Yep, it hit me. I think I am a hippy! Why? Well, for one thing, I'm trying to live as organically as possible. Sheets on the bed? Organic cotton. Milk for O in the fridge? Organic Skim. Even the sugar is organic. And not to mention the new additions to the back yard. And my love of gardening! And not just the active act of gardening, but the joy of sitting back and watching the happenings of the garden. I am thrilled that I've seen bumble bee's! And even a cool looking bird that looks like a chickadee, but with a black and white head. I even want to build a little deck of sorts in the garden to meditate on. I guess living in Chicago wouldn't make me a real hippy, but maybe an urban hippy! And that's ok with me. I love my city!

Well here we are in late April and it is finally starting to feel like SPRING! April showers, if the saying is correct, should bring upon us a MONSOON of May flowers! So far so good with the chickens. I repurposed Olivia's old cedar playhouse into a kinda nice (I feel!) coop for the girls. Right now there are six, but that number will go down to three. The other three will be living in llama-land in Michigan. This group of young chickens are pretty friendly! They have no fear, so when I or Olivia are taking care of them, they let us stroke their feathers, peck at our shoe laces, and eat right out of our hands! It has been a pretty good adventure for the two of us. We just can't wait for the yummy eggs!

WHOA! I realized that I haven't written a post in almost a year! I'll try not to make it a habit. So, what have I been up to since last April? Well, to be honest, a lot. Last April left me broken hearted, so I was in repair mode for awhile. I had thought I met "the one", but then life happens when it is supposed to happen and showed me that "it" has other plans for me. So I focused on myself. Meditation. My girl. Making new friendships. We also got a new puppy, Gracie. I've also been spending some weekends of the month at my old farm, Northwind Llama Ranch. There are still some old friends living there, and I feel fortunate to go there. My ex and Olivia's other dad still has it. Speaking of Michigan (that's where the farm/ranch is), Olivia and I went out and bought some new chicks. We were going to buy two, but the very kind lady said we had to buy six! So, yep, there are six new chicks. They are going to be living in Olivia's first grade class for the week, then some will go to Michigan. Yes, I said some. I'm pretty sure I am going to try out being an urban backyard chicken person. Just don't tell my neighbors. Yet. :) So, I can't wait for spring warmth, greenery and flowers! This brown and beige color palette has got to CHANGE. I have some good ideas in mind for the yard, and some in the planning stages. Definitely more flowers. And plants that stay green all year round to help with the brown shades of late winter. So, that's it in a nutshell. I'll keep you posted more often than once a year. Till my next post!

Often I wake up in the middle of the night and look in on my daughter sleeping soundly, and think to myself how perfect my little life is.

First time for everything!

Spring is, as we all know and have heard, a time for new beginnings. It is also a good time for firsts.
My daughter learned how to climb a tree this weekend, and now all she wants to do is climb trees! Yesterday she climbed an apple tree and maple tree in Michigan, and she climbed our old crabapple here at home in Chicago. She asked me what kind of trees I climbed as a boy- maples, boysenberry, oaks.... I climbed a few! It brought up some fond memories. It's like you get to relive your own childhood at times with your children, and I am thankful for that.
I started thinking about my firsts. My first day of school. My first kiss. My first apartment on my own. My first dog. Mostly all of these I smile about when I start to remember. It is very interesting to allow yourself to go back and focus on a first- really have some good time to just sit and remember. It's a cool mental exercise! (But know I don't advocate living in the past!)
So what about you? What are your firsts going to be this year?

Seeds and herbs and veggies- oh my!

All right, this is it. I am going to try to grow some herbs and veggies this year in whatever corner of my yard that has enough sun!

I mostly ordered seeds with my friend Julianna from an awesome source, Landreths Seed Co. We are giddy in excitement for their arrival! We are planning on nourishing ourselves with succulent veggies, flavoring our cooking with fresh herbs plucked from our own pots, and enjoying them knowing we raised them ourselves!

And of course my mind has been wandering as to WHAT ELSE I could possibly do for my family that would include growing things myself, and, well, much to the absolute horror of Layne, I've been thinking, you know, my back yard may actually be big enough for, lets say, three chickens! I've already checked out some of the urban chicken websites, and it seems pretty cool! I don't think it will go unnoticed though, so no sneaking in a few chicks... this one has to be carefully planned out! I've raised them before, once upon a time on our llama farm in Michigan, and it was so rewarding collecting eggs from "the girls", and giving the egg-cess (sorry for the pun!) to neighbors and friends back in Chicago was fun.

Would this be homesteading? In Chicago? Oh I don't know, but hopefully my enthusiasm for these new projects will be catchy!
And Jules, I am looking forward to our fish n chips dinner and talk of seeds as we ooh and ahh over the packets we'll be holding in our hands!

Today was the Chicago Garden Show, and Layne and I went. I have to say I am totally stoked for spring, and to get out and garden!
It was amazing seeing all the flowers, gazebo's, water features they had, not to mention the Market! Wahoo! It took every bit of restraint from buying bulbs, koi ( I don't even have a pond!!), and beautiful mounted butterflies (they collect them after they pass).
But one thing for sure, it got my brain going over my garden and what I am going to do with it! New flowers! A climbing hydrangea! Bushes and roses! Maybe I can squeeeeeeeeeeze in some boxwood!
Anyone have any favorite garden websites to share? If so, please do!
Happy spring fever to everyone! I got it BAD!