Quick update
Topic: Chickens & Eggs

The coop and run are finally finished. Between weather, family obligations and work, it took a lot longer that I'd expected. So far, the chickens seem to like being int here and I've gotten more ideas for the next one. (Yep, I'm already planning the next one.)

 Don't they look like happy hens?

Nearly finished!
Topic: Chickens & Eggs

I'm so excited! We are nearly finished with the coop & run. We got all the wire attached and should be able to finish up the rest within the next few days. Since we're back intot he work week we are limited on the time we can actually work on it, plus we needed a couple more supplies.

 My first ever wall!

 The wood in the back is the dresser we're converting to a coop.

And my favorite handyman - 

Coop changes
Topic: Chickens & Eggs
Ok, since the state is still unsure about when they are going to pay the childcare providers, I'm holding tight to the money I currently have on hand. So, we will be converting a dresser into a coop for the time being. Hopefully everything will get worked out soon and I'll be able to set aside the money for later in the summer. In the meantime, K will be building just the run (with my help) and we'll work on the dresser. Who knows, maybe the dresser will work perfectly and I'll just leave it as is.

Tomatoes?
Topic: Garden

A few months ago I planted several varieties of tomato seeds. After a month, they still hadn't ome up so I turned over the earth and planted some cucumbers, sugar peas and eggplant. Now there are several tomato plants in the same area and I have no idea which ones are which! I guess I'll find out as the tomatoes ripen. In a way it's fun to know that we will be surprised with whatever tomatoes grow, but it's also a bit annoying.

There are a couple cucumbers coming out but the peas have been shorn to the ground. I truly am beginning to dispise the groundhogs around here.

The chicks are now too big for my aquarium so I rigged up a large Rubbermaid bin and screen to hold them. Since nearly all of their feathers are in, they are just about ready to be outside "on their own". My K and I will be buying supplies Saturday and will be building a coop & run on Sunday. I'm hoping to remember to take lots of pictures. It should be very interesting since I've never used a circular saw before (I usually prefer the hand tools) and K will be giving me instructions on all that. Since I did lousy in shop class, this should be interesting... though, I think K's a better teacher than my shop teacher was. I designed the coop and he helped me with the final touches in the design... since I don't really know anything about building, he helped me with where the window should be placed for best stability, how the door should sit for ease of access, and a slight change in the egg-collecting door to make it more weather-proof. He also came up with the idea to make the run easy to take apart so that when I move it the frame won't weaken. I can't wait to get started.

Gawky Teenagers
Topic: Chickens & Eggs

My chicks are beginning to look like minature hens. they still have a bit of fluff on them and that makes them look pretty awkward, but I'm still enjoying every minute.

When I take them out to K's place they get to run around in a dog cage.  There is so much room in there for them and they love it. Soon we'll be building the coop and run for them and they'll move out of my room permanently. I'll need to get a ceramic heater before winter sets in and I'm thinking about spending a few extra dollars and get a thermostat for it.

In the meantime, I love how they come up and perch on my hand whenever I call to them.

Growing fast!
Topic: Chickens & Eggs

After only one week of living with us, the chicks are much bigger. I haven't tried weighing them or anything, but they look twice the size they were. They also now have feathers on their wings and stubby feathers on their tails. Yvaine's legs seem to be getting darker as well as Garnet's beak. Ruby is the smallest so far. They do a lot of stretching of their wings and legs and I've even seen Garnet hop/fly from one side of the tank to the other.

Already they are displaying personality differences. Yvaine seems to be the most friendly and will lay in our hands quite peacefully. Garnet wants to get into everything, see everything and taste everything. Ruby doesn't like being held that much but will sit on our hand for a long time while we've got our hand in the tank.

They've also started doing a few interesting things that I have to laugh about. Two of them will run at each other, hit chests, then circle each other with their heads held high. When they are sleeping they will "floof" up their wings. I have no other word than "floof" and I'm sure other chicken owners have their own words for this behavior. Sometimes one will grab a small piece of the pine shavings and run to the other side of the tank while the others chase her. Almost as though running with a worm or other tasty morsel. It's fun watching them fling the pine shavings around the tank and even more fun watching them trying to catch the cats' tails through the glass.

 

 

Chicks arrive!
Topic: Chickens & Eggs

My chicks are home!

 

Ruby - 

Garnet -

Yvaine -

Garden delight

My zucchini plants have flowers on them! I'm a little surprised since the plants aren't even that big yet, but the flowers should bring one of my summer favorites. 

Antique Shops
Topic: Vintage Treasures

I went to two of the local antique shops this weekend. For the most part one carries a lot of junk and the other carries a lot of dolls, btu each have their own flavor and it's nice to sample once in a while. I was pretty lucky this time. I found a lovely 3 in 1 Lightning Shredder and a cool Gillette safety shaver. The shredder is missing one of the pieces, but it's the slicer, which I wouldn't use. The shaver has already been put to use and I have to say that I will be getting rid of my over-priced Soliel with its cute 3-blade replacements.

I have to admit: I was a bit nervous about using this shaver. I just knew I was going to cut my legs to ribbons. First of all, the blade isn't tiny by any stretch of the imagination. Second, it is heavy. Third, they are made for the man's face, not the woman's legs. But, I took a deep breath and started on my lower legs. After getting used to the weight and the angle, it was a breeze. I even shaved my underarms!

There were a few more things I'd like to pick up next time I go down there; like the food grinder. These things are cast iron and are made to grind just about anything. I'm not sure yet whether that would be a good purchase, so I need to research a little more and think about it. I'd also like to find a nice Westinghouse fan.

DIY?
Topic: Thoughts

So many sites talk about doing things for yourself and I can't help but wonder why more people aren't doing that already. It's become such a big deal to bake your own bread, weave a towel, spin some yarn, grow a few tomatoes. Why? These aren't things that are really hard to do. They don't take up lots of space. They don't cost a lot of money to learn. And yet, there are still people who are completely amazed that I knit the socks I'm wearing or grew the tomato in my salad or baked the quiche on the table.

I've had a wonderful conversation with K about the downfall of society and I sometimes think the simple fact that we no longer do things for ourselves has contributed greatly. I know there are people who would argue my point, but do those people know what freshly baked bread tastes like? Or what hand-knit socks feel like? They don't have the time? Yes, they do. Take away one TV program and use that time to learn knitting. Make a washcloth or a simple square. Make a square a week and in a few months you can stitch together all those squares and make a blanket.