Eggs

As egg farmers, Vic and I seem to be abject failures. I got a nice young Barred Rock hen from Centennial Farm last fall because one of our three hens had died. I had hoped that the new hen, named Miss Hillary, would be a good layer. But so far, she's been pretty worthless. She laid two eggs last fall and then immediately went into molt and stopped. For a month, that poor, bedraggled thing just moped around, taking dust baths, and not producing any eggs. By the time her feathers grew back, it was winter.

Sometimes it pays to procrastinate. When Vic and I last wrote about our three chickens, it was mid-December and none of the hens were laying eggs. Despite spending an exorbitant amount of money setting up our henhouse, the darned hens weren't laying any eggs. It was frustrating. If you recall, I had hatched a plan to acquire a fourth chicken since my new, barred Plymouth Rock hen wasn't laying. But you know how it is around the December holiday period. No spare time. I didn't get around to getting that fourth hen. Good thing, because in early January all three hens began to lay again.

DINING OUT What food can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner, have books written about it and even a movie made about it? The 'credible, edible egg' no less, starring in "The Egg and I", a sophisticated comedy with Fred Mac Murrey and Claudette Colbert (circa 1947) And the egg in all its variations has been featured at Kathy May's Restaurant, on Gothard Street and Center Avenue, since it opened in May, 1999. Here is 'home-style' cooking to wake you up on a bleary Monday morning.

Both Sunset and National Geographic featured stories on urban chickens last winter. Raising chickens in one’s backyard is the hottest craze in green living, and I wanted in on it. Vic and I are not total strangers to chickens. We kept chickens — both laying hens and broilers — on a very small scale at our former house on Goldengate Lane during the 1980s. We gave it up 20 years ago when our last hen died of natural causes, and we moved to our present house. Much to my surprise, Vic agreed to my idea of keeping chickens again.

The Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is known as a haven for many winged creatures, drawing bird watchers and photographers from throughout the county. But a species of bird with sparse habitat suffered a major blow this year when someone got a little too close. Officials say Huntington Beach resident Charles Michael Harris, 40, broke rules and swam out to an island full of nesting elegant terns to get a better shot with his camera. Now Harris, described by officials as a photographer working on a book, has been charged with seven misdemeanor counts of violating environmental laws.

The big excitement in our yard is that a pair of house wrens has set up house in our bluebird nest box. Vic and I got the nest box from Friends of Shipley Nature Center last year, but I put it up too late in the season to attract any bluebirds. A male bluebird examined it several times over the summer, but no female joined him. I was hoping that the male bluebird would come back this spring and find a mate. Sorry, bluebird, the house wrens beat you to the box. Or did they? House wren males are known to build dummy nests, sometimes several of them.

With the winter holidays approaching, the Huntington Beach Independent went to Village View Elementary School to ask second-graders, 'What's your favorite holiday?' "Hallow- een, because you get to dress up and 'trick or treat' and go to people houses." JENNA MARTINEZ, 7 Huntington Beach "Easter, because you get to find eggs even if they're hard boiled. And in the plastic eggs you can get goodies." MIKEY HARKEY, 7 Huntington Beach "Christmas, because you get a lot of presents from other people and you get to spend time with your family."

Mary Furr Breakfast History and the prime rib are legendary at Springdale Bar and Grill. Twenty five years ago we would drive up from southeast Huntington Beach to the furthest northwest corner to eat at La Brique, as owner Gus Harris called it then, the small cafe, which during the week swarmed with nearby aerospace employees who would return on Sundays for cook "Smiley" Marjolo Galgini's breakfast omelets....

Thanksgiving is upon us. Traditionally, this is a time to celebrate the season's harvest. In our yard, we grow fruit, vegetables and eggs. But unfortunately, our November garden is not providing Vic and me with the feast that we had hoped for this year. This time last year, I had just finished redoing the backyard. My three new raised beds were just beginning to produce. They were orderly and attractive. The coop was built, but the chickens weren't here yet. All was peaceful and beautiful in back.

A doggy Easter egg hunt and DogTV viewing party was held March 23 at Old World Village in Huntington Beach. The event included a viewing party for DogTV, made especially for dogs to enjoy. Visitors were able to take their dogs through an agility course by Intelligent Aglity, according to a news release, and then enjoy a beer garden and barbecue. Also on were a variety of pet businesses, including Just Food for Dogs and DogSpa Resort and Wellness Center. There were also adoptable dogs as well as a raffle with prizes.

The annual Easter Egg Hunt and Family Fun Day will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Sports Complex at Huntington Beach Central Park, 18002 Goldenwest St. The free event is sponsored by the city of Huntington Beach Community Services Department and the Kiwanis Club of Huntington Beach. Activities will include game booths, fire department displays, refreshments, Easter Bunny photos, live entertainment and more. For information and hunt times, call (714) 960-8895 or visit http://www.hbkiwanis.org . * Sunrise Service at the Pier An Easter Sunrise service will be held from 6:15 to 7:45 a.m. Sunday at Pier Plaza, 325 Pacific Coast Hwy. The free event is church organized and will include music, prayer and Christian celebration.

As egg farmers, Vic and I seem to be abject failures. I got a nice young Barred Rock hen from Centennial Farm last fall because one of our three hens had died. I had hoped that the new hen, named Miss Hillary, would be a good layer. But so far, she's been pretty worthless. She laid two eggs last fall and then immediately went into molt and stopped. For a month, that poor, bedraggled thing just moped around, taking dust baths, and not producing any eggs. By the time her feathers grew back, it was winter.

Sometimes it pays to procrastinate. When Vic and I last wrote about our three chickens, it was mid-December and none of the hens were laying eggs. Despite spending an exorbitant amount of money setting up our henhouse, the darned hens weren't laying any eggs. It was frustrating. If you recall, I had hatched a plan to acquire a fourth chicken since my new, barred Plymouth Rock hen wasn't laying. But you know how it is around the December holiday period. No spare time. I didn't get around to getting that fourth hen. Good thing, because in early January all three hens began to lay again.

"The Great Goddess of darkness, Mother Night, Persephone, brought forth the World Egg in the beginning, mirrored now in the Moon. Then the world was one warm, glowing, single un-split thing. It rocked gently, a crack appeared, and the multifarious world was born. " - "The Truth About Eggs" by Levana Lindentree * Eggs have been a symbol of generation and regeneration since ancient times. Even the Easter bunny's brightly colored gifts are a symbolic way of wishing you children.

Terry's husband bought some packaged Persian cucumbers in a large grocery store Sunday, but when Terry opened them Tuesday, they were totally rotten to the point of decomposition. She looked for the sell-by date on the package, but there was none. At another smaller store, Elle overheard a woman complaining to a manager that the hummus she had just bought was moldy. Again, there was no sell-by date. These recent incidents piqued our interest in a subject that seems murky at best. Federal law does not require stores to post sell-by dates except for infant formula and some baby food, although more than 20 states have some requirements for milk and dairy, California included.

The big excitement in our yard is that a pair of house wrens has set up house in our bluebird nest box. Vic and I got the nest box from Friends of Shipley Nature Center last year, but I put it up too late in the season to attract any bluebirds. A male bluebird examined it several times over the summer, but no female joined him. I was hoping that the male bluebird would come back this spring and find a mate. Sorry, bluebird, the house wrens beat you to the box. Or did they? House wren males are known to build dummy nests, sometimes several of them.

Thanksgiving is upon us. Traditionally, this is a time to celebrate the season's harvest. In our yard, we grow fruit, vegetables and eggs. But unfortunately, our November garden is not providing Vic and me with the feast that we had hoped for this year. This time last year, I had just finished redoing the backyard. My three new raised beds were just beginning to produce. They were orderly and attractive. The coop was built, but the chickens weren't here yet. All was peaceful and beautiful in back.

Keeping hens is a lot easier and more fun than Vic and I thought it would be. We’re now in our 10th week of life with our three “girls,” so it’s time to bring you up to date on our adventures in urban chicken-keeping. The good news is that the hens are neither as noisy nor as smelly as we had feared. They do greet the dawn, and they announce the fact that they’ve laid an egg. But those vocalizations are brief and not especially loud. The reason that the hens aren’t noticeably smelly is because I clean the coop and run on a regular basis.

The Easter Bunny is coming to Huntington Beach for the 20th annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. Residents can join the fun at Huntington Central Park for an Easter egg hunt, game booths, entertainment and exhibits. Children can visit with the Easter Bunny and enjoy some holiday candy. Pancakes and other food will be available for purchase. The event is put on by the Community Services Department and the Huntington Beach Kiwanis Club. The event is free and will last from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Central Park, 18381 Goldenwest St. The Easter Egg Hunt will begin at 9:30 a.m. for children younger than 2 or with disabilities; 9:50 a.m. for 2-year-olds; 10:10 a.m. for 3-year-olds; 10:30 a.m. for 4-year-olds; 10:50 a.m. for 5-year-olds; 11:10 a.m. for 6-year-olds; 11:30 for 7-year-olds; and 11:50 for 8-year-olds.