Back in the Saddle Again

It's been a minute since I took the time to share the goings on around here.  Sometimes life just gets in the way of living or whatever that saying is, and there has been a lot of life going on these past 4-ish years.  

Because of the nearly 4 year disconnect, it seemed appropriate to have a brief intro/update/hey I'm back post before I get this blog rolling again.

I started canning (again), we've been getting some things completed at the house and I started a paranormal Podcast (It's called Lurk if the paranormal is your thing look it up lurkpodcast.com)

I have a new dog- a bulldog named Angus along with our Boston Terrier mix Lucy.  

There's also a new outdoor bunny calling the yard home along with 5 new chickens for Cluckingham Palace.  The chicks (now pullets) have been growing in an old horse trough in my garage and will be moving to the Palace this weekend (much to Big E's delight).

So with all the new stuff going on and all the canning and home improvements, I thought perhaps I'd get back into the blogging thing (even though it feels like it's becoming uncool to blog).  I considered a podcast but they're a lot of work and time and money.  Then I thought maybe a YouTube channel but I'm guessing like the podcast a lot of work and then there's the whole "I hate being in front of a camera which is why I podcast" thing.  So we'll just dust off this dinosaur blog and see how it goes.

Stay tuned!

Cluckingham Palace

It all started with my modest little coop that I ended up adding on to.

(because of chicken math- you go to get 2 chickens, end up bringing home 4).

But our modest little coop was turning 8 years old,

and it just wasn't in good shape any more.  

Wood began to rot, and it was time for a replacement.

So we headed over to the local big box hardware store,

and 3 large carts later, we started the new 8x10' shed for the chickens.

Big E and I spent some time checking out some of the sheds at a local retail shed lot.

We took measurements and made notes on what we liked and didn't like.

Mostly I took notes on what I liked and didn't like.

And then the work began.

We used pressure treated lumber for the pieces closest to the ground and

put those on top of cinder blocks to help prevent rot.

One the floor joists were done, we laid out the floor.

Then we started the process of putting up the walls

and the roof trusses.

It was a whole family effort.

My son in law, grandson, son and mom all helped get it completed.

We had a deadline of the beginning of November

because I already had 3 new Guineas coming and had purchased 

early bird tickets for a local chicken swap

hoping to score some more birds.

 

Wasn't too long before we had the T1-11 siding going on

and the plywood being put on the roof.

Once the shingles were on, we only had to build a door, 

nesting boxes and roosting bars to be fully functional.

We used the 2 small windows from our old coop to put on the front.

We have plenty of roosting space and nesting boxes for additional birds.

I now keep 50 pounds of feed in a metal trash can in the coop.

We also used the old PVC feeders from the old coop only now they are completely inside the coop

instead of being on the outside.

The waterer made out of a 5 gallon bucket with side nipples is also kept in the coop.

We have a sliding door that we can raise and lower without going into the coop or run. 

It works on a rope run through eye bolts that can be tied to a cleat on the side of the coop to keep it open.

We weren't able to build the permanent run before the weather changed, 

but we've utilized the existed fencing, some netting and T-Posts 

from a temporary run we had to make a run they can be safe from 

most predators during the day.

At night they're all locked up tight in the coop.

We still have some finishing touches to do.

We plan on installing 3 more larger windows (18"x22") 

on each of the other walls to provide more natural light and ventilation in the summer. 

I'd like a small loft built to provide an area to store the 

bales of shavings and straw to keep them up off the floor.

I also want to install linoleum on the floor to protect the wood from moisture

and make it easier to clean and disinfect when needed.

And of course, we need a secure run.

We finished just in time for all the new birds.

I call the shed

Cluckingham Palace. 

So far it houses 3 Guineas King Richard, Beatrice and Eugenie,

the 4 original hens- 2 Barred Rocks Louise and Bertha, the Light Brahma Daisy and the Naked Neck who is still unnamed.

I've added a blue laced red Wyandotte, a standard white silkie,

an orange and white Satin Silkie named Beaker, a bantam silkie named Fuzzball, 2 Salmon Favorelles- one named Jaws the other nameless, an Ameraucana still unnamed and a black bantam cochin my friend had to rehome who we think is going to be called Raven Lucretia.

She's kind of a bad ass. 

I have 3 more pullets coming in a couple of weeks:

another Ameraucana, another Light Brahma and a Blue Rock.

I'm sure there will be many more chicken posts to come in the near future along with some updates about things around the house.

We've been pretty busy around here!

Bathroom Update

    It's been a while since I've posted anything here.  I'm going to blame it on the corona virus because that's what I'm using as my 2020 scapegoat.  The fact of the matter is, we've been super busy as a family.  Sometimes with scouting activities, sometimes with our jobs and sometimes with the work that's going on in the house.
     One of the things that we've been working on diligently since the Covid 19 outbreak is the downstairs bathroom.  This bathroom has been gutted for quite some time, but with the stimulus check and the cancellation of all our other extra curricular activities, we were able to get started on it again.  So Big E, my dad and I hit the Lowe's for supplies to get things rolling.

     Yes, they were less than thrilled at the photo op (but hey, we need to record history) and yes, masks are excellent at hiding extra chins (This is the only good thing about masks).  Armed with a list, we purchased drywall, cement board and floor tile.  I am especially excited about the floor tile.  While this bathroom is getting an overhaul and a 21st century upgrade, I am doing my best to keep as many elements close to the style of the early 1900's as possible.  I had chosen a floor tile that was all white with hexagons and small diamonds.  I was not super crazy about it. Mostly I disliked the diamond shapes. I wanted just a small hexagon pattern.  So, when we went to get the floor tile, I pointed out to Big E the tile I REALLY wanted to get.  It's a hexagon marble tile, and it was about $4 more per square foot. Big E and I typically disagree on things- we just have different tastes and visions (but really, we all know who's right). Surprisingly, he liked the tile too.  Then we showed my dad who also liked the tile (I mean really, there was no shrugging of shoulders or anything).  After much discussion, we ended up getting the more expensive and nicer tile.  After all, this is it. There won't be any remodeling of this bathroom once it's done.  And thanks to the virus stimulus check, we were able to do it.
     I won't be sharing a photo of the tile just yet.  I want to save that for the big reveal that I believe is actually going to happen this year.  But here is a sneak peek at the bathroom in its current state.

   This weekend we found an antique washstand to use for storing some towels and supplies (since the linen closet is upstairs) and we found the perfect bench for the little alcove behind the shower. The washstand will be stripped and refinished in a darker stain to match the bench top, and the bench legs are going to be painted a different color to match the wall color (an aqua blue).  The shower stall has the cement board installed except for the shampoo shelf (thanks to my dad), and Big E did the first coat of joint compound on the drywall.  The pedestal sink will go on the right next to the ladder (where the pipes are coming out of the wall), and I'm working on choosing a mirror for above the sink.
     So that's it for the bathroom update so far! Check back for updates!

Play Me a Song

Big E and I are often called upon by friends of ours to help 

with salvaging items from our town's history.  

There was the time we helped move a large built in cabinet, stairs, doors 

and a truck bed load of wainscoting from the old fire house and public school (that post here).  

And the time we helped remove transom windows, light fixtures, 

doors and even cut out an entire entryway 

in the old parochial school at the Catholic Church.

Most recently, we were asked to help move an old, large grandfather clock.

Piece of cake.

No, really, it was, in the world of salvaging Littlestown history,

pretty easy.

(Sorry, I took no photos of the clock. It's gorgeous though, trust me)

While helping to package clock parts for the move, one of our friends asked,

"Hey, you guys wouldn't want an old player piano would you? 

It's just going to get chopped up and thrown away."

Big E's head lifted.

I said no.

Big E went with the home owner and looked at the piano.

I looked at the piano.

I said no.

Our friend reminded us it was going to get chopped up.

Big E said how he didn't want it to get chopped up.

I'm pretty sure you see where exactly this is going.

I gave in, especially after researching the piano and learning it was something that

very well could have been in our own house back in the day.

(meaning a player piano, not this specific one).

This is the photo from the Weaver Piano and Organ Company catalog  in York, PA

that shows the exact same type of player piano we would be owning.

Provided we could figure out how to move it.

There is a reason why you can find many free pianos around.

They weigh 800 pounds or more and aren't easy to move.

 I actually lucked out and missed the whole piano moving process

because Big E wanted to surprise me with a piano in the house when 

I got home from my weekend away.

This was most likely good for everyone since my anxiety is often problematic.

 Our friends managed to assemble 

a big group of people to help with the moving.

Thankfully, they had a truck with a lift gate,

which made the process a little easier.

Currently, the piano is residing in the laundry room.

Eventually, it will live in the dining room,

but it'll take some dining room demo and remodeling 

before the piano will fit in the room.

Not a drastic remodel really, just reconfiguring a plumbing closet

that was not original to the house so the hutch can move to that wall,

and the piano will have a place of honor.

An added bonus was finding the business card of the gentleman who used to tune the piano.

Big E called, and the man was alive and remembered the family who owned the piano.

He was able to check his piano book, and it was determined that the piano was

built in 1923-24.

The piano, of course, needs some work. 

It is horribly out of tune and while all the player mechanisms work,

the bellows aren't pumping to produce the air needed to play the roll of music.

We have leads on 2 people in the area who work on player pianos,

and we hope to get one out to look at it soon.

It's also obvious that the piano was painted.

(why do people DO that??!)

Luckily, I should be able to strip the paint off to uncover the original wood veneer.

There was also some damage to the wood veneer in the move,

but I know of people in the area that also repair that sort of thing.

Along with the piano we also received 2 boxes full of music rolls, 

so once we get it working we'll be able to play it.

I'd love to have it in place for Christmas.

Granted, I only saw 1 Christmas song in the boxes,

so everyone would listen to Silent Night over and over again.

I hear there are some other potential salvaging missions in the works-

can't wait.

Redo of the Redo

So a little over a year ago,

I decided to do something with our upstairs bathroom.

As you can see from the photo,

it was kind of ugly.

I got it in my head to paint it peach.

But the paint was odd and it sometimes looked like peach,

and sometimes it was down right orange.

One day while doing some shopping,

Big E voiced the need for new towels.

I explained I was not able to find towels that matched the bathroom yet

(there was talk that towels didn't need to match the bathroom,

I challenged him to ask any woman in the store.... silly man)

And that's when he voiced his displeasure with the color.

He hated it.

Then I admitted that I too hated it.

So after some thought,

and a whole lot of time on Pinterest,

I went with grey.

It was the right choice.

I managed to find a new shower curtain that 

wasn't so "psychedelic"

as Big E referred to the old shower curtain.

I also found some Aqua colored towels

and a bath mat in differing shades of Aqua

so I have a lot of possible towel colors to use and choose from.

There's only a couple of upgrades that I have left on my list.

I'm hoping to change out the medicine cabinet from the

70's era mirrored monstrosity

to something more tasteful.

And I also have some ideas on shelving above the toilet

that will be pretty easy to do.

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

I saw a sign on Pinterest
that I wanted to have for the dining room wall.
But I didn't want to pay for it.
So since I have some pallet wood, stain
and the knowledge to do the lettering,
I opted to make it myself.
I had Big E cut the wood for me
(I'm still trying to convince him to just let me use the miter saw myself).
Then I stained the wood and connected the 3 pieces.

Lettering is actually easier than you think.

Some people use fancy machines to cut vinyl letters

which makes things super easy

(I'd kill for one of those machines).

But since I don't have a fancy machine,

I find a free font I like and print the words using my computer.

Once you have the font size you need,

you rub a pencil along the back side of the letters.

Then position the words and trace with a ballpoint pen.

The pencil graphite will transfer from the back of the paper 

to the wood and leave an outline.

Then you just paint with acrylic paint.

So I was able to make a sign that sells on Etsy for $25 plus S&H

for zero dollars.

I'm pretty pleased with the finished product.

And now I'm eyeing some more sign ideas.

If only I could get Big E to trust me with the saw....

The Upstairs Hallway

In the beginning when we got the house, 

there was a wall 

separating the first and second floor apartments.

It surrounding the upstairs railing of the staircase.

We couldn't wait to open the area up.

The original wall color in the downstairs hallway was an off white,

while the upstairs hallway was a rather dark and dreary dark brown paneling.

We painted the downstairs hallway a light blue color.

You can check out that project here

I was not fond of the dark paneling. 

It sucked up all the available light.

And on the triangular wall above the stairs

was a lovely shade of baby poop mustard yellow.

So I decided to paint the paneling.

Painting paneling isn't really that difficult. 

The hardest part is the cutting in, as 

you need to paint down each of the grooves in the paneling.

And you want to make sure you use a good primer 

to help hide any staining, and give your paint a good base to adhere to.

Even with just the primer,

the hallway looked so much better and brighter.

I painted the upstairs hall the same color as the downstairs hall.

Right now I have to live with the ugly wire hanging by the stairs.

It was originally hidden by the wall that used to be at the stop of the stairs.

Once we replace the door with the new construction window,

the wires will be gone.

The curtains on the door and window were curtains my mom made for her dining room years ago.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with the hallway.

You can see where I'm working on the floor.

I've only been able to get the section between the steps and the bathroom scraped.

I'm still working on the other area of the floor.

There's still lots of updates coming!