We included two regular eggs, because we had some extra room. This time I chose eggs with the lightest shells I could find. Hopefully, the light shells will make them easier to candle. And, you can see that we have another Carter egg.
The last egg, the one that I thought might be twins, never hatched. A few days after the hatch, after candling the egg several times to be 100% certain the chick was not alive, I did break it open and it was, in fact, a fully formed single chick that for some reason just didn't hatch.
Today, Miss Scarlett looks like a teenage chick:
We were so happy to see that our Scarlett is doing well and growing so fast. The kids burst into giggles and laughter every time they see her picture. 
Today is Grace's last day of Kindergarten. But the last day of school festivities began yesterday when we attended Grace's Kindergarten parade. The parade, which was completely flanked with parent paparazzi, was led by the world's greatest kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Stroh.
Grace had a bit of trouble keeping her hat on. In the picture below she's concentrating on balancing it on her head.
Hatless Grace receiving her Kindergarten completion certificate.
This week, Grace and I put together treat bags for everyone in her class. I went assembly line with the production of fabric flower pins for the girls' treat bags.
And I just finished sewing Mrs. Stroh's tote bag and dropped it off with eight minutes left in the school day. Good thing today wasn't early release : ) 
This means SUMMER has officially begun!
Things have been lovely in the pumpkin patch.
Creatures that are capable of wiping out the entire pumpkin patch. Creatures who, if they come into my pumpkin patch, will no doubt, wind up in my children's bug collection.
The huge pumpkin leaves are designed to provide shade for the vines, and eventually, the pumpkins growing beneath them. But even the biggest, greenest, healthiest leaf is no match for the scorching Texas sun. 
This year I bought an entire bolt of drapery fabric. The wide, thick fabric is perfect for creating afternoon shade tents. Unfortunately, it looks like your grandma's couch.
This morning, Carter and I created a Roman-shade-type-system that will allow me to tie the tents up when they're not in use. I know they're ugly. I know Martha wouldn't approve. But they are a necessary evil, and calling them Roman shades does make me feel a little less trashy about the fact that I have couch fabric thumb tacked to my fence and tied up with miss matched ribbons.
The battle has just begun, and will no doubt, rage on for months to come. The pumpkins are holding on with every thing they have.
And I will do all possible to make sure the tiny pumpkin blooms survive.
When we were at the farm in Taylor, picking up the eggs we just hatched, one of the little boys that lives on the farm came running up to tell us that two chickens had just laid eggs. Carter and the little boy went to gather the eggs.
The "C" egg was the most porous of all the eggs. I was worried that it might not hatch because the porous eggs are more susceptible to infection. The "C" egg didn't just hatch, it was the first to hatch. Carter is sooooo proud of his fast hatching "C" chick.
Watching the chicks walk around, eat, and interact with each other, you can certainly tell that some of the chicks are just a few hours old while others are coming up on the 24 hour mark soon.
Still no signs of life from egg #2. Not sure what happened.
I am sure that Augustine may just be the cutest chick ever : )
I was really surprised when he came out black, with a black beak, and black feet.
Meanwhile, three eggs to go. Two are actively enlarging their pip holes, the other still doesn't have a pip hole but I can hear peeping and pecking inside of the egg.
Augustine seems to be a feisty chick. A few minutes ago, his shell lurched into the egg next to him. I'm still hearing lots of peeps and pecks. I can see two beaks now.
Augustine's pip hole is actually underneath his egg. Of course, he's the loco upside down banty chick! He's actively pipping away. I can see his little egg moving and the egg flap opening and closing. It's hard to see the pip hole in the picture, it's the dark spot underneath. 
Look closely, you can see #1's little beak sticking out of his freshly pecked pip hole. 
Egg #1
and Egg #3
I just lifted up the top of the incubator and turned the heater fan off for just a second to listen.
Carter planted two tomato plants, which you can see (on the right) have really taken off. They are loaded with hundreds of tomatoes. I may actually have to trim them back because they are getting in the way of my prize pumpkins : )
Today is day 20 for the chicklets. Tick tock, tick tock.
My dad never sold anything at "list price," he sold things at what he considered a fair price. A price where he could make a profit and his customers could still get a good deal. That's the kind of store The Toile Pumpkin would be. Luxurious, but affordable.
I'd start with a cute, restored, cottage-style house. The walkway leading up to the house would be surrounded by, well, of course it would be surrounded by pumpkins. My pumpkin patch would be in the front of the house, where everyone could enjoy the plants, the blooms, and the pumpkins.
Inside the house, I'd have a place for tea, coffee and conversation. Just like dad did, but no shock absorber stools. 
Throughout the rooms of the house, we'd have artful displays, showcasing our items, and celebrating the beauty of all things toile.
In the back, we'd have to world's cutest chicken coop with baby chicks running around in the flowers. We would also have a chick hatching service. Guaranteed to produce the world's nicest chicks. 
The Toile Pumpkin.
