See Gusala up there among the chicks?
Yes, I know the pics are complete crapola, but I was too excited to see them to remember to take pics out in the sunlight!
These two chicks are trying to figure out who and what Gus Jr might be.
We may or may not have gotten a little impatient waiting on our chicks to arrive. They are scheduled to be here in about a week and a half. In the meantime, we may or may not have went to Tractor Supply and bought 10 Barred Rock chicks.
And 2 ducks. I couldn't resist them. I love having ducks and hearing them quack quack quack!
Gusala is a White Pekin, Gus Jr is a Rouen. Or maybe a Mallard. They weren't marked, but the brochure laying on a shelf had the choices that they could be. I'm fairly certain Gus is the Rouen though. Now whether Gus is really a Gussie, well, we'll have to wait and see.
I still need to get outside and get the coop painted. Pa has primered it white for me, but any self-respecting chicken coop needs to be barn red, right? Now that the weather is warming up, I can get it done. He also needs to get some steps fixed up for the coop. For some unknown reason, he built it about 3 feet off the ground, but has neglected to fix any steps for my short little legs. He may have gotten the hint today when I fell out of the coop. Yep, I sure did, and you missed it. I had squatted down to jump out, and when I jumped, the heel of my boot caught on something and I faceplanted right in the mud. THIS is why I don't do more outdoorsy stuff. I was just not born with the gene to safely walk and work at the same time. And that wasn't my first trip up today. At Tractor Supply, I walked over to the pine shavings and grabbed a bundle, carefully walking over the pallet to get to the remaining stack. As I stepped off the pallet, I remember thinking, I did that and didn't fall, as I tripped over the little metal sign at the front of the pallet. At least the shavings broke my fall.
I'm no safer inside the house. A few weeks ago I got second degree burns on my arm while trying to stir soup. Yes, just stirring soup is dangerous for me.
I have been trying to be somewhat productive though. My daughter's friend has a serious addiction to the bottled Starbucks Frappuccino. (Yes that is spelled correctly. And yes, I had to google it to make sure.) She has been saving the bottles for me for a few weeks now. I've told her I have a really good recipe for homemade frappuccinos. I'll add the recipe at the bottom of the page! It is soo yummy! I'm not complaining about her obsession though. I have 20-25 from the last batch she brought. Here's a portion of the bottles she has brought me so far:
Guess what I'm going to use them for? Have you guessed yet? Huh? Huh? No?
The smaller ones I'm going to put new labels on and use them for our honey! My friend Kristin at
2:12 Designs is going to make up some cool labels for me. She does party invitations, announcements, custom glass tile jewelry, all kind of neat things. She is supertalented and an awesome photographer. Check out her site and tell her Traci from Honeybee Hill sent you, and maybe you'll get a neat surprise!
Ok, for the frappuccino recipe. I found it on Pinterest and followed it to Christina Flis and her blog. They are delicious! I did cheat and use off brand french vanilla creamer, and it still tasted so much like Starbucks.
Here is the basic recipe, but be sure and check out her blog for the complete details, reviews, tons more recipes and other goodies.
1 pot of fresh coffee
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup French Vanilla liquid creamer
Big squirt of chocolate syrup (for the Mocha version)
Stir everything up, chill until nice and cold, and enjoy!
Time to put some wood in the stove, fix some coffee, and relax! My spring break from college started today, so I am going to make the most of it! I'll be back soon with more goodies. Don't put all your eggs in one basket, and stay sweet!
