Lillies for a day and tag-team hens

In doing a plant swap yesterday with my friend June, I discovered that I have 4 blooming day lily varieties, not the 3 that I thought I had. Each flower only lasts a day, but they put on quite a show for the few days they are in bloom.

We swapped some irises, columbines and bleeding hearts, and once these lilies are done blooming we may trade a few of these as well.

The bird in the chimney turned out to be a sparrow (I think). Chimney Man coaxed him (or her) out into a bucket, and escorted him outside where he flew off as if he had not spent 2 hot days inside my dirty living room chimney. Chimney is now clean and waiting for the next frigid July morning...

The chicken saga continues. Blond broody hen was bumped out of her nest box by Biely hen (a Bielefelder breed). I thought perhaps Blondy would lay even more eggs in the box next door where she is sitting, but when she came out for food and drink, I saw there are no eggs under her. She is still claiming responsibility for her babies.

The original 10 eggs, now under Biely, I think are down to 9, and should have hatched either yesterday or today if my calculations are correct.

I did one last chick check before going into work, and still none. I hope, for the sake of both of those hot, patient, broody mamas, that they get a few chicks for all their hard work. Not that we really need any more, but they are awfully cute, especially when mama(s) do the raising.

Blondy (left) and Biely (right) are playing tag team in trying to hatch those eggs