-02-23T01:51:16.440-05:00Cage Free MonkeysOur semi-organic, homeschooling, semi-homesteading, and natural living-ish life. (No one is perfect--right??)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger252125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-50851695636060508252012-02-07T09:09:00.001-05:002012-02-07T09:11:16.642-05:00A--mazing Amazon Deal! Over 100 Batteries for 10 bucks or Less!<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=cagfremon08-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B002PY7P4I&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>
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By using the promo code for ReStock, $10 off any three qualifying items you can really save by stocking up on batteries. </div>
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I purchased 2 AA packs (96 batteries) and 1 AAA pack (36 batteries) for a total of $10.89 and free shipping after using the $10 off promo code <b> </b><span style="background-color: white; color: grey; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; text-align: left;"><b>6EFUJ3X7 </b><span style="font-size: 11px;"> </span></span>from Restock It. </div>
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<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-51826009393629409032012-02-05T16:23:00.000-05:002012-02-05T16:58:53.701-05:00Homeschool Art: The Melted Crayon Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You know the project. Odds are if you are on Pintrest, you have it pinned to a board. Lately, its been circling the blogosphere. We finally had the chance to do it. And while its "fun" there is also a lot of learning that can take place during this activity. Teachable moments include:</div>
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<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Colors of the rainbow</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/refrn/u14l4a.cfm" target="_blank">White light refracted through a prism</a></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.chem4kids.com/files/matter_states.html" target="_blank">States of matter </a></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.candlecauldron.com/waxandwicks.html" target="_blank">Physical changes to matter (solid to liquid and back to solid)</a></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.candlecauldron.com/waxandwicks.html" target="_blank">Melting point of wax (and extend it onward to other items with melting points)</a></li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Artist expression</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Layering</li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Colormixing.shtml" target="_blank">Color blending</a></li>
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Start to finish it took a little more than an hour. The supplies for each child cost us $3 at Michael's. Here's how to do it:</div>
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<em>Supplies: One box of 60 Crayons, One canvas (14x10 approx), hot glue gun, hair dryer</em><br />
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Step One: Take small sections of crayons and put them into color order. Add small sections of crayons to the color-ordered group. </div>
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Step Two: Hot glue crayons onto canvas.</div>
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Step Three: Experiment with hairdryer at different heights, distances, and speeds to achieve the type of melting that your child wants most. Experiment with layering by heating and cooling newly melted wax. </div>
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-69314690618054012482012-01-13T11:29:00.000-05:002012-01-13T11:29:46.995-05:00Homeschool Tech Activity: EASY Stop Motion Videos and a Challenge ActivityI am always looking for new ways to make homeschooling fun and hip, and I try to tie in the kids interests into things we learn about whenever possible. They love learning and I want that to continue. That's the basic principal behind my homeschooling mantra.<br />
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My masters degree is in Instructional Technology- essentially how to incorporate technology into instruction; to use technology to engage learners, building on the <a href="http://www.mn-stem.com/" target="_blank"><b>STEM</b></a> skills they will need. That's what I have been doing all while in my cozy pajamas using the gifts the kids got for Christmas. And I thank Steve Jobs everyday for making that oh-so-easy.<br />
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One of my Masters classes was on making movies. Although only 10 years ago, we used big bulky video camera, edited in iMovie-like software (for hours) and came up with a half-way decent result. When we repeated that lesson back into the classroom it was successful but so time consuming. <br />
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Flash forward 10 years to a couple of homeschoolers, an iPod touch and the internet: the possibilities are endless and SIMPLE!<br />
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<b>Here's what you will need:</b><br />
iPod touch/ iPhone/ iPad (needs the camera feature)<br />
<b><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itimelapse-pro-time-lapse/id335866860?mt=8" target="_blank">iTimeLapse Pro</a> </b>it'll cost you a whopping $1.99<br />
your choice of subject matter<br />
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You can do so much with this! My 8 year old, with minimal help took his kit of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/LEGO%C2%AE-Architecture-Rockefeller-Plaza-21007/dp/B004Q53L42/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326471586&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Legos: Rockefeller Center </a>and built it using the manual picture mode (taking a picture after every step of lego building) and really, other than the music selection, the app did the rest! <br />
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Here's his video:<br />
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<b><u>HOMESCHOOLERS' CHALLENGE: </u></b><br />
I'd like to do a carnival of sorts. A chance for others to learn about this app and share some of our results using a similar set of subject objects.<br />
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<b>TASK:</b> Using the following items, create your own stop action movie and have it shared here in 1 week! I think it'll be very cool to see how many different versions we can come up with using similar props. Let's start out very simple since many of you may not be familiar with any of this application.<br />
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<ul><li><b>iTimeLapse Pro </b></li>
<li><a href="http://madebyjoel.com/2011/08/paper-city-paris.html" target="_blank"><b>Paper City Paris </b></a>on madebyjoel.com (this will be our "common thread" in all of our videos-- its doesn't matter how you use it just so long as its there somehow)</li>
<li><b>ANYTHING ELSE</b> <b>(prop-wise) YOU CAN DREAM OF</b></li>
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Once you have made your video post it to YouTube.com and email us the link and we will post our results! Can't wait to see what turns up! Get all videos in by January 21!! Email the link of your video to jenaferlm at hotmail dot com (if you can't get it loaded up to YouTube just email us the video!) When you send us the link or video let us know what name you would like displayed with your video (no need for real names- if you want to be private and internet-safety-minded! AND if you have a blog and want it linked add that too!)<br />
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Happy movie making!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-991185722917100262011-09-17T18:35:00.015-04:002011-09-17T20:12:56.993-04:00The Ultimate “Stay-cation”: Lyme's Disease<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653463498093996514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyWXRMT_esMKsJioZUKUhlA2AGMtqTK6umW7wdE9YVJnO2xFM1EZQrRFK3b89w6tBoTUuGd1Oao5_hDbECcgmMpVEqiMQiH-8DMfrmyNoLCIC9qw71npMZcsUYlD6KQF1RWIGdON-NHw/s400/travel-illness-avoid-sick-holiday.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 346px;" /></div><div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In this tough economy, may people are turning away from vacations and doing stay-cations instead. I would like to offer you the ultimate in the Stay-cation Experience: Lymes Disease. I know, you think I am crazy—but hear me out. You will find yourself hunting down a Lyme carrying tick before you finish reading this blog post.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Lets compare vacation experiences with Lymes Disease and see how they shape up.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Travel.</b><b> </b> Many people enjoy traveling far distances and seeing new places. Well, with Lymes Disease, you most likely will not be able to find a specialist in your geographic area and will get to indulge in such travel. <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Meet New People.</b> Ah, meeting new people. Sometimes when one goes on vacation they make friends with others on vacation. With Lymes Disease, you too can meet new people. Most will have medical degrees of varying fields; oncology, infectious disease, internal medicine, surgeons, etc. You options of meeting these new people is truly limitless as few people will realize you actually have Lymes Disease and they will continually bounce you over to another specialist to meet. <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Loose Your Inhibitions.</b> Sometimes people on vacation can tend to act in a promiscuous fashion. You get to do that too with Lymes Disease! I promise you will not miss out! The people you met in #2 will feel you up, both over your clothes and under them. You will leave their offices feeling as violated and used as if you had a drunken escapade in a bar. Promise.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>See New Sights.</b> The Taj Mahal? The <st1:place st="on">Eiffel <st1:placetype st="on">Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place>? They both have nothing on seeing the various CT scan machines, radiology suites, and other specialty suites your local hospitals offer. You may get to see Pet Scan machines too. Become overly familiar with the twisty winding hallways of your local hospital and even serve as a knowledgeable tour guide for those people on their first visit.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Gamble.</b><b> </b> The casinos in Vegas are too predictable if you ask me. You either win or loose. Red or Black. With Lymes, you and your family can place wagers on what levels your blood will come back as…is it an AutoImmune Disease? What exactly is your white blood cell count. The possibilities are endless.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Relax.</b><b> </b> A short nap on a hammock in Jamaica has nothing on the months of time you will spend lying on your couch because you are too weak and in too much pain to do much else.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Indulge in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Reading</st1:place></st1:city>. </b>A good book you say? A scary tale at night? Well, the shelves and the internet are littered with reading material you can horrify yourself with as you try to figure out what exactly is wrong with you.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Introspection. </b>Do you like to meditate and ponder the mysteries of life while you learn about yourself? How about trying to figure out if you are crazy, a hypochondriac, or just loosing your mind? You can do that daily with Lymes Disease. Promise.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Learn a New Language.</b><b> </b> Screw learning French while sitting in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Paris</st1:place></st1:city>. You will be speaking in medical terms that none of your friends will understand. Big words like: <span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: black;">Borrelia burgdorferi, </span></b></span><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #54585a;">Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Polymerase chain reaction.</span></strong><strong><o:p></o:p></strong><br />
<strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #54585a;"><br />
</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><b> </b></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><b style="color: #54585a;">Shopping.</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> <span class="Apple-style-span">Y</span><span class="Apple-style-span">ou do</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">n’t need to buy pretty little trinkets from Bermuda. You will get the chance to buy tons of vitamins and supplements which should all do one thing or another (or nothing at all). No boring haggling with local merchants in the <st1:place st="on">Caribbean</st1:place> for their wares—You can compare the amounts of live cultures in the different types of probiotics as you make your purchases instead and ask the pharmacists never ending questions that they do not know the answers to.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; color: #54585a;"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">See? Why deal with the TSA and the travel regulations when you could be having all this fun right from your home? Plus, vacations only last a week or so. Lymes Disease, well, who knows how long it will stay around but you can bet you’ll be measuring your time in months if not years. I think that trumps a mere seven days on the beach somewhere right?</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-14226145167148258372011-09-07T16:38:00.017-04:002011-09-07T19:46:12.584-04:00Will You be Sending Your Puppy??<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTOels1fDjqEFrFKUuMr_g8xN3nMrTIexDmhnEpWa0pAb7Qe-60d6VQMjvr1kP1NBTsW2O5dpYDzaD1s22gy2GzuoMBiMB92cFjdwc25GRAV0GnWude9Uh596HAgHzUaM0Go62-LgqcM/s400/beagle" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 194px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649721392058618114" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight:bold;">New Law Imposed Regarding Dogs</span><br /><br />The Federal Government has imposed a new law that all dogs who are over the age of one year will now be engaged in the following federally funded program. The country feels that dogs need more care than most owners are willing or able to give them.<br /><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN1nLlgBbZs7wq2c4c_-qFSfBBtK0MiVoKEct7VDD-aQ1pC4nv8zVz3fXC1txu1sj7JkKuQdZH8-N9xT0qzHIUC67zvFm5lni5CcH88Z0Cv6apEOzCHAM90Yx2d_e_dAjAqPirQpelq2U/s400/dog4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649722494279893922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 159px; " /><div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Starting tomorrow morning you dog will be picked up by Joe in a minivan at your house. Oh, you’ve never met Joe—that’s ok he is trustworthy, take our word for it. He will put your dog in the back of the van --and allow us to be upfront, there are restraints for their safety-- but unless your dog can get itself into the harness on its own, they wont be used. In the minivan there will be many other dogs of varying sizes. Joe’s attention will be on driving the van and won't really be able to monitor the dogs in the back. Hopefully there wont be any problems, but you know, dogs will be dogs.<div style="text-align: center; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZHxu88bqRsBe-Hcck4ekV9uRzHnFryx3-lk_VVktPWgD6yCAPMX102cmAzPmpzIPJE4dk5v1BT8en-2tHwCsRm9to9-pUkgZsfZ2ACQ1YBmK5_5CykPlRm3c2zz75Lib1aqLrMSlWY8/s400/dos2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649722970871521218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 194px; " /></div><div>After driving to our facility your dog will be placed into one of our special kennels with other dogs of the same hair color. We do not group dogs by breed or </div><div>size so your white toy poodle may be grouped with a white Akita or other large dog.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOcBYiki2ipJfl4Zk2FTHoZfhbl4uXEIgL6kF-xRvhHCm-VL9Ayfw5iUyyRrMhtreQh3kfHXTFkvwExFcbOytxPQJWVpT3jVrCdwiBkb57i0jy6w2WjddKAS44VybC0lhankxnQwC1m-Q/s400/bigsmall" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649722095179208466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 244px; height: 160px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We also can not take into account the instinctual tendencies of your dog. All the hunting, show, sporting, and working dogs will all be in the same kennel and follow the same program. Some of our activities for enrichment will include fetching, searching, and obstacle course work. Your dog doesn’t like to do those things? Well, that is our program and we feel all dogs should excel in those areas. If your dog does not participate or achieve to our expectations we will set up a conference with you to see what you are doing at home that might be interfering with their success. If there is any repetitive barking or growling, we will call you to discuss this behavior. We will also isolate your dog if this behavior continues. Please be sure that it doesn't.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRs58dj15yU1qzzsAMlHA1Iiri37ZvJEYwyUDKgfF1EMDBGEaiu2lxtCl2yQBu9w7CnnmJPb_F8rxWY-3-phNXr1NPyTeXN2P8GskH3PTlELBwZV8j_Q9wx9fuUHESXEfuT3NWomuxe8U/s400/dogclass.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649725656725679010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 241px; " /></div><div><div><br /></div>While we understand you may have taught your dog several command or even housebroken your dog on your own in the comfort of your home, we think doing this type of training in a group setting without differentiation is better.</div><div><br /><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dJGY_8LP6t959ioVUxw8bxiJ7AJ5fVfFI5eHegbsdmwvAsFc15HGItMH1Q71dFg5_XviGAVauSObK4OIj9Qw_uDPoBhGl2AIf2UbaBxEXIiC_dqqpoFQdIXO7e0IzmcI2DlNHSlts-E/s400/puppy-training-florida-kindergarten.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649721792005285538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 343px; height: 336px; " /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Lunch will be comprised of 1 cup of kibble, regardless of the size or appetite of your dog. We will not feed wet canned food or any table food to dogs. If your dog is used to that kind of thing we advise you to get them used to our brand of kibble. There will be no second cups allowed for any dogs unless we have a written letter from your veterinarian stating that your dog requires more than one cup of kibble. We will charge you for additional kibble.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTIQKNP-B-On9hyphenhyphenLLxuzJq8Yh9gWn2pm3P2SktWSOtNZDenLC6AxJGJ_ULxVwCFPwdXXcSCfFotL3GAwcbw0Vf15tmLwmLTM8MXp1sNyZUKI28XRZ9ZJPjg0FbBkH-_UQ9it5qcx-AtY/s400/eatig.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649723437232146242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 162px; " /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">After lunch the dogs from all kennels will be intermingled for a period of time. At times, dogs will fight with each other. We think this is healthy socialization and both to be expected and a learning experience for them. This is the only time your dog will be allowed outside of the kennel during the day.</div><div><br />Dogs will be walked every two hours. We ask that your dog be held to this schedule. Frequent walks for the bathroom are highly discouraged as it will make all the other dogs want to go for a walk.<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHpb_uZ2V4Tt294VR0n2pXLKxEsHFbjnvXANgizn2JwtAJZ08f-SFnjNGSfCa1DKG7y5pPCJQi7NOCEsuspxCt18dHKPfvh6YtwAoMISLMPETogOrM0tozipTyOyxH6fRH_Xsz7ifaJs/s400/walking" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649724468521971106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 185px; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Joe will bring home your dog after 6 hours at our facility. We ask that at that time you prepare an obstacle course at your home and run your dog through it several times each evening. This kind of repetitive activity will reinforce the activities we do in the kennels.</div><div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLkVWbYFXFN6RjZIboNlClcdZVv5j8POenPdx-sSCFaW5NHxXIC0WoJgamnTc0_9d0-Niawo45EfC33iKlJu22SBxMY49dN-AKdWCq0eu7enYmgBgGkUppYA66qN5AbxobFlL5HjCQqQ/s400/dogobstacles.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649723997108980194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 177px; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Please don’t go for walks in the evening with your dog, visit dog parks or play any other tiring games as we need your dog to be well rested for the next day.<br /><br />Oh and by the way, that pretty pink and shiny collar on your pup, well that isn’t allowed in our kennels. We fear it may encourage fighting among dogs. Please use only a blue or red collar.<br />*****************************************************************************</div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I wouldn't send my dog, or my child for that matter. So to me homeschooling is the only thing that makes sense to us. Im sure I angered some people but really its just a comical view on what many people do everyday because they are expected to.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-27817976337269991492011-05-25T09:30:00.004-04:002011-05-25T09:43:58.681-04:00Earning Your Wings: The Rites to Being a Backyard Chicken Farmer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqa5pWeoWZ8vzEA5ZLq7YY9PhthbGahhDVi1ZiAggZp39qWbaay96ZzIJLrHebKYzSG5E4aWXv7kH8wVVz-khVtRH5pcrGkhujdz_cDzEKo13tNQ_L3FGAqpT7i47pTnmPGwf1HNi2tOU/s1600/103_0427.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqa5pWeoWZ8vzEA5ZLq7YY9PhthbGahhDVi1ZiAggZp39qWbaay96ZzIJLrHebKYzSG5E4aWXv7kH8wVVz-khVtRH5pcrGkhujdz_cDzEKo13tNQ_L3FGAqpT7i47pTnmPGwf1HNi2tOU/s400/103_0427.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610645119110313426" /></a><br />So my sister now officially thinks of herself as a backyard chicken farmer. As I told her this morning: not so fast. She has had three 8 week chicks for all of 48 hours. <br /><br />I have created this list of the rites she must pass through before calling herself an official chicken farmer. <br /><br />Feel free to add ones I may have left out as we educate our novice fellow chicken raiser. Tally your scores and find out if you are a true backyard chicken farmer.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Give yourself 1 point for each answer of "Oh yeah, I have done that" and no points for "Huh? Really?"</span><br /><br />1. You must slide and nearly fall from stepping on chicken poop. Bonus point if you fall.<br /><br />2. A chicken must poop ON you. Bonus point if it is on your skin instead of clothing.<br /><br />3. You must find yourself having a serious conversation with a chicken with no other human present. Bonus point if a neighbor points this out to you days later.<br /><br />4. You transition from wearing boots into the coop (and scrubbing them down after entering) to flip flops or better yet, barefeet.<br /><br />5. You have heard your chickens snore and can fairly accurately replicate this sound to your friends while drinking. Bonus point if you were sober.<br /><br />6. You have washed a chickens butt in your home. Bonus point if it was in your bathroom sink.<br /><br />7. You have cooked food for your chickens before cooking for your family.<br /><br />8. Your husband points out that the chickens are fed more regularly than he is.<br /><br />9. You have pried a warm egg out of the nest while a ticked off broody hen sits atop it. Bonus point if she pecks your hand. 2 bonus points if she pecks your face.<br /><br />10. You have brought out fresh water and feed in one of the following: a snow storm with 3 feet of snow on the ground, a torrential rainstorm leaving you stranded in the coop, or a severe thunder and lightning storm. Bonus point for doing it in all three.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Scores:</span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">0-5 points</span>: Um, you clearly do not have chickens other than the nuggets in your freezer.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">5-10 points:</span> Maybe you have visited some one with chickens, or a farm but its doubtful they live in your backyard. If they do, you are clearly not the one who takes care of them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">10-12 points:</span> You have backyard chickens but not for long enough.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">13-15 points:</span> You are a crazy rocking backyard chicken farmer! <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">16 or higher:</span> You have some serious issues. Get some non-feathered friends and step AWAY from the coop.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-15704512484542563322011-02-28T10:47:00.002-05:002011-02-28T10:49:21.947-05:00Melt<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMPmqstwFOYMeL9SJUYwNwIHM2chrytk2itSVwF0Y5IY7hww_nA7vFsysYM8UokSjCbPKyNVZWwrfKAT3YWYGccRsCNczIsO-b0qVhjkqVCyMM1N0qkhna0P1XJ_86NGXLEWfJxMhulc/s1600/2011-02-28.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMPmqstwFOYMeL9SJUYwNwIHM2chrytk2itSVwF0Y5IY7hww_nA7vFsysYM8UokSjCbPKyNVZWwrfKAT3YWYGccRsCNczIsO-b0qVhjkqVCyMM1N0qkhna0P1XJ_86NGXLEWfJxMhulc/s600/2011-02-28.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578767861988198498" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-75852991134987953682011-02-27T15:40:00.005-05:002011-02-27T15:43:12.635-05:00Its Only Weird if You Have Never Done It<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOydUs2VnCEEEt0qwqgHKuk3_nBR5AFQnsBZ85SRt1ubpxSMKg_y87vcZRd89bfZ2aQADLGuVmzzMtkwXEwd6LElwlavMuYsFKD3lv8kEQ9t3SbqPiClrKCM8FpTdzW8MuT5sbldLm4M/s1600/P1012401.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOydUs2VnCEEEt0qwqgHKuk3_nBR5AFQnsBZ85SRt1ubpxSMKg_y87vcZRd89bfZ2aQADLGuVmzzMtkwXEwd6LElwlavMuYsFKD3lv8kEQ9t3SbqPiClrKCM8FpTdzW8MuT5sbldLm4M/s600/P1012401.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578472070580769250" /></a><br />We are literally running out of creative ways to cope with the massive amounts of snow here in Syracuse. So for today it was Chicken Sleigh Ride day.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-62509713031780459752011-01-18T09:22:00.007-05:002011-01-18T09:37:24.259-05:00I ♥ Faces: Winter Wonderland<div>I have not blogged in --a long while. I know. Trust me: my mom has told me- over and over.</div><br /><div></div><div>But I wanted to start back up for a whole host of reasons but finally had the kick in the butt moment when I ♥ Faces had posted this week's challenge: Winter Wonderland.</div><br /><div></div><div>Living in Syracuse, you can say we live in this Winter Wonderland for an average of 6 months per year. And this year we have been more "wonderful" than usual. In early December, we had 96 hours of continual heavy lake effect snow which gave us 45 inches of the wonderfulness in those 96 hours. Thats when I captured Meagan marveling at it as it coated every inch of her.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563532347720180674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeABEQFKiKyGdGtmLB8ezfy3A_k8ofmT_oxe209uWKLysR5Lfmc-nVxeDqXjV4dHB5wJAxpxnOXPWBO7Mi5DNnU7Fo6jpEJcSgXUjsm8E8Qu6lUCs2YZVvEpE84ShCMAELAI1VCEk1PE/s800/megsnow+2010.jpg" /></div><br /><center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/" mce_href="http://www.iheartfaces.com"><img src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" mce_src="http://www.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" /></a></center><br /><p>Go on over to <a href="http://iheartfaces.com/">I ♥ Faces</a> and check out the other snowy entries this week.</p><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-76504063199192491102010-11-11T08:58:00.003-05:002010-11-11T09:13:32.464-05:00Removing Amazon From Advertising on This SiteOccasionally we bloggers partner up with big business to advertise. Its usually win-win. The blogger gets a bit of cash through readers clicking on ads and the advertiser gets face time with our readers.<br /><br />I allowed Amazon.com to advertise on this website. As of this morning I have removed all of their publishing rights and cancelled my accounts. <br /><br />As the web rages with the recent <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/11/10/amazon.pedophile.guide/?hpt=T2"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Amazon Fail</span></strong></a>, I want to let my readers know that Amazon ads and promotions will no longer appear on this blog. Period.<br /><br />I actually forgot that Amazon had ads on here.<br /><br />If you are one of the many boycotters and have a blog with advertising - please be sure to do the same.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-79358917562100682902010-11-08T07:19:00.005-05:002010-11-08T07:43:42.875-05:00Independence? Maturity? Or Is It Something Else?It started maybe a week or so ago.<br /><br />My little girl was growing up. As she went to bed each night, she would tell me that I didn't have to check on her. I listened and gave her the space she wanted to that would prove to me she was growing up. Night after night, she would go off to bed and I would not see her chipper little face until morning. I was proud of her. I had no idea what spurred the sudden quest for her independence but was a proud mama bear nonetheless.<br /><br /><br /><br />Yesterday while doing laundry I made mention that I needed to change the sheets in her room. She sprung to her feet from her TV induced coma and offered to do it herself. She insisted she knew how to change sheets and her words were, " I can do it mama, you don't feel well. I want to make it easy on you."<br /><br />Wow. How did I manage to raise such a responsible and thoughtful little girl. She was suddenly independent and matue. My little girl was growing up. I felt the tears coming on.<br /><br /><br /><br />As I thought about this over my coffee this morning, I gushed with pride and just had to go sneak in to look at my now 'big girl' who was surely slumbering away proudly.<br /><br /><br /><br />Yeah, not-so-much.<br /><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537156954905781010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfdZCNmw0FHyi0q34iQTg_vQsaReTyG7LuWTzdQsCDnGybg-_SBpQQzCf19iww3vECu9UThG0abAWQ959Ze9nIflcnphAghvbwdshsNx5KljY90C7WhuKUobKO1d5fx6QkduMfAUqde4/s400/P1011993.JPG" /><br /><br /><br />Apparently her room was victim of some great natural disaster that even FEMA could do nothing for. A natural disaster so strong, it snapped off one of the posts on her four post bed. </p><p>She figured that if I saw what used to be called her bedroom, I would make her clean it. So the best way to avoid cleaning it is to avoid me seeing it.<br /><br /><br /><br />Guess what she is doing today?</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-25398039101067827752010-10-04T08:13:00.000-04:002010-10-04T18:26:54.422-04:00Do You "Boo"? A Halloween Tradition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXVZwa3dFVFf1cGxJcghcqXM0jIAjRrSjpX0EPoQud2Ytp09WRbCFpskmFYEs6yhk68rcyteFhi4MT8Ewy51cPT206z-FvFZdnLCR7f9x2TaCwz0o4DbfqkApUfTVvbvqSyQMz2ePIFM/s1600-h/halloween-boo.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 234px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 278px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389462658832924162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXVZwa3dFVFf1cGxJcghcqXM0jIAjRrSjpX0EPoQud2Ytp09WRbCFpskmFYEs6yhk68rcyteFhi4MT8Ewy51cPT206z-FvFZdnLCR7f9x2TaCwz0o4DbfqkApUfTVvbvqSyQMz2ePIFM/s400/halloween-boo.gif" /></a><br />We do!<br /><br />Booing is a fun and super easy way to spread early Halloween cheer around your neighborhood. Its a lso a great lesson in doubling that can be translated into many ideas such as how germs spread. (Not a pleasant thought I know...)<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">What is Boo-ing?</span><br /><br />You "boo" a neighbor by leaving them a bag filled with candy and treats annonymously on their doorstep. When the open the bag they receive a poem which explains that they have been "boo-ed" and that they now need to "boo" 2 other neighbors. As people in your neighborhood get Boo-ed, they hang an included sign on their door to let people know they have been Boo-ed . Slowly your neighborhood will light up with these signs on everyone's door as it exponentially spreads each day.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">So what do you do?</span><br /><ol><li>Fill a small bag with candy and seasonal treats.</li><li>Attach 2 empty bags and two copies of a Boo-ing Poem so the recipient knows what to do.</li><li>At an unsuspecting time, leave your Boo package at the doorstep of a neighbor.</li><li>Wait and watch it spread.</li></ol>You can make your own Boo-ing poem or use the Hershey's one available <span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" href="http://www.hersheys.com/trickortreats/lib/pdf/ghost.pdf">HERE</a></span> or the handmade version available from About.com available <span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold" href="http://familycrafts.about.com/od/halloweengames/a/youvebeenbooed.htm">HERE</a></span> and <a href="http://familycrafts.about.com/library/nosearch/Boo_Poem.pdf"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">a printable poem HERE</span></span></a>.<br /><br />My kids and I always enjoy being the starting family--doing our first Boo-ing on October 1st. Each day we count the number of houses it spreads to--it's both exciting and easy fun.<br />Have fun and go out and Boo someone today!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-45664431972368138272010-06-17T13:54:00.005-04:002010-06-17T14:03:44.497-04:00Chicken Auto Watering SystemI love DIY projects and was more than excited to tackle my latest one. I wanted to make a water system for my chickens that would basically take relying on me out of the equation.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82W5ZExcQ42HzJ7KEFJ0rOIIQTwFdqLWmOtkslVHl70xggTRXgAJ_gsTF8W_aAWYcD7ZzKuIk6veQA9SYkR7R6NZRQ2I899q352yYelGsh5Y_ema12Aqz13sy9f17N8cpu3VUUKxv0DU/s1600/102_4043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82W5ZExcQ42HzJ7KEFJ0rOIIQTwFdqLWmOtkslVHl70xggTRXgAJ_gsTF8W_aAWYcD7ZzKuIk6veQA9SYkR7R6NZRQ2I899q352yYelGsh5Y_ema12Aqz13sy9f17N8cpu3VUUKxv0DU/s400/102_4043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483804699549989698" border="0" /></a><br />This system keeps water super clean and refills as needed. In all, I spent about 45$ on this project and it was really easy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_EQRWjm-FxZBoF2u7rBj1rdqhq6liBGPJoTEJM0cXBitaWb_h9UyZmKvgWF6ltDCfwGSZSyX-t4mvCFKnFm0_cUQ1nS7wrXNmt8y5ot47yyemjfebduaoLGEvxwhWSiQEUZp2Boglzo/s1600/102_4024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_EQRWjm-FxZBoF2u7rBj1rdqhq6liBGPJoTEJM0cXBitaWb_h9UyZmKvgWF6ltDCfwGSZSyX-t4mvCFKnFm0_cUQ1nS7wrXNmt8y5ot47yyemjfebduaoLGEvxwhWSiQEUZp2Boglzo/s400/102_4024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483804187992433410" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxeMMSHzTFh8YZym9rQ8ZvuMODY_nC9KAKL869LtDbuBsv3boHtQi02Pahyy4-qCNO6_AF972uKKEFLBMT1HBAx7yEYDqCzg-2bqyZrzlpz8ZoTgUXDQnYGYaJD2La_marmum2WzJLuY/s1600/102_4026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaxeMMSHzTFh8YZym9rQ8ZvuMODY_nC9KAKL869LtDbuBsv3boHtQi02Pahyy4-qCNO6_AF972uKKEFLBMT1HBAx7yEYDqCzg-2bqyZrzlpz8ZoTgUXDQnYGYaJD2La_marmum2WzJLuY/s400/102_4026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483804211664289298" border="0" /></a><br />The bucket is connected to a low flow adapter to the garden hose, reducing the psi. Inside the bucket is a float flow regulator- like the kind in toilets; when the float drops, more water is added until it rises again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiW-cgDiqH3PDGX0GrmqHlkMrzOZ3w5nyWhO2qAJTsorA-zSiGM1usd2r4K6wHpowEY-MehhVpJySVT5GbftE5jtRoQCta3GE72aLZv1ehLsmwdCEeHu0ZVBJ3Jrjqp0ChmYPso3VJhhU/s1600/102_4036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiW-cgDiqH3PDGX0GrmqHlkMrzOZ3w5nyWhO2qAJTsorA-zSiGM1usd2r4K6wHpowEY-MehhVpJySVT5GbftE5jtRoQCta3GE72aLZv1ehLsmwdCEeHu0ZVBJ3Jrjqp0ChmYPso3VJhhU/s400/102_4036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483804218614659538" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbfyQwjONKdrrDG2zAeudwuRFCqZSD3g2sjSaI1gc8An3ZzY__zyje7EKGuwM8seDsZ0M4kTAu6pb65cT88nODjldRiQAkBISE2y44hBEbUzStDQFMzIoD6sudSASR9DngrrTtceLMBU/s1600/102_4035.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbfyQwjONKdrrDG2zAeudwuRFCqZSD3g2sjSaI1gc8An3ZzY__zyje7EKGuwM8seDsZ0M4kTAu6pb65cT88nODjldRiQAkBISE2y44hBEbUzStDQFMzIoD6sudSASR9DngrrTtceLMBU/s400/102_4035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483804220580508722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAiCWJoAqze8D3Or7MXtPRp2iXflSFxpbzRETAoyFA6pWAerWPNZ4B91s3JsD3oWoizw5-s8Lj9JdDkmUHRX-CX6lh9fqbIMru9jRCi98SBSH4KVnt2IOPHqELmB_wbe-qj5Q5zZwIog/s1600/102_4041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAiCWJoAqze8D3Or7MXtPRp2iXflSFxpbzRETAoyFA6pWAerWPNZ4B91s3JsD3oWoizw5-s8Lj9JdDkmUHRX-CX6lh9fqbIMru9jRCi98SBSH4KVnt2IOPHqELmB_wbe-qj5Q5zZwIog/s400/102_4041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483804230911737954" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The pcv piping holds an additional 2 gallons of water and includes an air vent and overflow as well as two screw off ends for easy cleaning and debris removal.<br /><br />Super satisfying project and no sooner did I put it into the coop, the chickens figured it right out.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-11345762573161528522010-05-18T08:56:00.002-04:002010-05-18T08:59:08.342-04:00Fruits and Veggies Lead to ADHDThey do if they aren't organic.<br /><br />New research compels parents to offer only organic fruits and veggies to kids as the levels of pesticides in conventionally farmed fruits and veggies double the chances of kids being diagnosed with ADHD.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37156010/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/">Read the about research here</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">. </span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-74972965221459884442010-05-04T11:36:00.002-04:002010-05-04T11:40:20.248-04:00Shopping FunI got a great opportunity to team up with CSNStores.com to do a review of their site and products that might interest my readers (you!) and while I am not easily impressed, I was blown away by their seemingly endless supply of all things related to the home and then some. Comprised of over 200 stores, they offer everything from <a href="http://www.csnlighting.com/Track-Lighting-C9037.html">track lighting</a> to BBQs to cookware to home furnishings. I suggest checking them out if you are shopping for your home.<br />I'll be posting my full review in the week to come. Stay tuned. In the meantime--<a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.csnstores.com">go shopping</a>!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-50115380191232242992010-04-28T10:58:00.002-04:002010-04-28T10:59:55.456-04:00Want Tips on Natural Living??Check out my article over on EverythingMom.com to read all about it.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.everythingmom.com/leisure/easy-tips-for-natural-family-living.html">Go see it!</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-86947260002024069382010-04-25T19:49:00.007-04:002010-04-25T19:55:17.856-04:00LaunchI have finally finished my new website that will be my basis of operations for my freelance writing. While I still need to get my new domain name and all that full stuff I would love if you would chick it out and give me your thoughts....<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;" href="http://www.wix.com/jenaferlm1/jenafer-medina">check it out here</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-21565344021931544882010-04-13T08:07:00.006-04:002010-04-13T08:15:44.905-04:00Home Sweet Home: The New Chicken Coop-Phase 1We finally began construction for the chicken coop this weekend and despite having only started on Saturday afternoon, the girls moved in on Monday.<br /><br />The interior of the coop is 10 feet by 6 feet by 8 feet with a 6 foot roosting pole. The two windows are floor level so they will be used as "chicken doors" once the pen is attached. The walls are double layered for added insulation and all painted and sealed to facilitate cleaning. The kids also added artwork to the walls so the chickens would have something to look at.<br /><br />Here are the pictures up to this point. We will begin the landscaping and beautifying of the area this week, as well as the pen construction.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRJ00LCy5D1uYt_QwFxM12WGU3u0wwHeH7gCu04GTH7h_Cr_Kdgma96Z6KphDQLF0uTjM9E-_vsElhKQOWqEeVP8L69zY8DMHcgiS7nNYWoQWdz1vtNNoR8sezD_raxglgLTF-65FQZU/s1600/350.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459594162102318738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwRJ00LCy5D1uYt_QwFxM12WGU3u0wwHeH7gCu04GTH7h_Cr_Kdgma96Z6KphDQLF0uTjM9E-_vsElhKQOWqEeVP8L69zY8DMHcgiS7nNYWoQWdz1vtNNoR8sezD_raxglgLTF-65FQZU/s320/350.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzbAIUr131hVLD7IVqcZOOOAHYDOAEb5bT9eN7YlaQW1QbblVgVz1A7FNtGW2zRGmEREzv8hnjHwhz3OIfhUUuVUc2KrcbrNdoUki8Hp9L2iK7OwOCC7Q2Y3uEeohmBCYtuhPiA7kaoM/s1600/352.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459594152383379746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzbAIUr131hVLD7IVqcZOOOAHYDOAEb5bT9eN7YlaQW1QbblVgVz1A7FNtGW2zRGmEREzv8hnjHwhz3OIfhUUuVUc2KrcbrNdoUki8Hp9L2iK7OwOCC7Q2Y3uEeohmBCYtuhPiA7kaoM/s320/352.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBLmJyRby9dAgoPTUX5nbgm0yvm1YNCdYSByeh24zx38jrxf9k5pSGFNdDocfDuF1nuQstUbOyZlgp3bob32o6iXHdZ5DsSepNgMEnBymKPJMYQP1P0VOFUyWHYzOnCfZcX8ok0RMnoI/s1600/358.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459594149001782786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQBLmJyRby9dAgoPTUX5nbgm0yvm1YNCdYSByeh24zx38jrxf9k5pSGFNdDocfDuF1nuQstUbOyZlgp3bob32o6iXHdZ5DsSepNgMEnBymKPJMYQP1P0VOFUyWHYzOnCfZcX8ok0RMnoI/s320/358.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31UuXsCJktGkVC9n5SqKtsANJ9uaGuvxPS3TKToASzk-i1oDFbYv5vTNbrPbrVrzL2ag6ld-B6MQ7tPT5kTrz6Tv3QbbHSeFmVnnb6xI0oakMxSEJ5Gh7kWkW1Q4E01DU_PcaQ0sWHRE/s1600/367.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459594144640383554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31UuXsCJktGkVC9n5SqKtsANJ9uaGuvxPS3TKToASzk-i1oDFbYv5vTNbrPbrVrzL2ag6ld-B6MQ7tPT5kTrz6Tv3QbbHSeFmVnnb6xI0oakMxSEJ5Gh7kWkW1Q4E01DU_PcaQ0sWHRE/s320/367.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYykX1TRxmWmCnKxE84LpGGiwOyuxz4H5k3NvKDUXZHrHCNTbVWRjneZxY26edCHHNzsgUGqAByALLyvTxn5wZGERJljDPDIojFK0TmVuyMIti74CGs9_TxnfJPlVKHE8oqo1bvVEBDbw/s1600/374.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459594134719774546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYykX1TRxmWmCnKxE84LpGGiwOyuxz4H5k3NvKDUXZHrHCNTbVWRjneZxY26edCHHNzsgUGqAByALLyvTxn5wZGERJljDPDIojFK0TmVuyMIti74CGs9_TxnfJPlVKHE8oqo1bvVEBDbw/s320/374.JPG" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-44933413562483035862010-04-06T06:22:00.000-04:002010-04-06T07:25:37.933-04:00PublishedAs I emerge on this <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://cagefreemonkeys.blogspot.com/2010/02/heading-down-new-path.html">new path</a> of freelance writing it is encouraging and joyful to see my first article in print in Pathways to Family Wellness Magazine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVUlMDDBzFD-a8FlZ3ivQU80WUzFMWweXY4B65d38cGj-FOHtE1zLovRZgz4HElI0je8IgJE8vN4ePnXVIionJ4ug0Kz-xnOHb9iOnjo6dPYvM6-zt4Lvt02XsPr9UYG95GuHkjkgfUE/s1600/article+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVUlMDDBzFD-a8FlZ3ivQU80WUzFMWweXY4B65d38cGj-FOHtE1zLovRZgz4HElI0je8IgJE8vN4ePnXVIionJ4ug0Kz-xnOHb9iOnjo6dPYvM6-zt4Lvt02XsPr9UYG95GuHkjkgfUE/s512/article+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456658992213890338" border="0" /></a>Want to read the article? Click <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://cagefreemonkeys.blogspot.com/2009/05/eliminating-artificial-food-coloring.html">here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-33930322508738508622010-04-05T09:46:00.005-04:002010-04-05T10:00:04.915-04:00Chickens Meet the Outdoors<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_kR6ZHQKOZ5PmlIetTTxX-2-PSTfFm-OXIQtQYsKQ_sOBPJ-KZ_q7-c8l96Oi9KoVyYyE6BNXBM1u58BKkg4QyQQ5-28xgtCjtSkeaVVSgxSV4oOApuCSK1XHov7Q0NydrjqADpYvMw/s1600/P1011334.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_kR6ZHQKOZ5PmlIetTTxX-2-PSTfFm-OXIQtQYsKQ_sOBPJ-KZ_q7-c8l96Oi9KoVyYyE6BNXBM1u58BKkg4QyQQ5-28xgtCjtSkeaVVSgxSV4oOApuCSK1XHov7Q0NydrjqADpYvMw/s512/P1011334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456652550367593426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcshlmjIwKTkHSeJ7V8UOi8rdFG9RKfeLhceN7FDNGdFwPTBnTziRK8nX6rn5Wke9_zLkaZstod4vzJ_2MML5WtT5RimRliL3nhA84dq1ZtI3uQX_PO592OQZwwCtacuiUWzt2GfXeIQ0/s1600/P1011357.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcshlmjIwKTkHSeJ7V8UOi8rdFG9RKfeLhceN7FDNGdFwPTBnTziRK8nX6rn5Wke9_zLkaZstod4vzJ_2MML5WtT5RimRliL3nhA84dq1ZtI3uQX_PO592OQZwwCtacuiUWzt2GfXeIQ0/s512/P1011357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456650827623210946" border="0" /></a><br />Finally we had (unusually) warm weather here in Syracuse and the chickens got to meet the outdoors. Since we had no pen ready or coop for that matter we made a temporary pen that was so easy it was ridiculous! How??<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Vu1FgVdmqo5ZrufjONllJPi9D3qoEz8YK89_h4B4r-zefkUaWUBpcbhbEKsSJYBUpDcsOTInh8cIQvwah-HUJGcrAI2TYZKPs8QqRlIjkgtiwajQ1JhDfptgtzRgoL1M-86oKlUiF9c/s1600/P1011343.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Vu1FgVdmqo5ZrufjONllJPi9D3qoEz8YK89_h4B4r-zefkUaWUBpcbhbEKsSJYBUpDcsOTInh8cIQvwah-HUJGcrAI2TYZKPs8QqRlIjkgtiwajQ1JhDfptgtzRgoL1M-86oKlUiF9c/s512/P1011343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456650818105621618" border="0" /></a><br />We took the base of our trampoline and ran chicken wire around it securing it with zip ties. Then we covered the top with bird/deer netting. Total cost: $21. So this will be the daytime home for the chickens as weather permits until the coop is ready.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqvPikYCTRPqdpO-v_QD1rfd3N6YuThXwlrsHXIH6osS8Gck9G_P5UxYQAeQYW-e8SnrjXoT9DY1fZWL8MW1N6-eW49RaIqlGymj9k5FIwhfJEC-qqq43LvfUrkaZDgxIsUYdnxaGiZU/s1600/P1011369.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqvPikYCTRPqdpO-v_QD1rfd3N6YuThXwlrsHXIH6osS8Gck9G_P5UxYQAeQYW-e8SnrjXoT9DY1fZWL8MW1N6-eW49RaIqlGymj9k5FIwhfJEC-qqq43LvfUrkaZDgxIsUYdnxaGiZU/s512/P1011369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456650835756451778" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-10212455498014317742010-03-29T11:36:00.015-04:002010-03-29T14:44:31.862-04:00Easter Basket Rescue: Organic CandyIt is easy to succumb to the commercialization of Easter-- the push of Marshmallow Peeps and all the standard candy coming in Easter themed wrappers and shapes.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.google.com/product_url?q=http://www.foodservicedirect.com/product.cfm/p/167436/Green-and-Blacks-Og-Chocolate-Organic-Dark-Maya-Gold-Chocolate-Bar-3.5-Ounce.htm&fr=ADtDIDwYx3wPf-e5c21zsozUEWIEo144Fe1bXXhPK7KrrEAcwb679bR7F2Q-64-8zfmW_Lx6yff8ojKktTCDTc1j8O1NkvPBAhKurwzoGRolUzd_CtELGJqRj9Uthwa0DFk2UN4hGZoVrn6QKzC1-XF-1z_nIoaWvAVizSt6o1KUTX4wAMoUtT2vZueBRGfSz0hjy_r-W1x2aGKmH2yXHaomPGIDcEos5q0fM_oyWeyqAAAAAAAAAAA&ei=BMywS5SHL5yOwgWRqLynAw&sig2=unTKZoCDnXQec5kphi6gfg&gl=us&hl=en&sa=image"></a><br />But you can make a choice. A choice to give your kids less chemical laden candy. Less artificial food dyes and flavorings.<br /><br /><br />Many of the candies I suggest are available at higher end grocery stores which contain an Organic Section. Wegmans and Whole Foods are especially helpful here. You can also order many organic candies online. Amazon carries a wide range. There is also <a href="http://www.organiccandy.com/products.html"><strong>Pure Fun</strong> </a>with a wide selection.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454083725591010434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 120px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 265px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdQjYSDEms9pQRsIXlYAI15_oUGmQQsufRAdiQAnJG7tvpu6PYmmmCYfY_5VsxG_pPbTFFl6CHR6IzWLa420arVHxLfMg0ssXDy4DB2vybUwXUrvdeghEFpykJzPoSdq6anW9DoUIjfs/s400/white.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.greenandblacks.com/us/home.html?cad_id=43000000275092032"><strong>Green and Blacks Chocolates</strong></a> are wonderful and offer large bar like chocolates. <a href="http://www.godiva.com/Catalog/Subcategory.aspx?id=46">Godiva</a> is almost all natural on their basic chocolates. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/YummyEarth-Organic-Lollipops-Assorted-Flavors/dp/B0017SPYN2/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1269877359&sr=8-10"><strong>Yummy Earth</strong> </a>makes the yummiest organic lollipops.<br /><br />There are organic gummy bears and m & m like candies. Seek them out. Avoid the toxic food colorings and flavorings such as vanillin. Most of us don't want our kids feasting on candy, but for those special times like Easter, at least it could be natural.<br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=cagfremon-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B003BY2NGQ" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=cagfremon-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B001T8G68C" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=cagfremon-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B003BXXLUY" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=cagfremon-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B00175YFJ4" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=cagfremon-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B0013E3OIC" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-44558148108528067182010-03-24T08:48:00.000-04:002010-03-24T08:59:29.508-04:00Feathered Friends: Building our Backyard Flock<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XRN-s3ag5C0DC9M5znQskNqDlqUDxx2n5ctnmFrKkod_7hkmQrRHwJU40j-7ynlwonsJKCFOMZ07A4GohGp_t5EZBPZsmePxiQJIKCQlFswezDttbfagRZ8pRz_wk3I9Tozl411VXP8/s1600-h/P1011237.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XRN-s3ag5C0DC9M5znQskNqDlqUDxx2n5ctnmFrKkod_7hkmQrRHwJU40j-7ynlwonsJKCFOMZ07A4GohGp_t5EZBPZsmePxiQJIKCQlFswezDttbfagRZ8pRz_wk3I9Tozl411VXP8/s512/P1011237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451828286015832882" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(Plymouth Rock 10 days old)</span><br /><br /></div>A few weeks ago I wrote about our desire to raise chickens in our backyard, for egg purposes. Well now that we are well underway I figured it would be a good time to fill you in on the details of our choices.<br /><br />We are currently raising 6 chicks, which we purchased through <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.mypetchicken.com/">My Pet Chi</a><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.mypetchicken.com/">cken</a>. They were wonderful with a big selection and a healthy arrival of 6 chicks. We chose Plymouth Rock, Buff Orpinton, and Red Sex-Linked. I have to say that the Plymouths are the sweetest and just really want to be held all day long, which my daughter has no problem doing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKEHfY3eMBmI9XPEGqVN7PWpJSl5hsgk-bPyOh1wI6OtSQjy9wRx6nOBGh_dv6FnVpzNyzxDqgQD2KXQPpEkpobpG2Bu5vbUXbeLEDr0AsEW1lBX1WEQGT0vf9jXQ6IIs_WQXQPmuB5A/s1600-h/P1011275.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKEHfY3eMBmI9XPEGqVN7PWpJSl5hsgk-bPyOh1wI6OtSQjy9wRx6nOBGh_dv6FnVpzNyzxDqgQD2KXQPpEkpobpG2Bu5vbUXbeLEDr0AsEW1lBX1WEQGT0vf9jXQ6IIs_WQXQPmuB5A/s512/P1011275.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451829490323924178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />During the first week, we housed them in a 110 quart clean Rubbermaid tote with pine chips as the base. It worked well. But as we entering week 3, they needed more room so we built a cardboard coop for a more spacious habitat for them until they can go outdoors. We also let them get some extra exercise free-ranging on the kitchen floor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvGZOfqQUbeJb2mTWzi9bfoye3xEOnTWWiClXF6xY3oZZC3zKNGEEU0VbNdwX3xLyuwenpeAK_SaN25aOGi9JdGy90C-5pZWpLXv5mKAZCs6OkWbsNhgmboYrj0ELDHx9Glv4QsXc7z8/s1600-h/P1011249.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLvGZOfqQUbeJb2mTWzi9bfoye3xEOnTWWiClXF6xY3oZZC3zKNGEEU0VbNdwX3xLyuwenpeAK_SaN25aOGi9JdGy90C-5pZWpLXv5mKAZCs6OkWbsNhgmboYrj0ELDHx9Glv4QsXc7z8/s512/P1011249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451829496090319170" border="0" /></a><br />So far we have had no issues. The kids love them. They aren't that messy or stinky but I am on top of keeping the coop clean. My cats are scared of them-- which is kind of funny.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_Q34tAGSydkpZH_M-U7lPMLkKtpmvnThLFKGM0CEdppX-WsWSJivWVKF6Beqxsp_GXWX0StE-kGZ-RopavUOF-DjWxjhLNj8Ohv1klMj6856C1huW4XZRgqeNAABWOZYs51Rz0-DXV0/s1600-h/P1011263.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_Q34tAGSydkpZH_M-U7lPMLkKtpmvnThLFKGM0CEdppX-WsWSJivWVKF6Beqxsp_GXWX0StE-kGZ-RopavUOF-DjWxjhLNj8Ohv1klMj6856C1huW4XZRgqeNAABWOZYs51Rz0-DXV0/s512/P1011263.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451829481256615122" border="0" /></a><br />We are still in the midst of figuring out the backyard coop situation. Our thoughts at this point are to get a roughly 8x6 shed to house them in and build an enclosed pen roughly 6x4 attached to it. I am not one to skimp on space as my first concern is their human treatment. I have read that the recommended size of the total coop plus pen should equal a minimum of 4 square feet per bird. Well this is more than triple that which makes me much more comfortable. Especially here in Syracuse where they will spend much of the winter in the indoor coop for weather reasons. Inside the coop I will also have perches and several "shelves" they can walk on to further maximize the square footage. I will get up some pictures once construction is underway.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-37007161611006161922010-03-23T10:16:00.005-04:002010-03-23T10:21:42.220-04:00I Heart Faces: Angles<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-_b2I-m9EcrVhHEOCE7_IxKLvPpbI788LD6nyFPidC7zl8UnPAAXgwf2xnyJbQDVtFRR6O7EJfdELAF14tghFcJo66G70CYz4YYBt98_23sdsUBf_1gI4HzBuhhmQuBIRaxQyUUUyS8/s1600-h/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-_b2I-m9EcrVhHEOCE7_IxKLvPpbI788LD6nyFPidC7zl8UnPAAXgwf2xnyJbQDVtFRR6O7EJfdELAF14tghFcJo66G70CYz4YYBt98_23sdsUBf_1gI4HzBuhhmQuBIRaxQyUUUyS8/s400/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451834300764075874" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3jiOrk9LFmvAzleNEGN_d_ZS6cJWlNKdSFOV06aQtNGhjHRLLhbTXql4WsmSQc1Off_YZUDUF72KV5vr0tuvO-Hb5b46Ba_64OS6cvyvwoxOpGl1Suc-9cfWmduOHG2LBxeWjrPvrAI/s1600-h/100_2970.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3jiOrk9LFmvAzleNEGN_d_ZS6cJWlNKdSFOV06aQtNGhjHRLLhbTXql4WsmSQc1Off_YZUDUF72KV5vr0tuvO-Hb5b46Ba_64OS6cvyvwoxOpGl1Suc-9cfWmduOHG2LBxeWjrPvrAI/s576/100_2970.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451833331946469202" border="0" /></a><br />Here's my entry for <a href="http://iheartfaces.com/">I Heart Faces</a> Angles. Go check out other entries <span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/2010/03/week-12-focusing-on-angles-photo.html">here</a></span>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-6865042700333455922010-03-23T09:27:00.005-04:002010-03-23T10:07:24.434-04:00ValidationIts one thing to be 6 turning 7 and have a crush on a girl.<br /><br />You offer to pull her chair out, you partner up with her when you get the chance, you even ask her to dance with you. You hold her hand during a party.<br /><br />She is sweet and kind. She dances with you, partners with you when you ask, and holds your hand back.<br /><br />But then one day, she makes you smile like never before when you get a birthday card from her and she tells you in her way-- that she likes you too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuSupJt7EsofQKGnTY3PFhAsB5w9jrCtyRIokChNGfsPygOAgJ_p5zNFNg5lHG4MHvJ2TqJqUQ7ZHmZ3OzkaQrFy517LVr1M7aOKzuliaiFiCZVub-YXKUGE_-AccNKSJ-h2GlVerNws/s1600-h/michael+birthday+card.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuSupJt7EsofQKGnTY3PFhAsB5w9jrCtyRIokChNGfsPygOAgJ_p5zNFNg5lHG4MHvJ2TqJqUQ7ZHmZ3OzkaQrFy517LVr1M7aOKzuliaiFiCZVub-YXKUGE_-AccNKSJ-h2GlVerNws/s576/michael+birthday+card.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451821923198601106" border="0" /></a><br />Since his party, I have noticed him several times, pick up this card and look it over with the sweet sweet smile on his face.<br /><br />Check out other Tuesday Moments Unwrapped at <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.chattingatthesky.com/2010/03/23/flowers-in-the-cracks/">Chatting at the Sky</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5644798429030819853.post-76114586336732701812010-03-17T19:33:00.014-04:002010-03-17T20:08:26.016-04:00Reliving The Past<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgS1I9CtKM-uxQrDbFcwhbL4BXDvECl9O5pwzWu3sRYG1-Kno80Dk4F8peDonbPbQx0IA7JLSJqQsyM3Y3nbxi4_YI9bGhrUPiGo8HzPauyuSRx_sNQlgQF9B7AYWqA2OnNNSOBi5pUQ/s1600-h/Michael+Dillan+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgS1I9CtKM-uxQrDbFcwhbL4BXDvECl9O5pwzWu3sRYG1-Kno80Dk4F8peDonbPbQx0IA7JLSJqQsyM3Y3nbxi4_YI9bGhrUPiGo8HzPauyuSRx_sNQlgQF9B7AYWqA2OnNNSOBi5pUQ/s576/Michael+Dillan+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449756430439522338" border="0" /></a><br />Today begins a hard week, actually month for me. Seven years ago, I was 7 1/2 months pregnant. It was my first official day of maternity leave and I reveled in my new found freedom while mopping my kitchen floor midday.<br /><br />The day itself was uneventful. I remember eating a bowl of hot oatmeal while sitting on my front porch watching the school busses go by--thinking I should be at work already. My only physical complaint of the pregnancy was my swollen ankles. The air was warm and it was sunny. The windows were open and I was in nesting mode.<br /><br />It was shortly before dinner that I received the phone call. It was my OB and she had a very strange tone in her voice as she spoke with me. She asked if I was home alone. She asked if I was ready to listen to something important. I was loading laundry while we had this conversation as she had my latest sonogram results from a few days earlier and I kept loading while she talked not fully grasping what she was saying. Then I remember sort of dropping the handful of laundry and asking her to explain it again. We had already lost the twin of this pregnancy. How could this be getting worse?<br /><br />I remember walking into the nursery while waiting for my husband to get home to take me up to the hospital as the doctor ordered and looking around. It was painted but not fully decorated. I looked at the layette outfit waiting on the dresser. I noticed the lack of diapers and wipes, bottles and equipment. I was no where near prepared for a baby--I still had 9 more weeks.<br /><br />The hospital visit was a blur. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/UVAHealth/peds_hrpregnant/iugr.cfm">IUGR</a> was mentioned several times. My baby weighed 2lbs 12 ounces and was not only not growing, but it was shrinking. The size of a 25 weeker, the baby for some reason was below the 3rd percentile and failing.<br /><br />They ordered bed rest and continued daily bio-physicals and ultra sounds. They added a team of specialists from a hospital with a advanced NICU. My days blurred into nights laying on the couch eating as much food as I could while wishing the baby to grow.<br /><br />Four days later, due to signs of extreme fetal distress a C-section was ordered immediately. He was born in a near standing-room-only OR in a blur of controlled chaos.<br /><br />He would spend the next 28 days in the NICU and I would spend those same days mostly split between the hospital and on my shower floor crying.<br /><br />Last week I read a study where mothers of premature babies, especially those who had extended stays in NICUs, suffered from post traumatic stress disorder. It make so much sense to me now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBBIkYyzI6nodpI0bHuDx22vo6Jlhd8j8Svve9AUj3Iehe4zICaUd6jHrKXGb0EVImY3ejL8QDtzCUMfvPebdK5KlrWf0npSRvT0LwZDLCLr8BNTH4pGTdQiNAJXi9rH1prSOgill5zRQ/s1600-h/michael+preemie2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBBIkYyzI6nodpI0bHuDx22vo6Jlhd8j8Svve9AUj3Iehe4zICaUd6jHrKXGb0EVImY3ejL8QDtzCUMfvPebdK5KlrWf0npSRvT0LwZDLCLr8BNTH4pGTdQiNAJXi9rH1prSOgill5zRQ/s576/michael+preemie2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449755404212899026" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So here I am, as I always am on March 17th feeling like I am trapped in the movie Groundhog's<span style="font-style: italic;"> Day</span>. Reliving every moment. Seeing the clock and knowing exactly what I was doing 7 years ago to the minute on some days. I can hear the sounds and smell the smells. And this will stretch into April, as it does every year.<br /><br />He will turn 7 on Saturday. He is healthy and fine, argumentative and strong willed. Brilliant and funny. But somehow I get stuck right back in this place every year.<br /><br />And each year I expect it to be different.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6