Pictures of our new coop (finished yesterday) and pictures of our banties:

It's a 4x8 foot coop built inside our 10x12 shed.  When it warms up a bit, we'll put a chicken door in the back and make a chicken run (that we can close each night) outside the shed.

This is our only hen, Brownie, on the new roost.

Our 3 Banty roosters and 1 Banty hen.

I put chicken wire up about 12-18" inside the door so that the chickens can't escape when I open the door.

The guineas have taken over the old chicken coop.

Years ago, we couldn't afford to buy a real tree, and the only ones we had close enough for us to cut ourselves were cedar trees in our fields (when you're allergic to cedar trees, this is not a good idea, ask us how we know).  One  year, I did buy a real tree from the grocery store, but it died within a week or two, we couldn't even turn on the lights for the week or two before Christmas.  Most of our 23 years of marriage, we've had fake trees.  Last year, my son went to a friends house after school.  When I went to pick him up, I saw their Christmas tree and it was so pretty!!  A real one too.  I found out that they go to the Christmas Tree Farm each year to cut a tree.  I checked into it this year and my son and I went and chose our tree.  It had to be short enough to fit in the back seat of my Grand Prix,  it's about 4.5 to 5 feet tall, and it's so fat, it's gorgeous!!  We've had it for 2 weeks almost and it's still alive and doing very well!  We will get a real tree from the Christmas Tree Farm each year from now on.  We had a wonderful time searching for the perfect tree.  I was afraid for awhile that my son would choose a Charlie Brown tree, but he made a good choice.  After our tree was shaken and baled, the young men who work at the farm placed it in my back seat, and my son and I went inside the gift shop for a cup of hot apple cider that was so good!  Next year, I will remember to take my camera to the tree farm!!

Just enjoying my warm fire today while it is so cold and icy outside.  My husband said he saw about 15 wrecks on the interstate on the way to work.  I think I'll stay in and make a batch of Peach Jelly for Christmas gifts today.  Off to my sons school Christmas play tonight.  Pray the roads are safe.

Playing with camera settings, this is the fireworks mode.

For Today: Monday, December 15, 2008

Outside my window...
Very cold, ice on the window panes

I am thinking...
that I'm going to have to get my chicken coop finished today

I am thankful for...
My family, and a nice warm house

From the kitchen...
I have to go grocery shopping before anythings coming from the kitchen today

I am wearing...
Ugly sweat pants, warm socks and a Mossy Oak hooded sweat shirt

I am creating...
nothing at the time

I am going...
to finish my Christmas shopping tomorrow hopefully

I am reading...
Created to be His Helpmeet

I am hoping...
to get everything done that I need done in time for the Christmas festivities at Church next Sunday

I am hearing...
TV, and the blower on the woodstove.  Wind too

Around the house...
It's looking a little cleaner right now.  I moved the elliptical into the back bedroom, so the living room is more roomy

One of my favorite things...
feeling like I've accomplished alot in a hard days work

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Make 3.5 dozen cookies for the Church Cookie Swap; buy a live wreath for the Pastors gift ; Finish Christmas shopping; get the chickens into their new coop (after it's completed)

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
I don't have any today :( 

It's been a very busy last few days here.  We've been having some warm days, then some cold days and haven't had to use alot of wood yet in the woodstove, but the warm fires have been nice when it has been cold out.  The weather forecast showed that a cold front was to come in yesterday and we would have several days in a row of below freezing weather with some rain/snow/sleet possible.  So, we went down to our neighbors woodlot and cut up a large fallen tree yesterday.  My husband pickup is a small one, and the cut up tree filled the back of it.  I drove my John Deere down to take down the little hill and load the bucket with wood, and take it back up the hill to dump it in the pickup.  I did quite a good job, until the 2nd dump that is.  My boot stuck on the forward and reverse pedal, the tractor went forward a little, I panicked and proceeded to push my husbands pickup sideaways about 6 inches.  Thankfully, with not a scratch!  We came home and did alot of stacking dried wood up next to the house under the carport, and did some splitting and stacking of other dried wood in the woodshed.  The blazing fire is so nice and warm, and the smell of it is something I really enjoy.  Our chickens and guineas, poor little things, are cold.  So, saturday we went to Home Depot and Lowes and got some 2x4's, a piece of 4x8 plywood, and chicken wire so that we can construct a coop inside my 10x12 metal storage shed.  My husband layed the plywood on the floor and secured it with screws.  Then he framed the area in with the 2x4's and made a nice door with hinges and a latch big enough to easily go in and out.  I put chicken wire on and am almost finish with that part of it.  I put a 2x4 in for a roost.  For a temporary nesting box, I'll have to put a box with hay in there until we can get some built.  I've just got to get the chickens out of the cold for now though.  They're in a little chicken tractor (enclosed on the sides and the back) that I built for them this summer.  We're keeping it pretty much covered and have a light on top for some warmth.  Eventually, we'll have a nice chicken run outside the shed too.  Can't wait.