Easter egg

I got a surprise today, a strange and unusual one.

My husband walks in the house with a grin on his face, and something in each fist. He holds his closed fists out towards me.

"Pick one."

"You found me some frogs?"

He smiles even bigger.

"Pick one."

I pointed to the one on my left, which was his right.

I chose wisely.

In his right hand was a very tiny egg.



Now, I haven't noticed any the Barn Swallows back yet this Spring, and I can't quite remember what their eggs look like. Yes, I'm cruel like that and destroy any nests that I determine are too close to my coop. Chicken health over prime Barn Swallow real estate in my book. You know what I mean, right?

Anyway, this egg was really small. What else could it reasonably be?

"Where did you find it?"

"In the dog house."

"What!?"

"Underneath one of your hens, I'm not sure who, one of the Barred Rocks."

"Right. Of course. What in the world."


I once found an egg with no shell, but I didn't write about it. At least that one was in the coop where it belonged.

Welcome to my Funny Farm, people. I could not make this stuff up.

And so I present to you, what I swear must be the world's smallest ever chicken egg, in all it's amazing glory. You may have to look closely.


I am just absolutely in love with that photo. Thanks for asking. Feel free to gaze upon it as long as you like. Don't tell me that baby egg is not totally adorable peeking out from between the two grown up ones.

Also, still retaining a few useful traits of the laboratory scientist that I once was (like being compelled to label everything in the fridge with the date it was opened), I knew exactly what must be done with this egg.

I got out my handy kitchen scale.

First I weighed three normal chicken eggs, which were also freshly collected.


They were all 61 or 62 grams.

The midget?


It weighed in at a whopping 9 grams.

Are you just the least bit curious what was inside my Easter surprise egg?

Don't hate me, but I'm saving it for another day.

I am, however, fairly certain of what we'll find when we do whack it open.

What do you think is inside my fun little dog house egg? Leave me a comment!

Watch your feet

It's best to know the truth when dealing with these nasty creatures.

Really, they're busy plotting against us all. And if you're not careful, those evil tractors will knock you right off your feet while smashing your head.

Yes, smash. Like an egg.


Who knew they could be so disagreeable?

Yet there is more.

When sunbathing on uneven ground, there is only one thing worse than small biting insects.


Yeah, they're sneaky alright, and I don't believe that is an affectionate gesture represented there.

Apparently tractors get real grumpy when they sit around unused for a few days.

You Capture - Feet

My baby

My baby girl is almost one.

She loves peas and kitties, and her thumb. She hates socks and her car seat, and hats of any kind. She is one tough little cookie, since she gets run over by her older brothers all the time.

When I learned that I was pregnant with her, I cried for two days and didn't sleep for two weeks.

Now?


I am so in love. I can't keep myself from scooping her up to kiss her sweet soft cheeks, and her eyeballs, and her chin, and her neck... all the time.

I can't believe it's almost been a year since the truth hit me smack in the face (well, actually it was a different body part), and I could no longer be in denial that in fact, she was.

And she is.

And she is almost a year old.

Green and yellow

(green and yellow)

(just a little mud)

(recycled, frugal, homemade weight thing)

(just the right size)

(the world is his sandbox)

(and there was much rejoicing!)

Animal handling skills

We had a dramatic celebration of victory!


After a quest of epic proportions, my youngest boy courageously captured his adversary, the skunk. (Really. You have no idea.)

He protected himself with socks, of course. There was also a backpack, a bowl, and a toy chainsaw involved.

The socks were multipurpose. At one point he also used them to cover his nose, because as you know, skunks tend to be rather stinky.

I later found the skunk in it's final resting place, a boy's dirty clothes hamper.

This week's challenge at I Heart Faces is "Dramatic black and white". Although, maybe this isn't the type of drama they were after?


Come join the fun!

A tractor

Have I mentioned we recently bought a tractor?


Well, not that one.

I guess that means we have two, both very fun.

A moment

I have tried so many times to get a good sun flare.

I had a moment yesterday when I thought I finally nailed it, until I looked at it on my computer screen.

Can I just say it?


Stupid cheap five-blade lens sun flare artifact! Just look at the pentagon that ruined the photo! A pentagon! Don't say you can't see it.

Yeah, I could clone it out.

No, I'm not going to. It's just laundry.

Yes, I know this is the worst photo I have ever used for You Capture. There are better ones I took of the clothesline. Then again, the flare is a darn good flare.

There you have it, a moment (yet again) when I swear I'm gonna get myself a better lens. And someday, someday soon, a moment will arrive that I actually do.

I hope this is not the moment you say to yourself, "Wow. I'm never visiting her You Capture again. That girl needs help."

There may yet be a moment I realize that I really shouldn't participate in You Capture when I'm grumpy (or at 2am).

You Capture - "A Moment"