Stella's Social Club

[speckledhen]

Before:




Had just gotten this new electric stove (because there was no gas here) about 8 months prior to the fire, caused by short in vent hood wiring:




Cause of remodel:



I was already pushing DH to get on the stick and replace those stupid beige counters that were delaminating. Now, it's all new. And my electric bill is way less due to replacing the 20 year old Roper fridge and dishwasher and changing to a gas stove.

The new double window-door is just on the other side of that table. :

 

[gryeyes]

Speaking of living in the country, I was just outside in my nightshirt, checking on flock doings. (Yup, 1000 hrs, still puttering about in nightwear.) I am ruminating upon The Great Flock Split soon to come. The putative "plan" for the chickens is to keep just my dominant rooster Carl, the senior hens, and any silkie-cross hens/pullets with the silkie feathering here. I think non-roosting birds would be safer on my home property...just my thought, not sure if it's all that valid a conception of their ability to avoid predation. Because the geese are staying here (after all, I had the pool built for them!) and there is a LOT of cover under trees, the flightless birds won't be moved to the Olmstead Homestead Annex at Thistle Dew Ranch. All four Penelopes will move; they're screamers. They are BCM/Silkie mixes with hard feathers but they won't be able to roost in trees when the coop and covered run are built. The Cayuga flock will also move. Elvis, my call drake, will stay here (awaiting brides his own size to woo in the pond). Currently, his solo swimming sessions appear to be something he enjoys a great deal. Not sure about the two tom turkeys, yet. The geese absolutely HATE Sarge, who has taken to spending most of his time on my deck where they cannot get to him. However, he will be less supervised at the ranch property, and all white chickens will be staying here. (I am thinking "big fluffy white chicken gal = possible turkey hen for mating" to him as the reason he stomped Delia to death.) Decisions, decisions.

 

[debs_flock]

Quote:
I replaced the back door (the one that everyone uses) with a half glass with the interior mini blinds. I just love it! I needed the door solid at the bottom as I have four house dogs and it would be solid nose prints. As it is, the great dane still peeks through the top when she knows I'm coming.

I'll dig out some pictures. My remodel was dictated by it being a 35 year old kitchen that never had anything done and terrible lighting (the big celing box). I kept telling the contractor that I wanted the glow to be seen from the space shuttle. They'd go over and say.................she's in the kitchen cooking! I wanted LOTS of overhead light (electrician wanted 8, I have 10), but it's all dimmable. I put display lights in some of the cabinets. The electrician said four undercabinet lights would be good...........I have six! I also had them put in a HUGE, oversized counter at one end. I do lots of baking, breads, cookies, candies, etc. I built the cabinet extra deep, I can just reach the back by leaning. I also "invented" a built in, custom dog door (baby gate). The contractor ran with my idea and is showing it to other clients.

 

[speckledhen]

I always hated those fluorescent fixtures in the kitchen, the ones that melted. They were made for 4 bulbs each and only had 2 each in them, and I swear, you could still do surgery on the island by them (and, to tell the truth, we sometimes did). We even called them the surgical lights. That old guy whose estate we bought this place from loved his fluorescents, but I detest them. No more of those left, at least not inside. There are 9 porch lights and six of those are CFL fluorescents, which is fine because they are rarely used. My DH hates light. He'd even have the blinds closed 24/7 if he had his way. Dang cave dweller.

No more dogs here anymore (RIP, sweet Kes) or I know, there would be plenty of nose prints on my new door!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Deb walking through the yard is one thing....when I lived in Oregon I found this outside my coop one night around 11:00 ish....

Background: Noises from coop so I grab jacket, flashlight and walk out to coop....coop sat in clearing of a wooded area about 2/4 acres from the house. Look through coop and see nothing, look around coop and see nothing but the hair was standing up on the back of my neck so I keeping scanning with the light and went up a tree....sitting on a limb about 6 - 7 feet above me was the cat.

Knowing I could not outrun it and knowing it had me no matter what I decided since my camera was in the jacket pocket....take its picture so when hubby found my mangled body he would know who did it.

I should add....Kitty did not like a light in its face and did not appreciate having pic taken....



Kitty thankfully let me back away slowly and collapse on my front porch and it never bothered my chickens or coop. It came through my garden by my living room window every day twice a day....it hung out in that tree a lot at night and I suspect it was waiting for bunnies and other tasty treats to stroll by. But it scared the crap out of me.

I would have seriously peed my pants.

Yikes Cetawin, is that a bobcat?

Um, no.................mountain lion.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I've said it before Cyn, I love your new kitchen! You and Deb are funny!


Linda - You want a blue barnevelder rooster too, yes?

 

[speckledhen]

BIG kitty.

 

[gryeyes]

Linda - You want a blue barnevelder rooster too, yes?

Yup!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: Awesome. I have plenty of boys if you want more.

 

[debs_flock]

Quote: Awesome. I have plenty of boys if you want more.

Linda, I think you should expand breeds as well. I have a pen full of Iowa Blue boys. A breed being saved from extinction and needs champions for them (featured recently in a chicken magazine). I'm sure I could find girls for you as well.

Hmmmm, what else can I unload...............I mean share.

When I get them going, I think you need some Tomaru Longcrowers for your rooster haven. Or maybe for the ONE rooster for your current neighbor.