Saturday, April 24, 2010

You’ll never guess what…

…but hang with me to the end and I’ll tell you. In the meantime, here are 1,001 random things that are going on around here. It has been a very busy week!

First, I spent an hour on a post this morning and Windows Live Writer went nuts and lost it. I really have a love/hate relationship with that program. And with computers in general.

Mr. W has been in and out of Osage Bluff Blacksmith & Quilter’s neck of the woods lately. Patti and I have been exchanging plants. This week I see I have received from her: Spiderwort, Bluebells, a cute little Osage Bluff fern, and some Live Forever. Awesome… can’t wait to plant them! Also, the Osage Bluff Blacksmith sent me this really cool, wicked-looking hoe. Won’t that be heck on weeds? I think so! Thanks, you two!

hoe1

I took a quick walk around the very wet yard this morning and got a few pictures.

Purple Martin – please, oh please stay this time! I’ve been trying to lure you for three long years. I’ve resorted to everything during those years, including playing very loudly a CD of purple martin songs into a speaker directed into the front yard. Every morning. Hubby still hasn’t forgiven me for that one.

PM1

Giant Allium… ready to bloom.

allium1

Irises, between showers.

iris1

Here is one of my projects, awaiting my attention. 150+ heirloom tomato plants bursting at the seams in the jiffy pot container.

tomatoes1

Our first hummingbirds of the season arrived at the feeders this morning.  Thank goodness I had them ready! Moments after that, I heard the first oriole. Now I need to get that grape jelly out. No rest, I tell ya! :)

Ok, for my big news. I am building a small chicken coop. Yes, I am amazed too, especially that I still have all 10 blogging fingers so far :) I have absolutely no building experience, except as a lowly assistant on projects in the past. Who knew this would be so much fun? This building stuff could be addictive. I really hope to inspire someone else to try something they never thought they could do all by themselves. Best confidence-builder ever!

So far, I’ve devoted two afternoons. The first afternoon was spent cutting my pieces and parts, labeling them accordingly, and stacking in little organized piles.  Well, that and hanging several loads of laundry on the line, and many other unrelated things. The second afternoon I completed the base (on four 2- foot legs), the floor, the nest box frame, the upper frame, and windows & doors framed in.

coop1

It isn’t perfect, but I am so proud of myself! I’ll keep posting updates, then one big post on the entire project in the end. My deadline is mid-May when 15 Ameraucana (Easter Egger) pullets plus one little rooster will arrive from Cackle Hatchery. I can’t wait! It’s been years since I had chickens and I’ve missed them ever since.

Oh, and lest you think this small coop is a permanent home for 16 chickens… nope! So, yes, a larger coop for when the chicks are bigger is already in the planning stage.  Then this “starter” coop will turn into a portable coop with wheels and the addition of a portable run.

That’s all the news from Flat Creek Farm for now. Hope everyone is doing well!

sig3

30 comments:

Unknown said...

Ameraucanas!!! How exciting, I can't wait to see them! Tammy, I would love to read your tutorial on building a coop. There's so much to do around here that if I want one anytime soon, I may just have to do it myself. Yikes! You go girl! : )

Now, 150 tomato plants?!! Really? I know you can them...how much would 150 plants yield? I'm curious because I'm hoping to do some canning this year. Hopefully it's a better tomato season this year than last.

I've been considering putting a martin house on top of the old satellite post but I didn't know they were so hard to attract and keep around. I would never have thought about attracting them with a cd!

Beautiful photos, as always. Happy building!
~Andrea~

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the decision to bring chickens back into your world. I'm sure they'll be cackling, happy ladies!

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

elvira pajarola said...

...Wonderful Flowers in your garden....the rain doesn't take away any of their beauty!!
Compliments for building this great chicken coop: I am soooo wondering how it will look finished....!!!
ciao ciao and a sunny and happy sunday!!
elvira

Lois Christensen said...

I love the iris!!! And how wonderful for you to building your own chicken coop! I wouldn't even know where to start! Keep the pictures coming, please!

Sue said...

Tammy,
This is the cutest post, I have enjoyed reading it so much that I am now going back and re-read it. lol. From one chicken keeper to another, you are going to love them so much again. What a great job on your chicken coop. Loved the photography, well I just loved it all. LOL
Hugs,
Sue

Staci@LifeAtCobbleHillFarm said...

Tammy,
Well, you know that I'm thrilled at the news of the chickens coming. They are going to have a wonderful home!! Good for you that you're building your own coop. It'll be that much more satisfying to look at. Ameraucana's are beautiful.
Congrats! Can't wait to see the pictures.
-Staci

Anonymous said...

Holy cow. You've been reeeeeeely busy. :) I'm so impressed - not only with the purple martin soundtrack, but with the fact that you're building your very own chicken coop - on your own! I love, love, love allium - how beautiful. Your irises and tomatoes are way ahead of ours! Gorgeous pictures - each and every one of them. Can't wait for updates on the chicken coop!

Cheryl said...

What a lovely purple martin, I hope he stays this year, what lengths you go to to keep them.
Your flowers are beautiful.
Well the coop is going to be really cool! I would not know where to start, I am proud of you!! Can't wait to see more.

Melinda said...

Umm.............WoW!
When do you rest?

Melinda

Osage Bluff Quilter said...

150 tomato plants??? Really, what are you doing supplying the county?
Glad you liked the plants and hoe.
We went to a soak auction all day Saturday, I'll try to post about it tomorrow.
The coop is looking good!

Unknown said...

I'm so excited for you! Chickens!! You're gonna love 'em! And having the smaller coop is a good idea because if you ever want meat hens, you can use it for them later.

Hope your martin stays and brings friends!

Rural Rambler said...

I am so impressed with the chicken coop construction Tammy. I mean seriously it looks good. So Flat Creek Farm will have some chicken stories and pictures very soon. How fun will that be for us. I hope your purple martin stays, living arrangements look pretty dang good. Our Iris hasn't bloomed, love your shot of them!

V.L. Locey said...

Yippee!! Chickens!! You`ll love being an owner of poultry and Ameracana`s are wonderful birds to own.

Karen said...

Looking forward to seeing pics of your chicks! How nice that you get to have chickens. There's something about their busyness and constant chatter that would add cheer to a yard. Living in suburbia, we'll never get to have that. Beautiful photos today, as always.

Unknown said...

Good grief! And I thought we did good buying 4 tomato plants! There is work ahead for you.

Your iris are fabulous!

Have missed you ... I'll try to be better.

Have a beautiful week.
TTFN ~ Hugs of love, Marydon

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Gosh, you have been busy! I'm been sitting on my backside, woke up Thursday morning and couldn't walk due to a swollen knee. About the size of a large cabbage so lots of epsom salt baths, linament, motrin and prayer.

Janet @ My Miniature Donkeys said...

Let's see. Donkey keeper, flower grower, tomato planter, photographer, and now coop builder. Tammy, you have a broad range of skills! I'm jealous...

Deanna said...

You have a purple martin!!!! We have a Purple Martin box, and was visited by one two years ago, but the he didn't come back. I love those birds. Our son has boxes everywhere with birds all over. I love them.

Yes, the bug is mine. My license is Buggy. I bought it 6 years ago as my survivor present (breast cancer) when I finished chemo.

I'm so impressed with the chicken coop building. Kudos! Next time we are at son's house, I'll take pictures of his chickens. He has gotten into the endangered kinds.

Jayme Goffin, The Coop Keeper said...

Things I know for sure.....
#1 Next time I go to Missouri, I'm stopping by.
#2 I wish you were my neighbor
#3 You inspire me
#4 You are a good chicken coop cobbler!
#5 I can't wait to see your girls!!!

Deanna said...

I just realized Rural Rambler asked about my Bug. Ignore that part of my comment, lol.

Jenny said...

How totally cool. Even though I keep getting distracted from this nifty news by the site of that wicked hoe.

Sounds like you are having fun!

Tammy, you just really live your life...I really admire that about you!

The Urban Cowboy said...

That's awesome that you are building a chicken coop yourself! You should do a series of posts and video logs along the way, and sell your plans and building instructions!

Diana Ferguson said...

Just stopping in to say hi!!

McVal said...

Wow! You've been busy AND handy!! I'm jealous of your handiwork!

Elle Bee said...

I think your coop looks fantastic!! I could never do that! I can't wait to see the progress and meet the chickens!

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Yeay Tammy! What a cute little coop and that door that opens to the outside in the nesting boxes is such a wonderful thing to have...you did a WONDERFUL job! I like the idea of putting it on wheels eventually and using it as a portable coop with a run. I'll be watching for your next batch of pictures. Thanks for stopping by to 'see' our little goslings take their swim...I'm so happy that you are getting chickens! Have a wonderful day...Maura:)

Catherine said...

it's anice project, let us see the result, i would like to have some chickens again, but i must plan a henhouse against the foxes!!!

Kilauea Poetry said...

I'm glad I checked up on you..I love this post!! Your new hoe is wicked! The purple Martain, woe.. An elderly gentleman gave me a book on this bird and was trying (without luck) to introduce them to Hawaii- for so many good reasons! Anyway- I'm happy for you Tammy- how exciting. OK, your background and super macro Allium budding is fabulous and full bloom Iris are dreamy!! Awesome inspiration on your chicken coop- please keep us updated. My very best, Regina-

Unknown said...

I was wondering where you got your plans for the coop? A link would be awesome. The size of yours is PERFECT! Now that our boys are "older" (2 and 5) we are looking to get chickens again.

Unknown said...

I would love to know where you got your plans for the coop! Any link available? Now that our boys are "older" (2 and 5) we are looking to keep chickens again. Your coop is the perfect size for us.

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