Hatch Day Part 3

One is out of the egg, another you can see it's beak, and it's rocking! 
Yeah....the one out is a buff.  The next one to come is a buff too!
My children saw it happen!  I thought it would be later, and my husband came down the hall and said, "hurry"...you could here the chirping from the kitchen! Within 5 minutes more it had cracked it's egg all around, and then about a minute later, it was out! And flopping around....oh who can sleep??!! 
I don't feel so very tired anymore! lol....
My husband is snoring peacefully, the children are racing up and down the halls!
 
I've been trying to get PJ's on them for about an hour now!....they have a shirt on one and bottoms on another!
I eventually may get sleepy...
Another is out!
That makes two buffs...the next one that is fairly far along...can't see it's beak yet is a black one!
They are bigger than I thought they would be...these little ole banty eggs!
ohhhh, it is thrilling!

Ya'll come
The Parson's Wife

Hatch Day part 2

We just got back home about 30 minutes ago, (they've been alone for almost 12 hours!!)
5 eggs have pipped, no babies out...but I hear chirping!!

The Rev.'s aunt is about the same, close to death.
My son's eye is almost completely better...Praise the Lord!

Apparently, there was some excitement down the road from the parsonage while we were gone. One of the farmers was burning his crop stubble, and it got out of hand. (This seems to be a regular sort of thing down here in cotton land) Seems it got pretty close to the parsonage, but God stayed the fire. Thankful, God is on duty 24/7!
Our church members had heard of it, called, and some came to watch over. Hugs to the very best folks in all the world!

So tired, think I will just sleep.

Hatch Day!

I have peeping!!!

I'm so excited!! When I checked on the eggs this morning my daughter and I heard chirping! Not thirty minutes later the Rev. came thru and said, "Come Quick!"  and there was 'peeping'!  (2 eggs have little cracked shells!!!) Oh, that's a good thing!!



This is a welcome bit of good here at the parsonage, especially after last night's episode!
I haven't had a chance to tell it...we had to rush my son to the ER last night...about 5:00 pm. 
We were working on the chicken coop, and something blew into his eye...I looked couldn't see anything...but we flushed with water because he kept hurting....said it was better, later we looked again, still tearing, red, and starting to swell, flushed with water again...nothing!  About 3o minutes later he comes thru, his eye is almost swollen shut!  So off we go.  Did we have a battle to find what was in his eye....which they never did. They finally just numbed it, put a patch over it, and told me to watch it. He was not to rub it, or take the patch off, then sent us home.  I was just weak when it was all over! I used to think I was strong, then the children came...well, let's just say, my prayer life kicked into overdrive! All the little impossible things these sweet little ones manage to get into..right before my eyes!! This morning he woke up eye less swollen and red. He came back thru about 2 minutes later, saying" my eye's better, I got that dirt out!"  So something washed out this morning...and his eye is not tearing!  Praise God!

Phone rang, and I went to answer, now I'm back and in a rush. It was from my husbands parents, his aunt is dying (this has been expected, cancer).  They are calling the family in. 
My little chicks will have to do the best they can, on their own....

Be brave dear hearts, courage, fortitude, and strength!

Ya'll Come
The Parson's Wife

How I became the Rev.'s wife.

Now, I'm sure most of you had a regular sort of romance, you saw your spouse, fell in love, married, etc... The Rev. was in the Marine Corp., my parents had just moved to a new church in a BIG (for us it surely was) town. There just happened to be TWO churches of the same denomination in the BIG town! The other church was not to far from ours, and the pastors were a very nice couple, who every time they saw me, the Mom would pull out a picture of her son (his USMC photo) and tell me what an angelic boy her son was. She asked if he could write to me, said it would cheer him up, well, what with me being so patriotic, I agreed. My Dad (remember he's a minister) heard about "that Marine" (this is what my Dad referred to the Rev. as) planning on writing to me. My Dad has always been quick, he figured out right quick that I might write back! So, he said, NO. Period. And I did not receive a letter, though I knew one was supposed to be coming. Two weeks later, Dad brought a letter to me, it was from Daryl, Dad had been keeping it. He felt bad, said I could write the boy (his words) but that was all. And again, he said, period. Daryl had become so anxious, since I hadn't returned his letter (he knew who I was, had seen me before) that he decided to call, within two hours of Dad handing the letter to me, the phone rang, and it was him!!  Needless to say, my Dad had farseeing eyes, because eighteen months later, I loaded up a U-haul, climbed into the car, all teary-eyed, excited and scared all rolled into one, and went off to Camp Lejuene, NC. I must say, my Dad loved Daryl (that's the Rev., dearly, counted him as a son) but that came later.

Now, I've left out a whole bunch of details, but those are for a rainy day. Today, the eggs just won't hatch, don't they know how their arrival is anticipated? How we listen so carefully...my word, I surely do wish I had a stethoscope! I'm certain I could hear something!

Today we worked on the coop, listen at me! "We"...well, I passed up hammers, nails, boards, etc...I'm certain I was a big help! In fact he said he couldn't do without his 'gopher'....he then explained that it's "Go-for" (Go for the hammer, go for the nails, etc...) ah, well, the many languages of love!

Got a phone call from a church member, she was very ill, and wanted prayer. So, he's gone to see her, and I'm washing clothes, fixing to start supper. You know, I'm so happy and blessed! I truly do love the ministry work! I dearly love my husband so proud of him. Our children are the light of our lives, how we prayed for those little darlings! How faithful is my God.

Well, the supper I mentioned earlier is not getting done...

Ya'll Come

The Parson's Wife

Waiting...waiting...

I have found out, with certainity, that I am not really a patient person, no, this is becoming quite apparent with my attitude on these little eggs! We have ALL been watching, listening, & waiting...

Wednesday is the due date..I'm not really 'wishing' my days away... but I've checked the clock, the calendar, and the clock again...multiple times...

This week-end was a difficult one.  Nay, you could say stressful, anxiety laiden, even high-blood pressure week-end!  How on earth do people manage to get in such fixes?
My husband recieved a phone call from a person who does not attend our church, but knew us,  they were frantic, police were questioning this person, and now....well what a mess.  While my husband presence is calming, and comforting...the seed has been sown. May God have mercy.
What a blessing and peace people will have when they serve the Lord, we preach it, teach it, live it...and still... well, this is not heaven, so we will keep working till then!

Is the flu afflicting anyone else?  The Rev. spent yesterday between church services, visiting people sick with the flu. We always get the shots...(my daughter & son have lung difficulties) we try to protect them as much as we can. We've been told this one is not working, though they say it helps you if get the flu, but will not prevent.
Oh yes, it's a lovely day today....supposed to get up to 65!  And the sun is shining....
I am making better time now that I don't have to use a boat to get back and forth between the church and parsonage!....lol (It gets pretty deep over the sidewalk....) actually it might be a good idea!  he he he
My husband did offer me his waders when I was complaining (I mean 'commenting') the other day about it!  It ruins my shoes!  I have to tiptoe and it still rises up to my ankles!! (If it wasn't so cold, I would just take my shoes off and go across barefoot!)
But I know, the sun will shine, the puddles will dry up, and we will not wash away. 

Ya'll Come

The Parson's Wife

A Cold Night in the Church Van

Feb. 23 - Today is the last day I turn my eggs...now, I just watch the temps, & keep it humid inside.
I heard a scratching noise... small, but several! So excited! There is life within those tiny shells!! Course they do say, Don't count your chickens before they hatch....
Thirteen eggs!
Would love 13 baby chicks!

     Last night was our youth rally. We had to cancel the rally in January because of ice. We were unable to attend the banquet in Dec.(the church van broke down on the way...there were 11 people, and it was cold.. got back home about 11:30 that night...note* we had left at 5:05) though I must add, after several hours we knew we weren't going to make it...so we didn't go hungry! Lot's of cookies, and pumpkin bread, and small slivers of ham were passed around. For drinks we sufficed with the ones we had brought, the poor Rev. never took a bite the entire night.
     The children had blankets, and we all had coats, so though it was a long night, we sure had a good time visiting! Of course, the Rev. had a new dress shirt on, he was under the hood, under the van, (front & back) for different reasons, is anyone else aware of the fact that every single square inch of space under the hood is covered with oil? My poor dear, there he was, in charge of all the people, in the middle of nowhere, late evening (that means everything is closed) knowing the outside weather was turning colder by the minute. He has very large shoulders, and they were certainly full at that moment, but when people begin to pray, God moves in mighty ways! A young man, (who happened to be a nephew of one of the folks on board the van) stopped by, assisted, and several hours later, the van was in motion! Praise the Lord!  Toes had lost feelings, fingers as well, smoke billowed from our mouths every time we spoke, and noses were quite red, the bathroom issue occurred, (with my children of course)...let's just say, "Thankful for darkness and bushes!"
I'm so very grateful to be part of our church family, they bore it without complaint, laughter and encouragement were the only words they sounded in his ears! What soldiers they are!  Why, even Rolling Romeo, never complained that he missed his dates, yes, that's plural on purpose! Have I introduced Rolling Romeo? No? Well, our Saints of the congregation deserve their privacy, so nicknames have been made to suit them....and suit them they do! Why Romeo might be better called Casanova! The stories I will share with you about that sly fox!


Today is a "home" day for us...We didn't hardly know what to do with ourselves today! (my 'honey-do' is pretty long...lol) Sure would be nice to get a few items marked off! That coop is still waiting on us!! The Rev. has his hands full with his work, I'm not much of a carpenter (ok, so I'm NOT a carpenter), so it must wait till he is able to build....they that wait upon they Lord shall renew their strength!
Hoping for little chicks from eggs...
I'm not going to tarry. I'm going to enjoy time with my husband and children....

Ya'll come
The Parson's Wife

Candling the Eggs

Okay, here's the current tally.
Began with 24 eggs sent to me (9 were bonus)
22 made it into the incubator (2 were damaged in shipping) (Great packaging...rough P.O.)
Broke 1 with a thermometer (trying to install a wiggler) that made 21.

*Tonight at 9:30 pm I candled my eggs! I was very nervous, I had put so much effort & prayer into these fragile little things...so with trepidation I began:
I closed the door, blocked out all light, turned off the lights, then with a flashlight I carefully lifted the lid from the incubator, set it aside, and quickly removed the eggs to a warm towel basket, put the lid back on the incubator to keep the temps steady. Slowly, one egg at a time I shown the flashlight onto the bottom of the egg and lo and behold...I saw life!!! The final tally was as follows:
8 were tossed. 6 Were obviously clear, and 2 were obvious blood rings, with not much else...the rest were dark except on the end...I checked inside the eggs...6 never started and 2 were blood rings.

Now, I'm watching and hoping on the 13 eggs...
As a note...I think the eggs are all black silkies that have made it this far.

You know, I might just keep eggs incubating all the time!

Ya'll Come
The Parson's Wife

---

part 3 Golden Goose eggs

Sides are up on the chicken coop!! (and that was with 2 church people stopping by for visits!)
Roof and door tomorrow ( ) please, please, please!!
I have waited so long! I have tried to be patient! Haven't I? Yes! (If you ask me!) Was this too much to ask? He is very busy, but so am I! (Did I say that? perhaps I only thought it...).
It's not a house, nor even a barn....
Oh Ye of little Faith.

Still Turning the eggs, I pray over them
I'm really quite a bit more excited than I thought I would be.

Big week-end, Friday night is a singing ...Karen Peck and New River are singing...yes, we are taking the church van...(9) at this point in time...and taking pillows too! Oh and in-laws coming down. Then Saturday morning is AngelFood, busy time... and Saturday evening is our fundraiser...a 'Poor Boy Supper'...

Soooo, I will just keep on turning those little darlings and enjoy the day that God has given us.

*Funny little story: My daughter looked at the eggs on about day 2, and said, "Mom, if they were golden, we could make a lot of money!"
Wonder if anyone has goose eggs for sale?

The Adventure Begins...

January was an uneventful month, besides one, my cast came off at the end of it. Now I wear a brace, hoping to be free from restraints soon.

January 31st bought little giant, still air, non-egg turner, incubator for $50 at Feed Store.
Feb 1st, plugged in and awaiting eggs...
Feb 2 nd, searching, searching, searching- for the correct temp.
Feb 6th, eggs arrived (24)
@ 5:00 pm I placed them in the incubator.
Now, I'm waiting, turning, checking, waiting, turning, checking....

Why did I want chickens? I'm a farmer at heart...I also thought to save money & make a little money....eggs in our pantry, and supply church members with FRESH eggs!

The Coop...well, it's a skeleton at this time...a very thin skeleton. My husbands schedule is extremely binding, and the thought of a power tool, well it makes me weak...I see images of blood, lost members of my body lying on the ground...whew..enough.
And of course, I still can't do much with my hand; it is frustrating.

Yes, today is Saturday the 9th...my husband is at a seminary class. As he will be every month till May on the second Saturdays. Then of course, Angel food is the first and third Saturdays...and then we hope...we get the fourth Saturday!!
We don't have him through the week anyway, rent houses are always calling...he's repairing 3 to get ready to rent...they are waiting and that is money...soooo,(saying silently to myself " don't fuss, don't fuss, don't fuss..)

Today the church women have gathered to clean and decorate the fellowship hall for tonight's Valentines Banquet. I see 2 cars over there as I type...which means I must go, wouldn't want them to think the pastors wife was lazy or trying to out of working...

You know, I grew up on a farm, fed and handled the chickens, but I never incubated....what fun we missed! Mom just left them with the broody hens...I know that's best...but I'm having fun here. Well, when I'm not frustrated!

As a note to add, my little chickens
are to be little Silkies...

I bid you farewell for this day!