Fox in the henhouse

Well not yet, but close enough.  A fox has been picking my chics off one by one.  Even my two roosters!  My chix get to free range during the day, all day. Then at night they go back into their coop.  They are some of the happiest chickens I know!  Until recently when I started keeping them cooped up for their own safety.  A sly ole fox has been dining on my egg makers. Everyday I would come home and another would be gone.  I actually caught it in the act of running off with one, so there I went chasing a fox down the road with my pistol.  No luck it dove off into the brush before I could get to it. 
My next step is a trap, although I have heard many haven't had much luck with this method either.  Will the fox move on if the drive-thru is closed for awhile?  I hate having to keep the girls locked up for the rest of their lives.

Homemade or Hassle-free

I try to make a lot of my own cleaning supplies.  You know, laundry detergent, orange multipurpose cleaner, regular multipurpose, window cleaner, soaps, and scrubs.  I like doing this, and am always looking for more ideas, or new and improved recipes.
What about you? Do y'all make anything? What is your favorite?
I know many people think its silly to make things when you can go to the store and just pick it up.  For me personally, I like the feeling of being able to make things I need.  I also like being able to go to my garden and get things from it...grow garden grow!!

Boys will be boys

But why do they have to be so aggravating??? My middle child who just so happens to be a boy has made it his job to drive me crazy!!! He is an amazing athlete, but not the scholar he should be. And his not so stellar performance in school is all his own doings. He has decided that being the class clown is a better way to spend his Mondays-Fridays. This boy is gonna make me lose my mind. But, being the quick thinker I am I outsmarted his little butt. Tomorrow I will be enrolling him in a small private school!  I got this!  And yes he can still play sports for the high school. Hopefully this will be the best of both worlds for him. More traveling and scheduling for me since his sis, my youngest, will be staying at the high school. She loves it and is doing awesome! 

Lil bump

In the road again.  I had surgery on Friday.  Trying to take it easy and relax.  The kids are back in school so it's quiet and restful during the day.  Gotta get well quickly, I've got cleaning products to try out, the Orange one I made.  I've got dish soap cubes to make, and a garden that is screaming for attention. 
I apologize for any typos. Meds and blogging might not always be a good combo, plus posting from my phone who has an auto correct with its own mind!!

They say

Time flies, I never believed it, but yet again they were right...whoever 'they' are!
The kids started back to school today, off they went a 7th and 8th grader, both a lil nervous.  You see, they both had to start a new school today.  The middle school they were supposed to go to closed down, and the high school has become a jr/sr high school.  Interesting to say the least.  I cannot wait to hear how their first day was.  Annndddd, believe it or not, I really do miss them.   I spent a lot of time with them this summer doing the family thing when we could, and at work, yes I was lucky enough to be able to bring them with me.  Some days I was lucky enough to leave them elsewhere!  Funny how that works.  But I do miss them, they make me laugh, and smile, and grit my teeth while threatening them!
But, time flies, and I will be home soon ready to greet them and hear all about their day!

Health kick

So with my recent health issues, I am in the middle of a lifestyle change.  Healthier eating/cooking for my kids and me.
I've seen tons of pins on pinterest and recipes in mags for Kale chips.  After some olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic and a warm toasty oven along with a 25 minute wait.....they were pretty good.  Next time I might pull them out after 20 sweeps of the minute hand.  My son who typically runs from green things actually liked them!  I about fainted!!
Can't wait to see what other goodies we can try.

Going green

Errr, orange is what I meant.  I've been making my own cleaners, laundry detergent, dish soap etc.
I've decided to kick up my cleaner a notch and make the orange peel cleaner that I've been reading about on Facebook and pintrest.  I've got it made and now it's curing/steeping in the pantry.  I will keep you updated .