The chickin coop...

Remember these guys from the big chicken sale?  Well, the experts tell me they should start laying eggs soon so we needed a chicken coop.  We found some for $150 - 300 but much to the hubby's dismay, I was convinced we could build one for next to nothing.  So I took a handy dandy piece of scrap paper and engineered a very ROUGH plan.  We already had some leftover plywood from the house remodel so I went to the hardware store and bought $13.33 worth of wood screws, L brackets, and a couple of 1x2's. 

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and the hubby was home from work a little early so we set out to build our nesting box.  Since I love power tools, I was in charge of all the cutting.  Go Me! Ally was in charge of photography but all I got was 14 pictures of the power saw (all very up close and personal) so she got demoted.  Actually... she got mad and went inside to read a book.

Gail was in charge of all the measuring.  He had trouble reading my blue prints so I had to translate the little scribbly lines for him.  "... Of course that is the top piece... isn't that obvious??"

Nate was a big help.  He even got to use his own drill.  Doesn't every 6 year old have their own power drill??  I see he is using a screw driver here... battery must have been dead.

Ally finished her book and returned to help us finish up the project.  I think she really came out to see how  much longer I would be so I could come in and make supper.  Anyway, while she was there we put her to work.  She measured and cut some of the dividers.

Here we are putting the dividers in.  Apparently chickens like privacy to lay their eggs.  So privacy we gave them.  They better get to work.

Here's the finished box.  We stole the hinges off the old rabbit cage and I still have my 1x2's left so we made the whole thing for less than 5 bucks!  YESSSSS.  I think we should go into mass production.  You can send me your orders via the comments below.

By the way... I am selling them for $150.  Labor is expensive you know.....

Now go buy some chickens!

Halloween Horse Show 2011

A few weeks ago, the kids got to participate in the annual Halloween fundraising horse show.  Their horse club puts it on every year as a fun day for the kids and their horses.  All the class entry fees go towards a purchase for the arena.  This year it was for an electronic score clock. 

Ally chose to be a jockey.  Sonny was not so thrilled about it but he seemed to tolerate it for the day!  At least he didn't play the part of a race horse and take off with her and for that we are thankful!

The kids do a costume class and then all sorts of fun contests like the pumpkin race, the keyhole race, and the ribbon race.  They have a great time and don't even realize they are improving their riding skills at the same time! 

Nate was a mounted policeman.  He was in charge of security at the fairgrounds.  He took his job very seriously.

Here are just a few of the creative costumes... a World War II fighter pilot, an angel, my cop, a 90's hip hop dancer, and Jessie off of Toy Story.  Hats off to the many creative kids and their parents who make this such a fun day!!

Apparently the jockey got into some trouble with the law.  Luckily the cop was there to keep the situation under control for public safety.  Thanks Mr.Cop.

Storing nuts...


 Like any good squirrel who stores up a supply of nuts for winter, we've been trying to stock pile all the amazing, fresh produce so we can enjoy it all winter long.  Our most recent project was freezing sweet corn.  I know it might be easier (and probably cheaper) to pick up a few cans in the grocery aisle throughout the winter, but it sure does taste good when you pack it yourself!   

My only additive is a little butter to melt during the cooking process.

I discovered the use of my grill for cooking sweet corn last year while we were under construction.  I was without a kitchen for several months during the summer and experimented with all kinds of things on the grill.  It keeps the heat out of the house and the mess is minimal.  I just wrap about 4 ears at a time in foil and cook on the grill for about 20 minutes.  I flip the package halfway thru the cooking.

Right off the grill.  They look, smell and taste amazing!!

The absolute most important step is to have a professional label all of your packages!

Who wouldn't smile everytime you pull out a package of corn all winter?  I might just keep it for sentimental purposes!



The finished product!  This will taste amazing this winter when it's 20 below outside! 

 
The best past is having a fresh, wholesome food supply for your family all winter.  No preservatives added here!  I like knowing where my food comes from and who was involved in the process!

And when you are done, you get to feed all the shucks and cobs to the cows.  They LOVE this part and nothing goes to waste!!  They come running when they see the buckets on the four wheeler!

Chicken Sale...

As promised, here is a little peak at our first official "chicken sale"!  It's actually tagged an exotic animal sale but it's about 80% birds, 15% farm animals, and 5% other stuff.  It was overwhelming to see all the different types of birds:  chickens, geese, ducks, guinneas, peacocks, pheasants, turkeys... you name it, they had it.  I never knew there were so many different breeds of chickens!  

Every type of bird and cage you can imagine!! Nate's checking it all out!

Chinchillas!  I had never seen one of these before!



Nate pitched in with the sale ring crew and helped move crates into the sale line!

 

Ally is picking out the rabbits she wants to bid on!



Llamas... they were really sweet and din't even spit on us!



They also had all sorts of farm animals like pot belly pigs, goats, llamas, donkeys, horses and the essentials like horse tack, cages, feed pans, grain bins, etc...  It was a one stop shop!  We met up with a couple of other local families and had our own "cheering section" in the stands.  Our group "won" plenty of stuff and we all resembled the Beverly Hillbillies as we pulled out of the parking lot!

Donkeys!  I LOVE donkeys but we didn't bring one home :(



Our friends bought their girls a new horse!  What a fun surprise for them!!

These are the two bunnies that came to live on the farm with us... Meet Checkers and Socks!



Our new Guinnea!  We love them and all the noise they make!

We also came home with 13 chickens so I am excited to soon have some farm fresh eggs.  Next time you come visit, you might just get scrambled eggs for lunch!!

A new addition to the farm...

The word is out that the family made a little road trip last weekend.... to a CHICKEN SALE!  I know you are all just dying to know what the heck a chicken sale is so you'll have to check back soon to get the full story, complete with pics.  It's pretty much what you are already imagining but I do have proof in case you think that might be too hard to believe.  In the meantime, I had to share my cuties with their new pals.  I never knew chickens could be "tame" but these certainly are.  The kids are already talking about taking them to the fair next year.  I just want to have scambled eggs between now and then.  We'll see how it turns out!  

Chicken Sale post coming soon.  You know you want the scoop! 

Horse Show...the last summer fling

One final horse show of the summer. One final fling before the tack is stored and the horses are ignored allowed to roam free in the pasture.  One final gathering of new friends made over the summer.

I guess all that is true but it doesn't seem possible that it's September already.  This was more of a relaxed, fun show up at the Curtis Ag Tech School.  It was so cold that week I couldn't stand the thought of giving Sonny a bath with ice cold water so we did a "brush and go" this time.  And FYI...I could get used to that!  The nice thing about the smaller show was that they let the little kids do a walk-trot pleasure class so Nate actually got to show a little bit this time.  As usual, he was all smiles and he did great.  Ally had a great day too and competed against some much older kids so it was a good "learning" experience.  All in all, it was another fun family day and we are glad Gail got to join us fairly early. I'm not the horse person in the family so we are all relieved when he shows up! Especially when he's there in time to back the trailer out for us!! 

 Have a great weekend!!

Horsin' Around

Yesterday Gail and the kids had the horses out messing around and I was loving the view from my kitchen window.  Everytime I looked up I would see them weaving in the trees or chasing each other.  I couldn't resist grabbing the camera and capturing a few moments.  Wish they would stay little forever...

Ally decided to ride bareback.  It does wonders for improving balance and riding skills... plus it saves a lot of time from saddling him up!!!

Throw 'em on a horse and they turn into best buddies!

My little one looks SOOOO Big on his paint horse!

Nate was all smiles yesterday.... the horse must have been cooperating for him!

Every little girl's dream....

Sonny has strict instructions to take good care of her... So far he has listened well.

Hope you all have a GREAT labor day weekend!!!