The First Group of Names Winners!

We have been getting some wonderful name ideas! This is the first group of winners...

Kirby the Americauna

Annie and Abby the Silver Laced Wyandottes

And Layna!

Congratulations to our first group of winners, Elizabeth Y, grade 7 of Tucson, and three members of Mrs Endler's 2nd grade class!

Name that Chicken Contest

So, you have been reading about our new arrivals lately. When this many new friends come all at once, it is really hard to name them all in a manner that celebrates the joy of each one. As I was trying to tell a few apart this afternoon, I joked to Wyatt that he should post a name that chicken contest on the website. We could offer up a few eggs or some lip gloss or soap or other items to anyone that gave us a name that he wanted to use.

A little while later, Wyatt came in from collecting eggs and checking on everyone before the next storm came in, and he said- the contest is on! I should know better by now than to tell my little cowboy anything. It usualy comes back to haunt me!

For any of you who do not know, we ended up with the first of these chickens in a similar manner. Bailey had been raising goats in 4H for a year when Wyatt ended up on duty at the pumpkin patch petting zoo with me. I said sure, I will help with anything but the chickens. Yup, we were assigned to the chicken area, where children were anxiously grabbing at the little feathered ones, and I had to get into chickens- and holding them- quick!

Wyatt began asking for chickens of his own, but like most Mamas, I figured I could wait him out and he would get past it. As it became a family joke, Wyatt kept on asking. I told him he had to take care of the dogs all year without me havng to remind him to keep the food bowl full. By the time the county fair came around in the spring, he was dragging me up and down he poultry isles while big sister was on barn duty. And he was also helping with the dogs' medications.

As the Clover Club leader, I had asked older youth to show their animal projects to the younger ones. Bailey took the kids into her goat pens. And a wonderful older boy set up a complete display of chickens, and even had handouts prepared! He was putting chickens in the children's hands when Wyatt asked what one was doing. The older boy looked over and said, "Oh, she is laying an egg for you all, let me put her back in her own cage so she can rest a minute." Oh, boy...

So when Wyatt's birthday came around, he brought home Sergeant Winger, followed by Pearl and Diamond, then Demon and Jewel. Two years later, Wyatt has 60 plus chickens, and participates in a weekly farmers market by the Santa Cruz River. He has rescued abandoned chickens, tamed some, and knows the unique personality of each one. These birds have helped him come out of his shy shell, participating in 4H and open shows with big sister Bailey. And though he doesn't like to admit it, he likes that he gets to learn with her. Then they can work together.

Boy, that was a long digression. Back to the contest! With all of these new animals, Wyatt is having a tough time giving each one a name worthy of the new friend. So we are reaching out to those of our friends who are creative and enthusiastic in this realm. Send us names!

You may propose as many names as you like. Send them in an email to info@ourpatriotsdream.com , along with your name, age if under 18, where you live, and how we can reach you with your prize! For those of you who are not local residents, we are sorry, but we cannot ship eggs as your prize. Good thing we make so many yummy jewelry and bath items!

Watch on the poultry page of the Patriot's Dream website for winning submisions, or here. Wyatt will select 2-4 names weekly, and will select the remaining ones by March 31st, so we can have all of the winners posted by April 1st! Find a link to the site on the right column of this blog. More reminders and details about the contest are available on the home page. Or feel free to send us questions!

By the way, feel free to use the response section of this blog to share your name ideas with one another. We will soon have the best named flock in Tucson!!! Happy naming!

More New Friends at Patriot's Dream

Jada the pygmy goat is looking in on ten new additions which came in late last night. The new chickens are in the pen where they will stay separate from our flock for a while as they adjust to our little home and their new surroundings, keeping everyone safe and healthy. None of these new friends have a name yet. Would you like to suggest one? There are Americaunas, a Buff Orpington, Silver Laced Wyandottes, a Rhode Island Red and one we are still trying to determine. I think I see a naming contest coming!!!

Wyatt's Saturday Cake Decorating Fair Practice

Wyatt had his last round of cake decorating practice today. At the next meeting, the group will decorate their projects for Pima Couty Fair. In the beginning of the year, fair seems so far away, now it is right around the corner! Wyatt made these three cookies on the left, decorated with chickens.

Wyatt did a base coat on his cake to look like the sky. Then he used a toothpick to outline the line between the ground and the sky. He used cookie cutters to set the shapes for the chickens.

After using a cool grass tip to make the grass, Wyatt put in the chickens. He later decided the fair cake will need a smaller star tip for the beak. These chickens could double as ducks!

These were cupcakes done with extra large stars.

When all else fails, eat the evidence! Wyatt is having a great time. Meanwhile, Bailey was off working on her welding project with Robbie. Watch here to see how the new heavy duty goat stanchion turns out!

New Additions

At a poultry workshop this week, Wyatt won some new chicks. As he wanted to raise a few more so they would grow up together to go in with the main flock, he brought home 2 one week old Delaware chicks on Friday, along with two one week old Blue Andalusian chicks (top left photo). Additionally, we brought home 2 2-3 week old Blue Andalusians (cuddling, top right) with their little friends one white leghorn named kicker, and one Americauna named Ari (bottom right.)

Bailey brought home four Cornish Cross chickens to begin working on her meat pens for Pima County Fair. More of these to come soon (we hope). Those are pictured bottom center.

After settling them into the temporary poultry nursery area in the house, Wyatt and Remington Pups hung out together by Daddy to let him know they were glad he was home from TDY. And glad to be done with a crazy week!

What's happening ths week!

It is rodeo week in Tucson, but this week has been busy in other ways! Last Friday, Aunt Leanna an Grammy Weston flew in late at night. After spending the last several months recovering from a stroke, Aunt Leanna moved in to a new apartment on the Northwest side of town - al the way from Branson, Missouri!

We enjoyed the visit with Grammy, she even made friends with the silly silkies!

We loved having Grammy with us, but Grandpa, Kaleigh and Heather wanted her back, so she took an afternoon flight back to California this afternoon. We will miss her, but hope she comes back to visit and brings Grandpa too!

After the airport, we dropped off another load of eggs for the Santa Cruz Farmer's Market, and Wyatt rested on the way home. Tonight: football practice for Wyatt, and preparing for a Pinal County poultry show for Bailey. Them Mama can ad some new pieces of jewelry to the website!

Hugs to everybody!

Patriot's Dream visits the 2010 Gem Show

It has been a busy time at Patriot's Dream lately. We added two new sheds, and the chickens are coing back up to spring production. Bailey is getting ready for pre Pima County Fair activities with her animals. Wyatt is now participating in the Santa Cruz Farmers markets selling eggs, and is also getting ready for showing some of his favorits chickens in the open divisions at the Pima County Fair.

Science Fair projects finally went in, and the Sonoran Science Academy Middle School Basketball team made it to the semi-finals of their division championship (GO EAGLES!)

As much as we would love to rest a moment, Mama took a break from work and preparations for Aunt Leanna's move to Tucson to spend a few minutes at the annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. I found some wonderful Preciosa crystals in blue and red that are fueling my benefit necklace project. Watch for more to come on that =). I also found some beautiful turquoise, jade, amethyst, rose opal beads, freshwater pearls and lapiz, along with some other lovely gemstones and even some standout glass pendants that are fueling my creative juices. Watch for more beautiful pieces to come on our site and in the March shows. I am so excited and reenergized in creativity!