First off…the chickens.  For the most part they are fine, but I learned first hand how horrible nature can seem, thanks in part to some hungry raccoons.  I lost several of my babies, including “Hubba-bubba”, and “Princess”.  That is the reason many of my blog pictures are not showing up.  It was just too painful, as I had really made some great pets out of these birds.  I also lost little “Snow” this last Summer.  For now I have slowed down on the number of birds I am raising, and the “MamaHen” has started changing the direction of art I am creating!

I’m still into my new hobby - online sweepstakes!  It’s fun, and for the most part, it is free.  Also…I’ve actually won stuff!  Several giftcards between $5-$50, blu-rays,wii games, including guitar hero, and a surround sound speakers for my computer!  The speakers were won from a contest on Twitter, on which I am known as sweepstakemama.  A fun, semi-profitable, and free, way to spend some time.

But it is really time to get back to work, so look for my new art soon, some new articles on Associated Content, and new links to some of my favorite sweeps.

It was actually quite accidental, I stumbled onto a sweepstakes for, what else? “Chicken houses”, or to be more specific,a Horizon structures 4′x6′ Coop. That had me hooked!

Since then, I have entered into every sweepstakes I can find! Welders, other tools, a new car, a Nintendo Wii, it’s really become a addictive!  Oh, also very fun!!!

If you are interested in entering the coop sweepstakes you can find it here:

http://www.grit.com/sweepstakes.aspx?qnrName=SWP_CCG&id=2147483870

But you better hurry, it ends October 19, 2009.

To keep up with some of the contests that I’m entering, you can follow me on twitter:

http://twitter.com/sweepstakemama

Finally found the frame I want to use for my large recycled fish painting. The painting is on a piece of birch plywood that once hung in a hardware store. It is 25″ x 21″. The frame used to be a mirror frame that the previous owner evidently shattered. It is 32″ x 28″, and very heavy! Now to figure out how to put the 2 together!

While watching little Snow bird(my d’uccle) precariously balancing on some rescued wood and sheet metal a new motto came to me …………..”Make Art, Not Junk - And Save A Chicken’s Planet”

So for the chickens of the world I am now pledging to make as much art as I can out of recycled materials!

Stay Tuned………..

There is some risk in mailing, but overall I’ve had a lot of successful shipments.  The hatch rates with shipped eggs are said to be lower, of course, and I’ve read where 60% is good, but I’ve had many people write back with 85-95%.  I just like everybody who buys from me to know it’s a risk, to have an incubator ready, to know how to operate their incubator, and then to hope for the best and have fun!

I’ve even bought eggs online.  This last spring I bought some Cream Brabanters.  Out of 9 eggs I now have 3 brabanters, not so bad when I had a thermostat go out in my ‘bator!

This year on my website www.mamahenfolkart.com I have French Black Copper Maran Eggs, White Crested Black Polish, Buff Orpingtons and Black Australorp.

My French Black Copper Marans Cockerel and a Cream Brabanter Chick

I’ve always been fascinated in white doves and willow trees. They are mentioned in both song and text in many cultures. This piece was inspired by a Native American lore from the Mandan tribe. According to the legend, after a great flood covered the Earth the Mandan’s sent out a dove in search of dry land, and the dove soon returned with a willow twig.

I hand carved this painting on wood. It is painted in artists acrylics, and sealed in a protective varnish. The side is approximately 3/4″ thick, and painted black, so it is ready to hang, no need for framing.

I was really worried about the 2 hens together at first, but they have been sisters since they were 1 day old, and they are both very tame and calm little hens.  I’ve introduced Snow to the other D’uccles, but she wants to stay with Rebecca and the chicks right now.

3 of the 5 chicks, one on Snow and 2 tucked in Rebecca’s feathers

Close up…”Can we talk about this?”

Snow’s mate Blanco was accidentally killed by the rough playing polish hens. We now have 2 more d’uccle hens around the same age, along with a rooster named “tiddly-wink”. We’re trying to introduce her to the group slowly. Until then she is living with Rebecca and the chicks.

This was their first trip out on the ground. She’s such a great mama, and is teaching them to scratch for bugs and whatever.

Here she is attempting to teach them to dust bathe.

Detail "I Wanna' Be A Pear"

Also, starting a new piece.  I’ve always been fascinated by doves and willow trees, many of my favorite bluegrass and gospel songs feature one or both.  I had recently came across a Mandan legend, and decided to create a work containing the white dove and willow tree.

To start, I drew a sketch on a pine panel, pine being one of my preferred carving woods.  At this point I am taking off large amounts of the unneeded wood.