Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Coop Scoop
I've been working on a chicken coop, a hen house, since April. As with most of my projects, a great deal of time is spent in on-the-ground, on-the-fly design. Why? is it that I'm lazy? Nope. Truth is, I have limited resources, so I have to be very creative with what I can find. Take a look at this coop:
I had other materials available (plastic panels, siding, etc), but I wanted it to look "authentic." I wanted the coop to look like it belonged at the farm, that it predated our arrival. The bones of this construct are the A-frames of wooden playground set, 4x4's that are rock solid. I bought lots of fasteners, maybe 8 2x4's, but almost everything else has been re-purposed, aka scavenged.
The way the build has gone, I'd be ciphering how to attach a piece of tin, then I'd find a bigger, better, often more rustic piece of tin. I'd have the frame skinned, then read up on ventilation, and then redesign to double the open air windows to have that swank roof over them. That roof also shelters the egg gathering doors, which will keep them more dry and cozy, even when we snatch their eggs. The south and east sides open up entirely for cleaning (which was a high priority). The north side is fully enclosed and pretty-much air tight (and I'd say iron-clad, for it's very sturdy tin panels from WWII era). The super steep roof-line will be great for shedding precipitation and increasing airflow, too. The chickens will have a ground-level that will be accessible to them year around, so they can scratch and take dust baths anytime. This will not only help them feel less "cooped up," but it will also keep the main level a little cooler, as there will be air flow below. In the winter, I can box the lower level in on the open sides with hay bales, making things uber-comfy.
I will be SO HAPPY to finish this project this week, for I've been dying to get back to work on my pirate ship playground.
I had other materials available (plastic panels, siding, etc), but I wanted it to look "authentic." I wanted the coop to look like it belonged at the farm, that it predated our arrival. The bones of this construct are the A-frames of wooden playground set, 4x4's that are rock solid. I bought lots of fasteners, maybe 8 2x4's, but almost everything else has been re-purposed, aka scavenged.
The way the build has gone, I'd be ciphering how to attach a piece of tin, then I'd find a bigger, better, often more rustic piece of tin. I'd have the frame skinned, then read up on ventilation, and then redesign to double the open air windows to have that swank roof over them. That roof also shelters the egg gathering doors, which will keep them more dry and cozy, even when we snatch their eggs. The south and east sides open up entirely for cleaning (which was a high priority). The north side is fully enclosed and pretty-much air tight (and I'd say iron-clad, for it's very sturdy tin panels from WWII era). The super steep roof-line will be great for shedding precipitation and increasing airflow, too. The chickens will have a ground-level that will be accessible to them year around, so they can scratch and take dust baths anytime. This will not only help them feel less "cooped up," but it will also keep the main level a little cooler, as there will be air flow below. In the winter, I can box the lower level in on the open sides with hay bales, making things uber-comfy.
I will be SO HAPPY to finish this project this week, for I've been dying to get back to work on my pirate ship playground.
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Pooped Parent
It's hard striking a balance, being all things to all people. I had no idea how much harder that might be for an involved parent. I'm an engaged parent. I'm into attachment parenting. I guess I'm overly into my kids, but they are already showing signs of not-such-kidness. It's painful.
Anyway, today I worked from 7-11 on the hen house project. Then I went to the YMCA to chaperon the kids at swim lessons, then we did lunch and the play place. Then it was back to the hen house, then supper, now debriefing in all my accounts, etc.
The thing is, I don't find myself having much energy, ever, to be all I want to be to/for my young'uns. I wish I could invert my schedule somehow and work evenings or something when I was too pooped to care. Then I could give more prime time attention to those who matter most--family.
Meanwhile, I am thankful for summer, when there really are more hours in a day. When it's winter, days are so short, but in summer, we have much more elbow room...especially since we're not really into curfews.
Oh well. I guess I'll just try to do better tomorrow.
Anyway, today I worked from 7-11 on the hen house project. Then I went to the YMCA to chaperon the kids at swim lessons, then we did lunch and the play place. Then it was back to the hen house, then supper, now debriefing in all my accounts, etc.
The thing is, I don't find myself having much energy, ever, to be all I want to be to/for my young'uns. I wish I could invert my schedule somehow and work evenings or something when I was too pooped to care. Then I could give more prime time attention to those who matter most--family.
Meanwhile, I am thankful for summer, when there really are more hours in a day. When it's winter, days are so short, but in summer, we have much more elbow room...especially since we're not really into curfews.
Oh well. I guess I'll just try to do better tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
On Stranger Tides
All good things must come to an end, but I do not look forward to the last installment in the POTC franchise. I really, really enjoy the character of Jack Sparrow. I truly escape all else when watching Depp drift around, pirating his way through each film. Sparrow is easily my favorite film character, eclipsing even the Dude.
On Stranger Tides had me worried, without Bloom and Knightley, but it proved to be just what I needed. Bringing in Edward Teach (Blackbeard) was terrific. I really appreciate how the writers draw on pirate lore and history to make it feel a bit more authentic (even though we all know it's just goofy fun).
I watched it in 2d at a regular theatre, then again in 3d at the local IMAX. It's no eyecandy film like Inception, so I don't know if the extra $10 or so was worth it, but the sound and picture quality was top-notch, anyway. (It was worth it for me, but then...)
OST is full of laughs, action, intrigue, lore....what more could anyone wish for? Oh wait, I've got it: more!!!
On Stranger Tides had me worried, without Bloom and Knightley, but it proved to be just what I needed. Bringing in Edward Teach (Blackbeard) was terrific. I really appreciate how the writers draw on pirate lore and history to make it feel a bit more authentic (even though we all know it's just goofy fun).
I watched it in 2d at a regular theatre, then again in 3d at the local IMAX. It's no eyecandy film like Inception, so I don't know if the extra $10 or so was worth it, but the sound and picture quality was top-notch, anyway. (It was worth it for me, but then...)
OST is full of laughs, action, intrigue, lore....what more could anyone wish for? Oh wait, I've got it: more!!!
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