Birthday Fun!



Not my actual cake (I didn't have one)
I found this online and thought that it
was cute!



Yesterday was my birthday.  I am blessed by the grace of God, to have had another year on this Third Rock.  When I turned 36, I decided that I would just go backwards to 34.  Yesterday I turned 30 again!  Now if I could just get my body to realize that it is 30, I would be set!



Our local feed store - Right in Down Town San Jose!



In celebration of my birthday, I dragged the kids to the feed store in town.  We talked to the man there about chickens and he gave me the names of some good local breeders.  He said that I should be able to get a juvenile (Pullet I think it is called?) hen for just $15!  All of the ones that I saw online were about $35.  This is good news since everyone that I talk to tells me how stinky the chicks are.  I would also be worried about them becoming dog treats!  This way, I get a hen that is getting ready to start laying and not have to worry about keeping them alive in the house.  WHOOT!



Did I mention that it was big?  It's big.



Last night, Bryan and the kids gave me gifts.  Bryan gave the the biggest, baddest canner to beat all canners.  I love the fact that it is called the "All American" company.  The entire thing is made in the good ol' USA!  The kids each gave me canning books, so I am ready to go!  I went out today and got some beans to get started with.  I also picked up the ingredients for soup.  I am going to try to get both of those canned this weekend.  We will see how it goes. :)  Oh, did I mention that this sucker is big?  Take a look at this pic.  It doesn't even fit on my stove with out touching the Micro hood!  I guess my super camp stove is going to come out of storage and I will be canning outside!  On the upside, it will keep the heat out of the kitchen this summer.  With our winter being so dry too, it looks like it shouldn't be a problem for me to can now too.  I just hope we get some good rain in a few weeks!  This is our rainy season and there isn't a cloud in sight! 



My sad dog bathroom. 
I can almost envision my tomato
 plants now.



More good news:  I talked to my awesome, wonderful, amazing nephews and they agreed to come down and take out my lawn.  They will use a sod cutter to take out the Bermuda grass and then haul in compost to put on top!  We can't rototill because of the sprinkler lines.  This should work though!  I love it when things come together.  God is so good and provides exactly what we need - including a wonderful family. We are blessed.