Feb 2008: ~ Mands! Meanderings, mumblings and memoirs...

eh hem, squeeze me!!

Must say ~ lots of fussin' over valentines day ... and it has taken until about an hour ago to work out Vday and VD meant valentines day! (doh! Where has my head been??) but I am so very glad it was not what I initially thought, nor is there such a thing as Victory Day at this time - the only other thing I could think of for VD.

Personally, here in the Bungalow, we don’t need a special day once a year to celebrate ~ every night my hubby spends away through work and combining it as a little save, smaller footprint and chance to spend time with his mum, well my heart goes a-flutter just seeing him after that night away, so always a special day when he is home. As for weekends.... well! ;D

Thought I’d make note that its taken 4 rate increases but, next month we will need to put more funds aside for Morty!! We've always paid a little more and it has covered the increases, but not this last lot! Poop! And rounding it up to $10 is only a few cents, so more this time...

But we are definitely on track, even with the sudden single income. This NO Spend challenge really came at the right time to make us more savvy with what we have and do with it ~ like, that Darling Hubby is seriously asking me to look for a pushie for him (as low $ as poss - what is that?? I can get something stiff and requiring paint & get a gonky helmet for nix - but would he be happy with that? I'd cope with one like that ~ we only ever got a new bike if it were paid by the insurance of someone else, after knocking us off the bike usually! Just how 'low cost' is he prepared to go...) ~ let's just say not even a the 'several hundred dollar, brand good new' would have been tempting in the past - not even the whole 'bike/exercise' concept... So proud am I!!

SO No ~ valentines is one day we don't celebrate so no savings there - I'd actually probably be cross if he bought flowers. Pick one, ok - means he was thinking about it, no spend! Last year he said ~ just checking but we don't "DO" the whole valentines thing do we?" - thought - good question, and, you're learning (hee hee)

While I think of it:

Here’s a quick dinner – usually you’ll have everything on hand and you can dress it up, down – whatever: A little variation, but this is one I do all the time - this feeds 3 normal servings and one hippopertamic serve for my gianormous son! Occasionally ~ very occasionally ~ we have leftovers available for lunch.

QUICK PASTA CARBONARA

2-3 eggs, lightly beaten with a fork, 2-3 heaped soup spoons of sour cream – heavy or light works, salt, pepper, garlic powder, herbs (or just chives), nice handful of cheese (I use parmesan &/or tasty) and mix together.

Boil pasta to just before al dente - still a little firm - drain, pop back in the pot, add a knob of butter (plus shredded ham or quick cook some chopped bacon in the butter while draining the pasta), stir through the egg and sour cream mix over a low/med heat. Keep stirring through until it looks cooked - about 5 mins does it.

You could leave out the egg, or just use one and add another scoop of sour cream - or play to taste. We used to do this with cream but had no cream and used the sour cream ~ all of us prefer the ‘tang’ sour cream adds to the flavour of it.

So how has life been treating y’all?? I am finding it frustrating ‘feeling’ like I can do things, and knowing that there are chores I can do – but the pain and associated whinging and moaning and less sleep just isn’t worth it. Yet I cannot bring myself to home help – there are others who do need it more. Here it is really just the clutter. I could use the mop, dust & vac part - Clutter eh? Yup, plenty of that!! Hate it but cant get through it all. And I know it drags everything down, but sometimes it just must wait. Washing is in there – but the cluttered corners and walls…

Only this has now been waiting months ~ years in some corners ~ and those are the ones I really cant do, especially when you add the 8-legged creatures that might very possibly likely be in there. Ahhh – that, I can’t fob off without guilt to anyone other than family. That goes for Most corners actually ;D

~This weeks goal is to get the clothes into some semblance of order, been a little flu-ey and procrastinate-y the last few days, headache that just hangs around ~ but helped DS17 do resumes and applications that were handed in or sent today. He is on a youth committee and I hope he does well, excels and builds his self image and esteem.

Rather proactive this week ~ just slow. Looking forward to this weeks back appointment - very much in need of some neck assistance. I've got the back coming along, hurting like the buggery, but I think it is buildling. Just the neck seems a lot awkward and painful so hopefully MrMichael can play on that. End of next week and then it is my specialist appt - getting a little nervous, but so looking forward to finding out where the problems & pain are stemming from...

But if I were to ask for anyone who uses the powers of angels, spirits – the force even - anything it is send all sources powerful and calming to DS17 ~ using a stronger homeopathic remedy which is definitely showing a different 'something' emotive/thought pattern, and could do with some soothing, gentle, calmative power flows. Amongst the clutter and meds - I cant think straight. Physically been a slow, limited process.

Feeling more the half cup full of late ~ but I know that has come from shedding some of the baggage and 'learning' to relax and not see work/employment as the be all; and my health as a priority. Novel - but getting there. Looking forward to managing the mind and pain so I can enjoy a lovely red and French champagne DH has been gifted. Still some perks ~ just not the overtime, but we'll look flash when we open those two bottles for dinner!!

No – not Valentines – told you my views, and then there are those meds… Would not be enjoyed as much – the girlie drink I had when BIL & family were over from NZ hit me so not in a good way, don’t like that feeling. Popping in a few pics in from two Queensland trips – my birthday and the new year. VeryBestGF is coming to visit mid year – so so so excited. She has not seen the house – was back for our wedding!!

Fred had his finger jammed in the gym door today ~ said he cried but only had it in cold water : “ because they didn’t have icepacks when there were cavemen “ : and then went and did high jump. As you do. Played with a bunch of kids in the sandpit today, by the sounds of it. I am glad he enjoys school ~ MudGuts didn’t have such good experiences as Fred seems to. Then again, they are totally and utterly different. The proverbial chalk and cheese…

The no spend has made me change a few things to ensure we still do it without weakening. On the Simple Savings forum I notice many a flagging or ‘having a few treats’ because they have ‘been so good and deserve it’. Tonight, Hubby was still in the office and would ultimately end up home after 930pm, taxi home ~ only being no spend we discussed the value of the $45 to be spent, the need to leave around 5am to return. He had food from home in the work freezer to cover dinner and lunch tomorrow ~ so he will stay down an extra night. I guess it will be another Valentines’ night at the Bungalow! But digression aside, if it is not a preplanned/pre-existing bill or expense, then we are being of the mindset that we have no money too spend on anything because we have been ‘good’, not even a magazine... Gee, don’t know how many times they have been picked up and put back! The reward is financially yes we will be ahead, but it is then there to bring CeeCee and Morty down, provide a tank for water for the garden to produce food more easily and reduce our costs and environmental footprint ~ to barter when needed and provide excess for fowls, friends and family – probably in that order…

‘Puter wants to reboot – I hear abnimbals jumping in the laundry. I shall return.

Feel free to wander aimlessly – I do!

Later:

You know I was thinking (yes, yes ~ can still smell the smoke) but how does one go about seeking finaicial compensation or retribution from Telstra or the council? When MudGuts fell down the manhole pit - it is almost like it is no one's fault.

Now, I don't really want it to come across as a money grabbing exercise, but when mum tripped under a broken light on a pavement crack - that was somewhere around $30k... Where's moine? I had to drive all around, listen to the moans, inspect a butt crack for bruising (not pleasant!!, funny butt!!), give pain relief to both him and me - and what if there is something down the track, I mean it is his scaphoid and his trauma ~ translates to ours also?

Anyone know? Just thinking out loud... I know what I would do with $30k - and let me tell you there would be no new car in the equation - or holidays or motorbikes ~ Morty, CeeCee and house repairs from MudGuts' temper flares would be first...

February 2008: Monthly Budget Report ~ Family Budget ‘08

** this is a bit like a finanical diary ~ on a weekly basis, updated and edited as a go ~ full of my crap and waffle as I think of it. The pictures will come - and may have absolutely no relevance other than I took it, or Hubby did and it looks awesome

You need a little back ground ~ back being the ‘operative’ word. There is a post in 2007 ~~

Mine is cactus – stuffed, fractured and oh, so very painful. When our former PM uttered: “Life wasn’t meant to be easy”, little did I realise he was referring to mine specifically! Scheesh! It’s been an interesting, jam-packed, never-a-dull-moment kinda life at times…

In February 07, I did not get a promotion applied for; was made redundant in a business restructure (offered and accepted positions ~ it’s all in a previous post) and my 97yo grand mother died ~ all on the one day. That, strangely enough, can bring a person down ~ in a big way. Thus began what was soon to be a very painful, trying and , well you will see over time…

So, started 2007 both working full time – good almost 6 figures combines. Mid year ~ single income – ballpark $35-$40k, full price meds & docs. Then in December hubby’s role changes weekly pay to monthly. We coped, amazingly so! Ok, we did increase the credit card limit by a few zeros but more as butt coverage if something happened medically. And it was relazing, entertaining ~ albeit restrictive and rather disjointed as meds muddled memories and merged a few things. I know there is one week out there I will never get back, and cannot remember. Kiddadles have coped remarkably well to the switch in the ‘importance’ levels – screens and new are not a factor. They have had holidays with Nannys' and friends.

Thankfully some family did visit, others were better prepared and sent their pressies. We have almost wrapped them all and hope to send some Monday ~ finally. We should be slapped – as we we’re woosy and have only emailed… But financially non-local calls were restricted, as were mobiles – centrelink, doctors and pain relief induced sleep took up most of the days.

Actually, getting the PCC at the start of this month was the biggest relief – some appointments want cash up front, then I go get the rebate ~ but I can actually to do that. Wonderful feeling.

OK ~ back on track…

Thursday 7th February ~ end of week one.

So the challenge was to not spend on any non essential items. Bills existing and falling due, regular payment requirements are essential – such as rates, costs for transport to work/school – essential as time, location, age and inability to walk means Fred cant walk to school from here, but Mudguts can ride a pushbike to town (until he broke his wrist – that’s another story). Hubby has cut the commute so not travelling everyday ~ Now I’ve been reporting that down the side column, also listing what we eat – so you know it is not just 2 min noodles, tinned beans…

While our outgoing for the week were $1201, including Morty payment, extra on CeeCee; petrol tank fill; medical costs ~ the items we declined, put back or rethought and refrained was a total of $273 ~ no magazines, no chippies, no Big Ms… Work meals around what we have at hand, in the garden, the ability to make without needing 'extra'.

And the meals were lovely – just had the most beautiful fish and chips ~ more your restaurant quality than in the paper type. Got the fish fillets, lightly dusted them in seasoned herbed flour, bit of citric acid, cracked salt & pepper, fried in butter and served with a lime & coriander sauce (had no tartare) and deep fried chips with chicken salt , salsa & sour cream. That’s not how we used to do Fish on Fridays during lent!!

Frozen banana chunks on corn cob skewers; with golden syrup drizzled (it freezes and goes caramel-y) or chocolate dipping sauces (add frozen strawberries, blackberries, cantaloupe, mango and fresh apples in the fruit combinations) ~ quick easy delicious dessert! Mash frozen berries over plain icecream. A row of chocolate is enough for dessert too ~ you don’t always need to have something huge ~ heck had popcorn with icing sugar watching a DVD one night!

And you should see what we’ve got planned for next week’s menu ~ have had to arrange meals around the Melbourne overnight stay night choice to ensure Hubby is home for some in particular.


Saturday 9th February

Hubby did the groceries with a 'need now' list, a 'will need during the week' list and an 'if on special' component. This could have been much more damaging that it was...

OK - he did splurge, but everything was 'justified' ~ the chocolate because it was a mighty $1.96 off and he only got 2 blocks, not 4-5 as tempted ~ and one block, with one row for dessert per night, that’s 3 nights quick sweets for the boys. The pate – well, aside from it being something nice to sit and share, it can also be used on the steak planned for dinner next week – cover it in pate, cook in pastry ~ I think that is beef Wellington? So I know too that what I am saying is being heard and considered ~ I have everything needed, this will be an embellishment of sorts.

The paper towels, but the cheapest not the softest; 10kg rice @$9.49 - $1.21 off; bacon rashers (on special and rolled up & put in freezer for 'ron) but not the pizza ham, bit ex-y; Golden Circle Pineapple juice – ok, usually pricey even on special, which it was, but definitely Golden Circle has the best pineapple juice – so that passed scrutiny also. This pineapple was grown by my very best girlfriend. We saw it 06/07 and it was little. In Nov when I was back ~ we ate it!! It was delicious - I am jealous...

Hubby didn't get coke because he knew there was still 4 x 2L in the pantry from on special..! But he did get some Dolmio chilli tomato sauces that were on special, because great for nachos, tacos and quick dip for guests. Oh, and crumpet toast because he really doesn’t want to make pancakes, picklets for brunch and wants home made gourmet pizzas for lunch ~ and was a little over cereal.

So ~ there are a few habits he has changed there. Thus giving me license to a bit more ruthlessness - I've been using UHT & powdered milk on the sly for cooking, watering down the juice and adding mung beans and other padding out foods; will now trim a few other with some SS tricks.

I’ve also put on a little weight with the recording of everything. Over the 50kg mark again ~ yeah!! And I do believe my DearHusband may have lost a little in taking lunches and not stopping for donuts, chocolate bars or coke. Oh that was one justification ~ he bought two giant MiloBars ~ on special at the stupermarket so only 84c each; not $1.80 and if he had them at work, no temptation for the $2 snack machine. Well . . . as the machine had not been used this week ~ I can see where he is coming from as a way to have his ‘treat’, yet maintain the ‘spend less’ aspect. Now to get sox and jocks IN to the dirty clothes basket ~ not beside…!!

Dinner was stir-fry ~ and can I say as good, if not better than from the restaurant. We used our bok choy, spinach, cabbage, carrot and garlic; from the pantry were sprouts, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, rice, onion & hoi sin sauce and from the fridge came the broccoli. Dessert was a row of chocolate ~ been a good month since we had big blocks of chocolate in the house ~ $4.21 a block is just too much nowadays.

Now where’s my ice-cream & chocolate….?

Things we are looking for:
Electric beaters – one of the two whisk hand held type
Whiskers on special ~ fussy cats – although we have got dry to the cheaper no name and the wet food can be no name 69c casserole varieties, so long as it is mooshed a bit more before serving… Like I said, fussy cats.
Jaffle iron ^^ good clean soil ^^ the courage to walk into Brumby's at 5pm and ask for end of day bread ^^ ditto to the supermarket/grocer for chook scraps ^^ mower repair

Just adding to the end the side bar record of the first two weeks of the no spend challenge - will possibly look like a dog's breakfast, but it is a record!!


Feb 1:
Purchases: Meds, Fares into town and Fares to work (in da big smoke) ~ necessities: $65
Change in Habit: Didn't buy takeaway pizza ($25); made ourselves ($10); No Canteen for Fred8 ($5) ~ didn't spend $20

Meals: Cereal breakfasts, sandwiches (hubby meal provided on work site); home made pizza; icypoles from freezer


Feb 2:
Purchases: Saturday paper ~ MudGuts is job searching ~ necessities: $1.60
Change in habit: No "Saturday Walk Home" Ice Coffee Big M ~ didn't spend: $3.50

Meals: Cereal breakfasts, lunch pancakes/hotcakes; Roast chicken and veg for dinner; last of the Milky Bar minis for dessert.


Feb 3:
Purchases: Off peak train fare to da big smoke for work (evening function; 4th - site survey & office), sleep @ MIL ~ necessities: $10
Change in habit: Would usually travel Mon morn peak - ($20.70); Sunday paper ~ flicked through internet ($1.80); no shopping. Plus ~ Hubby took lunch to 'breville' tomorrow ~ didn't spend: $22.50

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; brevilles & toasties for lunch; Pasta Carbonara for dinner, frozen bananas dipped in chocolate sauce dessert


Feb 4:
Purchases: Trains and buses home for hubby ($20.70)
Change in habit: Hubby took lunch, no lunch purchase ($10); Fred8 didn't use canteen ($5), Hubby had stayed in da big smoke so only one way trip, no morning coffee ($5); PTrans not taxi home: ($20) ~ didn't spend: $40

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; sandwiches for lunch (cous cous for me); home made Chicken pie dinner; choc drops for dessert


Feb 5:
Purchases: Train and buses to/from work for hubby ($41.40)
Change in habit: Hubby took lunch ($10); no 'after swimming' reward from swimshop ($1, got a tantrum but!), no taxi home ($20) ~ didn't spend: $31

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; sandwiches/l'over Pasta lunches; tuna mornay on rice dinner; vanilla icecream with crushed frozen berries and white choc drops dessert.


Feb 6:
Purchases: Train and buses to/from work for hubby ($20.70); milk, bread & rice ($12.50); Petrol, full tank @ 1.24cpl ($51), BusFare for Mudguts ($1.80)
No non-essential purchases again!!
Change in habit: Hubby took lunch ($10); no drink or mag at Shell ($7), no extras on the shop ($10) ~ didn't spend: $27

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; sandwiches/toasties lunches; chow mein; vanilla icecream with crushed frozen berries and white choc drops dessert.


Feb 7:
Purchases: Mortgage ~ fortnightly payment ($600); Meds ~ pcc ($10); Back appt ~ ok, must do my neck exercises ($66); CreditCard ~ min $34 ($300)
No non-essential purchases again – that’s why CeeCee’s getting extra!!
Change in habit: Hubby stayed overnight ($41.40) and took lunch ($10); no knick-nak at chemist ($10), new PCC created huge drop in meds costs ($78 less); no extras on the shop ($10) ~ didn't spend: $27

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; sandwiches/brevilles/noodle lunches; spaghetti bolgnase dinner; frozen bananas and golden syrup sauce dessert. Lots of fruit & yoghurt snacks.

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I will do a weekly wrap up post
Summarising the week, review where we didn't spend money considered 'essential' but not really. Remember the items we put back on the shelf. The good bits and bad bits... How we reduced usage, wastage and our global foot print. I think we will be surprising ourselves enormously when we do reflect back over just this first week.

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Feb 8:
Purchases: Counselling appt ($110), Hubby train fare home ($10)
No non-essential purchases again – added $25 to Morty!!
Change in habit: Hubby stayed over night ($20.70) and took lunch ($10); and ran to catch last off-peak service home ($8.10); I put down Take 5, Thats Life & Better Homes & Gardens ($12), No canteen again for Fred ($5); and no 'Friday on the way home' treat ($2); picked up DH so no cab ($18) ~ didn't spend: $75

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; sandwiches/brevilles/noodle lunches; Fish fillets, lightly tossed in seasoned flour, pan-fried in butter & herbs, served with a lime & corriander sauce (no tartare) and salt & vinegar chips, optional tomato salsa & sour cream.


Feb 9
Purchases: Saturday paper, Groceries: $77.27
Non-essential purchases: Groceries (well chocolate, icecream and some other bitties discussed in the post) $19.32!!
Change in habit: All non-essential purchases were cheapest option available; no Coke purchased; all 'on special' ~ didn't spend: $100 (it is currently $200 big shop week)

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; noodles / toasties lunch; Hoi Sin Beef & asian greens stir fry on steamed rice dinner; Row of chocolate dessert

Feb 10
Purchases: Nothing - thats it: $0.00
Non-essential purchases: Again - nothing!! $0.00
Change in habit: You can read the paper online you know...

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; noodles / eggs & toast lunch; Spag Bolgonse dinner; frozen fruit & berry sorbet thingy for dessert

Feb 11
Purchases: Fare ($41.40)
Non-essential purchases: No - nothing in there again.
Change in habit: No canteen - had handful of jubes & popcorn from home.

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; noodles / toasties lunch; Roast Chicken and veg dinner (also pie & lunches? leftover); Row of chocolate dessert

Feb 12
Purchases: Fare ~ one way: $20.70
Non-essential purchases: Nothing required, purchased nada!!
Change in habit: Planned stay in town, had double lunch to store 'back up' in case.

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; sandwiches / brevilles lunch; Pasta Carbonara; Row of chocolate dessert

Feb 13
Purchases: Well, Hubby in town, so nil: $0.00
Non-essential purchases: Nothing ~ oh ah, did it again!!
Change in habit: We weighed up the time/expense value of hubby coming home having still been in the office at 630pm ~ not when that means getting up @ 500am to go back... Had 'back up' for dinner

Meals: Cereal breakfasts; sandwichs/ l'over stirfry/ toasties lunch; Chicken & veg pie (+3 x lunch portions), tuna mornay dinner; Row of chocolate dessert

Feb 2008: Best of our Homes and Gardens ~ chicken adventures

Let me introduce you to some important members of the Bungalow. So important ~ they have had their own 'Taj Mahal' built. While there are definately more flamboyant ones on the market, we made it ourselves, using as much existing materials as possible, more as time as progressed and probably only spent about $50 (excluding it lovely lady occupiers - they've paid for themselves already ~ and their food/bedding along the way!)

Knowing a new house needed time to get to know, we agreed ~ plan on paper, get a feel, no new pets, 'toys', modifications for 12 months. Chickens were always up there with the vegetable gardens, so I would have started asking around June/July 06 for say birthday / fathers day / christmas ~ justification of expense

~ although eventually the asking, pleading and begging did become a nag, bitch and tantie or 10 to get us to a final delivery date of May 2007. Why such a long time before we got chickens??

Because first, we needed a place for any chicken to live. And it had to be built ~ add two anal Virgo's and a Scorpio prone to fits of MWP and you can probably get a good idea...

There was an old aviary in the yard – decent sized. There were a few pine posts, used previously for a dog-yard fence, and it came with wire and other things I constitute as a semi-made wall frame – complete with door and padlock.

It was an all male affair – and progressed well when I stepped in, nagged or was pre-menstrual. Ahhh ~ release the screaming, sobbing bitch! At least I am consistent and on time for pre-preparation. I don’t get PMT ~ ask DearHubby! I suffer from MWP ~ Mad Woman Possessed.

But as usual, I digress…

Using an old wardrobe, bits of wood, laminate, and old pallet and other things scavenged from around the property; we built the laying boxes. I think there was a rule of thumb that said one box each, but we figured we would get 6-8 ladies and 4 nesting boxes partitioned in the wardrobe would be enough. I think that has worked well for us.

Built an area and used the tree for shade and stuff

It was good to see the boys work as a team ~ although some of the ‘discussions’ and negotiations were of language more colourful than the rainbow.

Fred probably got into it all more than MudGuts who has already well and truly outgrown the ability to get into the roosting area and can’t comfortably collect eggs. Darn handy for repairs and raking, ‘tho. If only he would...
Then the feeder – initially it was the old metal trough; but that became a bit rusty for my liking and has recently been changed to a 15L water bottle cut in half with a brick inside it.

Thus came the time to forget about buying a carton of eggs ever again ~ Hell man ~ we were buying the factory!!

So we got six ladies in May (for mother's day). Paid $10 from a known bird man, would you look at the grass – not there now ;o) We've since got another 3 (@ $3ea) real free rangers who are lovely but no pics ~ yet!

The eggs are glorious - only one was laying in the beginning but over by July/August they'd cranked it up to 3-5 eggs a day. The first week of July we had more eggs in one week than for all of June. That’s when friends started getting eggs and requests for cartons. I think November we had 122 for the month. Been a little slower of late - but they are also molting and we found a flea invasion - treated them and hoping that will clear up ~ Hubby's work mates want eggs. Yup ~ really are glorious eggs. Had a few double yolkers too ~ lordy, glad I don't have to push one out!

The poop is not so glorious. Especially if you nip out to grab a piece of wood for the fire in sox or bare feet and step in a blob - eewww. And they produce pleeenty of it!! Can't follow my own instruction of shoes on outside ~ always!!

Great punishment chore though - nothing better than assigning chook poop scooping from the patio and path for 30 minutes!! Unfortunately – odd things appear in chook poop, requiring investigation and analysis.
Somehow, this has become my job (as well) ~ probably as I am the only one who doesn’t need to hold their hand over their mouth…

We have two cats. The chooks have demonstrated they are the top of the pecking order in the backyard - I've watched our cats leap in fright when encountering chooks!!
And for as much bravado as he has, TeddyCat will surrender the stolen cucumber, although we had got as far as a growl but 2 chooks vs one scaredee TeddyCat and the chooks will win.
He also sits in the next nesting box when a chook is in there, rolls and ‘dust bathes’ with them and comes in to inspect the scraps.

Chooks peck each other too, and they seem to have hierarchy - You can't make chickens be friends! And they won't share (much to my Fred's disgust). In fact they fly over the top and peck each other at times.

And the hierarchy can change as we found when we added a few more to the Taj MahChook in early Jan this year. Excluding the fact I am No #1 always ~ at least with the gerls, as you can see!

Dogs are a problem, so our gates are locked and fences high enough to stop incoming / outgoing animals. No clipped wings required.

We were told no onions, no potatoes (especially no skins unless cooked and, like, who is going to do that), no citrus. Anything else goes. If they don’t like it – they wont eat it – so you learn what works. Before Christmas we were so bombarded with eggs, Hubby was taking them to work ~ $2 for 1/2 doz ~ we didn't have enough cartons (plenty of eggs). Since the fleas came in to the roosting area, we've gone from 4-5 a day, to 1-2 a day this week. So must clean & scrub it out this weekend. And flea dust. Need lots more googies now we are one income ~ 3 doz a week is a day's fare for Hubby. Or their monthly feed and wellbeing.

And they are lovely, scrummy sunny eggs. Now, if you are wondering have they got names ~ well sort of! We all know which is which but have variations on names ~ I tend to have my "Sweet", the new girls, little blackgerl; tan buff beauty; poor chookie; the white boofy thing ~ the boys have a variation on that again and hubby just calls them the chickens - affectionately. Considering we've had one fertilising the lemon tree (that's Keiv, named so in death by others ~ I preferred Parmagiana) ~ no names as such works well...