Puppy Possibilities!

So - quick news update. We ARE getting a puppy after all!

Isn't he a cutie pie? Well, we're spending the next few days re-puppy proofing the house- having all but given up on puppies until next spring. We put carpets back down and took out gates and stored the toys away... 

First things first- where to put the food? While mum was researching local puppy training programs and terminology, I cleaned out the front closet. We had all the winter coats and boots, not to mention two incredibly messy boxes full of tools and miscellany. I pulled the coats and for now they're in the upstairs closet, but will eventually (once the garage is conquered) go in a winter box in the garage. Having pared down to just the rain coats and guest sweaters, vacuum and mop to one side- we were able to store all of the puppy necessities on the other.

Mum found these great gasket lidded, ant proof food bins- the upright one holding up to 50lbs. The best part is they require thumbs to open, so while the dog food will be in a room near the puppy, the puppy will not be able to access the goodies. Same goes for the smaller pig ear/chew food box. Thinning out the gloves and heavy socks and the tons and tons of extra plastic bags freed up a basket and a few canvas bags for toys, leash, collar, and wee-pads.

Easy to access- for us! but still well out of reach of critters.

But what to do with all the tool miscellany that puppy products replaced?

I don't have any before photos for you, so you'll have to just believe me, but there were two boxes full of tools and odds and ends and three partially completed tool boxes. Having tools spread between the house, the garage, and the barn has been crazy and frustrating - so going through this closet is only the first step on a property wide tool round up. Some of them have been left out in the elements (victims of fence building in the rain) and require some cleaning, sanitizing and others have just wandered so far from their original locations that their purpose is also obscured. 

I pulled everything out of the boxes, one piece at a time, and separated them by type and use. Are they for inside the house projects? Like toilet/shower repair? Like light switch plate replacement covers? Or are they for long term projects, or seasonal ones, where they could be better served living in the garage or barn? 

Here you can see some of the oddities (8 alan wrenches- some pictured here, end of a plunger, squeegie, and ... necklace clasps?) I separated as I went through the boxes. I decided to bag each thing individually by type (nuts, bolts, washers, screws, hanging materials, etc) and label them with a sharpie. Organizing, I was able eliminate one box entirely. All of those things are better suited elsewhere (soldering kit, useful but probably shouldn't live in the kitchen). The top drawer has quick access things like the aforementioned nuts and bolts and screws and nails, as well as masks (safety first!) and tape, white grease, mysterious yellow plastic triangles (they remind me of the cones used in pottery but you know, plastic. I'll have to inquire after the sailor for explanation), and gloves. The idea is to keep all the little bits from getting everywhere so we here at home can fix things while the sailor is sailing and yet, when the sailor comes to shore he can get (and rearrange) at will. 

Voce was overseeing the efficiency of this project.

The inside doesn't look terribly organized, but everything is bagged and labeled so a quick rummage will allow anyone to find a project (curtain rods for the sewing room par exemple) with ease. Things in here are quick fixes (under-carpet fabric to keep carpets from slipping/curling etc) or project materials, things we will need access to but not necessarily all the time. 

I think there's enough room for this guy to live in the front closet, but an alternative is finding somewhere in the laundry/mudroom or just outside that door in the garage. The idea is immediate access and knowing where things are- mise en place. 

Next stop tools! We consolidated the three mostly full toolboxes into one, leaving that one, a box cutter, and measuring tape within immediate reach above the rain jackets and vacuum. But the other two are joining the migration to the barn- where they'll be gone through and organized properly. 

This is a quick update- but don't worry, there will be puppy pictures and puppy prep discussions this weekend.

Field Trip!

             Guest post today! While Mum was out teaching her humans, I got to take the chickie-babies on their very first field trip dun dun dun .... outside.

The weather was questionable last week, sunny and 70's and then suddenly hail for two hours. Not prime baby chick weather to say the least. But for the last three days it's been sunny and gorgeous.

There was a pet corral hidden in the barn which ended up being perfect, just tall enough that the bigg'uns can't fly out but low enough that I can get in if I need to. They had water, food, and I draped some shade over one corner when I noticed them panting. 

At first they refused to leave the bedding, but soon adjusted to the new environment. Eris was first to investigate and also first to inform me that the little ones can escape.  They're still juuuust small enough that they can squeeze through the spaces in the grate. Luckily, she was more panicked about getting back to her friends than running away.

Such a variety of coloration!

Yes, I'm ready for my close up

Ariadne's partridge coloring

Diva (center) is the lightest of our giant cochins and the fluffiest!

When they were nervous about leaving the bedding, I ended up leaping in the pen myself and bribing them to explore. Of course, I sat still too long and it was decided that I make a perfect perch. When Circe made her "grass is greener on the other side of the bars" attempt, I had three chicks sleeping on one arm and two more preening on my knee. Not my swiftest rescue attempt, as you can imagine.

I was hesitant to leave them alone, even if it was just a quick dash to the garage for more feed. If you listen closely, at around 1:10, you can hear why.

All in all, I think they had a fun time- I know I certainly did! They definitely tuckered themselves out playing "keep-away" with all the new things they found (leaves, dandelions  spiderwebs). As long as the weather keeps, these afternoon field trips should become a daily occurrence until the run is ready.