the coop

once the fluffy, cute chick phase passed, the coop became a place where layer feed was consumed at an expensive rate and droppings littered my pine covered coop floor. that all change on friday, the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the eleventh year. the convergence of 11's proved to be lucky indeed. in the weeks that have followed they've slowly increased production and while we thanksgiving-ed in the warm texas sun, those ladies got on a steady schedule of five a day.

each day bringing this.

so pretty that i sometimes wish i didn't want to eat them.

organic, free-range, home grown chicken eggs...pinch me.

sound advice and a quick study

about a year ago, our elderly lab visited the vet for her yearly check-up. at this visit, we were counseled by out dear vet to consider adding a puppy to the family while we still had chloey with us. puppies, like most everything else, learn by example and the process can go smoother with a positive role model to follow. because we ourselves are such good students, a few months later ripp brought home rose. chloey, going into her twelfth year, hasn't been the most patient teacher and has spent most of the past year hiding in another room. but...a few of life's greatest lessons must be passed on to the future generation.

1. never pass up the opportunity to pre-clean the dishes. i have been doing this my entire life and i imagine you will too.

2. anytime you smell the griddle or waffle iron heating up, get right in the middle of things and wait patiently for yours. it always comes, even if it means making extra batter.

3. finally, on frigid winter days, find the warmest spot in the warmest room and only move as the sun does. this same philosophy can be applied to shade trees in the summer.

and that, according to chloey/agreed to by me, is what makes for the best life experience as a dog in the rippstein house.