Chicken Art

Thought I'd do a little art for the chicken run.

Every run needs a little art don't you think?

Coming out to investigate what's going on.

The girls seem to love it.

It's so colorful.

We like it too!

Thanks mom.

This is the day the Lord has made: let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Little Bouffant

I believe Bouffant is living up to her name.

Doesn't she just make you smile.

Psalm 50:11

I know every bird of the mountains, and the creature of the field are Mine.

Repurposed old silverware boxes

A while back I bought some old silverware boxes

with the intention of painting them or changing there purpose somehow.

Then I planned on selling them.

Little did I know I'd be using one for myself.

After Tilly died I decided to make a memory box

for all her little things.

After I pulled the old lining out

I relined it with some pink felt and ribbon.

Tilly always loved pink.

Then I decorated the outside 

with her name and a little band of color.

Pink of course.

I then added her picture (isn't she the cutest thing),

and some of her personal things.  Her first stuffed toy, her blankie 

that she had from the start, her special harness (pink again), some of her hair,

and some sweet cards that I received after she died.

I'll continue to add more things as I find them.

She was a real sweetheart.

I really miss her.

"I love you, Lord: you are my strength."  Psalm 18:1

The Taj Mahal Chicken Run

As I've mentioned before 

we've been working on building a chicken run to go with our chicken coop.

Well without further ado,

Here it is...

The Taj Mahal of all Chicken Runs.

Here's some pics of the run in the construction phase.

Front view.

Side view.

Another front angle.

Progress.

Starting the wire installation.

Finally complete.

Close up.

The girls love, love, love it.

They told me so.

We put 24 inch hardware cloth all around the perimeter and up part of the foundation.

Secured it with staples and ground stakes. 

Then topped it with very heavy and large patio pavers,

and also medium to large stones.

We used hardware cloth all around the frame and added

vinyl lattice around the bottom for safety as well as decoration.

We used a fancy vinyl door that is self closing

but we added special hooks near the top and bottom.

We believe we've made it predator proof

but we still have to be aware and alert

and remember to hook the doors.

Here is a side and back view.

Another view of the back of the coop and run.

Coop side.

Now a tour of the inside of the run.

This corner has a lower branch for the little ones.

Although the big girls use it too.

This is the new sand box I built for the girls.

I still have to add more sand.

But they love it.

I added some cinder blocks for people sitting,

but I also read that chickens like to use them to clean there beaks.

This is there gang plank.

I angled it to give more clearance when you come in the door.

They have no problem with that.

I added some more perches that were higher

for when they get older and like to fly up higher.

I also added an old stump in the corner

for some different seating for the girls.

Older girls in the sand box.

Here's a little tour of the inside of the coop.

Every coop needs a little decor don't you think!

They like it.

Thought I'd let them know where to lay their eggs.

When they get older of course.

By then, they should know how to read.

I've still got to add straw to the nesting boxes.

And of course I wanted them exposed to the American and Christian Flags.

Hope you enjoyed the tour.

We are all having so much fun with the chickens.

They are so relaxing and fun to watch.

Can't wait for fresh eggs.

Stay tuned for more adventures.

"Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock."

Isaiah 26:4

Paw prints in clay

When I was in the emergency animal hospital the night Tilly died,

a very sweet lady was assisting us.

After Tilly had died in my arms she wanted to know if I wanted her to take her

 and make a paw print for me. I said no because I didn't want to let go of her.

So she said she'd give me some clay to take home with instructions on how to do it.

Later that night I made some prints of Tilly's little paws.

I am so glad the lady was kind enough to suggest I take some clay home.

Her prints are now something I truly treasure.

After I baked the clay I color washed it to enhance her paw prints.

That also highlighted her name.

I decided to put it in a shadow box. I had also cut some of her hair and put it in the box also.

Below is the result.

Don't wait until your furry friends are gone.

Make a print while they are still with you.

All you need is some oven-bake clay. 

It's really easy. They have it at Hobby Lobby and Wal-mart.

It will be a treasured keepsake.

The Lord gives His people strength;
the Lord blesses His people with Peace.
Psalm 29:11

Adding more chicks to the flock

In addition to the 3 chicks I posted about earlier 

I've added 4 more that I ordered from the feed store.

Here they are on there way to there new home.

 In this picture they're 4 days old.

This is Penny.

She's a Rhode Island Red.

Here's what she will look like when she's grown.

This is Sadie.

She's a white Americana.

Here she is all grown up.

This is Bouffant.

She's a white silkie bantam.

Well hello there.

Look at me.

I'm all grown up.

This is Slippers.

She's a black silkie bantam.

She's named after the black silkie that was killed.

All grown up.

How do you like my hair-do?

Well that's the group.

We now have 7 in our flock.

Maybe that will be a lucky number to have.

I think that's plenty.

Stay tuned for more chicken adventures.

The chicken run is almost complete.

Stay tuned.