The Lesser Sex

Note to self: never google "the lesser sex". yikes.

It's hard being a woman at times. For example...Home Depot. Seriously, I have had so many bad experiences there as a woman that I've sworn off returning so many times.

But I found myself there again today. I needed 2x4's. Quite a lot of 2x4's. Among other things, but the wood was the only item that I needed help with. So I perused the lumber area. Searching for that orange vested person to help me out, feeling ignored and intimidated. Finally I found a young man to assist me. He seemed annoyed. He seemed like the type of person who was generally annoyed most of the time. Even with the attitude he was actually very helpful. He got my 2x4's, 4x4's and even took the time to cut seven of the 12 footers to help me out. So nice. So he annoyingly dragged my stuff to the counter and said "well, there you go". I think that was the first thing he said to me for the whole 30 minutes he had just spent with me.

I paid for my wood and then considered how difficult it was going to be for me to get that to my van. hmmm. So the annoyed-looking cashier, seeing the expression on my face, said she would call for someone to assist me. During my one hour (or longer) stay at home depot I heard over the speaker several times about what carts to use with what you are purchasing and then asking for assistance with getting heavy items to your car. Sounded nice. So I waited for my assistance. For another 30 minutes. Ms. Cashier Lady seemed to have forgotten that I was in need of assistance (even though I was blocking her checkout line and the exit door with my large amount of 2x4's). So I decided that I could do it myself. I'm a strong woman. I don't need any help from any man. ROAR.

I left my cart of wood and got pulled my van around to the contractor pickup. As soon as I started wheeling that heavy cart out the door I knew I was a bit over my head. I'm no weakling but, seriously, the cart was awkward and weighed like 500 pounds. But I was determined now. So I pushed on smashing into a few things as I went and pinning myself between the cart and the door on the way out. But I, of course, pretended that I knew exactly what I was doing. I got the cart to the van and started loading up the wood. I was about 2 boards in when I noticed someone watching me. Awkward. It was a man who had just finished loading up his giant truck with stuff. He walked over, didn't say a word and started putting the 2x4's in my van. I thanked him (really, SO nice). Then he said "where's your husband" in a way that made me feel like he though my husband was a total deadbeat, sitting at home on the couch, sending his wife out to pick up 500 lbs. of 2x4's all by her self. And on mother's day (**gasp**).! He said "It's Mother's Day, You should be at home relaxing or at the spa." hmmm. So I explained that my husband was at home working on a project that was totally my idea (painting our bedroom) while I went out to pick up wood for another project that was also all my idea (new chicken run).

This mother's day really was the best. I got to spend a lot of time with my little girl and my husband. I got to paint my bedroom (getting stuff done in the house ALWAYS makes me happy). I could have done without that trip to Home Depot BUT I have all the stuff I need to get my chicken run finished this week. Ah, the things that make me happy :)

you got a what?

I've gotten two very distinct reactions from people when the subject of acquiring a flock of chickens comes up. Either I get "oooh, I love chickens!! I would love to get some myself! Fresh eggs are great!" or I get **blank stare** "You got WHAT? Why would you do that?".

So here is a brief explanation of why we have chickens.

If you know me at all you know that food is very important to me. I think about it a lot. I love it. It makes me happy. What makes me even happier is fresh, just picked, local, organic and the best of all...home grown or home raised. I feel very passionately about, whenever possible, knowing where my food comes from. I feel nearly giddy thinking about the farmers market opening this summer. Being able to see the actual person growing the food, listening to them talk passionately about their plants like they are members of the family, knowing that that food didn't spend days or weeks on a truck or airplane to get to me, knowing that it was picked the day before or even that morning. Ahhh, bliss.

It is important for me to teach my daughter this as well. I grew up in a place where having gardens and small farms was the norm. I remember my uncle, who lived behind us, had a small chicken coop and a beautiful vegetable garden. We would go over there, pick beans, and go home to cook them for dinner. I don't want Lucy to think that food comes from the grocery store. I want her to experience the thrill of growing it yourself and eating it fresh off of the vine.

In a perfect world, I would live on a 50 acre farm and grow or raise most of the food we eat. That isn't possible at this point (I won't say it will never happen because, hey, ya never know) but there are few things I can do to get a little closer to knowing where my food is coming from. One easy way I have found is raising chickens. We were lucky enough to move to a pretty rural area where many people around us have small vegetable gardens and a small flock of chickens. But there has been a great number of people who are able to have a couple of hens in the city. The previous owners of our house also kept chickens and left their portable chicken coop. I'm in the process of getting a more permanent run built off of our shed as well but for now the ladies are loving getting out in the chicken tractor on sunny afternoons.

They're still little now but I am so looking forward to those fresh eggs that will be coming this fall. We got them 3 weeks ago as day old chicks. I chose a small variety...two Araucanas (aka easter-eggers because they lay colored eggs) and two black cochin bantams (not great egg layers but they stay little and have funny feathered feet). And nothing beats fresh eggs. I mean, like, go out to the coop in the morning, pick up your eggs and go inside to make an omlette. Um, yea, that's fresh.


Here's some pics of the ladies...