And still more D.C. photos

The courtyard of the Navy Memorial features a huge world map. Jim is standing over there right under the great lakes. While I was looking at Europe Megan came dancing over the Atlantic and hopped onto Ireland saying "Hi Grandma and Grandpa!" (My parents live in Northern Ireland.)

We got off the Metro at the Chinatown station to do a little exploring. This arch across the street is quite something, isn't it?

And here is one of the pandas at the zoo. Again, the Metro runs to within a very short walk to the zoo. It's a super public transportation system. For Jessica, who babysat our chickies, we bought a journal of handmade paper made from panda poo. Would I kid you? I guess there's a lot of undigested bamboo fiber in their poo, and some industrious Chinese folk wash it all and make it into paper. Either that or we are suckers who bought the story...and the journal.

One of the chickies died. I kind of suspected she might. She had a deformed toe on each foot, and even as a tiny chicky it seemed that she was struggling a bit. The remaining five just about doubled in size while we were gone. We need to get busy and get a coop built before they outgrow their doghouse digs.

More pictures from D.C.

This engraving is located at the WW II Memorial. It's a large and beautiful site with strking fountains, and a pillar for every state -- very impressive. I love that our kids (and Jim and I) could see that appreciation and honor demonstrated for U.S. servicemen and women.

Of course, everyone recognizes this as the Arlington National Cemetery. It was heartwarming to see that propriety and dignity are still, in fact, alive and well in this country. Throughout the grounds signs remind visitors that this is "hallowed ground" and not a place for "picnics...and child's play" and to respect the dead, as well as those who are attending burials and visiting the graves of loved ones in the cemetery. More than 25 burials occur on an average day on these grounds. There were many visitors/tourists walking through the cemetery, but I didn't hear any shouting or raised voices, or see anyone goofing off or being rowdy.

We did watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Impressive that the tomb is patrolled 24/7/365.

I'll post a couple more pictures of sites over the next few days. The neat thing about D.C. is that nearly everywhere is free to visit -- all the Smithsonian Museums, all the various buildings and monuments -- even the National Zoo. We even squeezed in a quick visit to the zoo, since we all wanted to see the Giant Pandas. I'll post those pics tomorrow.

My very favorite place was the Lincoln Memorial. It's something I've always wanted to see, and I was not at all disappointed. It's really an awe inspiring site.

what I didn't post last week...

in the interest of security and all, is that the day after our chicks arrived we left for a few days vacation in Washington D.C. Our friend, Jessica, is very kindly chick-sitting and we'll pick up the ladies tomorrow morning.

Here's a photo of Jim and the kids in front of the Capitol Building on Monday night, and another of the Supreme Court with the famous cherry blossoms in the foreground. We had an excellent time and packed a whole lot into 2 and a half days.

This is our first time to D.C. and we were very impressed by all the beautiful buildings and monuments, the efficiency of the public transportation (we bought passes every day and were hopping on and off those trains like old pros by the second day!) and how helpful and friendly people were in general.

The henny-pennies are here!

They seem very happy in their little chickie condominium. I scrubbed and bleached the bottom half of an old doghouse, then Jim made a frame from scrap wood and some chicken wire. It fits snugly down over the top of the dog house-and he bolted in a piece of plywood to cover the door of the doghouse. He also bolted 2 pieces of wood to the sides that hold a removable cross piece that we hung 2 heatlamps from. The chicks need a temperature of about 95 degrees F for the first couple of weeks. The only thing we purchased here was the chicken wire, and the rest of the roll will be used for their "big girl" house in the coming weeks. We had the heat lamps from our country living in Wisconsin days.

And here's Erin, holding "Emma". Erin's on a bit of a Jane Austen kick--she really thought we should get a rooster so we could call it "Mr. Bingley."

And Lauren is holding Daisy--as in "Crazy Daisy." This chickie is the self-appointed mom of the flock already. She patrols around the doghouse keeping everything and everybody in line. Funny! She's an Auracana. We have 3 of those, and 3 silver-laced Wyandottes. The other "ladies" have been named Lucy, Paris, Wendy, and Genevive. They're cute and all, but I can't wait for them to grow up and start laying. Omelettes, anyone?

keeping me busy

A few weeks ago I was able to back off work a bit. It's always a struggle to find that balance, isn't it? I love these downloadable binder covers our very talented graphics lady just finished for Econobusters. They're free over at http://www.econobusters.com/. So, here I was showing them off and my daughter took the picture.

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It's nice now to have time to actually DO some of the things I've been writing about for the past several months--chickens, of course, being one of those things! Today I'll be getting ready for the chickies ...watch for pictures this week! Soon it will be time to get the garden going...though we're forecasted to have snow next week. Ugh, I am so over snow!

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I'd love to dig into the house and do a big declutter and redesigning, but first we have to get this homeschool year wrapped up. Fun stuff.

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Enough rambling...I'm off to help the 2 oldest wrap up their research papers for their leadership class at co-op. One chose to research and write about Harriet Tubman, and the other did Erin ?? (forget the last name) from Freedom Writers. One of the cool things about homeschooling is learning right along with the kids. I can only imagine what my brain (which feels like it has already shriveled to a raisin) would be like without this workout.

The chickens are coming...the chickens are coming!

Yes, chickens. Several years ago we had a little flock of chickens. That was then, this is now. Then we lived on 5 acres in the middle of nowhere. Now we live in a subdivision. We dream of living on a little farm again, but since the current economy has put the kabosh on us going anywhere, we're going to bring the farm (metaphorically speaking of course) to us!

I ordered 6 chicks . . . and they'll be here next week. 3 are silver laced wyandottes, and 3 are Americana --you know, the ones who lay pastel colored eggs...It all started when I read that "blue eggs and yellow tomatoes" book that I blogged about a few months ago.

I just kinda stopped by the feed store today and asked the friendly desk guy when the chicky orders would be arriving. I was quite floored when he said, "Let's see...the 9th."

Since we're doing this on the "cheep" (bwa ha ha) the chickies first home will be the bottom half of a plastic dog house, with a window screen over the top. We still have a chick feeder and heat lamp in the garage somewhere. I'm SO excited about the thought of fresh eggs again. Watch for pictures of the babes coming soon. Meanwhile if you have any good hen name ideas, do let me know.