Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the Middle of a Wisconsin winter part 2

[Callender Girl]

I like the idea of hiding Tom and Renee's car keys! However, since Tom needs to be back up north to accept delivery of some new wheels for his Jeep Willys, I guess I need to let them go.

The run is done! I'm amazed at how easily it was built. These two work seamlessly as a team. Mostly, I just ran back and forth with tools, supplies and iced tea while saying, "Good job -- looks great." Plus, when all was said and done, we had exactly ONE more piece of lumber than we needed and six extra deck screws. Tom is a great estimator.

Watching Tom operate the table saw SAFELY made me think I MIGHT be able to do it. I have some plywood that I would like to be able to cut to size to repair a goat house. But, like you, wyoDreamer, I like the idea of someone being around to watch me, just in case.

The new run, like the Taj Ma-Coop that Frankie built for me last year, is more elaborate than I would have come up with on my own. It's 4 foot by 12-foot, the same footprint as my temporary, but Tom thought I should quit having to bend down every time I go into a chicken run. So, the first 4-foot horizontal section and door are tall enough for me to walk in upright, then the remaining 8-foot section is 4 foot high. It is a thing of beauty. We attached hardware cloth to the bottom; it extends 2 feet all the way around, so it's also pretty secure.

Sounds like they will now be back in three weeks. But, my sister is coming up in about 10 days, so that's more free labor for me. Anything the two of us build will be much, much more simple. And cheaper!

Good luck with your lumberjacking, Jim.

It's too early to start breaking out the sweatshirts here. I can't remember hitting 90 degrees in September ever before, but that's the prediction for today. Crazy weather!

 

[WIchickMama]

We are predicted to get 90s here too today, but then down the the low 70s Sat, crazy rollercoaster of weather.

Today, or tomorrow depending on how early my DH gets going, I will be push mowing trails in the woods at our property while DH mows up top where our future house will go love it out there so quiet and peaceful.

 

[jvls1942]

Barb, you sure have a nice circle of friends to draw from.
No lumberjacking today. I have a tall set of shelves to attach to the wall of the lean to. then a wall cabinet left over from a long forgotten job i must have done. then we are going to remove items (junk) from the lean to that does not have to be sheltered.
we will put it outside until we can haul it away. we have to make room in the lean to for two riders, a tiller, a couple of lawn carts and wagons.
and who knows what else ?
probably a small/medium pile of black walnut branches.
at the far end of the lean to is the guinea coop/nursery. it uses up about ten feet of space. but tearing that apart is a job for the future.
going to be cool until about noon. hope to get an early start.

 

[Callender Girl]

Jim, you're right about my friends. Actually, all the ones I've mentioned in previous posts were folks I met through my Jim. Tom and Renee are historical re-enactors, and Frankie and Jim grew up just a few houses away from each other.

Hope your "junk" removal is going well. I walked out to the garage yesterday with the best intentions of organizing but pretty much just swept up sawdust and came back to the house.

Mowing trails sounds like a lot of work, Anjanet. But a future house? How exciting!

Weather is finally acting more like September. It's only 60 degrees right now, pretty close to perfect morning temps.

 

[jvls1942]

first things first, gonna have a cuppa
then out to the dusty lean to.
there are items that we could possible sell, but that means storing them. that doesn't help the clutter at all.
all of my helpful friends have gotten too old to help anymore. My brother Dave helps once in awhile.
mowing paths sounds like work to me, too.

 

[jvls1942]

we spent a couple of hours in the lean to this morning. the weather was perfect for working. even now, at one o'clock it is not too hot.
I hauled a bucket load of burnables to the burn pile.
we are turning up all sorts of items that neither of us has ever seen before.
I think that people must be dropping things off. buckets of rusty bolts and nuts. I know I didn't put them there. parts of small and large engines. not me, again.
If making a mess counts for cleaning, then we are doing a magnificent job.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Weather people said cooler weather this weekend. I think I have a different opinion on what's cooler.

Whenever I tackle a big clean up it's always messiest first Jim. Sounds like a lot of work. Hopefully you are current on your tetanus shot.

 

[jvls1942]

nup at five. cuppa in hand.
wondering what to do today.
prolly sort through junk in the lean to.

 

[Callender Girl]

Finished my cup of coffee already and have a plan for the day. When I have people here -- like Tom and Renee -- I casually mention projects I'm working on. That way, someone holds me accountable for actually getting something accomplished.

Since they are planning to come back in a couple of weeks to take down the big, dead tree and build a second run, I told them about my under-deck plan for adding cedar boards to replace the yucky old -- and on one side, missing -- lattice. Today, I will be staining boards.

My sister is coming up a week from today, so I will enlist her help to install the boards. She also will help me install a door I made yesterday for the triangular opening at the top of a garden shed I got off Craigslist. I told Tom and Renee that I was going to do that, too.

I might even tackle some garage organization today. Maybe.

 

[WIchickMama]

I am up too, will be letting out the birds in 15 min. 50 degrees out! Feeling cool, wish I was fishing. Didnt mow yesterday so that is today's job, along with helping hubby install a new toilet at his parents and menu plan for the week.

Hope you all have a great day