KAYAK LOADING RACK

I transport my kayak on top of my car. Me being built so close to the ground, it was impossible to load my kayak without a guide of some sort. I was using my kayak dolly to guide the kayak onto the roof of my car. It worked okay, but if there was any side wind, it was a little precarious once it got halfway up, and the dolly really wasn't wide enough to be safe. I decided I needed something better. So I built something better. After studying the kayak and the car, I came up with a solution. 

 A pattern was made out of cardboard to fit the shape of the kayak. Then I went to the scrap wood pile and selected a board. Simple was the design. Glue, epoxy, old hardware and the ties were constructed from used buckles and 1 inch webbing. I didn't spend much time on the finish, didn't think it needed to be perfect.

The only drawback to this design, you can't open the back with the rack in place. But that's not a big deal. I took the kayak out yesterday and it worked perfectly.  Quick and easy!

A couple hours on the water calms the soul. 

ADDING TO THE FLOCK

Last year I purchased four peeps, hoping for pullets. I ending up with only two hens. Wanting more eggs, I purchased four more. These four are supposed to be pullets. However, they are seven weeks old now and I suspect one may turn out to be a rooster. We'll wait and see. Anyway, they are now seven weeks old and getting along with the big girls.

They came home in a box. About two days old.

Eliza at four weeks old.

Ruby at four weeks old.

They grow up so fast. At five weeks they had all their feathers and I was ready for them to be out of the house! The big girls tolerate them. They have been together for about ten days now and get along better than expected.

Six weeks old and very active.

I don't have a dog or cat... or even fish. My girls are my entertainment and companionship. They can be very entertaining at times... and give me eggs!

ANOTHER MOVE...

 Last year my brother moved and offered his home to me. At first I declined the offer because I was happy with the house I was living in. Several months later he asked me again if I wanted to move into his house. After a lot of consideration, I accepted the offer and started the moving process.

The chickens were the last to move over. The roof overhang made the coop too wide to fit through the gate to the backyard. Both the front and back overhang had to be removed. It will be reconstructed before I paint it again.

I put 4 inch wheels on the coop and my son helped me roll it on over. The move was only across the street, so not a long trip. My girls free-ranged until I could get the chicken run built. This run is a little bigger... because I had the room.

They love their daily dust bath.

During this time, my girls had the run of the backyard. They loved it and luckily they didn't tear up too many plants. They did not understand, and were a little frustrated when they were pinned up in the run again. But they are destructive and I have too many plants I don't want destroyed.

This winter, we had a week of very cold weather. The girls made it fine, but they did not like the snow and would not venture out in it.

The coop was originally painted to match the house I lived in. It will get repainted sometime in the near future.