Illinois...

[STACEYH]

I have projects and plenty of kid time. I don't like being cold is the problem. I do get up and do things, but there's much less motivation when it's cold compared to the warm summer months I long for. I'm just not a cold weather person. I much prefer 70+ degrees.

I detest the cold so much that this morning I turned on a burner to take the chill out of the kitchen while I was making the waffle batter. I didn't even cook on the stove, but you bet I used it to warm up a bit.

The kids wanted to clean the garage yesterday (kids find joy in the strangest things), so I did that for several hours. Thankfully the garage is heated. Then we built a 4 unit bird house with some scrap plywood (pic below). And I cooked enchiladas for dinner. I do get up and do things, but the cold makes it challenging for me.

Here's the bird house I made with the kids. It's roughly 12x12x18. There are four seperate units. DS says there's one each for Mommy, Daddy, Sis and himself. Any idea what kind of birds might use it? The holes are 2" I believe.
View attachment 2977950

That sounds great. The bird house is awesome! Tell the kids well done. Martins love community houses.

 

[Molpet]

I have projects and plenty of kid time. I don't like being cold is the problem. I do get up and do things, but there's much less motivation when it's cold compared to the warm summer months I long for. I'm just not a cold weather person. I much prefer 70+ degrees.

I detest the cold so much that this morning I turned on a burner to take the chill out of the kitchen while I was making the waffle batter. I didn't even cook on the stove, but you bet I used it to warm up a bit.

The kids wanted to clean the garage yesterday (kids find joy in the strangest things), so I did that for several hours. Thankfully the garage is heated. Then we built a 4 unit bird house with some scrap plywood (pic below). And I cooked enchiladas for dinner. I do get up and do things, but the cold makes it challenging for me.

Here's the bird house I made with the kids. It's roughly 12x12x18. There are four seperate units. DS says there's one each for Mommy, Daddy, Sis and himself. Any idea what kind of birds might use it? The holes are 2" I believe.
View attachment 2977950

Yeah purple martins,if they are around you..... sparrows seem to take over everything here

 

[Faraday40]

Some orp hens are finally laying again. (It's been boring white Leghorn pullet eggs & misc. bantam eggs all winter!)

My silkie is still broody. Unfortunately the serama egg on which she was sitting never hatched. I think it was due last Tuesday, so I'm pretty sure it died. I started up my little incubator and popped a few eggs in it. I'm not sure if she'll still be broody but the other bantams are starting to linger in the nests after laying. There's a high probability another will come down with broody fever. What I don't know is what the fertility rate will be like. The roosters are pretty quiet and I'm not seeing the spring cockerel chases (of the hens or each other). I guess I'll find out soon if they're being gentlemen - or lazy.

 

[BReeder!]

I was late last year, so I'm planning ahead this year. I want to take the family to a maple grove where they have syrup processing demonstrations and a pancake breakfast. Farm animals to see, feed and/or pet would be a bonus.
Any recommendations?

 

[STACEYH]

I was late last year, so I'm planning ahead this year. I want to take the family to a maple grove where they have syrup processing demonstrations and a pancake breakfast. Farm animals to see, feed and/or pet would be a bonus.
Any recommendations?

Only place I know is in Missouri Rockwood Reservation https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/rockwoods-reservation
And it is close to the Bird sanctuary which is donation only.
https://www.worldbirdsanctuary.org/

 

[STACEYH]

Only place I know is in Missouri Rockwood Reservation https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/rockwoods-reservation
And it is close to the Bird sanctuary which is donation only.
https://www.worldbirdsanctuary.org/

The Bird Sanctuary is mostly outside too. ( Covid and all)

 

[BReeder!]

Only place I know is in Missouri Rockwood Reservation https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/rockwoods-reservation
And it is close to the Bird sanctuary which is donation only.
https://www.worldbirdsanctuary.org/

I should clarify, I'm in Plainfield (southwest suburb of Chicago). I don't mind a drive, but Missouri is a bit too far for some syrup making and pancake breakfast. Lol.

As a kid I was in boyscouts and we used to go somewhere every year. It wasn't too far from Chicago.

 

[STACEYH]

The wolf Sanctuary is close also. They do private tours though and you would have to book them.
https://www.endangeredwolfcenter.org/#

 

[STACEYH]

Maybe someone else would like the info. I didn't know if you were doing a wekend get away or what. Seeing I am just off the Missouri border I do most things there..... Illinois forgot about their southern folk We have to go to other states.

 

[NotAFarm]

I was late last year, so I'm planning ahead this year. I want to take the family to a maple grove where they have syrup processing demonstrations and a pancake breakfast. Farm animals to see, feed and/or pet would be a bonus.
Any recommendations?

This place is just south of Bloomington off I-55. Haven’t ever visited but see it on trips south.

https://www.funkspuremaplesirup.com/

https://www.facebook.com/FunksGrovePureMapleSirup/