The Monday update

Steve and I were back in Ukiah yesterday for Steve's second-to-the-last Sunday in that parish because their new priest will be officiating very soon.

Yesterday was also their annual strawberry potluck lunch -- it's strawberry season in northern California and all along the coast we make a big to-do over that!

The 80-mile trek was gorgeous, reminding us why tourists from all over the world come to visit Wine Country in our various valleys.

The chickens continue to do well. With the sudden advent of warmer weather I have let them stay outside for two nights, but they still need a heat lamp even outdoors. Our evenings get brisk and, when they start huddling and squawking it means, "Baby, I'm cold!"

Which means -- I need to get the run built quickly for the larger, permanent coop. I can't wait to show it to you, it's a one-of-a-kind original that a friend constructed and it's very fine!