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Backyard Chickens

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We took a big step this week toward growing our farm.  We got chickens!

Backyard chickens, eggs, hens

Welcome Home Chicks

We welcomed our new backyard chickens home on May 11, 2018.  I took the chicks into the kids daycare when I picked them up after school.  All the children loved seeing the cute little critters.  After meeting the kids, they came home and met Mister Muddy.  He was very curious about them and kept sticking his head over the side of the box and sniffing them.  The kids loved holding them and fussed over each one.

I'm hoping that introducing Muddy early and letting him greet them (under supervision of course) will keep him from chasing them like he does with squirrels once they are big enough to roam the yard.

Muddy backyard chickens eggs hens

The Friends

Their arrived happened to coincide with a kids party.  So, they got plenty of attention from the group of kids and they started coming up with names and trying to find the unique identifiers of each chicken.  The names have changed several times already.  I'm sure it will take a little time until they settle on the chicks names.  Each of the kids seemed to find a favorite and enjoyed holding them.

Kids backyard chickens chicks eggs hens party

The Types of Chickens

I ordered 2 White Plymouth Rock, 2 Barred Plymouth Rock, 2 Golden Comet, and 2 Easter Eggers.  When they arrived, there were 2 additional chicks.  One extra Barred Plymouth Rock and another one that is brown and black.  We are not sure what that one is yet.  She became Elliot's favorite.

I selected these types of chickens for their egg laying abilities.  They should each lay a large egg almost every day for several years.  They were all listed as friendly and docile so they should get along with each other without many issues.  They should also handle our winters well.  I quickly found that there many things to consider when choosing between chicken breeds.  I am interested in learning first-hand about each of these types.

The Coop

We are still working on the chicken coop.  I figure I have a few weeks to wrap it up before the chicks are ready to be outside.  They need to stay in the garage with a heat lamp until they get their feathers.  Although, it would be cool if they stayed little cute and fluffy for longer.

I found a used chicken coop on craigslist and began building the run out of old pallet wood.  The kids chipped in and helped with the painting.  I'll share more photos once it is complete.

chicken coop, backyard chickens, painting, hens Painting the chicken coop

I look forward to raising backyard chickens and the many lessons they will provide.  We should also have plenty of eggs to share.  I also look forward to their help creating compost, eating bugs, and aerating the gardens.  I'm excited about the progress of our Modest Farm.  There are many more great things to come...stay tuned.

Backyard chickens, chicks, farm

Welcome Home to our new Backyard Chickens

Backyard Chickens Hens Eggs

Animals of the Pacific Northwest Article

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Mister Molson appeared in another article last week.  He was mentioned in a new article about bucket list ideas for dogs.

“Make art! Molson was a golden retriever who was diagnosed with cancer last year and so, his owners decided to come up with their own bucket list. One of the items was to make some art and it looks like he had a wonderful time doing so! Regardless of how the final product comes out, making art with your pup can be fun! Just make sure to use non-toxic and dog friendly supplies (as many dog will lick and then ingest things). “

https://animalsofpnw.com/2018/04/26/a-bucket-list-for-dogs/

Dog Bucket List Make Art

It’s really amazing that his life continues to be remembered and he keeps getting exposed to new people.  I never could have imagined the level of publicity our adventures received.

To Andrea Merrill of the Animals of the Pacific Northwest blog,

Thanks for including Molson on your list! We made so many great memories in his last few months because of doing a bucket list. Losing him was extremely difficult, but I feel that we gave him the best times we could. The bucket list helped us focus on what he could do and not what he no longer could. We miss him like crazy and always will. But, knowing that his story continues to be shared is inspiring. I would highly recommend to anyone with a terminal diagnosis for you pet to do a bucket list. But, you don’t have to wait until then. This article has several great ideas to get people started. And, the video is very touching. Great work Andrea!

 

Mister Molson Goes Down in History

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It's official!  Mister Molson goes down in history.

President Molson

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 229 gave Molson the position of Honorary President on May 18, 2017.  He served 6 years as Assistant Training Director before receiving the honor.

IBEW Local 229 celebrated it's 100 year anniversary on March 30, 2018.  The local union had a history book put together to remember some of the highlights and struggles since being chartered.  And guess who made the book.

Mister Molson makes it into the IBEW Local 229 Commemorative History Book

He made it onto page 1 and again later in the book.  So, IBEW Local 229 and the local electricians are sure to remember Mister Molson as an official part of their history.

Mister Molson in the IBEW 229 100 year Anniversary Book

Molson also made appearances in the slideshow on the jumbo screens during the banquet.  Countless people admitted to following his adventures and said they miss seeing him at the hall.  I miss him too.  Molson was an awesome dog and I appreciate him being honored in this way.  Thank you to my brothers and sisters of the IBEW who welcomed him into our ranks and took the time to stop and say hi to him when you came to our union hall.  This is such a cool way to remember him.

IBEW 229 100th Anniversary History Book

Mister Molson made it into the IBEW Local 229 Commemorative History Book

IBEW Local 229 100th anniversary Logo

Walnut Syrup

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I got a call from Monster Dave the other day asking if I wanted to try making walnut syrup.  I didn't know that was possible but, we did have a handful of walnut trees.  So, we gave it a shot.  He came over and started setting up taps.

Collecting the Sap

Drilling a walnut tree to make a tap

He got a little help from little hands.  He knocked a little bark off of the tree to make a flat spot for the sap to sit.  Then, he drilled a 1/4" hole 1-1/2" deep at a slightly upward angle.  The sap started flowing immediately.

The tap was attached to a hose draining into a 5 gallon bucket.  Some systems hang the bucket right off the tap.  But this system allowed the buckets to be checked less often and collect more sap without having to dump them.

Tapping a walnut tree for syrup

Boiling the Sap

The sap was then boiled down in a large pot outside.  We weren't sure if the boiling sap would create a sticky mess on the walls and ceiling if we did it inside.  Dave's beer brewing accessories worked out perfect.

Making Walnut Syrup Making Walnut Syrup

Once the sap was cooked down enough, it was transferred to a smaller sauce pan.  This allowed for better control of the temperature and helped to prevent burning the syrup.  No ingredients were added.  It is just sap with the water cooked off.

Making Walnut Syrup

Walnut Syrup

It turns out we got started a little late even though we did have a few snows after tapping the trees.  Next year we will start in mid-January.  In total, we collected around 10 gallons of sap.  This made about 2 pints of syrup.

Walnut Syrup

The syrup was delicious.  It had a smokey and nutty flavor.  I think it tastes better than maple syrup.  But, I may be biased because we made it.  However, we don't have nearly enough to replace the store bought syrup yet.  It's probably only enough for a few pancakes.  It turns out that walnut sap has around the same sugar content as maple sap.  However, walnut trees put out a fraction of the amount of sap that maple trees do.  So, it is much more rare and you would need many more trees to produce the equivalent to maple trees.

This was a fun activity and I look forward to doing it again next year.  We will probably put out more taps and start collecting much earlier.  Maybe we will be able to get enough to share next year.  If you have maple trees or walnut trees, you might consider giving this a shot.  It's easy, educational, and fun.

 

You can make syrup from Walnut Trees

Walnut Syrup

Switching to a hammock

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Want to get a better night of sleep? Try switching to a hammock.

I used to toss and turn all night and wake up with a sore lower back. I had difficulty falling and staying asleep.  I would wake up still tired.  My bed was at least 15 years old and needed to be replaced.

The idea of shopping for a new mattress was overwhelming.  There are so many options…memory foam, sleep number, coil spring, gel top, and many other characteristics all promised the best night sleep ever.  The price tags were even more discouraging.  The options started around $900 and climbed quickly.  Laying on a bed in a store for a few minutes was not enough time to make that big of a commitment.

After more online research, I came across people who sleep in hammocks every night.  The most promising thing is that the risk of trying it is very low.  I found many hammock options under $100.

So, I decided to give it a try.  And, I’m glad I did!

Benefits of switching to a hammock

Here are some of the benefits I found:

    1.  I fell asleep quicker.
    2. I slept more soundly.  I didn’t toss and turn.  I woke up in the same position I was in when I fell asleep.
    3. The cost.  (Way cheaper than a mattress!)
    4. The ability to quickly and easily move it out of the way and have the whole room.  The hammock can be tucked into its bag giving you room to jump, play, workout, or whatever.  Hammock bed packed away. Hammock packed up and out of the way

5.  The hammock is better to sit in and read than a bed.

A hammock makes a great place to read your favorite bookSwitch to a hammock

6.  You get close with the one’s you love.  This one could be good or bad.  Sleeping with the dog is great.  But, I’m not sure how it would be sleeping with a partner in a hammock.  You would probably be rolled up on top of each other and fighting for space.  So, hammock sleeping is probably better done alone.

Dog in the hammock. Better sleeping.

7.  No more making the bed.

8.  No need for washing and folding (or trying to fold) those fitted sheets.

9.  You feel like a kid again.  It’s just fun.

Consider these things when making the switch to a hammock

I’ve been sleeping in a hammock now for several months.  The kids tried mine out and now sleep in hammocks as well.  We all love them and recommend that everyone give it a try before you go out and drop tons of money on a new mattress.  If you are considering giving it a try, consider the following:

  1. Make sure you get one without the spreader bars.  They are great for naps, but not the best for every night sleeping.
  2. On cold nights, you will need something above and below you since the fabric of the hammock is not enough to keep your bum warm.  We all sleep in sleeping bags in the winter.  On warmer nights, a blanket is sufficient.
  3. It is best to sleep at a small diagonal.  The more of an angle you sleep in, the flatter your arch.

Hammock sleeping is best done at a small diagonal.

4.  Follow the recommendations with the hammock on spacing your hooks closely.  If they are too close, you will have too much sag.  If they are too far apart, the sides will be too tight and the hammock will close up on you when you get in and you will feel like a caterpillar in a cocoon.

Check out these hammocks and give one a try.  Be warned, you might not ever want to go back to a traditional flat mattress.

Painting to Fight Canine Cancer

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On March 10, 2018, we held a "Paint Your Pet" event to raise money for the National Canine Cancer Foundation in Mister Molson's name.  The goal:  $5000.  The incentive: The Beard.  I promised the kids that I'd shave if we reached our goal.  So, they have been very excited about this mission.  

Through direct donations and two t-shirt fundraisers, we had raised $1565.  We were doing pretty well but losing steam.  So, I asked friends for ideas on how to keep our momentum.  

Michele the painter responded right away.  She helped out with Molson's bucket list by painting his portrait last year.  She has also lost dogs to cancer so our story resonated with her.  She also does amazing work for other charities like Pitties.Love.Peace. , The Last Dog Rescue, Bella's Bully Buddies, and many more.  She offered to hold a "Paint your Pet" event for Mister Molson's cause.  She donated all of her time and talent and helped recruit people.    

She originally found out about Mister Molson through the Fox43 news story by Ali Bradley.  Michele saw the story and immediately wanted to help.  Thanks to Ali, Mister Molson's story spread around the world.  So, it was extra special that she showed up to support this cause.  She is also a dog lover with two of her own.  

Around 20 people attended and completed 11 pet paintings.  Thanks to everyone who came out, we raised another $500 towards fighting canine cancer!  

Some awesome art was created for both living and passed pets.  Molson's buddy Mister Otis, who also lost his battle with cancer, was also painted.  This was a really fun way to raise money and honor our pets.  We hope to hold more of these as we work toward our $5,000 goal.  With the painting fundraiser, we are now at $2,065.  We hope you join us in our efforts and help us fight canine cancer.    

Painting to benefit canine cancer research and treatment
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