Feeders and Waterers

This is becoming a more difficult to manage expense than I expected. My husband can get 7 gallon plastic buckets free from his work (like five gallon, but taller). So we planned to make a feeder out of one. I found directions somewhere on line. (Sorry, I seem to have lost the link.) Basically what you do is get a plastic tray used for setting a planter pot in and then bolt that to the bottom of the bucket and also put holes in the bottom of the sides of the bucket to let the feed flow into the tray. Sounds like a great and cheap wonderful way to make a feeder, right? And it's even easy to hang due to the handle on the bucket. Well wouldn't you know I can find any of those trays? All the planters I've seen this year have them built in.

I also found for about 1/2 the price of a one gallon waterer, a base that goes on a five gallon bucket (which means it will fit our seven gallon ones). Sounds great, right? Well the place that I found them at couldn't calculate my shipping and I have to wait. They said someone would be calling me shortly. Guess what? I've not heard a word in two days.

I'm sure it will all come together in the end, it usually does. It's just frustrating when I know what I want and what I need. When it sounds so simple and yet I can't seem to get ahold of anything I need.

What a Beautiful Day

Sunshine and 70 degrees. A bit too windy, but as long as I have warm and sunny I can put up with the wind. It was hard to concentrate on any chores today.

I ended up spending a good part of the day outside with the kids. We went for a walk down the road and Megan picked up trash. She was doing her part to save the earth. When Jade got home from school, we walked out back. Things are turning green and even the slow to bud trees are starting to show signs of spring.

I still feel stuck in limbo with the chickens. However, I did walk the area we are going to put them in and have a good plan for the set up of their yard. It looks like it will take up a good part of the area directly behind the house. The next day that it doesn't rain, I'm going to stake out the spot where the coop will go so we can start to level the ground. That's the one thing we have a lack of here....level ground.

The Omnivore's Dilemma

I have just started to read The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan over the weekend. I'm barely through the first chapter and I'm already thinking very differently about the food I eat every day. Who knew we eat so much corn.

It really makes me think harder about working to become more self sufficient. I know we will never be fully self sufficient, but there is a lot more we could do than we are now. It's so easy to make excuses as to why things don't happen. I heard someone say today:

"If you want it bad enough, you will find the time. If you don't want it bad enough, you will find excuses"

How true is that? Thanks Terri, you have no idea how much you motivate me in many areas of my life.

What does this have to do with my chicken coop progress? you might ask. Well.....nothing directly. I haven't made many strides in that area as of late. However, the rain is gone and the sun is back. So maybe this week will be better than last.