It begins

My company has long departed, the boys are up skiing and save for the clicking of my dogs nails on the hardwoods as he searches the house for a sunny spot to nap, the house is quiet. With a cup of coffee in hand I am taking the first step toward adding some feathered friends to our family. And it starts with this blog.

This past year I spent a lot of time and energy figuring out what more I can do with my life. Although the search helped me learn a great deal about who I am and what compromises I'm willing to make, it also landed me back where I started - sipping faithfully on my brew with time to fill; betwixt and between.

Like every January I started this year thinking again about the vegetable garden, especially since the late snow prevented us from planting last year. Thoughts about what to do with the large weedy patch at the back of our property crept in again along with every other idea or suggestion related to gardening I've ever read or had..."What about a field of lavender? Maybe I should take up herbal remedies. Did I get all the tulips planted? I'd love to plant and espalier some fruit trees. What about canning? But you're not a homesteader. Should I just get those goats? The family up the street has Turkeys. Did I read chickens can be beneficial to a garden, all that scratching and bug eating? Ducks eat mosquito larvae. I'm an excellent animal keeper. Why couldn't I be a homesteader? It would be really fantastic to cook with fresh eggs. Hmmm an herb omelet sounds good. Maybe I could put that architecture degree to use designing a Chicken coop. Taking care of livestock would give me a reason to be out in the yard during this blah weather when the garden is dormant. Maybe my 7 year old could help too, he loves 'cheapies.' Really I should keep chickens, I can't believe I haven't thought of this before!?!?"

However it came about, (I've collected books, perused websites, combed craigslist, checked into chicken sitters - I do nothing without a great deal of thought and research) I declared to my husband yesterday that I'm getting a flock. If I'm going to be betwixt and between at this point in my life anyway I might as well have some hens for company and be Chicken-twixt. Who knows where it might lead. Do I see visions of goats and a well stocked pantry of homegrown food or blue ribbons pinned to a cage. Only time will tell.

Look out readers there's about to be a new backyard bird keeper around and these are her stories...