Thursday, April 30, 2020

Update On Stonecrest Cottage Guest House


Things have been progressing, even if it has been slowly.
Mostly steps that don't really show: heating and cooling,
water heater, electrical, plumbing.

This week has been a bit more exciting.
The front porch went up.

The replacement window for the front finally arrived,
and was installed.

The antique stained glass window over the porch roof was installed.

And now today we are waiting for the inspector,
after which we can get sheet rocking done.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Native Wildflower Fruits Of My Labor


Last spring I went a little crazy buying native wildflowers,
both plants and seeds.

Most of these we planted along our property trail.
And really didn't see much of them after that.

But this spring, wildflowers are popping up all along the trail.
I don't know if any of the seeds will turn into plants,
I traditionally don't have much luck with seeds.

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Barnwood Egg Holder Trays

I saw my first wooden egg holder tray in a magazine this week.
And I was smitten.
Of course I wanted one.  
And I could have one if I wanted to shell out $25 - $89.

Or I could make my own.  
Fortunately I already had the 1" drill bit hole-maker thingie.
And since I have smaller bantam eggs, that is plenty big.

And I had scrap barnwood, leftover from my husband's boot tray project.
(Check that out here.)
I added a regular standard sized egg in the back so that you
could see the size difference between a "regular" egg and a bantam sized egg.
Really, they do pretty well for their size.

I have to say -- drilling the holes was not that much fun.

It took a lot of pressure and my hand got tired.  
My dreams of making one for every family that owns chickens
 in the state of Missouri dissolved after about the fourth hole. 

But now I have two for myself, and a few to give away.

Monday, April 27, 2020

Upcycled Overalls



Last fall we went to a garage sale and purchased eight pairs of amazing well-worn overalls.  Not only were they well-worn, but they were well-patched.  Patched by a thrifty and talented wife who got all of the mileage possible out of these denims. Read about that here.  I just wasn't completely sure what to do with them.

After cruising around on pinterest, I decided they needed a bit of upcycling.  But I don't have a sewing machine (and don't want one.)  I do know someone who does, and is creative to boot.  So I proposed to her that I hand over the overalls, a bunch of lace and other doodads and set her free.
In return, she would end up with half of the "loot".
She immediately caught the vision but said it would be awhile before she had time to tackle them.  Well, then along came quarantine.  Time to spare.

So last weekend she brought over the finished overalls.  
SO CUTE! And we divided up the eight between us.  
We both will probably keep one (or two)
and sell the rest.  

Sunday, April 26, 2020

My Husband's Corona Virus Isolation Project #10 -- Two Boot Trays


 With the addition of lots of rain and chickens, our mud room was looking like --
 well, a muddy room.

So my husband started the hunt for a "boot tray" where we could set our boots when we came in.

I suggested this little berry basket.
(At that point it did not have a corrugated metal insert or a handle.)  
Nope, too small for his big boots and not heavy duty enough.
But he said he would go ahead and make it for the guest cottage.

After looking at farm stores and on-line, he decided to make one himself.

 He used old barn wood that we already had.
And "Helmsman" wood finish that we already had.
And corrugated tin that we already had....
And made the nicest looking boot tray that I have ever seen.
Goodbye to mud in the mud room.

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Sign Of The Times


We saw this sign for gas when we were running around on Friday.
I couldn't believe that I was seeing gas at $1.04 a gallon.
Then later that day we saw gas at Sam's Club for $0.96!!

Which reminded me of a quarantine joke my sister told me:
"I feel like I'm a teenager again.
Gas is cheap, and I'm grounded."

Friday, April 24, 2020

My Husband's Corona Virus Isolation Project #9 -- Cheeky Chooks Sign


I don't know if the idea was ignited by the leftover edge of the goat house door (see goat house rolling door here) or if it was learning that "chooks" was synonymous with chickens.  But after the idea took shape, my husband routered and painted the sign in about an hour.

Just another home improvement for our little band of chickens.

And believe me, we do have cheeky chooks.
(But at least they have finally started laying again.)

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Yet Another Greenhouse Trip

Let me just confess, this is not my only trip since I last mentioned bingeing at a greenhouse.  I went back to that original greenhouse again and purchased an equal amount of goodies.  Then we had to go to Home Depot to get paint.  We waited at least 20 minutes in line to just get inside of HD, so you might as well make the most of it and buy $100+ in plants. And of course our grocery store sells some plants, and they could definitely use my support during this time.


Then a $5 coupon popped up in my email for a small nursery I had visited in February.  So yes, I did go there.  But this post is about yet another greenhouse trip. Dare I say that it is my favorite so far?
They grow all of their own plants.  They were knowledgeable and helped answer a couple questions that I had.  They had a really nice selection.

 Here is what I came home with.

And yes, I did manage to purchase a few more succulents....
but this may be the last greenhouse binge of the spring.
(No promises).

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Nothing Like A Good Dust Bath



Total crack up.
The chickens flip around, sometimes totally upside down.
All while making purring noises.
And for a finale they shake themselves off like a dog.
They are not stressed out by the corona virus.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

My (Many) Vintage Metal Motel Chairs


A few of my metal motel chairs were looking a bit bedraggled.  So I painted those yellow.  A nice mellow gold-yellow.  And then decided to sand those to let all of the lovely paint layers peek through.
OK.  After counting all 14 motel chairs I realize I may have a problem.  (I may just be a bit of a vintage lawn chair hoarder). These are just the old metal motel chairs.  Not shown are the (many) mid-century outdoor metal mesh deck chairs (maybe a post on those later.)  (Ok....and there may be quite a few outdoor benches - but they are so romantic and practical.)

My only excuse is that I have sold far more motel chairs than I have kept.  So you know, that is something.... And  we do have a big yard.

Motel chairs are great for the fire pit area.  A couple of these chairs will eventually be jaw-dropping on the front porch of our new guest cottage (when it gets a front porch.)

 And you DEFINITELY need motel chairs for the chicken viewing area.

And of course we could always squeeze a couple on our back deck (because some day we are going to throw a glorious soiree and each seat will be filled.)

I just love the look of them.  The lines of them.  The history of them.  The layers of paint.  How sturdy they are. How comfortable they are.  How durable they are. Have I mentioned the layers of paint?

 This glider is my newest acquisition.  She glides S O O O   S M O O T H L Y.  The first thing my husband asked was where we were going to put her.  I don't know -- we'll make room.  She is among friends here.

Monday, April 20, 2020

New Habits Picked Up During The Corona Virus


-- sleeping in until 10 am without guilt

-- rotating three outfits (if you can even call them outfits) so I never actually have to hang up clothing

-- thanking my grocery checker for coming to work

-- not bothering to wear a scrap of make-up

-- trying to use the food I buy (sounds so simple!)

-- waiting outside (standing in the parking lot) at the local Mexican restaurant every Taco Tuesday

-- asking random people if they are doing OK, and caring about their answer

-- wearing plastic gloves while grocery shopping

-- calling my way through all of my phone "contacts"

-- being grateful each time the water comes out of the tap

-- considering a trip to the local True Value hardware store a major social outing (still not worthy of putting on make-up)

-- waving at every car driving by my house (what if I am the only person they see today?!)

-- sitting in my lawn chair and watching the birds & chickens

-- cutting people slack (they may have gotten laid off, had someone they love fall ill....)

-- not watching or reading more than 15 minutes of news per day

-- whacking at my hair a bit every time I look in the mirror

-- streaming church services (in grubby clothes, with snacks, sometimes with eyes closed for     "meditation)

--last but not least.....blogging every day.  It will help me remember what I was up to during "the Great Quarantine of 2020"

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Working My Way Through Jamie Oliver's Cookbook

It started just before.  You know.  Before.  BQ.  Before Quarantine.  I caught a segment of Jamie's Oliver's 5 Ingredients - Quick & Easy Food on our local PBS station. The next time I watched it I took notes.  Then I got smart and bought the cookbook off of ebay for $8 (free shipping!)

Cooking from it has been a bit of a challenge during the corona virus quarantine.  Sometimes the haggard grocery store employees give me puzzled looks.  (They are doing such a great job keeping the shelves stocked!)  While every other shopper is staring at shelves where pasta, dried beans, paper goods and flour once resided -- I am asking if they have fresh ginger or blood oranges (Yes and No). My little local grocery store never carries things like fresh clams or mixed-color carrots, even without the pandemic. So recipes with "exotic" ingredients are ignored or substituted.

When I say that I am working my way through it, I don't mean it literally. Nothing like Julie & Julia.
I am not going in any particular order, and only making the recipes that appeal to me.  I don't like lamb (which has a whole chapter dedicated to it) - or squid. Chili Crab Omelet? No thank you.

Some were huge winners -- that I will want to make again and again.  You have got to try "Flaky Pastry Pesto Chicken" (I used canned croissants instead of the puff pastry -- even though my little store actually had the puff pastry.)  You can find the recipe easily on line -- so yummy.  Jamie also gave me some great tips for cooking rib eye -- my son said it tasted like it came from a restaurant.

And tonight I made "Sticky Kickin' Wings".  Which got four thumbs up.  If we have sports on TV ever again, this would be great football food.

 I did make the "Hot Smoked Salmon Pasta" and it received four thumbs down.  I marked "Sticky Hoisin Chicken" as not so good.  But keeping me motivated to cook is worth the risk of making a couple of flops.

I am supposed to be eating healthy.  Well, healthier.  So most of the desserts are out.  At the risk of sounding snobby -- most of the desserts don't appeal to me anyway.  "Berry Meringue Ripple" says to use two store-bought meringues (meringue is gross anyway, why would a store sell them?).  "St Clement's Polenta Biscuits" -- if you haven't seen every episode of THE GREAT BRITISH BAKING SHOW (repeatedly) you may not know that they are talking about cookies.  And if I am using up my fat and calories on cookies, I am not going to add polenta (fancy name for cornmeal) to them.... Well, I may eat my words and try them anyway if the quarantine lasts much longer.)

Saturday, April 18, 2020

My Husband's Corona Virus Isolation Project #8 -- Goat House & Enclosure


Yes, we just got our first chickens \
(read about those challenges here and here.)
So why in the world would we be thinking of goats?


Short answer -- quarantine.
We do want goats someday, so why not build it while we have time?

Sharp, right?
Don't you love the sliding door?
Just right for a couple little Nigerian goats.

When my husband finished the "chicken yard",
 he had already done a section of the "goat yard"
 -- since he was on a roll he just decided to complete the whole thing. 

Now that it is done, you are looking at the one who wants to get the goats.
I am thinking we need a year to adjust to having chickens first.

Friday, April 17, 2020

First Greenhouse Binge Of The Season


It's quarantine.  
You are surfing around on local websites and you see an obscure nursery
that is only 25 short, scenic minutes from your house.
Is there even a choice?
I love supporting small businesses....

but what I honestly love are succulents.
And she had such a nice variety
(even more than shown here.)

This is the stash that I came home with.
Some of the succulents are now tucked in my
succulent nursery.

Some plants are in the pots that flank our driveway.
She talked me into blue salvia.
We'll see how that does out in the roasting summer sun.

Some are in two planter boxes 
(they are under an overhang and rarely get rain,
so the succulents are perfect.)
First binge... more to come.

"Buying a plant a day keeps the quarantine blues away" -- ME

Blue Hearts & The End Of My Blog

Early on during the corona virus, I did this project. When we put scalloped wood trim on the guest cottage door, we had some of the trim ...