And then there were two...

Every poultry keeper I've talked to has a fowl loss story. Now we do, too. Peckadilly was killed last night by some loose dogs who damaged the coop and got into the nest box. We were so upset and sad to find the destruction and carnage in the morning. It just reinforces how animal instinct desperately needs a change, just like human nature.

Thankfully, Attila and Atomic are fine. Unintelligent little birds that they are, they don't seem stressed or traumatized in the least. Now that we're down to two, I face learning how to introduce new birds or chicks to the tiny flock come spring.

Tucson Time

What a refreshing time we had in Tucson! Funny, since our annual religious convention couldn't have been held in a drier place. But we thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to visit the Southwest.

We rented a convertible and drove with the top down nearly all the time (in blazing 97 degree weather all the way down to cool 72 degree evenings ):

In our spare time, we toured Old Tucson, the movie set where hundreds of Westerns have been filmed:

We ventured into some national parks and took in the flora and fauna:

I got to experience "zero gravity" (not really, but it was the name of this a fun trampoline/bungee jumping combo):

We enjoyed one particularly memorable steak meal (I had the pecan crusted sirloin, Jeff the prime rib):

We took a side trip to IKEA in Phoenix while we were up that way. It wasn't planned, but when we saw the mammoth Swedish store, we couldn't resist. It's only in major cities, so I go whenever I can!

Our flights to and fro were thankfully uneventful, which is about the best that can be hoped for in economy class seating. We've returned home invigorated and excited to take on the challenges ahead!

Five Dollar Mistakes

Sometimes I feel like I'm penny wise and pound foolish, as the old saying goes. But in the case of house painting, I'm pretty sure that's not the case.

I absolutely love the little paint samples that all the stores sell now. It started with Benjamin Moore a few years ago, and now everyone offers it. For anywhere from $3-$8 you can buy paint samples ranging from 4 oz to 1 quart (and price does not necessary correspond to size)! They will tint them to any stock color, and most will color match competitors brands and do custom colors.

What a great way to test colors! The little chips in the store lighting are never what they seem once you get the gallon home. Somehow beige begins to morph pink, taupe turns purple, gray goes green, yellow yells "schoolbus!", etc., etc., etc.

So, I have been testing exterior colors. Which is a vastly different experience from testing interior colors! Who knew that sun could do such things to shades and tints and hues? Our farmhouse is mostly seen from the west and the south, which means lots of direct, bright light. Light trim colors all look white; medium tones get washed out; deeper colors look like garish Easter eggs. I have a towering stack of tester quarts out in the shop and have been to Sherwin Williams three days straight to pick up various body, trim, and accent attempts.

Oh, well. Better to have a few $5 mistakes hiding in the garage than a $2500 mistake on the sides of the house for the whole world to see!

Three body colors and four trim trials later, we're hopefully narrowing
in on a winner! (You can't see the accents I've been playing around
with down on the first floor; I've run out of room on the dormer!)

Thrift Store Scores!

A month or so ago, I found this great water cooler at one of my favorite thrift stores. Since we only have a mini fridge in the kitchen at the moment, Jeff had not had ice cubes or cold water to drink (he's very fond of an icy cold beverage) since we moved in. This bubbler provides crisp, filtered water, with the added bonus of a hot tap, too! I'm thrilled with that aspect, because I can make hot beverages or reconstitute bouillon in just seconds. Now that it's gotten chillier, I've used it quite a bit.

Then, yesterday, I thought I would pop by the same thrift store since I needed to drop off a donation anyway. I've been keeping an eye out for a dining table, since we sold our Queen Anne set when we moved from the other house. It just seemed too formal and delicate to evoke the warm, lived-in feel I want in the farmhouse. The old dining set:


Jeff bought me six cognac leather parsons chairs for our 10th anniversary, and I've been hunting for a big table ever since. Would today be the day? Why, yes, it is! I found and bought this fabulous trestle table for $100! Here it is:


And the leather chairs Jeff found a few months ago:

This table is huge; 92" long including the two leaves. The best part is the gear mechanism slides that allow me to extend and contract the table all by myself (the base remains in the place and only the top moves). Now, I can extend it to full length to work on sewing projects or set the table for company without help.

This trestle style is very hot right now, and I've seen smaller ones selling for $2500!
I'm amazed no other shoppers spotted the potential and snapped it up (though it was surrounded by some pretty horrid looking chairs and they were asking twice as much for the set). The table is waiting in the shop for a refinishing job (I'm thinking a soft satin black on the base and apron to match the chair legs and a waxed natural or lightly stained top). The only down side is the trestle bar at the bottom; DaVinci loves to sleep under the table, and I'm afraid he may have to give up a favorite napping spot. But on the upside, my rug will be less hairy!