Do We Know How to Show a Girl a Good Time, or What?
October 8th, 2009Bernie has his “to-do” list during the week, and heaven knows my requests never make it very high on his list. That’s probably because my requests usually have to do with my chickens. Bernie’s to-do list usually has to do with providing things that result in a more comfortable life on the homestead - like wood for the wood burner, buildings to house equipment, food for the table, and blah, blah, blah. So, when the weekends roll around, Bernie will usually ask me what is on “my” to-do list and do what ever it is I want to do. And what I usually want to do is make MY life easier concerning the chickens.
If you’ve been reading my Facebook posts, you know that my sister, Debra, visited us last weekend. We were tickled to see her and, because Bernie and I have very little social skills, we took advantage of the free labor. I wanted to build a lean-to off the side of the chicken coop. You may recall the “Big Top” we ended up with in the front yard this year.
Well, I was tired of it. But I still wanted to provide a little shade for broody moms and their babies, and I wanted to have an area that would allow the chicken feed to remain somewhat dry during the wet weather. So….. this is the weekend we planned to build the lean-to off of the chicken coop. And, as our luck would have it, this is the very weekend that my sister planned her visit.
Debra is a real sport. She never complained one single time. She even acted a little excited about it. My family is very odd.
I realize you don’t see Debra on a ladder swinging a hammer in those pictures. It’s not that she didn’t want to. The first time that I got up on the ladder to hammer a nail, I fell. And it was not pretty.
And Bernie was not happy. As a result, NO ONE but Bernie was allowed on the ladder for the remainder of the day. He can be such a buzz kill sometimes.
But Debra remained at his side, and in the end, we had the chicken coop lean-to framed in.
Isn’t she a cutey? Heifer.
We didn’t get the roof on before she left, but Bernie and I managed to get it finished this afternoon. Naturally, Bernie did the vast majority of it, but he did tolerate me getting up on the ladder two whole times. And I am quite please with the results.
My chickens seem to like it too.
Debra is a wonderful sister. I’m sure I couldn’t ask for a better one. She’s pretty, fun, sweet, and a good worker. And she keeps coming back, so I’m guessing she doesn’t mind that we take advantage of her visits too terribly much.
Feel free to drop in on us anytime. You may want to pack some work clothes……
Tags: chicken lean-to
October 8th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Ouch, Penny! That bruise looks nasty!!! Bernie probably didn’t want you to get on the ladder again and mar your pretty self! The lean-to looks great. Your sister is a good sport, but then I would love to be out in your woods and take in all the beauty,too.
Be safe,
Cotton Lady
October 9th, 2009 at 10:08 am
The lean-to looks terrific! What a great idea. Sorry to hear about your injuries…ouch!
What are those things that look like footballs hanging on your chicken fence? I’m assuming it’s to keep predators away?
October 9th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
That looks great !!!! Our men are so good to us.
Big high 5 to Bernie,Tex & Deb sister’s are Great.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
So the big top is all gone now, huh? That lean to looks really great.
Yikes. Falling off the ladder is not a good thing. That bruise looks no good. Youre lucky that Bernie let you back on that ladder at all…:)
Im so glad that you guys had such a great visit with your sister. I bet she had a fun time helping you with the coop and all the other stuff you prolly had her do. snort.
Not that I know anything about going to visit and being put to work….
October 10th, 2009 at 3:02 am
What a great sister. Your bruise looks bad. I am the same way on ladders. Ted always tells me to “be careful, you know how you are”. LOL. My older sister is not a farm person at all. We were in the barn one day and I was brushing my horse. She was standing behind the mare and the mare lifted her tail and farted on my sister. She has never been in a barn since.
I can still remember her reaction with laughter.
Kelly
October 10th, 2009 at 5:52 am
Cotton Lady - Bernie was pretty spooked by the fall. I honestly wasn’t hurt - just banged up a bit. My ribs are pretty sore, but the scrape on my wrist is actually the most painful! Thanks for your kind words - and anytime you want to come enjoy these woods, just head on up here! Don’t forget to pack your work clothes though
Lilla - The chicken run is covered with a shrimp net my uncle gave us, and those football looking things are actually floats that were attached to the net. I just hung them around the front fence because the net and floats reminds me of my childhood!
Charlotte - we are indeed lucky women!
Frugalmom - *snort* I know YOU know all about working visits
And I think you are right - Debra did seem to enjoy herself.
Kelly - the story of your sister’s encounter with a horse made me laugh out loud! I have had a couple of people (city folk) I work with stop by for a visit, and the look of horror on their faces is priceless. As they step out of the car, the first words have been anything from “Wow. You have chickens running in your yard” to “WHERE do you shop?” And not one of them as ever come back! I can just imagine how appalled your poor sister was. Too funny.
October 10th, 2009 at 9:21 am
The chook pen addition is wonderful, WTG!
Hope those injuries heal soon:)
October 10th, 2009 at 11:19 am
you sound as good as I do with ladders LOL say NO to ladders of any description
The leanto looks great but I will miss the circus tent LOL and was hoping you were just going to paint it in bright colours :)…..
I only have work clothes LOL so I would fit right in
x
October 10th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Hi there,
Quick question for you: what is the netting that you have over your chicken’s area? I’m just getting started with chickens and I’m trying to figure out how to cover their run so that the eagles and hawks out here don’t get them, but I can’t find anything reasonably priced….
Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Just found your blog and I love it! Keep up the great work! Emu oil will help your bruise heal faster :o)
October 11th, 2009 at 4:45 am
Molly - thank you!
Marmy - Still waiting on you to show up. And I’m afraid I’m known for not being very graceful. We’d look like the Keystone Cops working together around here
SPIW - Than you for stopping by. The netting is an old shrimp net that my uncle gave us. My chickens free range, but the broodies take their new babies out into the chicken yard when they are 1 - 2 weeks old, so I’ve left the net up to provide a little protection for them. Because I could get the shrimp net for free, I haven’t really priced anything else. Have you looked into the cost of deer netting? I think it would work well, but I have no idea how expensive it would be.
October 11th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
First off, thanks Penny for checking in on me. I have just been sooo busy lately. It’s unbelievable. I guess just getting the place ready for winter by ourselves. It will all get done though.
Anyway, I am so sorry you had such a bad fall. Oh, it looks like it really hurt.
Your chicken yard looks great. I would be embarrased to show you my chicken set up right now. Oh, my, yours live in the lap of luxury.
Have a great week.
October 11th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I’ll put your place on my mom’s list of places to visit when she’s bored. She’s not happy unless we’ve got a project to work on when she comes here. She’s one of those strange breeds that wants to be busy just about every freaking second. (So it was her suggestion when she was here in May that we paint our house. Okey dokey, since you’re here to help!
That bruise looks pretty nasty — reminds me of the one I sustained when I couldn’t contain the momentum of an extension ladder coming down on me - top heavy, those things are!
Love the chickens’ lean-to, it looks fab!
October 12th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Gosh Penny, I am sorry you took a spill on that ladder. You are lucky to have your family come for a visit and help you do some work. Neither of my sisters like to get dirty with yardwork or the like. I love to get out in the coop and clean it and the pen to just sit in there with them and talk to them. I love the lean to, that ia a fantastic idea. Hopefully my hubby will not be so busy and we can put another shade area up for my chicks.
Oh just a quick note that of my 3 babies that are like 7 weeks, 1 of them crowed on Saturday. That was kinda funny, he scared himself along with the rest of us.
Bumblefoot is still being a pain on my 2 girls and I think that I am gonna take them to the vet and have her do it. It is expensive but I think that as long as I am getting stuff out then she is gonna be so so sore because I have to squeeze so hard to get it out. It is gross and i feel so bad for her.
Take care of yourself and don’t get on any more ladders for now.
Lisa
October 13th, 2009 at 6:21 am
Trixi! Thanks for checking in. I know you are incredibly busy right now. I hope all is well there, and I hope your husband is doing ok. I think of y’all often and got a little concerned when the blog wasn’t updated in a while. Glad to know you are hanging in there. I pray this time goes quickly for you and that your husband is home, safe and sound, before you know it!
Oz Girl - please send your mother. Anytime. She sounds like my idea of the perfect guest
And yea, ladders are a little tricky for me. I think gravity increases as I get older 
Lisa - I’m so sorry your still dealing with bumblefoot. I don’t blame you for taking them to the vet. I would do that too, if we had a vet around here that would see a chicken. I’m sure I need to operate on Duke’s bumblefoot again, but I’ve been putting it off. It’s such a frustrating thing to deal with, you know?
October 13th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Jeez, I could have SWORN I commented on this days ago… My mind is clearly deteriorating. Sheesh.
It looks like you and your sis get along famously, too, which isn’t always the case among siblings. You are very fortunate.
Your lean-to looks great! I *love* putting family to work - they have a vested interest, I find, in a quality outcome of a job, you know?
Now, after seeing your bruise and sliced up hand, I realize that you and I must never (EVER) work on any projects together. You see, I am that person that, if there’s a rock - I will trip over it, if there’s a hill - I will fall down it, if there’s anything sharp around - I will poke myself, cut myself, snag myself, etc. with it. We’d give poor Bernie a coronary.
October 13th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Farmgirl_dk - I am very fortunate to have a family I love and get along with. We have our differences, but in the end, we are family, and I know I can count on them to always have my back. Even when I don’t deserve it.
And I think you called it right on the working together thing. I am always an accident looking to happen. And given your history? Well, I think we better just plan to sip Gewurztraminer out of green stemmed German wine glasses and watch Bernie do the manual labor should our paths ever cross! I’m pretty sure we’d ALL be a lot safer that way
October 15th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Ouch on the fall. The coop is looking fabulous these days too. How cold is it over there today?
October 15th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Hi Angie - I didn’t think to check the thermometer until 7:30 this morning - and it was 37 degrees. Ugh. I guess I really do have to accept that summer is well over now
How about there?