Chicken Coop

Someone had questions about the coop and I realized I did not mention the construction. I built the coop mostly out of repurposed wood. When I see a good piece of lumber, I drag it home and put it in my garage. I never know when I can use it on a project.

The chicken coop was started way before I got my chicks. I wanted no more than four hens, so I drew plans for this in mind. Each chicken needs about a 3-4 square feet area in the coop. My coop is 3'x5' with a nesting box built out on one end. I ended up with only two hens, so they have plenty of room.

My yard is mostly shaded and the coop is located under a big pecan tree. The sun only hits the west side of the coop for a short time at the end of the day, so the temperature inside is not a problem in the summer. There is a screened window on either end of the coop that can be opened for ventilation. It also has a window above the door. This window doesn't open, it is there for the winter months when the screened windows are closed. 

The roost is close to this window and they usually get close to it at night to see out. When they were small, Henrietta would sit on the window seal. They are too big now, or she would probably do it today. I used metal bracket to hold the 2x4s I used for the roost. They just lift out to make cleaning easy.

The door was place next to the nesting box for easy access to gather eggs. 

The coop is 24" off the ground. This gives a dry place to hang the feeder. The hens like to hang out there and take a nap, or run and hide when they hear strange noises. I am pleased with the design.

MY CHICKENS

When my kids were young, we decided one Easter that we would get a few little chicks. They were adorable and the kids loved them. They grew to adulthood and started laying... at least the hens did. The roosters made it to a pot of chicken and dumplings. Well, all except one and his name was Homer. He was beautiful. My neighbors liked him, until he woke someone up at 4am with a few crows. It really wasn't his fault though. The dumpster lid woke him up and he was just trying to alert everyone of danger. Too late, the police knocked on my door and told me Homer had to find a home in the country. 

About February, I was thinking about those hens and decided I wanted to have a few. I thought maybe 3 would satisfy my want of hens. I learned that Tractor Supply has Chick Days in late February. After work I would stop by TS, but there were none left by 5:30. This went on for over a month. Then one day, my mother said she would go and get chicks for me. I sent her with a list of breeds I wanted. She went down one Tuesday morning (that's when they got the shipment) and called to tell me that there were none of my preferred breed available. I asked what breeds they had. She went back inside and said they had the Amarucana. I didn't remember much about that breed, but told her to get four. They were so cute. 

I had a big box from an online order. That was their home for the first six weeks. At about four weeks, their dander was more than I could take in the house. At six weeks the weather was warm enough to move them to the finished Chicken Coop.

I had started on the Chicken Coop long before I ever got the chicks. There was a perfect spot behind my garage for the coop and run. I calculated the size needed and drew up plans.... and then modified them many times. The materials used were mostly scrap lumber gathered from two boxsprings from the alley, furniture, plywood scraps and pallets. 

R.I.P Abner

After 8 weeks, I suspected two were not going to be egg producers. And I was correct. Loco and Abner went to Freezer Camp. In the city limits of Lubbock, you cannot have a rooster. If it's due to the crowing, the dogs in my neighborhood are a lot louder than my roosters were. I did silence the roosters before the police were called with a complaint. Loco was... not right in the head, but Abner was so pretty.

At exactly 21 weeks, I received the first egg. It was what is called a Fairy Egg. The first few eggs are usually small, thus the name Fairy Egg. In the first five days, I received seven eggs. The last one was full size.

My hens do more than produce my breakfast, they are my entertainment. They run to the fence to greet me when I come in the backyard. I enjoy sitting with beverage in hand and watch them peck and scratch. They are fun.

Eleanor

Henrietta

TIE QUILT

I love quilts. They are warm and cozy. I made this one from the T-shirts that I have collected through the years. It was a good way to get them out of the closet and out where I can enjoy them and re-live the memory of the shirt. They are places I worked, places I visited or shirts given to me. I love it.

This one is dear to me. When anyone else looks at it, it probably just looks dull and boring. But I see the  little dresses I made my daughter, the maternity dresses I made for myself, the lining for the coat I made for a Christmas gift, and scraps from miscellaneous projects. And this kept me warm while crossing the Gulf on S/V Kairos in 2013. There are a lot of memories wrapped up in one quilt.

My father had quite a collection of ties. After he passed this summer, I wanted to make a quilt with them, for my mother. I invested many hours piecing and then hand quilting it. Today it was completed and delivered. 

Now my sewing table is cleared and ready to start another project. I need to vacuum all those little pieces of thread that didn't quite make it to the trash can, and oil my machine.

My Paddle Buddy

Ten years ago, my brother and I took a Brother/Sister trip to Belize. On the trip we kayaked down the Mopan River. It was just our guide and us in inflatable kayaks. My brother hadn't kayaked since then, but I bought another kayak so he could go paddling with me.

A few weeks ago we went to a small lake here in town. It was a very relaxed paddle, very little wind and the water was calm. Yesterday, we went to Lake Alan Henry. We had about a 15 mph South wind and there were quite a few boats on the water. The water was not calm and we did have to paddle quite a bit up wind. I tend to lose track of time when I'm on the water, but in my defense I did tell him to let me know when he was ready to head back. 

Our route on Lake Alan Henry

He said he had fun, but I haven't talked to him today to see how sore his muscles are. Hopefully he will go with me again.

I have to at least put my feet in the water.

VACATION

 Finally, I took a week off and got out of town. A trip to Key West was just what I needed. Saw friends, former co-workers, and got out on the water. My friend, Bert, was very generous and let me stay at her house. We went out on a sunset sail aboard S/V Argo Navis. The drinks were flowing and we had a very relaxed sail.

A couple days, I rented a kayak and went out paddling for the afternoon. I saw baby nurse sharks, star fish and tourist. I tried to get away from the tourist as soon as possible. That clear blue water was just what I needed.

This is a canal I paddled a hundred times. It brought back fond memories of my time in Key West.

The old State Road 4A was abandoned in 1938 when the Overseas Highway was opened, connecting Key West to the mainland. There is a 3 mile stretch that I used to ride my bike. Through the years, storms and time has washed away most of the road. All that remains is a trail, though there are still areas where the asphalt remains.

Bert hosted a dinner and drinks at her house for Sheri and I. We three had a great time, lot of laughs. Bert is a good bartender!

Bert, Lezlie & Sheri

As the saying goes, "Nothing lasts forever", and my vacation week came to an end. It was a fun week, but now I'm back in the real world. 

KAYAK

 I'd been without a kayak for far too long, and was having withdrawals. My main concern with purchasing a kayak, was how to transport it to and from the water. When I had my Explorer, I just threw the kayak in the back and tied the hatch down. Now I drive a RAV4. The only way to transport a kayak on this vehicle is on the roof. I stand 5 feet tall and I'm not very strong. There is no way I can pick up a kayak and hoist it onto the roof.

After doing a little research, I found a way to do it...so I bought a sit inside kayak. It took a little practice, but I can get it done pretty easy now. 

I use the foam pads that attach to cross bars.

I then take the kayak cart and tie it to the back. It has to be tied tight so it doesn't move around.

An old rug is put under the nose of the kayak, so it doesn't get scuffed on a rough surface. A tether connects the back end of the kayak to the bumper, to keep the kayak from sliding when the free end is lifted to the vehicle. I made a rope the perfect length with a carabiner on each end, to make the process quick.

The free end is lifted up and laid on the cart. The wheels on the cart are going to guide the kayak in place as I pick up the tethered end and push the kayak up and it lays on the pads.

I secure the kayak with cam tie-down straps.

Remove the tether and kayak cart, and I'm ready to go. On my paddle today, I saw a beaver. Yes, you read that right. I saw a beaver in the waters of Lubbock, Texas. It was so quick, I could not get a picture. To some, that just means IT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I need to get my GoPro mounted before my next adventure!

SCARS

Whether it's physical or emotional scars, they take us back to that time...that moment that created that scar. I can remember vividly that moment I got dumped. Or the moment my husband told me he was going to spend the night with another woman. Or when he told me my dependence on him was unattractive. 

Or the time I was thrown from my horse and broke my arm. When I stepped over aluminum framing as my father raised it and it cut my foot. When this stupid kid ran into me on his bike. There are too many to list.

Scars can be a small thing, or can be caused from a cut so deep that it brings up hatred every time you think of it. We can learn from them and overcome, or they can eat at your soul. It's up to you. I have both outcomes. I'm not perfect. My scars have kept me single for many years, and I don't see that ever changing.

Just focus on the positive and try and keep those scars covered and bandaged with love of family.