I recently had a friend text me that a dozen eggs at Kroger's in Portland were $11.49! We had empty egg shelves during Christmas around here, but when they were back in stock (limit 2 dozen per customer) the price was in the $7-9 neighborhood. I'm curious what everyone is paying for a dozen eggs, if you are an egg purchaser. I grabbed cage free Jumbo Lucerne because that is what our Safeway had - DOUBLE YOLKS! I don't know why this is so exciting, and I did wonder about my cholesterol levels during the day. *It was a freakishly large egg -reminded me of our ducks eggs.
In spring of 2016, we ordered 6 baby ducks. They arrived in a little peeping box via USPS. We ordered our chicks the same way. The ducklings lived in the garage under a heat lamp until they were ready to live outside.
James and I put together a large coop for them to live in. It's crazy to look back at the garden and see it full of perennials- I do not recognize it! So bright it hurts my eyes. The ducks did a great service to the kinda crappy soil there.
A freshly filled tub would get them all quacking and riled up, they were such fun!
I certainly got off track! In my efforts to clean up a bit, I wanted to ground one of the Feijoa pineapple guava trees. So out goes this old rosebush by the fence.
It was a bit of a struggle to unearth the roots from the pot, but I don't think I hurt anything.
In she goes! I added an EdgeRight 14" corten steel ring - but I realize I need one more to attach for a proper ring for holding mulch. It should be here any day. A good change, as this tree looks good year round - and the rose didn't.
Onto the mess around the vegetable beds. This area needs to blend in better with the rest of the garden. To the right the bed was edged with iris and various succulents. I pulled the iris and moved them around here and there, gave some away. *You can see the tarp on the fence where the insane wind blew a couple fence panels down.
And the bed on the left needed some help as well. I repurposed plants that were growing too close to other plants, and grabbed a few from the greenhouse. Added some rocks. Definitely a work in progress, but we're getting closer. *after this photo, added Boophone disticha, agave & another Pachypodium lamerei.
In front of the veg beds, added some San Pedro and Cereus repandus for height to shade the tomatoes & cukes that are grown back there. Also just to "hide" the area a bit.
Those rocks look really yellow there, that yellow dust rinses off. A Eucalyptus macrocarpa (8-10') should provide plenty of screening as well. Everything looks too small, but that's how it goes until it fills in. The clean-up continues.
In other news, we are getting bids to replace our kitchen cupboards - the cabinets are coming apart, and have been doctored as we can. It's over. Time to move on. And replacing our carpet. As much as I'd love to upgrade to wood everywhere, it's just too much $$$$$. This is a gardening blog, but let me know if you have any interest in seeing a before/after modest kitchen renovation. I have so much packing to do to prepare for both kitchen and especially carpet install. Yikes!
Have a great weekend :)
Things tend to be more expensive in Canada, but I don’t think it applies to eggs. Last time I looked, there seemed to be plenty of selection, and my memory tells me between $6-8, but I wasn’t paying that much attention.
ReplyDeleteBTW, things that I am hearing is that the egg and cholesterol scare was just that. I’ve read something like, “Eat as many as you want, as often as you want.” I believe this was credible science although I think they were making a point in the way that they said it.
Ok, interesting. I believe our shortage was caused by the bird flu, I was surprised that Oregon prices were so much higher than California - not the norm!
DeleteI've read that, too. Sometimes it's hard to disregard those things we've been told for decades, you're right though. Enjoy the eggs!
I get my eggs at Trader Joe's in Seattle: $5-6.
ReplyDeleteYes to seeing your kitchen renovation! Between that and carpet replacement, I don't envy you one bit.
My only experience with ducks was when a pair of mallards flew in one early spring looking for a nesting spot. They found a excellent spot under my bird's nest spruce (Picea abies). Eventually I saw egg shells left behind but never a hatchling.
Your Feijoa looks good. It has tasty fruit as well.
Chavli
TJ's has good pricing. I bet the duck pair was fun to keep an eye on. I love Feijoa, the petals are sweet to eat as well.
DeleteHave you considered a laminate flooring rather than the carpet or wood? There are very good materials that hold up well. I don't know how much cheaper it is than wood, though, or if it's comparable.
ReplyDeleteYikes, eggs are crazy. I think they were $7.99 a dozen when I found them this week. Which was lucky as they were all sold out at Trader Joe's. I asked, and they told me they were sold out within two hours of store opening. (I can't shop early on weekdays with work.)
I can't quite make the leap to laminate, it's inching to the same price as wood - so I think I'll just make do with our existing tile and a refresh on the carpet should help. Dang, sold out in 2 hours! I told myself I'd switch to tofu scramble if I can't get eggs.
DeleteHuh. Didn't know that about eggs. Knew about bird flu but Dear Husband is the egg buyer. I did buy dozen at TJ's today they were "organic jumbo" $5.99 (limit 2 dozen per customer). Come to think of it shopped there right after they opened so maybe that's why there were plenty. Dear Husband is the egg aficionado. I think I average about one a month, mostly in something like brownies, which is why I bought the dozen this morning.
ReplyDeleteThe ducks were cute--but took quite a lot of care? Here predators (coyotes, racoons, owls, red tails) would be a major issue. A neighbor has chickens in a large entirely screened in enclosure.
Your garden work looks excellent. Crazy winds there, too? They sure trash a garden, don't they?
Yes would love to hear about your kitchen cabinet remodel. We need to do a few things in our kitchen and wondering exactly how far we should go.
Now I'm wondering what you eat for breakfast. Mmm, brownies are always good. The ducks were fun, unfortunately they were attacked by one of the predators your mentioned or my guess is the neighbors husky. Hate the wind! Ok, I'll work together a few posts on the remodel process.
DeleteWhat happened to the ducks?! Did you release them into the wild? Do they or their progeny ever visit? I wanted chickens at one point but protecting them from coyotes and other varmints put me off that idea.
ReplyDeleteYour back garden is ever evolving. It's fun to see it develop.
Sadly, they were attacked. Our chicken coop was better at keeping out predators. Ol' Henny Penny was our oldest living hen, I think 12 or 13 years old. Thank you Kris, the way you've planned out your property is inspiring !
DeleteWow, $11.49 for a dozen eggs is quite a shock! It’s interesting to see how egg prices vary, especially given the unusual circumstances and shortages over the holidays. Your experience with the jumbo double-yolk eggs sounds like a fun surprise, and I’m sure it made for a unique breakfast! Also, how lovely to reflect on the ducks' contribution to the garden—nature really does work wonders for the soil.
ReplyDeleteYou are invited to check out my new post: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2025/01/denim-on-denim-styling-cinched-waist-denim-vest.html
Yeah, I thought that was crazy high. A buck an egg!
Delete"Cleanup continues," that's something I can relate to!
ReplyDeleteI love to see the changes in your garden. It's like it's a different garden altogether.
How do you like the EdgeRight ring? I've been thinking of getting some of their straight edging.
Well, it keeps us busy right? Ha ha - when one thing is done, something else needs revisiting. Thank you :). I really like the EdgeRight 45°, so sturdy and easy to hit into the ground. And they have 3 different sizes I believe. Shipping was fairly fast.
DeleteI think the eggs were $8 in South Florida. I bought egg beaters. They are fine unless you want breakfast. Garden is looking great. I love to see kitchen Renos, having lived through a few...Amelia
ReplyDeleteok, Thanks Amelia - I like seeing home stuff too. $8 sounds pretty good
DeleteHi, I like that you add stories about home and garden in your blog. It is fun for me.
ReplyDeleteI just got ducks this summer!!! I am in big hopes they will be my PEST CONTROL!!!! And egg layers for me this full garden season.
We also will be ordering chicks!!! Cannot wait to have our own eggs... and my pest control on duty.
:-)
Carla
Thank you Carla, I like hearing about both too. Oh you are in for some fun, ducks have such great personalities. The were great digging in the ground for snails here and grubs. Absolutely feasted on them. And chickens, too - no egg shortage at your house!
DeleteI was going to ask what happened to the ducks, but read Kris's question and your sad reply. I think the most I've paid for eggs (from Kroger) was $8... thankfully we don't go thru too many. Yes to the kitchen project! I've always wished that when I visited gardens I got to go inside the houses too. I want to see it all! How people's indoor style relates to their outdoors.
ReplyDeleteOh, I agree - I love seeing inside spaces as well. I'm knee deep in packing and throwing things out. My indoor style, if you can call it that- doesn't get anywhere near the amount of time I dedicate to the out. Still, I'm very much looking forward to a refresh.
DeleteCute ducklings and sorry to read that they were later attacked in the pen. A couple of weeks ago, we paid about $6 for a dozen eggs in nashua, NH, and then found them for a bit less last week. It has affected how may we enjoy, sadly.
ReplyDeleteThe egg prices have come down a bit here, too. The grocery bills have been shocking for a couple years now, I'm paying a lot more attention when I shop.
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