Trip Down Memory Lane...

While I was going through some stuff in my desk, trying to tame down the files and
paperwork, I came across a cd with some pictures on it. What fun it was to find some of the rare pictures with my hair cut boy short (when I used to actually go into the barber shop for a $6 hair cut) after I volunteered for service in the Navy again after 9/11. This was one of the all time easiest hair styles.

Looking at the pictures though took me back to one of many memories in particular. I remember as we were enroute to Virginia from Northern California, we stopped at a gas station in Salt Lake City. When we were pumping gas, making casual conversation regarding our Navy move with gentleman,the gentleman looked at me from across the car, and proceeded to ask Ken where we were headed and how long HE (me) had been in?! Ken got QUITE a chuckle out of that and didn't let me live that one down. He still chuckles about that every now and then.

In this picture (below), this is where Jewel spend most of her time as a little girl In Weaverville California next to one of our favorite spots. "Rock 'N Water." Yes, the majority of the town looked like this. It was BEAUTIFUL! Ahh... I miss the countryside. Having grown up in the county myself, my heart often aches for the county. I'm so glad Jewel was able to spend some of her time in the woods. She too longs to live out in the country again someday.


Jewel taking a photo of Ken and I looking back at her being silly while we waiting for our food at Miller's Drive-In, which is a cute carhop in Weaverville.


A few years later as my hair grew out, I went for a short curly style. This is me in uniform after being frocked as a Third Class Petty Officer.


Later as my hair grew longer per Ken's request, I started putting it up in a bun and french rolls more often. That's me on the left serving as a sideboy during a retirement ceremony for HM1 Carrol.


Finally, me nearer to the end of my enlistment in 2005. I'm receiving my 3rd Naval Achievement Medal(NAM) from Capt Kuhn in 3 years. It was so nice to have my sweetheart be so proud of me. It was a lot of work earning 3 NAMs in the 3 years and Ken never let me forget that. It was so wonderful to have his full support.

Chicken Coop Progress & New Nest Boxes for the Coop!

Here's the latest update on our coop which really has kept us busy, but we're really enjoying creating. By blogging about the progress, it has really enhanced the whole experience. We will be glad when it's complete though so the birdies can finally enjoy their completed home.

The smaller chickens have finally joined the ranks of the "big girls" in the big coop and everyone is getting along nicely. I think part of that is thanks to one of the "hens" we ordered which actually ended up being a rooster (the prettiest Welsummer noted in a previous blog entry). At least he's being good for now, but if he starts getting noisy we have found a good home for him if need be. For now since he's being a quite protector he can stay!

Well, without further delay, on with the progress pictures!

Jewel Having Fun Routing


Father & Daughter Building Together - Ahh... It's such a Beautiful Thing!


Tender decided she did NOT want Jewel to put her down yet!


Our Black Australorp Tender - The Official Nest Box Tester! The new coop has 9 nice nest boxes with plastic bedding for easy clean-up, sanitation, and cushion for the eggs when laid.




Coop Interior with Ventilation about the Two Doors - Within the Nest Boxes are a couple more Quality Assurance Testers. The Chickens LOVE their new Nest Boxes!



The Coop Window (Bird seem to love this feature)


Looking through the Window into the Coop


One of the First New Manzanita Roosts - Tender Checking it for Quality Assurance


Nesting Boxes Finished


Interior with a Ramp now to the Higher Nest Boxes!


Dogwood Berries by the Coop

Chicken Coop Construction - Continues!

Well construction of the chicken coop has been coming along nicely. We're getting more and more excited as we reflect on our progress. This project has been especially nice for Ken as he's getting a opportunity to use the majority of all the nifty toys... oops! I mean tools! Yes, tools he's received as gifts - most over the years by his loving wife! :-)



For a few days we had some much appreciated help from Johnathan Hetrick, which was fun for us and for him. Jewel also enjoyed taking a break from construction during one of the days and spending time and having fun with the other Hetrick children Samantha, Christina & Nick when we did a "kid swap." On one day, when Johnathan came to help, I did have to give him a hard time though... here's why: So I come out to check on the progess and see if anyone needs another hot chocolate (motivation for cool autumn mornings), when I see three eggs on the deck table. Odd I thought, hmmm... thinking nah - our girls are supposed to lay brown eggs, but without holding, but rather after touching the eggs softly and feeling them just barely warm, the fleeting moment of excitement came - Oh my! Has the day come? But they're white eggs! Only to find out Johnathan had brough 3 hard boiled eggs to snack on during the day. We all got a good chuckle out of that one!


On a perfect day - Johnathan helping Ken put the roof on while learning some basic carpentry skills. What a trooper and such a big help!


Coop construction is really looking good & the roof is on!


The wonderful overhang to keep us dry at the end of the coop. It rained a couple of days after we put this up and it was SO nice! We're also putting up a bug zapper attached to the corner of the overhang to keep some of those pesky bugs at bay. Hope the chickens like their bugs well done!


Jewel helping with Linoleum & trim installation on a cool autumn morning.


Ken finishing up nailing the flooring trim. I thought it looked nicer than what we have in the house now, perhaps trim updates will be another up and coming project since Ken did such a lovely job!


Ken and Jewel working hard while I document their progress inbetween helping.


Ken getting some much deserved appreciation from one of the chickens for building their lovely coop!


Jewel with her favorite hen "Tender," a Black Australorp. Tender is the most calm and sweet bird so far of the older bunch. This breed is quickly becoming one of my favorites.


Tender is our biggest hen, though our older girls are all quite large. They'll be 18 weeks old as of Monday!

Pardon Our Mess! Chicken Coop Under Construction!

It's been a busy week for us building the bigger chicken coop for our hens. We have experienced some extensive delays with all the (much needed) rain that's fallen. So... we have had to run out and accomplish as much as we can get done anytime during the day(s). It's been a mix of fun, interesting, frustrating, refreshing, and enjoyable. The cool autumn days that have been less humid have felt so good, especially while working.

Building this coop as a family has been fun. It's also been an especially good experience for Jewel as she's learning a great deal about basic construction.

Framing


Hammering


Measuring Twice & Marking


Cutting with the miter saw


Nailing with the air compressed nailing gun


Building the coop is so much fun!


Building continues in between days & periods of rain!


Interior coop floor framing


Building progress


Break time to hug Patch!


Jewel & Patch having a mind-melding moment. Ahhh... a little girl & her puppy - adorable!

Jewel's Birthday Campout!

Jewel had her 13th Birthday on September 7th! Can you believe it? Our Jewel is 13! Well, this years birthday wish was a fun one. Jewel wanted to go camping with some close friends overnight. It was a lot of fun and thankfully there were no microburst storms this time! What made it even better is that we had the entire area all to ourselves! Just one of the perks of homeschooling and having a birthday the night of the first day of the traditional school year!


Jewel Receiving those special calls from long distance relatives that she misses so much!!


Mmmmm.... Pork ribs marinating in a homemade sauce!


Our new tent courtesty of the storm from our last campout!


Our campsite! It's huge! And check out the waterfront view too!






Ken cooking (his favorite part of the campout I think) dinner and breakfast!






Setting the table for breakfast!


Campfire Stories


Canoeing






We brought our (Jewel's) little dog Patch with us. He was loved and loved every minute of being adored, and fed those tasty rib bones after we had consumed all that we could consume! After Patch could no longer eat anymore ribs, he buried the remaining bones, of course being the little hoarder he is. Unfortunately upon waking in the morning and searching for his bones, Patch found that his bones were all gone. The local wildlife had dug them all up in the evening and taken them away. It was a pitiful sight to see.








Patchy - All tired out after a vigilant night of protecting his people from those noisy woodland critters & being the wonderful poseable puppy.