Happy Birthday To Us!

Blowing Out Candles, originally uploaded by korynasz.

Gabriel turned 3 and I turned 35 yesterday, capping a three-day birthday celebration for the both of us. Here we are blowing out the birthday candles on our family party birthday cake.

Gabriel is growing up to be a sweet, curious, determined, and very funny little boy and I couldn't be any happier or more proud. Happy birthday, little man.

Gabriel had a Saturday morning party at a local park for his friends Ian, Nolan, Vanessa, Zane, and Bryce. Sunday, we had a great family birthday party (I cooked my famous Hawaiian ribs and smoked salmon - eat your heart out, Tom). We were joined by Gramma, Grampa (photo?), Me-ma, Nana, Papa, and Aunty Sandy Nemeth who drove down from Mill Creek north of Seattle.

Thank you, everybody, for coming and for your generous birthday gifts. We hope you had good food and a good time. We sure did!

I have also updated our flickr.com photo page with MANY, many photos that have been taken since the last update. That includes our trip to Canada, our birthday parties, final play dates with Davon & Kaya, Toni & Teryn's visit, chickens, Thomas the Tank Engine in Hood River, Tom, Kate & Hayes' visit, and various other fun.

...Make Good Neighbors

Well, we've decided - and have started the preparation - for putting a privacy fence in the back yard where our neighbor has chain link.

1. We are tired of their dog running up at the chain link and barking at everything.
2. We're hoping that a solid fence will help reduce some of the weed pollen that floats over from the elementary school field nearby.
3. Blocking the view of the neighbor's back yard will help our property value.
4. The security and privacy will be good for Gabriel and the chickens.

It looks like it will set us back about $400, but it will be worth it. Then I can seriously get down to business on the new coop.

This link is a nice resource for local urban chicken growers in the Portland metro area.

This link has a bunch of chicken coop photos (and a very unhelpful lack of specific plans).

My guess is that the following will not be acceptable:

Gabriel's New Friends

Gabriel's New Friends, originally uploaded by korynasz.

Yesterday, Gabriel and Mama went to Gresham and brought back four new friends for Gabriel - and a solution to Gabriel's insatiable appetite for eggs!

No names yet, but we have some contenders:

How about Laverne & Shirley for two of them?

There's one of each of four varieties (images from feathersite.com and mypetchicken.com)
:
A Golden-Laced Wyandotte pullet


A Barred Plymouth Rock pullet


A Black Star (hybrid) pullet


and A Golden Comet (hybrid) pullet