Doggy down by the sea

I do it myself

Making toast, 

he says, 'I do it myself.'

Little bit more butter?

Sorry for the blurry photo but boy hatchlings rarely hold still.

Invaded by birds

We had a really good hatch from our Golden giant quails,

which has resulted in us have brooder after brooder full of these sweet little birdies.

On top of the quails, we've also had the arrival of our second batch of dinner chickens.

The hatchlings are thrilled.

Look at them all! 

And all these birds.

A sum total of nearly a hundred birds are currently under heat lamps in my sitting room. 

Seriously.

The smell, yeah, it is enough to make me heave.

Which is why, they really must go out into an outbuilding tomorrow. 

Regardless, of how much fun it is to have so many birdies to play with.

Endless Patience

Have you ever noticed how animals exercise so much patience.

Never pre - occupied or too busy to play.

Always there, waiting for a cuddle.

Somedays, encouragement is found in a small feathered friend.

And we are thankful for all the blessings in our life.

Maybe, I miscalculated...

Remember when I said that I wanted to get the hatchlings a little tent for camping out in the garden.

I went on about how much fun they had when we had the little tent in the house with the green carpets, and the little frogs in the garden.

Do you remember Grandad telling the hatchlings you could not pay him to sleep in it?

Nonetheless, at their request he folded himself up to squeeze into that tiny little space. Just because it made them so happy.

Well, I bought them a tent.

But, I don't really think I can honestly say that it is little.

Truth be told, I am certain I have never owned anything quite like it. 

We've built our selves an extension!

No points for guessing where the hatchlings plan to sleep tonight.

A great day to be alive

I woke up this morning to the most beautiful day.

The sun and the sea... I am truly blessed to be.

We have had a busy morning with football matches and chores.

Treats received for a good football game.

He is pretty pleased with himself.

Bunnies to tidy up after.

So cute that furry nose!

Chickens everywhere!

This poulet is going to have such lovely markings.

We bathed the grubby ducklings. 

Before heading down to the beach.

Isn't that water gorgeous!

The hatchlings ran around collecting shells,

splashing in waves,

until some friends came along to bbq on the beach with us.

There was many treasures buried and recovered.

Does this girl not have the most awesome taste in shoes!

Hatchling no4 ran off with the remaining baguette,

before this hatchling ran out of steam.

So we waved goodbye, and returned home, thankful for such a wonderful day.

The things I never want to forget...

I never want to forget:

Hatchling no1 pronouncing beautiful, blue - tiful, or hatchling no3 calling puddles, muddles.

I do not want to forget the soft breathy voice of hatchling no5 telling us all his stories in baby cooing language, or the way he now sings the good night song with his head snuggled against my shoulder.

Hatchling no2 singing and dancing to Billy Joel, her looking me straight in the eye after I told her off for something, 'You may be right, I may be crazy, but it might just be a lunatic your looking for.' That girl has a knack for quotes, right when I need to hear them.

I do not want to forget the way the boys say, 'tight tight', instead of sleep tight, or the hysterical laughter that comes from the boys room when I close the door at bedtime. Hatchling no4 tells hatchling no5, 'You label less! (fabulous)'. And they both think it is the best joke ever.

I love how the hatchlings bloom into big brothers and sisters. The secret keepers of all the best post -bedtime games. How they share little looks before they go and raid the cupboards or my desk. Partners in crime. The way they look so genuinely upset to see one another hurt.

The way hatchling no3 still sings Elton John's 'Your song' to hatchling no5. Or the way she tenderly holds baby animals, as though she has an instinctive knowledge of caring for small creatures.

I wish to always remember hatchling no4's play fight with his brother and telling him, 'my horse field  (force field) is in - pen - i - triable.' And hatchling no5 simply denying the fact with a 'Nope!' before shouting, 'Gotcha' and tagging his brother.

There are so many fleeting little blessings in our every day. I only wish I could hold tight to them all.

Beaches and bunnies

Early morning beach trips start a day off right,

this little guy

keeps trying to bury me in the sand.

While this hatchling like to see the sky on the bottom and the sea on the top.

Two pirates whose ship has sunk await rescue...

And then after lunch we went and picked up

some bunnies to love.

This hatchling has been hoping for a new bunny since our family rabbit was stolen in a house break in.

So much cuteness.

And despite being only 8 weeks old, these bunnies seemed to warm very quickly to their hatchling.

Welcome to your new home bunnies!