How Can We Sleep While the Beds Are Burning?

For those that recognize this title it is a line from a song by Midnight Oil and I found it very appropriate for this post.

Last night around 9pm Dominic came running down the stairs yelling, "the chicken coop is on fire!" Ryan immediately zoomed out of the house, unplugged the extension cord that had the heating lamp plugged into it from the chicken coop, got the hose and was running with it to the chicken coop by the time I was outside. He is such a quick thinker. The chicken coop was in a roaring blaze! It was scarey! It took a few minutes but we got the blaze out and no chickens were harmed. We had already replaced chickens from a raccoon attack too. We were relieved the chickens were OK. It wasn't until after the fire was put out that we realized how bad it could have been. The coop is by our fence, also made of wood, and by some trees and the flames went to the tree branches above it. But the fire stayed to only the chicken coop.

The heating lamp for the smaller, younger chickens was strung up and we believe it fell and heated the cedar shavings and started on fire.

Seth came running from the bathtub to see the action so he came out in his towel but he's said I can't post pictures of him on here. He posed really good and everything in his towel! Dominic said as he was in his room getting ready for bed he had a prompting to look out the window at the chicken coop and saw it on fire. Thank goodness for the promptings of the spirit and for children who can recognize those promptings!!

I didn't get a picture of it on fire but here's some of the aftermath. So needless to say, I have lots to get ready this week for girls camp next week, 3 dresses to sew and now a chicken coop I get to help rebuild. We'll have to start all over on it. We have already thought of some different things we'd like to do with the new coop too so hopefully it'll all be good.

Here's a shot of the nests and the doors to them where they lay their eggs. Inside the nest on the left there is a golf ball. We put it in there so the chickens know where to lay. It's a common practice I'm told.


Here's Ryan hosing off the coop. You can see some of the damage to the inside.


Here's a shot of our neighbors RV carport. At the very bottom of the picture is the chicken coop and on his carport you can see the black soot mark from the fire. The flames were that high. Luckily the flames didn't get to the tree too.



Some of the damage in daylight.


Here's the culprit light. We'll have to get a new one.


Here's both sides of the coop. One was burned and the other hadn't yet caught fire.


Our chickens safe and sound.

Sammie too!

I was determined to get Sammie's picture before I go pick up the other kids' photos from Costco today and yesterday it rained all day and just wasn't good for a picture. So this morning we went out and took her pictures on the neighbor's rock again (thanks Delpha). Here's a few.

Maggie wanted in too. She remembered to put her hand on her face like last time. She loves her picture being taken.


Abby came out too and got in on the action. Nice morning hair Abby. This is what really curly hair looks like without water and product applied. I love her hair when it's done, she already doesn't like the curls.

Photo Shoot

Today I took pictures of Lillian for her baptism invitations and the kids wanted in on the action. So here are a few samples of our fun photo shoot. Small note: Sammie didn't want her photo taken so she is not in any of these.

Here are a few of Lillian



Abby


Maggie


Dominic



Seth





fun shots!

Summer Nights

Last night we pitched the tent up in the backyard and 5 of my 6 kids slept out there. It was so nice. They were having fun and I didn't have kids getting out of bed every 5 minutes to ask questions like "When is it going to be morning time?" or to go potty. I didn't know what to do with myself. I think we may keep it up all summer! I know the boys will want to sleep out there a lot.