Thoughts on the Word ...and some chicken pics

I have been reading chronologically through the Bible this year.  LOVE IT.   I think it makes the prophets and their prophecies come alive.  Here are some thoughts on today's reading. 

Isaiah 2:²² Stop regarding man
in whose nostrils is breath,
for of what account is he?

We puff man up here on earth.  Books (and shows) about self help,  about pefecting our beauty, knowledge  (ouch!), homes,  gardens,  food.  It is all to puff ourselves up.  Here God is saying "of what account is he?"  Ouch again!  Other scripture talks of the shortness of life.  

Job 7:7  "remember that my life is a breath."

Psalm 39:5  "Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath !"

Psalm 78:33  "So he made  their days vanish like  a breath."

Go ahead..take a breath.  That is how fast our life here on earth will seem from the viewpoint of eternity.  I don't want to be like the Israelites in whom God was quite unhappy.  He looked at their big houses,  fine food,  beautiful gardens,  rich clothing,  false worship,  broken relationships,  and led them to be exiled.   I want my breath,  my short time here to bring honor to God.  Thanks to the Lord for all my "counselors"  (parents,  pastors, friends)  who also desire this and can help me get back on the righteous path when I vere off. 

Take time today to evaluate your "breath".  Is God saying "of what account are you"  because of your misplaced sense of self importance...or are you making your breath be counted worthy of Christ?

a little heavy today,  but such a good reminder!!

And here are the chic pics.

   I bought 10 white chickies from TSC in April.  I hoped they were good for this area and for egg laying. 

Here are all 10 of them in a plastic bin.  My son and I quickly made another for longer term.

I think it is wonderful.  So did the chics.  We made it with pvc pipes we had laying around,  zip ties, and fencing.  I think knowing a little geometry would have made this job a lot easier. 

 

Here is what they look like 11 weeks later. 

Here is a pic with a comparison to the 1 1/2 yr old layers and the crazy rooster.  (Story coming soon...it's ...well...long.)

It turns out I bought White Leg Horns,  which are great egg layers and tolerate heat very well.  Good thing!!  We already had one Orpington die from this heat.  I have 3 others and some Red Sex Links.  I pray they make it. 

Last pic for you with a question.  What do chickens do when it gets hot?

Go swimming.  Sheesh!!  It IS the south.  (In case you can't see it,  that bin has water in it.  The chickens were lining up to get in and cool off.  I may need to do that myself.



Stay cool,  drink water,  and go play with your kids.  Mine beat me HAPPILY AND GLEEFULLY at Parcheesi.

Rebekah

Rebekah

Outdoor showers

Is anyone else thinking of water conservation...since we have a drought going on?!!  I am actually saving water from washing dishes in the sink to pour on my plants.  I just read about putting a bucket in the shower while it is warming up and then pouring that on the plants.  My sister is swimming at the local pool 3 or 4 times a week, and they shower there instead of at home.  HMMM...all good ideas.

Then I began thinking,  why not shower outside?  NOOO, not in the buff..nude...au naturale...in a swimsuit..or something. Not that confident..I mean, NO,  that's not nice!!  I'll figure it out as I go.  Here are some pics of ones I found on the web.  I also pinned some to my Pinterest.

Here is a "If I had a million dollars"  version  I love!!



I will let you know what happens.  I would really like it to be moveable.  That way I could water the yard AND clean off the dirt.  I love duel purposes....I think my 13 yr old son needs  a job and this seems right up his alley.  

Have a cool..clean day,

Rebekah

Five Question Friday

1. What do you keep a stock pile of? 
  Books...I bet you knew that though.  I really don't stock pile..don't believe in it...except books.   Husband and I were thinking of ways to simplify what we have...and I STARTED on the thought (didn't say it aloud..shesh)  that maybe I should get rid of some books,  and then I shook myself awake from that really scary nightmare and went over to the book shelf and hugged and kissed a couple.  I felt much better.  No toilet paper?   Just grab some newspaper.  No shampoo?  Sprinkle some baking soda on you hair.  No books... well,  that wouldn't even be heaven now would it?

                                           


2. If Ben & Jerry asked you to invent an ice cream, what would it be?


I am such a fan of Baskin Robbins choc chip and choc mint that I would LOVE for those to be mixed.  But that would be awkward asking Ben and Jerries to make Baskin Robbins flavors.  


3. How do you blow off steam? 

 Seriously,  I pray,  walk outside,  go watch the chickens,  picks some weeds,  water the flowers.  If I had a million dollars,  I would catch the next flight to Europe and then ride a train and visit castles, museums,  local eateries,  small hotels,  walk some hills, and come back a very well rested and cosmopolitan woman.  Ah,  dreams.


4. What would you do if you had an hour to yourself anywhere within a ten mile radius of your home...no kids, no hubby, just you? 
 Ten miles from my house would only get me to Sonic,  a gas station, and my friend Kelly's house.  So I would have to choose taking Sonic OVER to my friend Kelly's house for a crazy hour of laughing our heads off.  Kelly,  I'll be over soon.  What flavor Blast you want?


5. When you were 16, what was your curfew in the summertime?
  I guess 10.  I didn't like staying out late...loved to be in bed by 10, still do..and still don't like being out late.  I think my parents knew that and we never really had to talk about this.  The more I think about my teen years,  the wierder I think I was.  What teenager doesn't like to stay out?  I guess that means my house was more fun than anything else.  Or else I was just weird.

Now you know MUCH more about me.   If you have time,  copy these questions and let me know about you...if I still have any readers other that my mom..  Thanks, mom.

catch you later...but hopefully not too later.

Rebekah

What......

Summer is here and it's HOT!!   I have had a difficult, crazy,  busy,  exciting,  fulfilling spring...and now it's time to begin blogging again.  I think...we'll see.

My garden has done well this year.  I have been excited to see how much I am improving on my knowledge of growing things.  Here are a few pics...

Here is lettuce,  carrots, broccoli, spinach, onions.  We ate and ate...and harvested over 100 carrots.  The chicken got into the broccoli and it grew slowly and never really recovered.  They are in a pen now and CAN'T get out...the little boogers.

My husband is trying tomotoes in a bucket upside down.   It's going much better now that it is in the sun...don't we all..

All the kids planted a raised bed garden this year with what they wanted..some more reluctantly than others...no names will be mentioned my darling eldest....Here is my son's produce.  He wanted cucumbers so he could make pickles.  I didn't think he liked them and when I asked him about it he said he didn't.  HUH???   Sweet boy.  He just wanted to make pickles for others...HMMM..there is hope. 

This child REALLY wanted sunflowers...and they are beautiful and huge.  I was trying to picture the tiny bees working on this big helianthus annus...I could see the pollen collected in their sacs..I had not seen them in real life before. .  So let's play find the bee.  1,000,000 points if you find it.  (By the way,  hlianthus annus is the scientific name for sunflower...helios is  Greek for sun,  anthemon for flower, and annus for year. Interesting, you say!!  Yes, we do homeschool.  No, my kids don't know this. No judging.)  

  Yes,  there is more in the garden, but that is for another post.

The rest of the Spring/feels like dog days of summer are going very quickly.  Some things are a little different this year.  My two youngest are not swimming on the team...I wanted a slower pace for them this year...HAAAA!   What does that MEAN?   Please...someone help me know how and when and where.   We just finished camp...wow.   That is a post for another day.  Hopefully before next year's camp.  SOME of my children are still working on school.  HE HE.   Oh yeah,  that means I am still helping in school...UGH.  SIGH!

so much more...later.

Rebekah