What's a girl to do?

I've got a new coop, the chickens love to free range but winter is coming, they need a chicken run.

The pluses, nice door and ramp. The minuses, the window opens out so I can't block it, I have no cash to spare, and hubby is up north hunting so I'm on my own.

More pluses, I have a shovel, post hole digger and the ground isn't frozen yet.

I've got an old swing set frame. Who doesn't?

I had to bury the legs a couple feet down as to not block the window.

I can add this old chain link fencing I have lying around, another plus.

(this stuff is so heavy, my back took awhile to recover)

Ugly green tarp to seal it up against winter blizzards.
(that's in the plus and minus column)


Works for me.



I'm hoping this run is temporary, and in the spring I'll have some cash and help to build a proper run. But for now, the chickens have a snow free zone for scratching and exercise. They even have the space under the coop too!


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Thanksgiving's tomorrow so I figure I'll be busy then so I'll post some things I'm thankful for today.


I'm thankful for my built in can and make do spirit and a strong body to get the job done, even though my inner lazy person is telling me to go inside and rest.

I'm thankful for scrounged stuff.

I'm thankful for my little farm with my chickens, it's just enough to keep the farm girl side of me happy.

I'm thankful for my family of four.

I am thankful we have a holiday that focuses on a feast, I love to eat.

I'm thankful for bloggers who I learn from and laugh with.

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Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanks a bunch

I received 2 awards that cracked me up!

I got this from children in the corn.

http://childreninthecorn.blogspot.com/2008/11/more-awards.html

It's funny because I always thought her blog was hot, I was just too shy to admit it.

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And if that wasn't enough I also received...

from GreyWolf at

http://toooldcripples.blogspot.com/2008/11/for-dorothy-kim-maude.html

This is the one that is cracking me up the most!

Thank you both, the last few days haven't been so fun, this is just what I needed.

Fabric stores are dangerous

On Friday I went to Joann's just to pick up one thing. ONE THING!

I usually just walk past the brown tone fabrics but for some reason this polka dot caught my eye.

I saw a llama in it. Can you see it? Look close.

Closer.

Now can you see it?

I had to get fabrics that went with this spotted beauty.

I wonder what I see in this pile?

Yep, fabric stores are dangerous.

Want to see some cute videos of my hand?

Welcome to the world Uno.

Today was my birthday.

I woke up with a migraine, the kind that started in my eye where while looking at a face, an orange blur covered half of the face. The eye thing lasted till about noon. Then the pain in the temples lasted till 6pm. In the mean time Hubby covered all three meals, cleaned the kitchen and completely cleaned out the refrigerator. He took out and discarded all science experiments, old dressings and sauces, and well past usable produce. This not buying each other anything for our birthdays is one of the best things. I mean my fridge looks brand new and i didn't have to lift a finger!

Lookie, it's perfect!

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While waiting for my headache to pass, I reclined in my chair, dozing every now and again, I watched a PBS marathon called "The War". All about WWII. Wow, learned more things than ever about that time, heard personal stories, and reconfirmed that war is hell. It ran from 11am to 8 pm. I am truly glad my headache was today and not during yesterdays craft show.

I was pretty worried ahead of time about the economy and sales. This show is what usually pays for Christmas. I hoped we wouldn't have to resort to an imaginary Christmas this year.

I shouldn't have worried. The show was great, people were kind and my sales were the best yet! I sold twenty something bags including both of the llamas and the skull bag I made this week. I also sold 2 more chicken bags.

I had put a roast in the crock pot that morning, I came home to a hot dinner and a clean house, hubby and kids cleaned for me!

I am a very lucky wife and mom.

Not a bad birthday, I got to feel great about contributing to the family income, Hubby cooked and cleaned for me and I got to lazy around ALL DAY!

A green Llama?

I have my big show of the year on Saturday. http://sites.salineschools.com/users/olsonb/

I set up my space tomorrow night and the show is Saturday 8am to 3:30pm.

10,000 people walk through in that short of time, needless to say, it is crowded.

This is the show that gets me jazzed up for Christmas.

So what have I made this week?

Some patchwork bags.

Tissue packs.

A funky skull wearing a pretty dress.

Llamas too.

Have you ever seen a green llama?

I like looking at the back side before I turn it into a bag.


I have over 100 bags, all different.

If you are local and plan to visit, make sure you stop by and introduce yourself. I'm in the cafeteria up on the stage.

Oh Chicken Poop

We've had a lot to crow about around here.

Monday we had hail.

The chickens didn't know if they should run for cover or eat it.

We had the doors propped open all week. Is is November?

It looks like fall.

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The chickens have been in their new coop for the last few nights. I had to carry them one by one, two nights in a row just to get them on their new perch, 30 chickens in all. Last night about half went in on their own.

Remember the new perch with the platform beneath?

Check out all that poop! 3 nights.

But look how clean the litter is. My dad is a smarty pants.

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Other chicken news: 3 hens went broody on me. I put wooden eggs under them to keep them happy, but one snuck a real egg under while I wasn't paying attention. I candled it last night and it is fertile and moving around. I really didn't want more chickens and this time of year is usually too cold for babies, but I figure the mama will keep it warm and it is only one.
The question is will it be purebred Dark Cornish or a Silver Spangled Hamburg /Dark Cornish mix?
We'll see in a couple of weeks.

I feel better now

I was going to have a post (rant) about how negative this whole election had become.

I was going to say how sick of the bashing I am. Lets try to dig up as much crap on the other guy we can and use that as a way to make me look better.

I was going to say how sick of the phone calls reminding me that Tuesday is election day and to get out and vote. "Really? Tuesday? Well thanks for calling me during dinner for the bazillionth time, I just crawled out from under a rock and wasn't aware! Thank you so much."

I was going to say how awful I have been made to feel by some family members because if I am voting the way I am I must be uninformed so they try to enlighten me with more negative crap that they think I must not have heard before. My views and reasons mean nothing even to the point that I was crying over how sad it was that they have no respect for MY opinion unless it is the same as theirs.

I changed my mind about the rant post and here is why.

Today I got up, volunteered to drive two family members, who aren't voting the same as me and I love them anyway, and I voted.

And it felt good.

I love you Halloween!

Once again our Halloween Hayride was a huge success!

The weather was perfect.

All the weirdos showed up.

(Step mom and Dad)

Everyone found a seat, 18 in all...

...plus 2 dogs...

...and Skully.

John McCain and Sarah Palin drove the tractor!

John kept calling everyone "My friends" and Sarah kept asking everyone if she could call them "Joe".

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The neighborhood we drive to is great, these people go all out.

Our favorite is this woman who does a different theme every year.

I am always in awe, this year was no exception.

We first met a Gypsy with her friends...

...then we went to the fortune teller...

...she is amazing!

She told all who came a fortune...

...gave goodie bags...

...that came with all this!

The pencil even has fortunes on it.

I know!

Back on the party wagon.

The grownups and dogs are spoiled, they ride the whole time. The kids had to walk from house to house.

Note: No spiders were lost in the making of this wagon.