Coop Building!

So I told you I was working on the coop, I promised photos and I don't want to disappoint!

My floor, wall and a couple of door panels

Last time I left the coop (last week actually, I just got around to typing earlier today!) All I had was a floor and a bit of a wall framed, Saturday I got some REAL work done.

The primary building materials on this job are a thing we call door panels. What they really are, are when a steel door is made to have a window, the center is cut out to make room for the glass and what's left is a slightly smaller than standard door sized piece of Styrofoam that has steel on two sides. This is an insanely lightweight but freakishly sturdy building material that's super affordable!

By the end of Saturday, my framed wall had panels screwed to it, a second wall framed and the bottom lined with panels (ready for my windows), a third wall framed and paneled and the roof rafters in place. Talk about a busy day!

Pending weather today I'll be working again after the day-job on the coop, I sincerely hope to have it finished and home by the long weekend so I can figure out where it's to sit until the lawn is melted enough for it to find a permanent home (There's still a couple feet of snow covering the front lawn where I'd hoped to put it!).

I'm learning so much right now in the construction. Even though I'm not doing much of the hands on building, I feel like I'm gaining SO much experience that I KNOW I'll be using down the road (hopefully sooner than later!!).

The chickens will be here in less than 2 weeks!! It's crunch time!

It's coming along! (Very muddy and snowy there!)

#WishWednesday

Remember back in the day when I was always dreaming of pretty things? Those days have not ended!

Though I have moved significantly away from consumerist pretties that I used to drool over, there are still some things I would love to own.... only these days instead of frilly dresses or cool wall hangings, they're farm related!

If you're ever interested in what to send this girl for a holiday (Solstice is coming!!) or birthday (October 20th! plenty of time to save!) head over to my Farm Wish List and send me a pretty :) or better still, check out my Fun Stuff Wish List and send me something awesome and not (overly) (extremely) farm related but just for fun!

Try this!

Enjoy responsibly!

I had a small problem...

As anyone who has indoor plants (or who has brought outdoor plants indoors for the winter) will know... sometimes bugs happen.

Last winter I ripped the top off a pineapple and planted it in a pot (seriously, it was pretty much that simple). The thick green leaves are flourishing a year later... but somehow that little bugger has attracted (or brought in) a bunch of what I can only guess are some version of white flies. I didn't notice them much last winter but since this fall I've seen a number of the thinner-than-fruit-fly little buggers in my room.

You know things are bad when they start flying up your nose when you're trying to sleep.

Something had to be done. 

So I borrowed from my mother a pack of Safer's Sticky Sticks, and within a few days I'd caught several dozen little flies! I couldn't believe it! I knew there were a few of them but I ever imagined that many!

Sticky Sticks! (The name doesn't lie, don't get them on your fingers!!)

Conclusion: Great product, highly recommended!

Happy Family Day!

I hope everyone had a great Valentines (/ Singles Awareness) Day and are now enjoying their long weekend courtesy of Family day (or whatever it's called where you are today)(unless you don't get a holiday today then I'm sorry)!

My V-day was spent in Kenora (a beautiful little tourist town an hour west of home) with my honey. He bought me lunch at the Cornerstone, a great little pub which came highly recommended and did not disappoint, entertained my whim to visit a winter farmer's market and sampled tea with me at Spirit Oak Tea Company.

Maple Sugar, Raspberry Tartlet and Kenora Sunset

The farmer's market was small but considering the population of the area, it had a good variety (but you should see the summer market!!). There were a couple of different local meat suppliers, a few tables of baked goods, some handmade jewelery and some jam. We bought some pomegranate and some crab apple jam.

Temperatures were pretty bloody frigid (in the -40s with the windchill!) which made coming home to a nice warm cup of loose leaf tea so much more enjoyable! I just got in from watering the horses (only the -20s today!) but I'm in love with this Maple Sugar tea!

Frosty ponies! (nice tongue Max!)

Happy Family Day!