Look what we got!

SNOW!!!!

On Thanksgiving, no less! Woot, Woot!I'm not a huge fan of snow, except when my family can be home together and especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last year we had snow for Christmas and Thanksgiving, and we were thrilled! So far, this year seems to be a repeat, which is great, because the house is cozy and warm and filled with the comforting aromas of food roasting and baking.
The horse, llamas, goats and sheep are all tucked into the barn nice and dry, and except for a few bedraggled stubborn chickens, the chickens are cuddled up inside their house, too. Mrs. Cotton, our Japanese Silky hen, looks a little worse for wear, doesn't she? These are the smart ones.
So, what's the weather like in your neck of the woods?

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

The White Stuff

This is what we woke up to this morning. We're expecting snow flurries all day.
Our pumpkins are wrapped in cloaks of white. We like to leave them out for a few weeks and watch to see how their faces change as they decompose. We're weird like that.
The peach tree has finally lost all it's clothes, as my daughter says.
Zuni lives for snowy days. It's fun to watch her joyful romps as she cavorts in the white fluff on the ground. The chickens weren't so sure it was safe to come outside.
The Japanese Silkies, Mr. and Mrs Cotton, seemed the most at home in the snow with their fluffy feathered feet. Sid Vicious and Phyllis Diller, the two Polish chickens were less enthusiastic and crouched down pathetically underneath the chicken house.


We're expecting snow flurries for the next 2 days, followed by sunny days and temps in the 60's. This is typical Autumn in the mountains of New Mexico.

How's the weather in your corner of the world?

Carving and Clucking

What do you do on a beautiful Fall day? Carve pumpkins!The chickens sort of get in the way, but Jax didn't mind. And the chickens did a pretty good job at clean-up.I borrowed this camera and it's unbelieveably slow in taking photos, so it was hard to capture just what I wanted. The pixels are bare minimum, too, so the photos look kind of grainy. I sure miss my camera, but at least I'm able to capture these special moments of all three of my kidlets preparing for Halloween.This was the first year that both boys could carve their own pumpkins, or at least the first time I felt safe enough to let them. lol! Jenna decided that she never wants to scrape out the pumpkin guts every again, thank you. Ewww.Here's the finished Jack-0'-Lanterns. Jem's is on the right...the one with the Uni-Brow.Jen's toothless wonder is in the middle. And Jax lays claim to the double-chinned pumpkin at the right, who is badly in need of some dental work.
Happy Halloween Y'all!!

What are the odds....?

Want to know the 'dish'? Read more here: Laughing Orca Ranch

Happy St. Patricks Day!!

Two of our Ameracauna hens started laying green eggs just in time for St. Patricks Day!!
Now to only find some green ham.....

Twin Yolks!

Twins seem to be the norm in our family!
Read more on Laughing Orca Ranch

A Frosting for the Cake

This is our chicken coop! For more pictures, click here: Laughing Orca Ranch

Our First Egg!!!

Our chickens laid their first egg!!
Read more about this exciting news at:

Laughing Orca Ranch

Jenna's 4-H Project~Chickens/Eggs

It was quite ironic that Jackson chose the Usborne Chicken and Egg book when he won Bingo at the Valentine's Day party this week. Jenna is signed up to work on a 4-H project called "Chickens and Eggs"! So a wonderful book about chickens and eggs could not be more perfect.
And Usborne makes such beautiful and informative books for all ages. We are enjoying this one quite a bit.
I took a few pictures of the inside in case anyone may be on-the-fence considering buying Usborne books for their children (and no, I do not work for or sell Usborne books! hehe)



Some of the other educational books that Usborne publishes in this same line.

Our main problem with Jenna's 4-H project, is that she can't decide which chicken she'd like to have as her 4-H project and to show in the State Fair! She loves her two Speckled Sussex: Kipper and Spotty Dotty....and they seem to love her, too. Our Speckled Sussex are the most tolerant, patient and friendliest of all of our chickens.
And the Barred Rock, Silver-Laced Wyandottes, and Ameracaunas are also very special, too.
Jenna spends alot of time with her chickens and is outside almost every day playing with them, petting and holding them and just plain socializing all of the chickens. And it truly shows.
We originally thought Jenna would choose her pretty Ameracauna, she named "Angelina Ballerina".
All of the chickens (well maybe not as much with the Brown Leghorns) seem to enjoy Jenna's presence. So it will be difficult to choose just one chicken for her 4-H project.

Ceramic Llamas? Chickens?

For the past few months, we've been participating in some ceramic classes our local homeschooling group has been hosting. We've really enjoyed the creative outlet and trying our hands at painting some fun tiled artwork for the house, too.


For pics and updates of our ranch critters, click here: Laughing Orca Ranch Blog

Here are my tiles. Of course, our two llamas, Cataleya and Catlinite grace the tiles. I was honored during one class to find that a young girl in our group decided to create her own llama tiles, too.
A picture of all 3 of the tiles I made during the classes.
A close-up of the chicken tile I painted.
Jackson & Jeremiah painted these two creative tiles.
And here's Jenna's swirly, magical tile.

Chicken Salad?

Want to know what this tasty treat is all about??


Click here: Laughing Orca Ranch Blog

Our Family's Christmas Day

What a wonderful, happy Christmas Day our family enjoyed together yesterday!
We started off with opening many special presents, watching the joy on our children's faces.
Afterwards we sat down to enjoy our special once-a-year Overnight Holiday French Toast, which I make every Christmas Morning. It just wouldn't seem like Christmas without this yummy tradition.

Later, we all relaxed and basked in the holiday glow, while the kids played with their new toys. And still later, we enjoyed a delicious Christmas dinner together, too.

I'm including a bunch of the holiday photos that our friend Tom took of us for our Christmas Cards. We chose the first one, but Tom took some really great photos. Here are our favorites.



Jeremiah playing "Ode to Joy" and "Jingle Bells" for Nana & Papaw in North Carolina, while Jackson holds the phone.

And here are some holiday morning photos.(Click for larger views)
Jeremiah happy to have another knight for his collection.
Jackson & Jeremiah thrilled to have their new walkie-talkie set.
Nana & Papaw taking photos and videos of the kids. We were so happy to have them here to celebrate Christmas with us. If we had told our kids they had to choose between having Christmas or Nana & Papaw visit, I know for a fact they'd have chosen their Nana & Papaw.
Jenna opening up a package of cars from the Cars Movie.
Jenna excited to have another box of Cars Movie cars. Jackson & Nana checking out a catapult for Jax & Jem's German made Knight Set.

Jax, Jem, and Jen opening a 'group gift' together: an amazing Optic Eye!
One seriously happy Jackson with his brand new Snap Circuits Pro! He was SO happy that he was close to crying.
Jenna very very happy to have her Barbie Pet Doctor Puppy. The little dog makes puppy sounds and has interactive pieces, like a stethoscope, bone, needle, bottle, medicine, etc. And a cute bag to carry her puppy around, too.
Jenna opening a Pet Shop set from Aunt Lori. Anything with puppies or kitties and Jenna is thrilled!
Happy Jenna with her new Kitty Snuggler.

Our Chickens received a very special Christmas Present, too!! Check it out! Click: Laughing Orca Ranch

After breakfast we all curled up with the newspaper, or other reading material, or just laid out in front of the fireplace.
Nana & Papaw getting their daily news.
John reading Jackson's hat. hehe
Jenna watching "Angelina Ballerina" on Sprout.
Jen practicing her ballerina moves.
Jackson creating with his new Snap Circuits.
Jax and Jem doing Snap Circuits experiments
Jenna created a new painting.
Jax and Jem in their room setting up a "Knight Game" with their new Knight's Castle and knights.
It's Battle Time!
Boys having a great time with their Knight's Castle.