Here is some of the excitement that has happened recently in and around our home:

Last weekend, we were the recipients of three “rescued” Easter chicks. The rescuers were very happy that we agreed to take them; human mothers were getting impatient and the chicks had been banished to their basements. The group consists of a golden buff, a black australorp, and a barred rock. We kept them indoors on the chilly nights this past week, but they slept outside last night when the weather report finally predicted temperatures in the low 50’s. I put them near, but not with, the big girls in a separate, empty, parallel pen with a door that opens to a common sheltered area.

Very early this morning we heard a big ruckus outside. I prayed a short prayer that none of the babies was turning into a rooster, and promptly fell back asleep. But when I woke up later and dressed, a quick inspection revealed that the inside door to the pen holding the chicks had opened, and several of the big girls were throwing their weight around and reminding the little chicks of their place in the pecking order.

We had been planning to keep them separate until the chicks were close to adult-sized, but they have been holding their own today, so I am going to ditch those plans and let the groups intermingle. I continued my morning chores. I got the wheelbarrow and brought it around to the coop for the weekly cleaning and bed changing, but when I threw open the door I actually discovered a black Wyandotte right in the middle of laying her egg. I closed things up and went back later. I always take all the old straw and dump it in a corner of the garden. Over time, it turns into nutritious mulch. What I really love most of all is how the chickens turn weeds into eggs and poop, and nature turns poop and straw into mulch, and the garden turns mulch into vegetables, and weeds, and so on.

Speaking of eggs, today I collected 2 eggs. That’s not very many. There may be more later. We got 8 eggs yesterday, but the dog stole them all when I wasn’t looking. This happens from time to time. We have a lot on our minds; she is a one-trick puppy. Even though she is 10 years old, she still has a gorgeous, shiny coat. I wonder why.

I did a lot of weeding this morning, and of course I carried the large bunches of weeds back to the chicken coop for all the girls to enjoy. And they did.

I’ve been getting some potatoes ready for planting. Last week I cut them up so each had an eye, and then I left them on the counter to “harden.” Today I filled a drainage-friendly garbage pail 1/3 full with dirt and recycled straw from the coop (last year), and then buried all the potato pieces. I also planted a couple of onion sets nearby. Next weekend I think I’ll plant some tomatoes and lettuce seeds.

Best of all, this morning I found my first asparagus spear! It was thick and white, not yet emerging from the recycled straw that I sprinkled around the asparagus bed back in the fall. In the process of weeding, I broke it off by accident. So I had to eat it.

I also made onion soup today, which I have not done for years. In the past two weeks, our CSA has delivered a couple of large bags of onions, and they need to be eaten. So I peeled and then sliced 7 large onions very thinly, tossed them into a pot with hot olive oil, and let them caramelize on low heat for about an hour. I stirred the pot every 10-15 minutes to prevent sticking. Then I added a dozen small turkey meatballs (leftovers from Friday night dinner) to enhance the flavor, but these are not necessary unless you already have some in the refrigerator. I also added a few minced garlic cloves, some white wine, 8 cups of hot water, one-quarter teaspoon dry thyme (or one-half teaspoon fresh), 10 shakes of pepper, and 3 shakes of coarse salt. Easy-peasy. I can’t think of a single reason why it took so long to get around to making a pot.