I got slightly inspired today and just came in from a cursory rake of under the deck. At 26, it was too cold to stay too long (I think I was out for 10 mins), but I got most of the thick leaf mat raked up into a pile not under the deck, lol. I was surprised to find a piece of OSB under there where the rabbit hutch had been! I stood it up for now, I'll figure out something else to do with it, I have read too many things about bunnies contaominating chickens. I also found a rabbit load of poo, hidden under a very thick layer of what still looks like fresh hay! Also found kitty litter mixed in with it too... We moved in nearly 4 years ago (will be 4 years this coming August)!
I think I may need to find someone to deliver me a few sq yards of top soil...hopefully I can find it for (dirt) cheap, lol. The ground is also not as level as I had thought it was once I got the yuck up. Some idiot (previous owner) put river rocks all over the place, even under the deck! We hate the stuff and would much rather have bark chips than all the rocks, they never stay where you put them and have damaged at least 3 lawn mowers that I know of! Anyway, I guess that's one more thing to put on CL...free river rock, you clean it up and haul!
Though I may just shovel them up and toss them in the empty hole left from the silly water feature that was here when we moved in...I yanked that out after a little bird drowned in it. I think it thought it was a nice shallow bird bath and then couldn't get out.
The weather should be warmer in the next day or two...of course, I'll miss the really nice weather this weekend as I'll be in Central OR visiting family. Hopefully, I'll be able to get the runners and piers up before I have to leave that way I can start building as soon as I get home. I'd really like to have this project done or nearly done by the time the girls get here (43 days from today)! If not, I realize I have several weeks before they "need" it...but I want to spend my time with them, not worrying about their housing!
Speaking of topsoil...how many yards could I fit into the bed of my little Nissan pickup? I'm guessing not very many, lol. But, I really just need it to level out the underside of the deck and help cover any remaining rabbit traces...
Well, while the weather is still cold and I still have no finger prints (due to an unfortunate incident involving gorilla glue & a paper towel), I'll be reading my Raising Chickens for Dummies book (I'm around page 190 now) and doing extra research on the breeds I'm getting. I know a little about the BR, but the SLWs are a totally new thing for me! They are such pretty birds though...