VALENTINES AND BABY CHICKS

 

Before you think the Yankee & Peach family is just another household who naively falls victim to superficial Valentine's Day marketing scams ... let me explain how we do it 'round here. 

We don't typically take the celebration overboard in our house, but we do enjoy the excuse to be extra sweet to each other... and, more importantly, a plausible justification to eat large amounts of chocolate cake and sweets (usually the homemade variety).

Just might attempt to make a hazelnut and meringue cake this weekend.
Or at least an edible version of it.

Momma Peach has told Dadda on many occasions that buying an over-priced bouquet of cut roses is just throwing money away.  I've reminded him that a live plant I can put in the ground and (hopefully) convince to grow would make me happier for much longer. He usually follows through with that request!

Once we put the Hallmark/Godiva/jewelry store trickery aside, we do enjoy Valentine's Day. Besides, the many different fables about exactly who Saint Valentine was makes for a pretty interesting tale. I'm surprised that Hollywood hasn't made a movie about it yet. Or have they made it already? And I missed it?

This St. Valentine movie doesn't count.

HOWEVER, in order to have full disclosure for all you Yankee&Peach readers (all 15 of you!), Momma Peach did fall victim to spending a bit of money for Valentine's Day.  She purchased a gift that keeps on giving... and giving... and giving. (or "laying," depending on the terminology you prefer)

After consulting the folks at Murray McMurray Hatchery (also known as the World's Rare Breed Poultry Headquarters) Momma Peach ordered 26 baby chicks to be delivered to Evie's grandparents' farm in West Georgia.

Gabba Gabba and Grandaddy will be on the receiving end of:

(8) Maran Cuckoos - This rare and unusual breed was developed in France in the mid 1800's in the town for which it bears its name, Marans. They had made their way to England in the early 1900's and quickly became very popular for their very dark (chocolate) brown eggs - a trait they are still known for today. These beautiful birds were first exhibited in 1929 in Paris by the Poultry Breeders Society of France and since then have gradually made themselves popular in various countries around the world.  Maran's lay the darkest eggs of any breed we carry and are a nice dual purpose bird for both eggs and meat.
Did you catch that they lay CHOCOLATE eggs?
Well, not really chocolate, but chocolate in color. How cool is that?
And very appropriate for Valentine's Day!

(10) Rhode Island Reds (in honor of Evie's Dadda!)
This is one of the most famous and all time popular breeds of truly American chickens. Developed in the early part of this century in the state of the same name, they have maintained their reputation as a dual purpose fowl through the years. Outstanding for production qualities, they have led the contests for brown egg layers time after time. No other heavy breed lays more or better eggs than the Rhode Island Reds.  Baby chicks are a rusty red color and the mature birds are a variety of mahogany red.

(8) Araucanas - "The "Easter Egg Chicken" - This unusual breed gets its name from the Indian tribe of Chile where they were first discovered. Araucanas lay beautiful colored eggs of blue-green shades from turquoise to deep olive. These natural Easter Eggs will amaze your friends and make a great "show and tell" project for school. Adults are of medium size with pea combs and our breeding stock is selected for their ability to produce colored eggs. They exhibit a wonderful combination of colors and color patterns and 10 or 20 of these birds make an absolutely beautiful laying flock that is extremely hardy and will be the talk of the town. This is a unique breed and great fun to have when the colored eggs start coming. Araucanas are recommended for egg laying color and ability and not for exhibition.

Forget lemonade or Popsicle stands, I'm thinking in about 6 or 7 months, you will see Evie and her momma with a "FRESH EGGS" roadside stand. 

Somebody's got to bring in some money so Gabba Gabba can feed all these animals!

I said roadside stand, Evie. Not running in the road.
Ehhhh, whatever gets the customers to pull over.