The Old Folks Home

[RedneckGurl]

As the coop build progressed, and I blathered about it to other "regulars" at my fav hang-out, I got some eye-rolling responses and astonishment about using a "contractor to build a chicken coop?!?!?" I shared these reactions with John the Contractor. He'd got a kick out of them.

He always arrived around 9 a.m. - I usually got there any time between 10 and 11. (He unloaded his equipment, circular saw, ladders, supplies, etc. every day, reloading his work van every afternoon because it wouldn't be all that wise to leave tools there overnight.)

Anyway, one day he said "I got all the wire up," as soon as I got out of my car. "Uh huh, I see that."

"It looks better from the inside..." Okay, so I went into the coop to admire his work.

This was his surprise for me. He could hardly contain his glee.

..

Yup, he had replaced the ceramic light receptacle and CFL bulb with a pendant light! A sort of rustic chic "chandelier" for the coop!

"Better protection for the bulb against flying chickens" and "Less screwy surfaces to gather dust," said he. Riiiiight.

But isn't it wonderful?!? He obtained the pendant light from one of his other jobs, where the lights were removed for other fixtures.

And here are some of my favorite shots of a FEW of the rock out-croppings on the property.

Lovely! I wish we had some features like that on our property but alas, just lots of flat ground. I notice some pretty manzanita in a couple of pictures. When we lived in Los Angeles (2003-2009), we camped a couple of times in Los Padres National Forest and manzanita grew like crazy there in the campgrounds. When used for firewood manzanita smells SO good - almost perfume like. Have you ever used any on your property for firewood?

 

[gryeyes]

Oh, I absolutely love the manzanita. None at the Homestead, but really lovely ones at the Ranch site. Chickens love the blossoms, too, according to HHandbasket, who lives about a mile from the new site. There are three types of oak, some fir, slews of cedar, hoardes of old Ponderosa Pine, manzanita ... I think that's it for types of trees. The former owners planted an apple tree and some sort of stone fruit tree - probably peach - over by the small cabin. It could be an apricot; I haven't looked closely at it. I have burned manzanita before, but use propane for heat at the Homestead. One of my future plans for the Ranch is to allow a drum circle; there are two spots perfect for that use. Possibly even a sweat lodge. But the chicken stuff comes first. The Great Rooster Relocation is anticipated to start Wednesday and be completed by Friday this week. Yes, pullets and hens will join them, as I determine which ones will go live at the Ranch. Senior hens and Carl, my dominant rooster, will stay here. (Even though the next door neighbor did say, "We'll see about that..." when I 'splained The Grand Plan to him yesterday. He had said, "Thank GOD!" about the Friday deadline, then got snarky when I said Carl was staying.) I almost spit in his face, had my mouth not gone dry at the remark. I am not a spit at anybody type of person, but I was definitely teed off. It was hard to wear a pleasant expression. But, back to pleasant things. Phoebe - a Blue Laced Wyandotte - is raising three, week-old flock chicks in the coop. She's a "senior" hen who was re-homed to my flock before I moved up here, so she's not moving. I am going to have John take the ten-nest egg roll-away wall unit to be installed in the new coop. Phoebe hatched the chicks started by sneaky Monica in one of those nests and once she got them down onto the floor, of course she couldn't get them back up into it at night. There will be plenty of covered kitty litter boxes and lower, bench and wall bucket nests left for Those Who Remain Here.

 

[RedneckGurl]

Oh, I absolutely love the manzanita. None at the Homestead, but really lovely ones at the Ranch site. Chickens love the blossoms, too, according to HHandbasket, who lives about a mile from the new site.

There are three types of oak, some fir, slews of cedar, hoardes of old Ponderosa Pine, manzanita ... I think that's it for types of trees. The former owners planted an apple tree and some sort of stone fruit tree - probably peach - over by the small cabin. It could be an apricot; I haven't looked closely at it.

I have burned manzanita before, but use propane for heat at the Homestead.

One of my future plans for the Ranch is to allow a drum circle; there are two spots perfect for that use. Possibly even a sweat lodge. But the chicken stuff comes first.

The Great Rooster Relocation is anticipated to start Wednesday and be completed by Friday this week. Yes, pullets and hens will join them, as I determine which ones will go live at the Ranch. Senior hens and Carl, my dominant rooster, will stay here. (Even though the next door neighbor did say, "We'll see about that..." when I 'splained The Grand Plan to him yesterday. He had said, "Thank GOD!" about the Friday deadline, then got snarky when I said Carl was staying.)

I almost spit in his face, had my mouth not gone dry at the remark. I am not a spit at anybody type of person, but I was definitely teed off. It was hard to wear a pleasant expression.

But, back to pleasant things. Phoebe - a Blue Laced Wyandotte - is raising three, week-old flock chicks in the coop. She's a "senior" hen who was re-homed to my flock before I moved up here, so she's not moving. I am going to have John take the ten-nest egg roll-away wall unit to be installed in the new coop. Phoebe hatched the chicks started by sneaky Monica in one of those nests and once she got them down onto the floor, of course she couldn't get them back up into it at night. There will be plenty of covered kitty litter boxes and lower, bench and wall bucket nests left for Those Who Remain Here.

I don't think I could have even pulled off the pleasant expression. I think my temper would have gotten the better of me. When I hear people talk about nasty neighbors and comments like above, I am SO very grateful for living where we do, out in the county where there are NO restrictions, and to have neighbors who also choose to live rurally for similar reasons. In fact, my across the road neighbor told me he was happy I got chickens AND a rooster because in his words, "it just doesn't feel like the country without a rooster crowing". He says I saved him from having to get chickens for himself, he can live the country life vicariously through my chickens. He even told me he plays an ongoing "game" with my rooster Rocky. He tries to be up and going in the mornings before he hears Rocky crow for the first time. So far, though, he says Rocky has won every match.

I like the idea of a drum circle. My husband has drawn up a grand design for a deck with a fire pit in the center for our side yard. I wanted it to be within sight of the coop and run so we can sit out there and watch chicken TV. The sections of deck will fit together like pie wedges and will be moveable so if we decide to build something else where we initially put the deck, we can disconnect the wedges and move them somewhere else on the property. The fire pit will be made from triple stacked landscaping stones like they have at Lowe's so they can be moved as well.

 

[chickadoodles]

Redneckgurl your deck and fire pit sounds very nice. You will have to take pics when you get it done.

 

[chickadoodles]

I have been going to all kinds of Doctors for a month trying to find out what has been making me sick. I have been feeling so bad and weak and fevered every day. Alot of days I can't even get out of bed. One of the Doctors thinks I have Celiac Disease he is sending me for a blood test to find out on Wed. And waiting on the ultrasound of my gallblader and liver. Does anyone have any gluten free recipes they might share with me. I guess I will have to learn to eat all over again.

 

[Arielle]

Redneckgurl your deck and fire pit sounds very nice. You will have to take pics when you get it done.

x2-- sounds like something we would enjoy!!

 

[Arielle]

I have been going to all kinds of Doctors for a month trying to find out what has been making me sick. I have been feeling so bad and weak and fevered every day. Alot of days I can't even get out of bed. One of the Doctors thinks I have Celiac Disease he is sending me for a blood test to find out on Wed. And waiting on the ultrasound of my gallblader and liver. Does anyone have any gluten free recipes they might share with me. I guess I will have to learn to eat all over again.

I hope you have an answer soon..IT's not lymes is it??

You have a whole world of gluten free at your finger tips!!! First determine a list of foods that has the gluten ( on line) and then avoid all those foods. TONS of recipes that are gluten free. If you are looking for some simple thing-- BOb red mill has a few gluten free items. It is a line mainly devoted to organic, so just becareful as some items are laden with gluten like th wheat flour!! lol Lots and lots of gluten free foods around. My favorite cake, cake in a cup is made with almond flour instead of wheat flour-- yum yum.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gluten-free-diet/my01140

 

[chickadoodles]

I hope you have an answer soon..IT's not lymes is it??

You have a whole world of gluten free at your finger tips!!! First determine a list of foods that has the gluten ( on line) and then avoid all those foods. TONS of recipes that are gluten free. If you are looking for some simple thing-- BOb red mill has a few gluten free items. It is a line mainly devoted to organic, so just becareful as some items are laden with gluten like th wheat flour!! lol Lots and lots of gluten free foods around. My favorite cake, cake in a cup is made with almond flour instead of wheat flour-- yum yum.

Thanks so much Arielle. I should know for sure after I do the blood test and get the results back. But from what he saw in my scopes tests he did he thinks it is going to be Celiac because of my lower intestine and other symptoms. I was wondering what flour to use for my bread maker machine. I don't want to live with out bread! Would you mind sharing your cake in a cup recipe with me? Do you buy Bob red mill in the stores or online? I have never seen that brand.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Bob's is in the stores. I find it at a variety of grocery stores. As I remember theere is a gluten free chocolate brownie.

I did a littlle research early in the summer as a guest a b-day party id gluten in tolerant. You can find a "flour" substitute recipe on line too. OR buy gluten free "flour".. Youw will need to make some adjustments in what you eat. Yeast breads are dependent on glutens, I'm sorry to say.

CHOc cake in a cup

Melt 2 T butter in a straigh sided mug.
Add 2T cream.
BLend in 1 egg.
Add 1/4 tsp peppermint extract ( opt)

THen add:
1T sugar or splenda
3T almond flour
2 tsp special dk cocoa
1/8 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp instant coffee crystals (opt)

Blend wiht a fork well, scraping the sides and bottom. Takes a little work.

Microwave on high for 45 seconds, or until desired doneness. I like mine gooey.


We change around the flavorings-- nut meg instead of choc, coffe and ppermint. ; or add a spoonful of peanut butter and omit the peppermint; or add choc chips .

Fat and easy-- 5 minutes.

 

[chickadoodles]

Bob's is in the stores. I find it at a variety of grocery stores. As I remember theere is a gluten free chocolate brownie.

I did a littlle research early in the summer as a guest a b-day party id gluten in tolerant. You can find a "flour" substitute recipe on line too. OR buy gluten free "flour".. Youw will need to make some adjustments in what you eat. Yeast breads are dependent on glutens, I'm sorry to say.

CHOc cake in a cup

Melt 2 T butter in a straigh sided mug.
Add 2T cream.
BLend in 1 egg.
Add 1/4 tsp peppermint extract ( opt)

THen add:
1T sugar or splenda
3T almond flour
2 tsp special dk cocoa
1/8 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp instant coffee crystals (opt)

Blend wiht a fork well, scraping the sides and bottom. Takes a little work.

Microwave on high for 45 seconds, or until desired doneness. I like mine gooey.


We change around the flavorings-- nut meg instead of choc, coffe and ppermint. ; or add a spoonful of peanut butter and omit the peppermint; or add choc chips .

Fat and easy-- 5 minutes.

Thanks so much Arielle I appreciate you sharing your recipe with me so much. I will try several flavors. Yummy! I think if all else fails that there are gluten free bread mixes that you just add water or what ever to the bread machine and then I can eat bread. I don't know what I will do about crackers especially in soups.