MARY JANE, YOU WILL LOVE HAVING CHICKENS. I TOOK THE PLUNGE A FEW YEARS AGO AND IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. THE EGGS ARE AMAZING. GIVE THE LITTLE PEEPS LOTS OF LOVE AND HANDLING IF YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THEM AS ADULTS. YOU PROBABLY WON' T SEE ANY EGGS TILL VERY LATE SUMMER OR EARLY FALL. THEN THEY WILL TAKE A HIATUS IN DECEMBER AND REALLY SLOW DOWN LAYING TILL THE DAYS GET LONGER AGAIN. I COULD NOT USE STORE BOUGHT EGGS EVER AGAIN. IF MY OLDER HENS ARE REALLY SLOW IN PRODUCING I BUY FROM LOCAL FARMERS WHO HAVE MORE HENS AND EGGS THAT I DO. THE BEST WAY TO REALLY APPRECIATE THE DIFFERENCE IN TASTE IS IN A "DIPPY" EGG. AN EGG THAT IS COOKED SUNNY SIDE UP SO YOU CAN DIP YOUR TOAST IN THE SOFT YOLK. YUMM. I MADE KING ARTHUR'S BASIC SWEET DOUGH OVER THE WEEKEND AND FILLED IT WITH ALMOND SCHMEAR. I ROLLED IT UP AND SHAPED IT IN A RING THEN SNIPPED THE OUTER RING TO MAKE ALMOST LIKE FINGERS. I MADE ANOTHER ONE WITH POPPY SEED FILLING. I COULDN'T REMMBER HOW TO DO THIS BRAID TECHNIQUE BUT NOW I KNOW. I WILL TRY THE LEMON CREAM CHEESE FILLING. I ALSO MADE A RECIPE FROM KING ARTHUR FOR EASTER EGG BRAID THAT CAME OUT FABULOUSLY. FOUR LOAVES GONE IN UNDER 24 HOURS. I CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON KAF RECIPES TO COME OUT WITH GREAT RESULTS. I'VE NEVER HAD ONE FAIL ME YET! THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK IN TESTING THESE RECIPES. YEAH, LIKE YOU REALLY CONSIDER THAT WORK!!! LOL I ENVY YOUR JOB. ENJOY THE CHICKENS. Thanks Fran. I'm nervous about the chickies, but have lots of others here at KAF to turn to for help and advice. I've gotten local eggs from another teacher here, and they are soooo good! I'm really looking forward to it, a whole new experience. Thanks for the boost! ~ MaryJane

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