Wishful Wednesday - Deck Decor

As I mentioned in Saturday's post, I've been able to do some finish decorating in some areas.  I'm really happy how things are turning out. For today's post, I wanted to share a total splurge purchase. I'm trying to convince myself that I need it and not just want it. I mean, it would go a LONG way in supporting my breathing therapy, "In. Out. Let go. Repeat."

This gorgeous chaise if from Pottery Barn, and I have no claim on the image (it's from their catalog). The frame is made of moisture resistant eucalyptus and the cushion is from Sunbrella. It's on summer clearance, regularly about $1300 for the frame and cushion, on clearance for around $900 which makes the purchase tempting.

I LOVE that my sailor and I could curl up on it together and cuddle, read, listen to the river, or just take a nap. Making the purchase VERY tempting.  It's even tall enough for my guy, at 90" his feet wont hang over. LOL!



It would definitely be a splurge purchase, so I will defer until when my sailor gets home (someday). If he says yes and it's still in stock, then we're meant to have it.  So don't by the last one, OK?

Wishful Wednesday

I really, REALLY wish the Dingle Twits would figure out they are supposed to go IN the run/coop at dusk. 

Monday, both flocks went in the coop without preamble. Around 7:30, I walked over to check on their food and water and the next thing I knew I could hear chicken feet running behind me. When I got to the coop/run I opened the door and in they all went.  They were perfectly happy to stay, so all I had to do was come out and lock up when they were all in the coop in their spots.  

If I miss that dusk time, the Goddesses tuck themselves in, which is great. The Dingle Twits can't seem to figure it out.  I'm told when the Wyandottes get bigger they won't be able to achieve as much lift, so hopefully that will help. 

THIS (image below) is what I found tonight.

The four on the lower branches were reachable, but boy did they squawk. The fifth one, up top, decided that she wasn't coming down and climbed to an even higher branch while I was putting the others away. She squawked and squawked - was having none of going in. 

  I shook the tree and sternly told her it was time to go and reminded her that her friends were already abed (I know, talking to a chicken like she'd understand).  Well, the next thing I knew . . .

SHE STOPPED SQUAWKING, FLEW DOWN, and walked into the run on her own.  I just stood there, shaking my head. 

So many things to do - not enough hours in the day

My day started in the chicken coop -  now it's raked clean, wiped down, and smelling pretty. 

• I made an coop air freshener and I really like how it turned out. 

 4 ounces dish soap

 12 ounces water

 10 drops tea-tree oil

10 drops lavender oil

10 drops peppermint oil

10 drops grapefruit extract 

I put it all in a spray bottle, gave it a swirl, and misted the coop when I finished cleaning up - now the coop smells fresh and clean. 

• I tried a recipe for a chicken treat but I  think it will be back to the drawing board for this one - they barely touched it.  I used ingredients from the treat list I've been working through and the consistency was similar to the Chicken Pumpkin Pie recipe I came across some time ago but they turned up their nose  at it:

I had an avocado I needed to use or toss (bought some for making guacamole and had an extra). I combined the flesh of it with some oats and some Omega egg yummies.    I mixed it together and served it on a pretty plate. I'll make it with pumpkin next time -- I just didn't have any, fresh or canned. 

• I assembled all my materials for a Chicken First Aid box and placed an order for the items I didn't have (I found everything at Amazon which beat driving all over creation and at least 6 stores to find the items on my list.  I REALLY need to find a good feed/farm store around here. 

Ordered from Amazon (couldn't find them locally without going to 6 stores and driving all over creation)

1. Blu-Kote
2. Vetericyn
3. VetRx
4. Nutridrench
5. Kocci-Free

Pick up from grocery store or round up at home:

1. Honey
2. Cornstarch (stops bleeding)
3. Gauze pads
4. Q-Tips
5. sharp scissors
6. Tweezers
7. Saline Solution

I'm going to put it all together in a sealed bucket or galvanized tin and I'm all set in the event we need it.

• I made a self-feeder for my chickens. 

I followed a plan I found on The Chicken Chick and it all came together without too much fuss. 

I cut a 10 foot section of 4" wide PVC pipe in half  so I have enough for 2 feeders. 

I made a oyster shell feeder from one of the pipe caps

The only difference I had with my construction was the attachment. I used long zip ties and secured the pipe directly  to one of the 4x4 support beams instead of to a 2x4. It's holding quite well and the chickens took right to it. 

I made a open dispenser for oyster shells for the chicks too. 

I built a new perch for the run area of the coop.

This natural perch is by far their favorite - they were hopping onto it before I even finished putting it in.  I think I might switch out the other 1x2 perches we originally put it with more natural ones. Goodness knows we have enough branches about, I could make hundreds of them.   

I think I also need to switch out the 2x4 perch I put in the coop for a natural round branch - maybe that's why they don't use their perch inside much. We'll see. 

• I harvested some raspberries and blackberries - enough to eat as a snack or make a tart, but not enough for jam. There's so many more - I just can't get to them. 

While I was trying to reach the berries in the middle of the stands I got an idea for next season. When things go dormant this year I want to move them apart and anchor them onto an arbor high trellis that way I can walk down the middle and still reach everything. 

• I did some research on riding lawn mowers V. garden tractor  - - garden tractor for the win! 

Husqvarna GT52XLS (52") 24HP Kawasaki Garden Tractor (2013 Model) - I could buy 3 of these for the cost of the one below, but the Kubota  could be used for SO much more at Our Haven. . . 

So, I will be mowing the lawn by hand for a while some time more. 

• I finished the geography unit I'm designing for my 4th graders 

It has turned out well and I'm very happy with it. It just needs a few finishing touches, then I'm going to package it and offer it on my TpT store with a few other things I've been thinking of putting out there. 

Then it's on to the next thing on my ToDo list for the new school year. 

My dinner's in the oven and my "wish" now is to enjoy it with with a few boys - either "Mike" or "Jose"  Not sure wish.     ^.^

Wishful Wednesday - There's gotta be a better way of doing this...

I love my Goddesses (chickens) - I do. Sometimes, however, it's like having another pet around. Even when they range about most of the day like ours do, there's still maintenance that needs to be done.  

It's kind of like having cats - LOVE having them . . . dealing with all the husbandry that goes with? Not so much.  Cleaning the chicken coop/run is rather like cleaning the catbox: It needs to be done regularly and completely sanitized every so often. 

Cleaning the run and coop with the little scoop and pail I was using was taking it's toll on my back, not to mention using precious time. This is where my Wishful Wednesday comes in. The other morning I was trolling my favorite chicken pages, doing research on the care and keeping of the little creatures (I'm a new chicken mama!) when I read about how someone made basically and extra large cat scoop out of wire and a rake. I thought I'd give it a try.




I used some of the extra hardware cloth from building our run to create the mesh and wired it to a hay fork -- I don't know what it's called, found it in the barn :)  

Here it is all finished. It took me the better part of an hour but I had a great view while I worked (I parked myself on the deck, listened to the river go by). It turned out exactly as I wanted.  

I wire fit it to make it really tight using 15 gauge wire (made my own twist ties). Then fastened the cloth to the pitchfork.  It works GREAT! 


 Here's our coop and run. It is fully enclosed for their protection. We used hardware cloth instead of chicken wire for it's durability and to protect against predators (like coyote, bobcat, weasel, hawk, eagle, bear - yes, I said bear 'cause that's where I live).

Hen Haven: Our coop and run houses 14 birds. 

They've gotten SO big in just the few weeks we've had them. The Goddesses are about 14 weeks old. The little bits (in their separate "look but don't touch area" while I'm trying to integrate flocks) are about 10 weeks.

Look how nice and clean the run is - and my back isn't sore in the least.
Love it when incentive and ingenuity work together to make wishes come true! 

Inspiration and motivation

Thinking I should be working in my garden led me to actually working on my to do list. I just waited until it cooled off a bit. I wasn't outrageously hot like I remember the Central Valley of California where I grew up - - it would get so hot your heels would sink into the blacktop -- mid to upper 80's isn't bad when you've experienced 110 -114, but I digress...

Once motivated, I decided that I should start with the lawn because it is pretty mindless work and it REALLY needed to be done. I couldn't motivate myself to weeding or any other bed work - I knew I didn't have the oomph to tackle that just yet.   The good news is that I finished in less than FOUR HOURS, albeit ten minutes less, but still. . . 

The other good news is that while walking behind that mower, I had an epiphany about the blog. I think the format will help the posts be focused and help inspire me to be more consistent in writing them. It's a plan and it may change, but it's a start. Most of the titles are pretty self-explanatory, but I've included descriptions below. Future posts will follow thusly:  

Mystery Plant Monday -  I sleuth out the details of one of the hundreds of "I'm not sure what this is" plants on the property so I know how to care for it. 

To Do List Tuesday - I/we tackle one of the projects on our every growing To Do List.

Wishful Wednesday - a more broad subject. Might be filled with wishlist tools, future plans for garden or house areas, and plans on how to achieve those goals. 

Therapy Thursday - I've always said that gardening is my therapy. So Thursday's post will be dedicated to all things garden related. With five acres, I've plenty to talk about.

Fabulous Friday - reflecting on recipes, remedies, and research for our journey to self-sufficiency.

Snapshot Saturday - photos of things I've discovered here at Our Haven, updates on projects, chickens, memories made, etc. 

Simply Sunday - family time; time taken to express thankfulness for what we have.