Kindred Spirits

I recently read a post by Kathleen from “Eggs In My Pocket” that made me laugh so hard that I immediately ran to Mom’s room to show it to her.  “What could be so funny?” you might wonder.  Kathleen had taken pictures of her cookbook collection for her post entitled, “I Love Cook Books---" , and you will see why I found it so amusing in just a minute.

When we remodeled our kitchen, Robert decided it would be nice to have a breakfast bar along the outer wall.  I asked that he not use plain legs at each end of the bar; instead, I thought it would be a good idea to have cubes holding up the countertop.  Why cubes?  Well, here’s the support for the left side of the breakfast bar:

And here’s the support for the right side of the breakfast bar:

Do you see the humor now?

Kathleen’s blog is just one of many blogs that I have discovered and enjoyed.  I not only enjoy these blogs, but I also have found that they have helped my self-esteem like nothing else.  You see, when it comes to loving squirrels, chickens, cook books, compost, and wanting to live in the country, I am the oddball in my family.  This has led me at times to question the wisdom and validity of my own desires and dreams.  I lived over 40 years as a city girl, and I was perfectly content.  Why, all of the sudden was I morphing into an animal-loving, learning-to-quilt-and-sew, earth mother? Was I losing my mind?  Was this one of those horrid side effects of pre-menopause?  Was I just a nit-wit?

The blogs which I have discovered and enjoyed have let me know that I am not alone.  As I read the experiences of others, those experiences are always good for a chuckle and a lot of inspiration as well!  The ties that I feel toward people whom I have never met constantly amaze me.

I initially was not into reading blogs, nor was I interested in writing blogs.  I am a practical girl with lots to do, and therefore everything that I do has to have a purpose.  Then I became the “Emergency Preparedness Specialist” for my congregation at church.  There wasn’t enough paper in the world to give out all of the neat information that I was finding, so I began my blog, “The Gan-Green Thumb”.  In addition to articles about food storage, flood insurance, 72-hour kits, etc., “The Gan-Green Thumb” is also a chronicle of my misadventures in gardening (an essential part of self-reliance).  I try and fail and try again, and then I report on my experiences.  This blog was a worthwhile venture for me because it was a tool to help others find resources to help them in their quest for self-reliance.  It had a purpose.

I had no desire to have a personal/family blog.  However, two people changed my idea about that.  My friend, Kim, and I had just reconnected via Facebook after losing touch for several years.  I absolutely LOVED being able to check in on her and her house full of rescue dogs via her blog, “Life at Golden Pines”.  Talk about connecting!  Also, my daughter has a blog, “Lackey Antics”, and through her blog (as well as Kim’s) I began to see the possibilities.

Thus, “Woodbury World” was born, and it wasn’t long before I was blog surfing to see what else was out there, as well as reading the blogs that many of my new friends had listed on their reading lists.  I have found treasure beyond belief!

Maura at "Lilac Lane Cottage" was kind enough to make a comment on my chicken post and let me know that she also kept some baby chickens in her house for awhile.  Her love for her chickens lets me know that I am not a looney tune.  Oh, and her blog is absolutely beautiful.  I would so move in to Lilac Lane Cottage if she would let me!

I recently found a new smile or two over at “Life on Sassy Cat Hill”.  The picture of the three baby squirrels (click here) brought a smile to my face and a tear to my eye as I thought of my sweet  Chewka Marie.  Also, seeing rabbits and cats hanging out together brightens my day!

As a practical girl, I am often at war with myself when it comes to taking out time to do crafts.  There’s always a little voice in my ear whispering, “You know, if you have all this time to cross stitch, you could use that same time to clean the bathroom or rake those leaves.”  Many thanks to Kathleen and her blog, “Yesteryear Embroideries”, for helping me to give myself permission to take time to create.  Also, “Crazy Mom Quilts” and the lady over at “Muddling Through” make me want to lock myself in a room with my sewing machine for at least a couple of days.

One of the first blogs that I found was “Lallee’s Cottage”.  I think that it was when reading her blog that I realized that there are some kindred spirits out there.  Her love for her animals really shows, and I enjoyed reading about her remodeling her guest room awhile back (we are always remodeling something in our house, so knowing that other people are busy, too, kind of helps).  I have often laughed and told my mom that Lallee is who I would be if I had a nicer house!  In fact, my “grandma” name is “Lolee”, and although it was not planned nor patterned after Lallee’s name, I kind of like being in such good company.

I could go on forever:  pretty much every blog that is listed on my reading list is there because I found either inspiration or kinship, or both (and all of the recipe blogs are good for a couple of pounds or so!).  I am so grateful that I have the chance to find “kindred spirits”.  Thanks to ALL who share of themselves so that others may have a smile or two!  You often make my day!

Chicken Update!

The girls are finally outside (they moved out on Sunday night), and so far things are going well(except that I sometimes miss them being so close – but not their mess!).  While the “mansion” (big coop) is not ready, the “efficiency apartment” (tractor) has finally been completed.  Robert did a pretty nifty job in transforming what was once Molly’s dog crate into a suitable short-term home for my girls.

Here is a picture to give you the overall idea.  He eventually DID put the finer mesh all the way around the coop (even the doors) to keep the possums and other critters from being able to reach in and grab the girls:

He made a hinged lid for easy access for us:

Here’s a look at the inside (before I added the pine shavings):

There’s also a panel in the back that cannot be lifted unless the heavy, hinged door is up:

What was once the bottom liner of the crate is now a removable roof:

As long as there is chow and fresh water, the girls are pretty content:

It took them several hours to discover that the crate had a new addition, but once they did, they seemed to enjoy being in there.  We have a removable panel so that if it is too cold, stormy, etc., we can lock them in:

But their favorite time of the day is when their mother comes outside for awhile and lets them run around.  I do this two or three times a day.  I wish I could just turn them loose on their own for hours on end, but between the dogs and the hawk that hunts in our neighborhood relentlessly, I feel like they need some watching.  It tickles me to see them pecking and scratching and acting so “chickeney”.  Opal found a grub on her first trip out and was so very proud of herself!

They found a spot in the yard where the dirt was somewhat soft and had the best time taking a sand bath.  At one point there was so much flapping and carrying on that Opal looked like she was having a convulsion!  This is one of their favorite things to do:

However, one of my favorite things occurs right before I tuck them in at night.  I let them run around for one last time for the evening as I sit in a chair.  It isn’t long before Ruby flies up to sit in my lap, and Opal soon follows.  They will roost on my shoulder and just cuddle and coo.  Ruby likes to put her cheek right up against mine and rest.  Opal will move down to the crook of my arm and let me pet her until she falls asleep.  They will each just snooze until I tell them, “Girls, we can’t stay here all night.  I have to go in!”  Then I put them back in the tractor and they settle in for the night.  I just love those chickens!

Happy Valentines Day!

Is there anything sweeter?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Something to Cluck About

My birthday was a couple of weeks ago, and I received a very unique gift. As many people who know me have discovered, I have a real itch to move to the country and once I get there, I want to have a few chickens. I have bought a couple of books (just to be ready when the time comes) and I look forward to fresh eggs and feathered friends. Well, on my birthday, my husband surprised me by bringing the country to me. I received two baby chicks.

They are just as cute as they can be…two little gals…I was told they are Ameraucana by breed…about 6-7 weeks or so old. They have interesting feather coloration and green legs and feet. When they are older they will lay green eggs (I think there’s a book title there somewhere). According to the website mypetchicken.com they may not be true blue Ameraucana, but instead may be what they refer to as “Easter Eggers”. I don’t care; they are cute and they will lay eggs of some color, and that’s good enough for me.

There’s just one little catch: We got the chickens before Robert finished the chicken coop. He had told me that he was re-doing the greenhouse, which had fallen into a sad state of disrepair. He didn’t tell me that it would be one part greenhouse and one part chicken coop. But the time got away from him and my birthday was here before he knew it. Undeterred from giving me the birthday surprise of my life, he figured we could keep them in a cage outside for a few days while he got the coop livable. What we didn’t count on was the weather system that made history as it moved across the country. We had four continuous days of ice and below freezing temperatures – unheard of for our area.

So into the family room they went. Luckily, we still had the crate in which we had put Molly when she first came here. So: two chickens…in a dog crate…in a family room…in a house. Sounds normal…at least for around here.

(The big bag of feed in the background is a birthday gift from my daughter. I have put it up for when they are older because they are eating a special medicated chick starter feed now. It's good to know we will always have plenty of supplies!)

I will say this: Having them in such close proximity has led to having some pretty tame chickens. By the second day the golden-colored chicken, now named Opal, flew across the cage and sat on my shoulder when I opened the door. She is somewhat shy, so this surprised me quite a bit. However, she has continued to come to me on her own, every time I open the door, and she loves to ride on my shoulder and “peep” in my ear. If I hold her just right, she will snuggle down and doze in my arms. She never strays far from me whenever she is out. She lets me kiss the top of her little scraggly head, and she loves to have her “chin” scratched.

The dark brown chicken, now named Ruby, comes to me every time, also. However, I don’t think she is motivated by “love” for me; I think she mostly wants to make sure that I am not going to hurt Opal. Ruby is very protective of Opal. Ruby is also more adventurous than Opal and is more prone to hop off of my shoulder and look around a bit. However, she doesn’t go too far, and is still very good about coming right back to me. I get tickled at her boldness; she is constantly hopping on top of her feeder and playing “Queen of the Hill”. However, having pine shavings everywhere is not quite as funny, but luckily it is not forever. I have become a champion broom handler.

Robert is working on a smaller habitat, known as a chicken tractor, because he will be able to have it finished long before the coop would be ready. Also, I have always wanted a tractor because it will allow the girls to tromp around our yard and still be protected from the hawk that frequents our neighborhood. (I would croak if something bad happened to my girls -- I’m too attached now!). In the meantime, I will just sweep and sweep as they peep and peep.

Dreaming of Walnut Grove

Since I was sick all weekend, it was pretty much an eat, take medicine, sleep, and watch television weekend. It’s not that I don’t watch television normally, but it is usually more of a background thing, going while I multi-task with household chores. However, this weekend there was no multi-tasking; there was just lying on the couch and watching.

The Gospel Music Channel (GMC) had the movie “Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder” followed immediately by “Beyond the Prairie 2…”. I thoroughly enjoyed these movies, so much so, in fact, that I later pulled out my old book on Laura and started reading it. It had been years since I had read it, and I had forgotten some of the details of this “true story” of Laura and her family.

They sure moved around a lot! Pa’s wanderlust far exceeded my own, and he dragged his little family all over kingdom come. Of course, many of the “little houses” are gone, but there are still a couple of Ingalls’ places to be seen. According to the book, Pa, Ma, Mary, Carrie, and Grace are buried in a prairie graveyard southwest of the town of De Smet, South Dakota. In addition to open prairie, there are actually a couple of homes that you can tour while there, including the “Surveyor’s House” (the first house in which they lived when they moved to De Smet), and the house on Third Street (the last house Pa built for the family). For more information, click here. I would so love to go there!

Of course, Laura and Almanzo ended up near Mansfield, Missouri, and the house that they built is now a museum. Many family artifacts are on display there. For more information, click here. I would love to go there, too! (Possible “bucket list” material?)

But, of course, you can’t think of Laura and Ma and Pa without thinking of Walnut Grove, Minnesota. The book I am reading was published in the 1970’s and I was surprised to read, “The town has grown very little since Laura’s day…” Really? Still? I was intrigued. A quick internet search revealed that the population of Walnut Grove in 2000 was 1,098 people! Amazing! I think there are more people than that in my little neighborhood! Of course, Walnut Grove offers all things Ingalls, and I would love, love, love to go there! (For information, click here.) Will I be able to sweet talk Robert into taking me? I can’t really say. Would my mother like to have another wild adventure with me? I’m not so sure. Maybe I could talk Mandy and Miss Popper into going with old Lolee to visit Walnut Grove! After all, Miss Popper and I WILL be reading the “Little House” books as soon as she is old enough to enjoy them. What a great time we could have! (Miss Popper’s Lolee will buy her one of everything in the gift shop, if Paisley wants her to!) This is definitely on my “bucket list”!

The more I look at Walnut Grove, the more I like this little town. After all, I’m sure there’s some farm land there, it’s not too crowded, and it even has snow! A quick check of homes for sale there show that they are certainly in our price range. (Although I am very fond of moose, and Wyoming definitely has moose. Are there moose in this area? I wonder.) Maybe I could work at the museum (how fun would that be?!). Now, if they just needed a hydrologist or civil engineer…

Finally Finished…And It’s “Plum” Perfect!

Robert finished remodeling the bathroom a couple of weeks ago. That meant that it was time for me (Lori) to do MY part and put in the finishing details. I actually had been looking forward to this part for quite some time. As luck would have it, the whole world (or at least our whole metroplex) has had some kind of bug going around and our whole family (including me) has been sick off and on for this past couple of weeks. Luckily, last week I did have one good day and was able to get the bathroom finished before the next round of being sick hit.

I knew that I wanted a universal tile for the shower because I like to change things around quite often (I also am aching to sell the house in the future and want it to not be too specific). We found this white rectangular tile (universal and great for our budget, too). Robert did a great job (the tile is NOT crooked, the photographer is just inept):
 
I also knew I wanted a floor tile that had several different colors. The grout came out a little lighter than we wanted, but our crew will have it dark and discolored in no time:


I knew I wanted a more universal wall color than I have had in the past. I found a soft grey paint, and I really liked it because there are a lot of shower curtains, etc., that go with grey, and changing the bathroom décor won’t be too involved:


I knew I wanted a pedestal sink. This bathroom is quite small and the old honker of a vanity that was original just took up too much space. I think Robert did a good job (although this photographer can’t take a straight picture to save her life):


I was tickled that we saved our little shelves from their previous stint. They are perfect for holding our “fluffing and buffing” stuff, while still looking somewhat stylish:


What I didn’t know was that I would end up with a shower curtain and other accessories that I would have never imagined. My mother-in-law, Lynda, gave me a Kohl’s gift card for Christmas and I thought it would be a great idea to use it for the new bathroom stuff. I was on the hunt for something with grey in it, and I did find a shower curtain with a grey stripe. However, the other colors in the curtain were not colors that I would have thought of on my own, but the longer I looked at it, the more I liked it:


All it needed was a soft, cushy, purple bath rug:


And of course, you have to have some lilac colored hand towels:


Of all of the things in the new bathroom, I am most proud of my do-it-yourself project. I have a large basket that sits on the back of the toilet; it holds my hair dryer, brush, and other fluffing items, and has proven quite useful through the years. It is still like new – the only problem was that the liner was a blue and white stripe material that would not match this purple and green bathroom at all. A couple of years ago I would have never dreamed that I could cut the old liner apart and use the pattern to make a new one, but thanks to Lynda’s encouragement of me learning to sew, I was able to make a new liner and keep my beloved basket in style:




I am so glad that one more project has been checked off the list. Once my antibiotics kick in and I feel better (hopefully tomorrow) I will get started on some clutter busting or something to try to make the rest of the house match that pretty new room!

Old...School…Books

Early in my career I worked in a library. This was a perfect fit for me because I have always loved books. And, freak that I am, it’s not just the reading that I love. I love the little “crack” sound that the binding on a new book makes when you open it for the first time. While other kids were sniffing glue, I literally had my nose in a book, catching a whiff of the ink. Aahh…invigorating! If I was lucky enough to get a new book with high gloss paper…well, let’s just say it was a feast for all of the senses.

We now pretty much have book cases in every room of our house. A couple of Halloweens ago, a little trick-or-treater peeked through our door, and his eyes opened wide. “Is this the library?” he asked. Yes, that really did happen!

My love of books often conflicts with my love of clutter-busting, but I just can’t give them up. People have asked me why I don’t just check books out of the library. Well, that may work for novels (which I really don’t read that often), but in most cases, if I’m interested in something enough to want to read about it in the first place, I want to go back and revisit that book again and again. Yep, better to just own it!

I know that there are new-fangled gizmos that will store all kinds of books on one little device. While this would save me all kinds of space, I’m thinking that an electronic screen just would not “sniff” the same as a new book. Are the pictures as pretty? Do they even have pictures? If I’m learning about keeping chickens, I want to see them in all of their glory!

Below is a sampling of just a few of my shelves. I still have my Nancy Drew mysteries that I read as a child, as well as a book on Laura Ingalls Wilder (I grew up reading “Little House” and it haunts me today, leaving me dreaming of a log cabin with a loft and hand-made quilts on all of the beds!):


This is just one of a couple of shelves dealing with self-improvement (I need lots of help):


This is my “dreaming” shelf, full of books I’m reading, getting ready for my “someday” hobby farm:


I’m teaching myself to quilt, so that I will be ready to make all those quilts when I get my log cabin or storybook cottage:


I have several shelves devoted to spiritual and moral growth, too (I need to read them 100 times each!):

 
I’m afraid that when it comes to reading, this sentimental reader will always be old-school. And now that I have the most wonderful grandchild in the world, I am delighted to be able to pass my passion for print along to her. I gave her some “baby” books for Christmas, but I can’t seem to stop buying books for her. I’m getting ready for when she’s a little older. I bought a couple just the other night.

I love this book of poetry because it has a lot of the classics like “Three Little Kittens” and “There Was a Little Girl”:

 
I bought this book for me as much as I bought it for Miss Popper. The puppy reminds me of Molly-Anna Marie and her muddy paws. There is actually an illustration on the inside depicting a white tile floor with paw prints all over it. We have a white tile floor, and yes, there are usually paw prints all over it:


I look forward to sharing the world with Miss Popper through all of the books that we will read together. Whenever she visits her Lolee, it will be “old-school” time!