As if they had a calendar hanging in their coop, our hens decided that the day before the vernal equinox was the perfect time to lay their first handful of eggs.

We're all delighted, especially the littlest among us, who claimed these mini-eggs as his own, no doubt due to the fact that they fit quite well in his hand. And look at those orange yolks! I suppose the ladies are getting great nutrition by pecking around our yard (and on our compost pile, which I think we'll rename the chicken pile, because they don't leave much food scraps behind.) 

Yesterday was my 32nd birthday, and it was a peaceful, slow day. Today Finn is sort of sick - had a fever last night - so we're laying low and spending the whole day at home. I realize how infrequently that happens. It's just the kind of day to plant some seeds in trays and eat leftovers.

Many of you have requested a series of posts on the activities that the boys are into nowadays that keep them happily busy around the house. I think that sounds like a great idea and I'll be putting together some photos/words for you. 

Warm Spring wishes!

The two boys from North Carolina got a full day of snowfall, enjoying it greatly in their throw-on-whatever-looks-warm-and-perhaps-waterproof, decidedly NOT New England snow outfits. Hot cocoa was imbibed. The wood stove was fired up for the first time this winter. Lots of board games were played, and I swear that my knees are scuffed from "playing cars" with Lachlan, pushing them all over the house. 

Today, some thanks, thoughts, and a few sew-y links:

• I wanted to thank you for the toasty warm reception that you've given the new patterns. I'm so glad you love them! 
• I'm so excited that Natalie Chanin is teaching a class with Craftsy: Hand-Embellishing Knit Fabric. I hesitated about .3 nanoseconds before signing up. Love her aesthetic, and sewing by hand is something I can do in between pushing matchbox cars around the floor.
• Speaking of aesthetics, I loved Sarai's post about the spiritual practice of sewing. 
• Amy Butler put together a little fashion show which showcases her newest line of fashion fabrics and my Mariposa Tee is featured starting at 3:45. Fun! 

... in the evening ... all over our land. Oh, it's darn cute around here, friends, let me tell you! Both Finn and Lachlan are ever-so-enthusiastic with our chicken coop building project. 

Our pint-sized tools, work gloves, safety glasses and tool belt are from For Small Hands. Everything is the right size for Finn, (who hit the three-and-a-half marker on Saturday) and Lachlan enjoys using the safety glasses and hammer, too.

The bones of the coop are set - now for the roof (and everything else.) So far, so good - we're using the Garden Coop plans, and they're easy to follow for us woodworking novices. 

I'm not sure if you read the comments on Friday's post announcing the arrival of the chicks, but I have to share a conversation my mom had with Finn while they were driving home:

Mima: How are the new chicks, Finn?

Finn: Good! We can hold them if we sit on the floor and put our hands like this (two little hands cupped together).

(Pregnant pause.)

But we cannot throw them...(another pause)...Laquinn (Lachlan) doesn't know this.

Goodness! Must teach Lachlan not to throw the chicks, I suppose! The chicks are still alive and thriving, despite Finn's lack of high esteem for his brother's behavior. :)

Six baby girls joined our family yesterday! Four Ameraucanas and two Barred Plymouth Rocks - names for which are being thought up by me and the surreptitiously planted in the mind of Finn. If it were up to him, I do believe our chicks would have names like "tree" or "car" or whatever else he sees at any given moment. If it were up to Lachlan, we'd call them all "chicken coop," his new favorite phrase.

It feels like I've mentally had chickens for a long time - since we lived in Mexico and had neighbors' chickens free-ranging in our yard. I've owned chicken books for years. I always knew we'd eventually get a backyard flock, but it wasn't until now that everything fell into its proper place. The boys don't self-destruct if I do something else for a little while. They get along and entertain each other. We have enough money to buy wood and a circular saw to build a coop, and we get enough sleep so that using the circular saw is no longer just plain foolishness! We're going to be "cooped up" for the next few weekends in order to focus on building a home for our little ladies. Here's to mastering power tools!