Author Sue Weaver, who keeps various exotic breeds and countless barnies on her farm, is an expert on all things livestock and an avowed chicken fanatic. This photo-filled guide begins with “Chickens 101” and details the physiology of chickens, members of the Phasianidea family, providing beginning hobby farmers with a basic education in the chicken’s unique physical makeup (from wings and feathers to beaks and digestive tracts), behavior, mating, and its unexpected high intelligence. The author offers advice on choosing the right types of chickens to get started: meat, egg, or dual purpose, or maybe even “just for pets.” The book is an excellent resource for selecting which breed of chicken is best for the hobby farmer based on the birds’ traits, such as aggression, personality, noise factor, tolerance for heat, confinement, cold, etc. Chickens also provides information on selecting or building a suitable chicken coop for the hobby farmer’s brood, outlining the basic requirements (lighting, ventilation, flooring, waterers, insulation, safety, and so forth). A detailed chapter on feeding chickens offers essential guidance on nutrition, commercial feeds, supplements, and water requirements. For the chicken hobby farmer looking to start with a clutch of baby chicks (from his own hen or an outside source), the author provides excellent info on incubators and hatching as well as all of the accommodations and preparation required for hens in the nest box. A chapter on selling eggs and broilers provides timetables, requirements, and dos and don’ts to get a hobby farmer’s business off on the right foot. All chicken keepers will find the chapter on health of particular value, with expert advice on preventing common problems and dealing with various maladies and diseases. Much detailed information about all of the topics in the book is encapsulated in sidebars. A glossary of over 125 terms plus a detailed resource section of chicken and poultry associations, books, and websites complete the volume. Fully indexed.

    She was dead tired and just wanted to nap. "My babies! I'm so glad you all made it." Caroline met them on the porch. "Hey, ma." Adonis hugged her and then Destiny hugged her before she took the baby out of her hand. "Look at granny's baby," she cooed over AJ. "But I thought I was your baby, granny," Serenity pouted. "You sure are my baby. Come give me some love, sugar." Caroline loved her grandbabies. "Oh my goodness, he looks just like you, Des." "I know right. All he has of his daddy is skin tone," Destiny replied. "Well y'all come on in here." They went inside. "Where is Tamara?" Adonis asked about his sister. "She's at work but she'll be here later," Caroline replied as she kissed all over AJ's face. "Oh ok." He responded. "Adonis take y'all stuff to the guestroom and you know ReRe has her own room here now 'cause I want to start getting her during the summers," she said, referring to Serenity by the nickname she had given her. "Nah, I'm getting a hotel room. Des and the kids are staying here with y'all." Caroline looked at him like he had grown two heads. "And why the hell can't you stay here with your family?" His mom still didn't know that he had a new girlfriend. It was now or never. "My girlfriend coming up here to kick it with me," he sort of mumbled. Even though he was a grown man, his mothers' opinion mattered. "What the hell did you just say?" Caroline only cursed when she was pissed. "Look ma, not now okay." He let out a frustrated sigh. He knew how much his family liked Destiny but they had to accept the fact that they weren't together. "So you brought Destiny and my grandbabies up here knowing your girlfriend was coming too?" "Yeah, man. But it's not even like that. I invited my girl before I knew Des was coming." Adonis felt like a little kid who was being reprimanded by his mother. "Well, the minute you found out Des was coming, you should have canceled that other chick." Caroline was so disgusted by her son that she got up and left the room. "Look, I didn't know coming here would cause problems. I was just trying to make it better for AJ." Destiny was apologetic. "Nah, Des, you good, ma. But I need to go take care of something. I'll be back later." He stood to leave. "Okay." Destiny hated to see him leave because she knew he was going to meet up with Nikki. Yeah, she was actually jealous.

    Conflict. Lawlessness. An uncertain future in a strange place. The American republic has crumbled. Joshua Winston, a reluctant leader who had hoped to enjoy a quiet, peaceful retirement from politics, is forced off of the sidelines. Now, he must lead a group of Americans determined to survive in the dangerous new world they face. He takes great pains to steer his group clear of the chaos that reigns after the republic, but fears that the conflict will inevitably find its way to them.

    Illuminating the way in which faith has influenced both her life and her writing, Karon also discusses her calling as an author—a calling she received early but took years to answer. Only an incredible leap of faith gave her the courage to give up all she had, risking everything to follow this call. Intimate, funny, and straight-from-the-heart, this eSpecial is a superb companion to Jan Karon’s novels, providing a revealing glimpse into the life of a novelist who has moved so many people with her words.

    But under this surface perfection is a secret Hannah has tried to bury, one that rears its painful head each year on her birthday. When David Conway enters her life just as she turns thirty-eight, that secret will be exposed. Can Hannah's relationship with her husband and daughter survive when they discover she is not the person they thought her to be? Patricia Kay once again delivers an emotional story centering around family relationships, one of her favorite themes.

    Often her only contact with the outside world was through her two-way radio. Stretched to the limits, she achieved more than she ever thought herself capable of. With every setback and in the toughest of times when the odds seemed insurmountable, she learnt to dust herself off, find a smile and just keep on going. For eighteen years Jenny and Rick battled flood, drought, cyclones and personal hardship. Yet their world was a big as the landscape in which they lived, filled as it was with generosity, wonderful characters and the joy of life. At McAllister they established an oasis for their family and friends.Jenny's motto is: life throws many curve balls at us, but it's how we deal with them that counts. This is the extraordinary story of a woman of the bush and her indomitable spirit.

    We were colored girls in a white world that didn’t want us."  Born on the wrong side of a racial divide in apartheid-torn Cape Town, young sisters Ruby and Rose exist in a world where they are not welcome. As part of the Cape Colored community, they are considered socially inferior, yet even within their own social group the sisters live in the poor end of town. Their father was killed when they were very small, so when their mother dies after a protracted illness, Ruby and Rose’s fate falls into the hands of Aunt Olive. Ruby knows without being told that their aunt’s home will not be opened up to them – charity does not extend to the poor relations who would cast a smudge on such a respectable house. Aunt Olive condemns her nieces to the local orphanage, relieving her conscience with monthly invitations to Sunday lunch. In the orphanage the girls grow up sheltered from a divided world that they do not yet fully understand, but the day approaches when Ruby and Rose must forge their own paths in life and confront the lessons that apartheid enforces. Like the award-winning Dance with a Poor Man’s Daughter, this beautifully observed novel of sisterly love once again displays Pamela Jooste’s poignant understanding of human nature.

    With 30,000 known species, you could acquire a different orchid every day for eighty years and still not grow them all. Back in the realm of reality, readers of this beautiful book can quickly and easily find the orchids that are right for them -- which ones will thrive on a windowsill, which prefer artificial lights, and which need a greenhouse; which are for beginners, which for experts. And you can pinpoint the species within a particular genus that are the best ones to start with. Once you select your orchid, William Cullina's authoritative guide explains what to do to keep it alive and healthy. Featuring more than two hundred color photographs, Understanding Orchids covers everything you need to know to grow orchids successfully, whatever your level of interest or experience. With improved tissue-culture techniques making orchids more affordable, and the Internet making them readily available to consumers, growing orchids is more popular than ever: membership in the American Orchid Society has more than doubled in the last fifteen years. This is the book orchid fans have been waiting for.

    Though names like jujube, juneberry, maypop, and shipova may seem exotic at first glance, these fruits offer ample rewards to the gardener willing to go only slightly off the beaten path at local nurseries. Reliable even in the toughest garden situations, cold-hardy, and pest- and disease-resistant, they are as enticing to the beginner as to the advanced gardener. This expanded sequel to the author's celebrated Uncommon Fruits Worthy of Attention offers new fruits, new varieties, and new photos and illustrations to entice the reader into an exciting world of garden pleasure.

    Worms are the latest (as well as, of course, perhaps the oldest!) trend in earth-friendly gardening, and in this handy guide, the authors of DEAD SNAILS LEAVE NO TRAILS demystify the world of worm wrangling, with everything you need to know to build your own worm bin, make your garden worm-friendly, pamper your soil, and much much more.

    Christmas Mystery of the HeartEscaping her past, Lady Sarah Sayers seeks a simple life as a governess. Her world is turned upside down when she meets the Duke of Huntington. Together, they must solve a mystery, but will they also find love in this troubled time?A Duke for ChristmasIsabella did not want to end up on Charles’ doorstep, but it might be exactly what both of them need… A clean, Regency romance to warm your heartChristmas Masquerade BallA Christmas tale of mystery and love from the Regency era to warm your heart!Christmas Mystery of LoveLady Amelia does not believe in true love, even when the dashing Earl of Swinford tries to win her affections. Will a dire situation help Lady Amelia open her heart to the possibility of romance? A Duke’s Heart for ChristmasAre second chances at love truly possible?A Dance at the Christmas BallMiss Madelene Blackmore has mixed emotions about Lord Langley. Will her feelings change at the Christmas Ball?Christmas WeddingA Regency Christmas tale of love to make you swoon.Christmas with an EarlA Regency Christmas romance to warm your heart.Conflicted HeartLady Jane is the envy of many. As the beautiful daughter of a duke, she has never had an absence of suitors. The Marquess of Greenshire has seemingly won her heart, but Jane is surprised that she cannot keep her thoughts from wandering to a certain baron with a questionable reputation. A Lady’s Christmas WeddingLady Lucy Fitzwilliam has been promised to the Duke of Selby, but after a daring rescue, her heart belongs to someone else. Christmas WishesWill Lady Charlotte be forced to marry the man of her family’s choosing, or will she follow her heart?Christmas Journey HomeA historical Christmas western for the holidays!Authors note: All stories included in this historical romance collection are stand-alone romances.

    This series is set in a newly fashionable spa town on the beautiful Cumbrian coast, where the great and the bad of visiting Regency society turn local life upside down. Passion, mystery, and scandal continue to follow the citizens of this wealthy enclave, now with an entire new group of social misfits. Regency Historical Romance has never been so adventurous - or so exciting! This set includes: The Wicked Marquis - The lady meets her match... and he's completely ineligible. The Wicked Governess - Can a governess teach a damaged hero? The Wicked Spy - Can her enemy melt her cold heart? The Wicked Gypsy - An old Blackhaven tragedy merges with a new quarrel. Read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited! Books in the Blackhaven Series: The Wicked Baron The Wicked Lady The Wicked Rebel The Wicked Husband The Wicked Marquis The Wicked Governess The Wicked Spy The Wicked Gypsy The Wicked Wife Blackhaven Brides set, Books 1 - 4 Blackhaven Brides set, Books 5 - 8

    A witty and informative guide for amateur gardeners shares economical, time-saving advice on how to create a beautiful backyard garden, covering everything from garden design to planting bulbs and pruning trees.

    In this essential guide, Bruce Rogers, "The Orchid Whisperer," shares his expert tips from more than three decades of breeding and growing orchids. The book demystifies the growing process and features more than 100 lush color photographs of breathtaking plants. Best of all, it reveals professional secrets not found anywhere else for blooming, repotting, spotting hazards and pests, grooming, decorating, and much more. Perfect for beginners as well as orchid experts looking for new tricks, The Orchid Whisperer provides everything readers need to know to keep healthy orchids that will flower again and again!

    An accident sends Addie tumbling into our lives, shattering our quiet isolation. We're none too pleased about having an uninvited guest, especially since this storm's going to last a while. But she's got sweetness and sass, not to mention seriously tempting curves. Soon the fire isn't the only thing heating up our cabin, but once we've had her between us, letting her go might not be so easy... Addie found the cure for her wounded heart in the place she least expected. There's nowhere else I'd rather be than in the arms of these three passionate, dominant men. As our adventures continue, we discover more than just the heat of desire—a connection so deep it shakes us all. The four of us have lit a fire none of us expected, but my time in Meadowbrook is almost over. Will the embers between us cool and die, or will our unconventional romance grow into a lasting inferno? The Stone Brothers is a sizzling reverse harem series featuring a sweet and fiery romance with intense chemistry, devilishly-handsome men with dirty mouths, firm hands, and hard, unprotected wood, enough steam to melt the snow right off the mountains, and a heart-tugging, emotional rollercoaster of a storyline. This reverse harem box set contains the novels Mountain Fever and Mountain Cure. Love without limits. #whychoose