Trouble in chookville?

We're not yet sure, but it seems that my lovely Sili could be a boy... and I'm not yet entirely sure what to do if that is the case!  As with most things animal related, everyone has their opinion and advice, none of which is proving conclusive, so until Sili either lays an egg or crows we will have to wait with baited breath. 

What I do know is that (s)he's now settling in beautifully with Macy.  Pre POL pullets definitely have brought a whole new dimension to my hen keeping.  It is lovely to watch them learning and growing up, I had not realised just how different they would be to the older girls (who were all at POL which is 10 weeks older than these two).  Calming them is very much a work in progress, they're still completely flightly at times and you can't help but worry that they might hurt themselves.  Treat times though are particulalry funny as they now recognise a good thing when it's coming but don't know whether to run or stay; if you've never seen a chicken dither, its an endearing sight!  They have also now got the hang of their training perch; there's still the odd wobble, but they will settle quite happily.  I knew that chooks will instinctively perch, I didn't realise that it would take them such a while to get the hang of it! 

So, the now SiliStu, in honour of StuStella who looks like the kind of roo Sili could aspire to be, has some clarifying to do and quickly please: the slightest sound from the girls in the morning, which is not long after 6am, and I'm wide awake waiting for that first possible crow!  I honestly don't know what it would mean long term, a roo was never part of the plan but, when I called the breeder for advice and was told nothing more useful than that they'd kill him for me, it cemented my initial thoughts... SiliStu is part of the gang and has a right to life, (s)he's certainly not inconvenient or disposable! 

That said, I'd be lying if I tried to deny that my fingers are firmly crossed ;o)

The Greenhouse... my re-purposed dog run

For a while now, I have been planning a little re-purposing.  Megan's old dog run, which is a lovely Dutch Barn shape, was too nice to sit unused and I decided to turn it into a greenhouse.  Well, half a greenhouse, the other side of the roof sits under our elderflower tree and would get so little sunlight that we decided not to mess with it.  The sunny side of the run would be the greenhouse, the shady side will be our log store.

The roof was tongue and groove covered in roofing felt.  A few of weeks ago we peeled the felt back, cut out the tongue and groove, leaving the overhang at the bottom intact for stability, and exposed the beams.  We also removed the wire mesh from the sides and front. I've since painted the beams with black gloss paint and am slowly working round the rest of the building with white.

My original plan was to then insert traditional twinwall polycarbonate panels, but the boyf had a different idea.  He knows a man who can, and ordered made to measure clear polycarbonate panels instead, including a pre-shaped roof panel.  I wasn't sure about the roof panel but changed my mind the instant it went up.  It is glorious, and I love the contrast between its clean starkness and the wood beneath.  The panel rests on the wood overhang and the beams, we fixed it to them by drilling holes through it and nailing it in place with roof cleats.  I say we, I mean the boyf!  Here's a few photos.

What a view :o)

The boyf then set about tidying up the inside for me, hiding the gaps where the insulation was put etc.

I did what any sensible woman does during couples DIY: handed over the tools, found the nails and screws, and tidied up behind him! 

I was certainly dressed the part!

And there's that view again, whilst the panels are still clean and mirror-like shiny new.

I also recycled the last leftovers of our grass into three mats for the floor, prettier than what was there and easy to lift and shake out if they get too grubby.

I'm pulling together a few bits for the workbench too, as much as possible will be recycled. We need wooden trim for the front windows but hopefully they will go in next weekend and the bench can be put up.  I think I may also cover what's left of the felt with something a little nicer... we'll see, but it seems a shame not to as everything else looks so much better.

In the meantime, just outside the greenhouse, the alliums stuck their heads up sometime last week...

Perfect inspiration to grow something equally wonderful inside!

The Corset takes shape!

I went off piste on Thursday, utterly and fabulously off piste!  In one minute there were four bits of corset, 20 minutes later there was one.  It was entirely unplanned and all the better for it; for one, I've been wondering how to finish what could be very thick, and rather obtrusive, seams.  Just getting to that point, and doing, gave me the answer.  The seams are sewn through all three layers and then trimmed to 3-4mm from the stitch line.  And, as long as each seam was trimmed back before adding another piece, although bulky,  it was surprisingly neat and easy to sew together.  So simple... I do wonder why my brain so likes to over-think things sometimes.  Once the seams are finished with bias-binding they'll be as neat as they are secure.

And, with all sorts of finishing still to be done, there it is... a tiny piece of nearly finished pinned to Miss G.  It's even holding a shape and its really interesting to see how the hip pieces are looking; they stand quite proud of Miss G's hips and I'm keen to see what happens when the other pieces are sewn in.

This, meanwhile, is how I found Megs... her very own fabric appreciation, I like how she tucked herself in!

Busy old week...

Highlights included:

Finishing off the grass by the kitchen door, at last, only 3 years late... Megan approved.

"Homework" in the garden:

Chicken Ignoring for Dogs...

while the big girls did a little light weeding.

I even managed a bit of sewing, more later.

Raindrop, Wordless Wednesday 15th May 2013