Book Fever

I am back to reading and I love it! I am collecting faster than I can read (or afford) so I have to wait on these...but I can't wait to own them!

The Pioneer Women: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels 

I follow Ree's Blog/website and love it. She's down-home and makes me want to run a cattle ranch in Oklahoma. This is her own love story and comes out next month. I'd also like her cookbook even though her recipes look sinful!

The Pioneer Women Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl

And for my newest adventure: A highly rated Urban Backyard Chicken raising handbook!

City Chicks 

New Year "Intentions"

Here is my list ( in no particular order)

~ Potty train Isabel, she's almost there

~Read a book a month...I'm on page 20, I better get a move on

~Super Organize the desk, not just hide everything in the drawers

~Eat more veggies, learn some good recipes

~Read the Chronological Bible my sister and mom are reading, I just decided this today so I'm behind and need to buy one

~Raise Chickens...Already have a start on this, pictures to come

~Learn how to make tamales

~Finish Isabel's babybook, transfer last years calender events and finish pictures

~Show my appreciation more, I've learned how much this can matter and make a difference and I need to do it more

~Focus on my word ,"Cherish"

~Next year don't make this an afterthought!

Word

I came across Heather's blog called  BlessedLittleNest on one of my blogging expeditions and I thought her idea of adopting a word for the year was an awesome idea. You can read about it here Word - Second Edition .



The word I want to focus on for 2011 is Cherish.
Here is the definition:

1. to hold or treat as dear; feel love for.

2. to care for tenderly; nurture.

3. to cling fondly to.

I’m focusing on cherishing the little things (and big things) in life.
The tragic event that took place in my hometown 4 miles from my home a few days ago has made me think about what is really important in life, so I want to:

 Cherish my daughter-
 I want to focus less on how much the house really needs to be cleaned or picked up and more on sitting on floor coloring and playing pretend with my 2 year old.

Cherish my husband and marriage-
I want to focus on making sure my husband feels cherished and want to make sure we spend quality alone time by having a once a month date night.
  
Cherish time with my family-
I want to enjoy every moment I get to spend with my family and to host a family dinner at our house once a month.
 

Chickens on my mind...

I started this post with a story about my animal raising saga and realized that it was going to be a BOOK so I will save that for another time. Long story short, one thing I have always loved is raising animals. I want to get back to it and I'd like raising animals to be part of Isabel's childhood. So we plan on starting with something practical...Chickens!
 It is still in the planning stages but I hope to get them in the Spring. I found this picture of a backyard chicken coop. I like that the coop looks like a barn and the doors open to the nest boxes, but I'd like a bigger run, one that we can walk into.

 

Ohhh Mom, you will like this one! I think those are sweet potato vines hiding this coop!

I think I like these breeds best. They are both known to be gentle and good layers, Araucana's and Buff Orpington. Plus, the Araucana's lay greenish blue eggs and the Orpington's lay brown...love the colored eggs!

I can't wait!