News from the Country Estate July 11, 2010

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.

Psalm 19:1-4

For the last two days we have had rain during the day, only to have the clouds break right around sunset. Yesterday we had a beautiful sunset on the west side and a full double rainbow on the east. Today's sunset was no less spectacular!

Its a hard life when your sunsets look like this.

Wags, profiled by the sunset.

Clouds, reflected in driveway puddle.

Early 1960's cedar lap-strake Old Town runabout.

Its been a hot few days here at the Country Estate. Temps and humidity in the 90's is about as bad as it ever gets round these parts. Unfortunately, I was in New Jersey all week putting up a horse barn, so I had the distinct pleasure of working in 105 degree heat and full sun for four days. I'd like to say it was bearable with plenty of water and sunscreen, but the pounding headaches really made it hard to work much more than 8 hours. We even started at 6am to beat the heat, but by 3pm we were pretty much all like frayed rope. In any case, the money was good and the frame went together with few hiccups and no joinery mistakes.

For a little fun, I put all three ducks in a big plastic tub to see how they'd like it. They had a good time splashing around until they couldn't figure out how to get out, then I had to use a little persuasion.

The one broody hen finally got up from the chicken house and roamed around the yard again. We were starting to think she had an egg obstruction or something, but I seen her scratching for food this afternoon. Lately they've all stopped laying due to the heat or the ducks encroaching on their space, I don't know which. I hope we can get them laying again soon, or else we'll have to buy eggs for the first time in well over a year.

Coming up we've got more summer, a couple weeks of work, then I go down to Maryland to put up another frame. This time it's a high posted cape with a lean-to shed on one side. We're still progressing on design for our home. Its a slow process, but we finally feel like we're getting somewhere.

Lastly, the motorcycle is in pieces still. :(

News from the Country Estate August 31

Greetings

Instead of flying, next time I'll just ship myself home in a big box. Now that would be a fun package to open on the porch!



Despite the so-called economic crisis, we've been keeping busy. Here are some pictures from a shed now dubbed the "studio". Note the custom plexi-glass gable windows.


I had the pleasure of trimming out a room for our friends over at Tandem Glass Studio and Gallery.
And the hens are finally laying eggs in earnest. A size comparison from biggest to average size egg.
I went out to find ELEVEN eggs in the coop this morning. I couldn't even hold them all, I had to put three in my pocket.

Well, we've got about 10 days of nice weather ahead, so if you need us, we'll be outside.

w

All loaded up.

Greetings from the Country Estate,

Its been a busy week here, with most of the snow melting, lots of mud, and work, work, work on this and that. I'm trying to figure out how and where to do a garden, knowing that it probably won't yield very much this year. We'll see what happens. Knowledge of how to grow your own food is essential country dweller knowledge, so I better get started.

In other news, I feel great knowing that my ownership of GM vehicle is backed by the most powerful government on the planet. Now I know who to call when it breaks down.

We've made a half-hearted attempt at boiling our own maple syrup this year. Like the gardening, I think next year will be better....

I've been busy trying to get my own economic stimulus package going. Lately, an opportunity to work in a furniture/cabinet shop has opened up, so I've been sanding stool seats and legs a bit this week ( see the stools here or below). Coming up I'll be lending a hand to our glass-blowing friends over at Tandem Studio and Gallery who are in the middle of a gallery remodel at their studio in Dresden, ME. If you're in the market for hand-made glass anything, give them a holler!

Hand-blown tumblers.

These hand-made stools are available directly from craftsman Paul Baines at his website.

The truck all loaded up with brace stock.

Its not that often that I have a good reason to stand on top of the truck, so I take all the chances I can get.

All loaded up.

Three week old chickens, examining the wider world of the laundry room. Occasionally one gets pushed out and lands on the floor looking incredibly bewildered.

More chickens exploring the chicken condo.

I've added a roosting board in the middle since many of them are beginning to roost on various things in the condo. They still all sleep in a pile near the heat lamp though.

That's the news from the Country Estate. Until next time, like Garrison Keillor says, Be well, Do good work, and Keep in touch.

----w----

new chicken house

This is the new chickens' house. They needed a new place to keep them safe from the three Maine 'coon cats. We think they like it, as they've made themselves at home like chickens do. Some of them have already learned how to roost, but they still sleep on their bellies wherever they get tired of walking. They'll probably be too big for it soon though. That's ok because soon we'll get some meat birds in there!