The time between "light bulb idea" and "execution of the idea" for him is quite lengthy. He likes to think it all the way through, consider the pitfalls, look at the steps carefully, examine some data and finally decide to (or not to) take the first step. You know.....a scientist's way.
He is NOT wrong! When we follow his steps, we usually succeed...but it takes FOREVER!!
The time between my "light bulb" and "execution" is measured in minutes. I move quickly---many times without a plan. Sometimes I succeed, but many times I don't. I usually drag him with me, I always enjoy the ride and I never have regrets for trying.
Case and Point:
We need to increase our layer hen population. Given the recent spread of bird contamination, I am unwilling to bring in any new birds from a hatchery. I had an idea on Monday morning to buy fertilized eggs from a local, trusted farmer and "hatch" the next generation.
By noon that day, I met the farmer at the Blair library and exchanged money for eggs. Here's the best part...the part that should make you all appreciate my poor husband's situation....
Me: "I've never done this before. Do you have a suggestion to guarantee success?"
Farmer: "Are you putting them under a broody hen or in an incubator?"
Me: "I have no idea. I haven't thought that far ahead."
Farmer: Do you have an incubator? Do you have a few broody hens?"
Me: "No incubator. Probably a yes to the broody hen. Haven't really looked into the personalities of my hens, but who WOULDN'T want to be a mother to 10 fuzzy chicks."
Farmer: "Well, these eggs need to get to their final destination VERY soon."
Me: "No problem. I'll decide on my drive back to the farm." (1 mile)
I got to the farm and started bossing people around... "Ok, YOU go get some boxes where the hens can sit on eggs...YOU get the corner room in the barn ready for the boxes...YOU go out to the egg mobile and ask which two hens want to be mothers....."YOU hold this carton of eggs and DON'T let anybody eat them."
We got them all in the corner room and those two volunteer hens were NOT interested in sitting on eggs. We left them to explore the room and I was certain they would "discover" the nest of eggs and instincts would kick in. Well, the instinct to "Get out NOW" was strong and soon the kids were chasing those hens all over the farm.
Failure? Not yet!!
We put them in a kennel and brought them and the eggs back to Omaha to sit in my small hen house in my backyard. We took them scraps of garden veggies and gave them a pep talk about how awesome motherhood is.
Hours later...Joel came home for dinner:
Him: "How was your day?"
Me: "Great. Can you please check on those hens for me?"
Him: "Hens? What hens?"
Me: "Oh Yeah, I brought two hens home from the farm this afternoon."
Him: "Why?"
Me: "To sit on the eggs."
Him: "What eggs?"
Me: "Oh yeah, I bought fertilized eggs from a farmer to hatch new chicks."
Him: "When did you decide to do that?"
Me: "This morning about 8am."
Him: "When did you pick them up?"
Me: "At noon. At the Blair Library."
Him: "Why here? Did you secure the chicken area so they couldn't get out of the yard?"
Me: "No, but they won't get out....they will be busy sitting on eggs....plus we gave them cucumbers."
Big surprise. Hens were gone and eggs were orphaned again.
Failure? Not yet!!
After the kids roamed the neighbors' yards, the hens were brought back, locked in the chicken house and I was faced with:
Him: "Now what?"
Me: "I don't know!! Let me think for one minute." (Literally 1 minute). "We need an incubator"
Him: "We can order one. Let's look at reviews to see which one performs best."
Me: "Too late. I've got a list. We're going to WalMart."
I've said enough. Pictures will tell the rest:
Look at the windows. Pretty dark. Pretty late.
Yep. Kids are still up. Who can sleep with the suspense of building an incubator?
$20 later, the eggs are being kept warm.
Final count is 11 eggs aimed at being kept at 99 degrees/50% humidity.
Success? Not yet!!
When we headed to bed, we each had one more question in us:
Him: "Who's going to monitor the temp and humidity during the night?"
Me: "No clue. By the way, I've been thinking...what do you think of getting Guinneas for our farm? I hear they eat A LOT of ticks and are HARDLY any work at all."
My poor husband.
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