~ Retired and Starting My Future In The Foothills ~

[Casey3043]

Just saw the microwave potato chip maker in the Walter Drake catalog. Item # 337690. Web site is http://wdrake.com

 

[gryeyes]

Casey, that's not the one I have.

Try this:
http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/...of-2-Silicone-Microwave-Chip-Makers-wMandolin

It's still available through QVC. And it's made by Orka, so folks might find it somewhere else, too.

The stone in the heater top and sides IS Soapstone and it does get very hot, I discovered, when I idly swiped my fingers across it whilst on the phone telling John about the installation. Won't have fingerprints on 3 fingertips for a couple days, I guess. Doh!. My right thumb and 3 fingers are not happy with me right now.

I turned down the thermostat when I went to bed and the heater turned off - POOF! - but came on again a couple of times during the night to maintain a 62 degree temperature. The house was warm all night!!!

Most of the bunnies are still loose, but apparently happy about it. I've seen this or that one of the group munching on vegetation in the property behind mine. One of the two I caught, Blaze, has gotten out again, but returns to the porch at night. Her sister inside the hutch hasn't gotten loose again. Blaze likes to drink out of the ducks' kiddie pool; it's so cute to see her get on the edge and lean down for a sip. Too bad it's DUCK water! Ewwww.

 

[EweSheep]

Lovely stove!

CAn you cook anything on top of it? If not, good for hot chocolate and soup when the power sources go out.

 

[remuda1]

Hey Linda, what's going on in the foothills? Hope all is well with you.

 

[HEChicken]

Hey Linda - its been rather quiet since your last installment. Hope that is because you and John have been busy making progress on your deck and not because of burned fingers or some other misfortune....

 

[gryeyes]

It's mostly been fine, thanks for asking, remuda1. I've been busy all week at work, really tired when I get home. But the heater is working wonderfully and the house is always toasty when I want to be that warm. (At night I dial down the thermostat - raising it in the morning brings the temperature up quickly while I get ready for work.) HHandbasket and Farmer Lew have been over to visit in the evening a couple of times and they don't have to keep their jackets on any more!!

I've made arrangements to divest myself of some of the bantam roosters and they'll go away this evening. Earlier today, a lady picked up three hens and a rooster as her starter flock (all large fowl birds). We'd been in contact regarding it for the past couple of weeks. That was hard enough; two Cinnamon Queens and a Delawegger went with Wilbur the BCM rooster. I hadn't expected her to ask for a third hen, but she asked very nicely and paid me for her. I know she'll have different colored eggs (all three of the girls are laying) and if the Delawegger goes broody and starts a family, any of Wilbur's daughters should lay nice, dark brown eggs.

John was here when she came to pick up "a couple of hens and maybe a rooster" - he helped us catch 'em. We herded them, one by one, into the coop and then when each tried to escape through the pop door, he was there blocking it, so I could capture 'em. The larger of the two boxes she brought didn't have top flaps which would close tightly enough to keep chickens inside (we had to chase down the second Cinnamon Queen twice), so he cut holes in the flaps and secured them with zip ties. Wilbur got his own box. Although I hadn't yet named those hens, it was still difficult to part with them. And very difficult to give up Wilbur, but I know he'll be "in the neighborhood" and be happy to have his very own little harem.

I was dismayed to discover TJ dead on the porch this morning, underneath the wooden bench. Just dead. That was really upsetting. Maybe he had a chicken heart attack, I dunno. I hadn't planned on giving up TJ - John offered to dig the grave but I'm not ready to say goodbye yet . Isn't that silly?? I pulled a few of TJ's beautiful white tail feathers, then wrapped him up to bury him in the periwinkle tomorrow. On the "plus" side of things, it is one less crowing rooster....

This evening, George, Alex, Cardigan and a couple more hens will go to a new home. (Actually, by the time I finish this post, they'll have already left with their new owner.) When John was done for the day, he spent a few special moments with George, knowing he wasn't going to see him again.

So, yes, I'm bummed.

Here's what John got finished today.



Here's a different view.



I took this next photo to show how the deck cover is constructed like the pergola, to carry the look, but it will be painted like the existing porch railing for continuity of appearance.



It got very grey, cold and clammy, so he didn't work all that long. He cut one strategic board, painted it and placed it, then painted the other boards which will go up later. He'll be back on Monday to put up the rest of the cover (only covering half of the deck) and the rails. I'll be painting the balusters for the railing.

The chickens love the deck, both wandering on and dust bathing under it. John grumbles about the chicken poop on the deck only because the deck surface hasn't been painted yet. I have a scraper and brush handy for that day. (Although I'm already scraping the blobs off the deck so they don't get tracked everywhere.)



Had a discussion with next door neighbor Carl about the Neighbors Who Complain. Oh my. There's some real history there! He's hoping - as am I - they'll run out of things to be upset about once the majority of the roosters are gone and the straw wattles I have yet to purchase are in place.

I fixed up the Rubbermaid bin lid so I could take the silkie chicks out of that white parakeet cage to let them have the whole bin - with shavings - for their brooder. John cut out the middle of the lid and gave me several small zip ties to secure some plastic poultry netting over the opening. I also raised one end of the EcoGlow so it's tilted; the chicks can stand up under one end if they wish to do so.

*******
The very nice, very old man came for the bantam roosters. Not all of 'em, which is good, because I am already miserable enough letting George, Alex, Cardigan and three hens go. Plus Wilbur and 3 hens earlier today. I have visiting rights to see my chickens with both folks, but it doesn't make it any easier tonight.

 

[Carols Clucks]

Sorry it was a sad day for you, hope the boys are happy in their new homes though.

 

[kathyinmo]

 

[redhen]

 

[Casey3043]

I know it's hard to give up your beloved birds, but think how much less stressful your life will be without worrying about the neighbors and the noise. And wasn't George the little troublemaker.......? Maybe he'll settle down in his new home and be happier as the "only rooster."

Your deck is gorgeous. Those sawhorses make awesome roosts! No wonder the chickens are fond of John. Look at all the neat stuff he brings them--sawhorses, ladders......

Just one little question if you don't mind. It looks like the lower half of your house has been painted, but not up top. Is John doing that, or was it done prior to your move-in? I can see where he caulked the tops of some of the boards, and now they will be under a roof, which is good. That deck looks like a great place to have coffee with the chickens on a summer morning.

Well, maybe they don't drink coffee, but they would love to keep you company while you have yours!

I do love reading about your pets and projects. Do keep us posted on the latest.