Just an update: Jimmy's Versailles Garden is almost done... and for the most part I have stayed out of it. He hand terraced two 14x5 rows. I did build the foundations for the boxes for him. I'm not much of a carpenter but, the last five years of backyard farming has taught me how to build a box. You would be surprised at how handy knowing enough carpentry to build a box can be. We had five yards of planting soil delivered a couple of days ago and we are ready to fill the boxes this weekend. We will be buying our starts this year but that's OK. What it took us 5 years to build up too in the old place we will have built in 3 months here. And we have the aches and pains to show it. But enough whining. The 7 new chickens are thriving. The three old girls are grudgingly accepting them. One of the ancient reds has made it her sole intention to torment them. Hester has the situation in hand though. Reluctantly as usual. She doesn't want to be a leader but knows that she is the only one with the brains and strength to handle the job. A few days ago I was throwing out feed for all of them right before bedtime. The ancient red was chasing the little ones around and stealing their food. Hester was casually enjoy her bedtime snack and suddenly , without warning, pounced on the ancient red, pecked her once the neck, stared her in the eye for a few seconds and then got off of her and went back to snacking. The ancient red slowly stood up gave what could only be an "i'll get you later" look to the little ones and then quietly followed Hester around snacking. Hester definitely told the ancient red "leave the kids alone... I'm tired of the noise and I want to eat in peace." Poor Hester.... She's so.... Audie Murphy in 'to hell and back'.
Jimmy and I have been looking for furniture for our 'veranda'. What is out there for out door furniture is butt ugly. I don't care that it is all marketed as designer... the crap is hard to look at. The lines are harsh and most of it is (yecchhh ) battleship grey. It may be 'designer' but it has no grace. After a few trips to brick and mortars and a lot of looking online, I decided on a completely different route. I have a couple of metal ,wrought iron looking, chairs that I bought at goodwill 6 years ago (cuz we needed them for when company came over) that I took apart and painted with tractor paint yesterday. I also painted the graffiti tagged table that Feral Jane and I found in a back alley in the U-district (I have been using it in the studio). All were pieces of junk nobody else wanted. I used oil based farm and tractor paint on them. I left them to dry on the veranda and this morning they look amazing. They need one more coat of paint and I will have a bistro set worthy of any sidewalk cafe. The grand total for the lovely patio furniture ? $20 .... for paint and stay-dry vinyl to recover the seats. The color? White. Shiny snow white. ....and so... She is pleased.
Jimmy and I have been looking for furniture for our 'veranda'. What is out there for out door furniture is butt ugly. I don't care that it is all marketed as designer... the crap is hard to look at. The lines are harsh and most of it is (yecchhh ) battleship grey. It may be 'designer' but it has no grace. After a few trips to brick and mortars and a lot of looking online, I decided on a completely different route. I have a couple of metal ,wrought iron looking, chairs that I bought at goodwill 6 years ago (cuz we needed them for when company came over) that I took apart and painted with tractor paint yesterday. I also painted the graffiti tagged table that Feral Jane and I found in a back alley in the U-district (I have been using it in the studio). All were pieces of junk nobody else wanted. I used oil based farm and tractor paint on them. I left them to dry on the veranda and this morning they look amazing. They need one more coat of paint and I will have a bistro set worthy of any sidewalk cafe. The grand total for the lovely patio furniture ? $20 .... for paint and stay-dry vinyl to recover the seats. The color? White. Shiny snow white. ....and so... She is pleased.
