Deep cleaning is usually reserved for the Springtime in most homes. Except in the case of the 2 legged girls dorm next door to our house. The girls I am speaking of have feathers and give us the most wonderful eggs each day as a thank you for giving them room and board. I received them back in March as a gift for my birthday and by May we had them set up in their new residence complete with play yard.
Fall is the perfect time to "clean house" and set up new winter bedding for them. The cooler temperatures make it an easy job perfect for a nice day like today. First we hauled out the old shavings, that was dressed in the new fertilizer destined for our garden. Then we cleaned out the dust they had collected while taking their frequent dirt baths, knocked down some small cobwebs and sprayed down the walls, perch and floors with a weak bleach solution to give it all a good sanitation cleansing. When everything had aired out and dried we shoveled in the fresh shavings Lon had hauled home for them today as their new winter carpet. Upon entering the coop this evening they seemed to stand in amazement, looking around at the new decor, as if they had wandered into the wrong house for the night. But as I closed the door I suspect there was a lot of whispering and giggling going on about having such a cushy place to sleep tonight.
Now if only I could get our home in such quick order for the long winter months ahead. Do you think they would return the favor? Nah! They would only run around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off not knowing what to do first. No bother I am sure I will have time to put things to right before the cold winds lock us in for our long winter's nap. I was able to get 3 loads of clothes washed and line dried today. Despite the fact that the strong winds of the past few days that failed to strip the trees of their leaves, had blown to areas unknown. The guys have finally become accustomed to the idea that I am going to be hanging out our clothes and no longer give me funny looks as I trudge out the door with wet laundry in hand and my bright yellow clothespin apron tied around my middle. I have fond memories of my granny doing the same thing and recalled the unique scent that her clothes and towels had. A scent that can not be bottled no matter how hard the softener people try. Even though I still need to fold a few clothes before I go to bed, placing them on the bed ensures that they will get folded, unless I want to find a new place to sleep tonight. :)
Hauling the rich "aromatic" chicken compost to the outskirts of the garden will enable us to spread in over the area once the garden gets put to bed. Right now we are still gathering produce from our fall garden and anticipate continued harvest up to and possible past the first freeze for our area. Lon and I picked a basket full of mustard greens while down in the garden, which were brought quickly to the house, given a bath and put into the pot for supper. Yum Yum! I also tried a new dish for the first time tonight, a type of winter squash that I had been eyeing for awhile. I did not have a recipe to follow so I simply peeled and cut up the butternut, tossed it with some olive oil, salt and pepper, then placed it in dish to be slow baked in the oven. My, My, My it sure was tasty and Lon and I both enjoyed it's sweet flavor. I can see us eating more of them while they are in season. Hopefully the small vines I have growing in the garden will bless us with a few squashes before cold weather kills them. We planted both acorn and butternut in the garden for the first time this year. So here's keeping our fingers crossed.
For me this has been a full feeling kind of day, even though it doesn't sound like I did much beyond cooking breakfast, spending the day with a two year old, helping some with the remodel of the chicken coop, washing and drying clothes, clipping coupons and cooking dinner. Whew. . . maybe it was more than I realized, especially while fighting this cough and chest congestion that has been hanging on for the past 2 weeks.
The moon was rising round and full looking tonight which was a fitting end to our day as we enjoyed our veggie dinner on the back porch by candle light. A hot bath and bed sounds good to me right now and I think I will make it official as I bid you goodnite.
Fall is the perfect time to "clean house" and set up new winter bedding for them. The cooler temperatures make it an easy job perfect for a nice day like today. First we hauled out the old shavings, that was dressed in the new fertilizer destined for our garden. Then we cleaned out the dust they had collected while taking their frequent dirt baths, knocked down some small cobwebs and sprayed down the walls, perch and floors with a weak bleach solution to give it all a good sanitation cleansing. When everything had aired out and dried we shoveled in the fresh shavings Lon had hauled home for them today as their new winter carpet. Upon entering the coop this evening they seemed to stand in amazement, looking around at the new decor, as if they had wandered into the wrong house for the night. But as I closed the door I suspect there was a lot of whispering and giggling going on about having such a cushy place to sleep tonight.
Now if only I could get our home in such quick order for the long winter months ahead. Do you think they would return the favor? Nah! They would only run around like a bunch of chickens with their heads cut off not knowing what to do first. No bother I am sure I will have time to put things to right before the cold winds lock us in for our long winter's nap. I was able to get 3 loads of clothes washed and line dried today. Despite the fact that the strong winds of the past few days that failed to strip the trees of their leaves, had blown to areas unknown. The guys have finally become accustomed to the idea that I am going to be hanging out our clothes and no longer give me funny looks as I trudge out the door with wet laundry in hand and my bright yellow clothespin apron tied around my middle. I have fond memories of my granny doing the same thing and recalled the unique scent that her clothes and towels had. A scent that can not be bottled no matter how hard the softener people try. Even though I still need to fold a few clothes before I go to bed, placing them on the bed ensures that they will get folded, unless I want to find a new place to sleep tonight. :)
Hauling the rich "aromatic" chicken compost to the outskirts of the garden will enable us to spread in over the area once the garden gets put to bed. Right now we are still gathering produce from our fall garden and anticipate continued harvest up to and possible past the first freeze for our area. Lon and I picked a basket full of mustard greens while down in the garden, which were brought quickly to the house, given a bath and put into the pot for supper. Yum Yum! I also tried a new dish for the first time tonight, a type of winter squash that I had been eyeing for awhile. I did not have a recipe to follow so I simply peeled and cut up the butternut, tossed it with some olive oil, salt and pepper, then placed it in dish to be slow baked in the oven. My, My, My it sure was tasty and Lon and I both enjoyed it's sweet flavor. I can see us eating more of them while they are in season. Hopefully the small vines I have growing in the garden will bless us with a few squashes before cold weather kills them. We planted both acorn and butternut in the garden for the first time this year. So here's keeping our fingers crossed.
For me this has been a full feeling kind of day, even though it doesn't sound like I did much beyond cooking breakfast, spending the day with a two year old, helping some with the remodel of the chicken coop, washing and drying clothes, clipping coupons and cooking dinner. Whew. . . maybe it was more than I realized, especially while fighting this cough and chest congestion that has been hanging on for the past 2 weeks.
The moon was rising round and full looking tonight which was a fitting end to our day as we enjoyed our veggie dinner on the back porch by candle light. A hot bath and bed sounds good to me right now and I think I will make it official as I bid you goodnite.
Deborah
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