Here is Joe and Elizabeth checking out the new coop. We still need to make the door, put up some trim, build the roosts and nesting boxes, and finish the roof; but we made a lot of progress this weekend.

The kids have been enjoying playing in the new coop. It almost makes me want to build them a playhouse, but I guess they can go inside and play with the chickens.

On a side note, this little experience has been rather humbling for me. I had visions (rooted in that fiercely independent spirit of mine) of myself building the coop all on my own. But the reality of it is, I need help. And, thank God, I have a husband that supports me in my madness and is willing to help me out.

Daffodils!

Yesterday, when I went to clean up around Jane's hutch, I noticed some daffodils poking up out of the earth. A whole line of clumps span the southeast side of the trailer. I love these kind of surprises! When we moved in last May, the only evidence of flowers I could find was iris planted around the pump house and daylilies under a few trees.

The Coop: Beginnings

Sunday, we started building the new chicken coop. I must admit, I felt a slight twinge of guilt, because we were scheduled to go to my folks for lunch 'after church', and my folks never (that I can remember) skipped church when I was growing up. And I could hear some preacher somewhere booming at me, "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it HOLY!" Well, a break from the typical routine and some time with wood and a chop prompts my spirit to worship the divine, so...

The plan was to build the floor and walls separately in the shop to slap together some later date outside when the weather isn't so lousy. A few hours later, we had the floor complete and headed off to my folks. When I asked my mom what the sermon was about at their church, she said, "Remember the Sabbath..." How funny. - Later, we finished building the side walls.

Today, my folks came over to watch the kids, and I managed to get the front and back walls framed. Here is a shot of it clamped together to make sure everything is good to go:

Tomorrow, I hope to cut the rafters for the roof.

I hadn't bothered to check for eggs since before our big snow, but today I decided I should. I didn't think I'd find any because once the hens were let out in the mornings, I never noticed one back at the coop and never saw one missing from the little flock of three. But some one has started laying again! Just now I found three eggs in three stages of cleanliness. Nothing a good scrubbing can't take care of.

Speaking of checking for eggs and chickens, I was in the habit of slipping on an old pair of slippers to let the hens out in the mornings. Some days, I would hop from rock to rock or grassy patch in an attempt to not get too dirty. Finally, I spent some of my Christmas money for some new boots. Muck Boots to be exact. Insulated rubber slip-ons with a stretchy top I can tuck my pants into, they came just in time for our big snow. They kept my feet warm and dry as I tromped about in the snow, and now that the snow has melted and our world is a muddy mess, well, I love them.

I haven't start building the coop yet, but today, I went out to the shop for a while and pulled nails out of some boards from the old barn. There were quite a few 2x4's in decent shape, so that will help to keep cost down on the coop.

Yesterday, I found a Jersey heifer for sale on craigslist for $400, and spent the rest of the day obssessing about it. When Chris got home, I tried to convince him we should get it. We would make up for the cost of it within a year of it starting to give milk, since we spend over $600 annually on milk and butter alone, but he wasn't convinced it was a good idea to get one yet. Oh well...

Z has been crawling in bed with Joe the past couple nights... Aw.