Hi everyone,
I hope you had a nice weekend. Mine was better than my hubby’s. He worked ALL DAY in the yard cutting up the tree branches that had fallen and a neighbor came over with his tractor and helped haul away the branches. He has a set of pallet lifts he can add to the front of his tractor so he set them about 6 inches off the ground and was able to “scoop” them up a bit and push the great big mound of them across the yard without them gouging the yard all up. It was much quicker than loading up the big limbs and branches onto a low trailer and hauling them off. Our neighbor let us haul them onto an open area on his property and when they dry out just a bit, they will be burned. They also cut down the remaining part of the River Birch tree, then my hubby sawed up the pieces behind the chicken coop. When he woke up this morning, he said he felt like he was 100 years old! He was one tired puppy! :o(
Here are a few pictures I took as they worked. I had a video of Mike pushing the big pile across the yard with his tractor but can’t find it now…
I went out later when I heard my hubby using his chainsaw behind the chicken coop… and stopped and took a picture of some of the “girls.” We have 16 and they are the best layers. They are cold weather layers and if you keep a heat lamp on them during the very coldest temps, it won’t affect their laying. We are getting between 12 – 15 eggs each day.
When it was so cold and icy a few weeks ago, we didn’t make it to church to church and them when I had my leg surgery, we didn’t go that Sunday either, so we had accumulated quite a few. I took a picture of them in the frig…
Okay now to the big mystery project… I am still chuckling over the “ramp” so I could get in the house after my leg surgery. No it’s not a ramp…
I had been searching Facebook Marketplace for several months and could not find what I was wanting, or when I did, it was too expensive or too far away.
See if this helps you any…
I’ll show you the beginnings of making it. There was LOTS of sanding!
My hubby believes in “screwing” things made of wood, together, so if there needs to be any adjustments, it’s easier to take apart.
He has 2 Impact Drivers so he used one to drill out a small hole to keep the wood from splitting and the other for putting the screws in. (It’s pine!)
Okay, I bet this picture will give the “mystery” away…
Yep, it’s a bookshelf. I wanted something to put in the back corner of my sewing room that would take up that WHOLE area and go all the way to the ceiling. I had the big white cubby hole box (from an old cabinet) screwed to the wall kind of up high and used it to store my doll props in. I also had a wood cabinet with doors that my hubby made me YEARS ago… I was using it to hold all my leather supplies in, but it was hard to get into because the doors were hard to open up on the left side as the white dresser was in the way.
I bought 14′ boards and the bookshelf sides are each 7′ tall. I got the longest boards to try and minimize the waste. The bookshelf is 84″ tall which is 1/2″ less than the height of the ceiling back there. The ceiling is sloped down so it looks like I could have made it even taller, but it couldn’t be any higher.
The bookshelf was built back in our sitting room because it was too cold in the garage and too cold outside. We cleared out the room to make room for his sawhorses and just sat the wood on top so we didn’t have to bend over.
We did a LOT of measuring to make things were right… Measure Twice, Cut Once… that’s our motto. We first made it like a big box… (it was big enough to be a coffin…and both of us would have fit in it.)
We got most of this built a day or two before my leg surgery. I was hoping afterwards I could paint it… if I could stand to be on my leg. A couple of days afterwards I started priming and let me tell, you there is a LOT of surface area on this baby.
Over the course of a few days, I managed to get 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of paint on it.
It’s Big, it’s heavy and it’s going to be wonderful… Tomorrow I’ll show you where it’s going!
See you then,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow, Jeanne, that is a lot of eggs! Out here the “regular” eggs are going for about $8 per dozen due (they say) to the bird flu; however, the “expensive” ones (organic or Eggland’s Best) were only $4/dozen, so I got the EB ones this last time. I do eat eggs from time to time (like the hard-cooked and cold for lunches, and sometimes poached (3.5 minutes, so fairly solid white and a “juicy” yolk).
I wondered if it might not be a bookshelf of some kind. It will be nice to have that much storage, and no door to try to get open with other furniture in the way! Can’t wait to see it in place!! I hope you’ll post before and after pictures.
My twinsie challenge is put together now; I still have some topstitching and hems to do. It hasn’t been as difficult to sew on as I thought, but it is Heavy!! Tonya and I have already decided that future twinsie projects will be natural fibers! (This is, I’m sure, mostly polyester.)
During Lockdown our eggs went up a bit in price but just after, new laws came in that all eggs had to be from cage free hens. The egg farmers had had about two years to get themselves organised but thought they could change the govt’s mind! When the new law started it was extremely difficult to even find eggs on the shelf and what was there was rationed to one pack per customer. Frustrating if they only had 1/2 dozens on the shelf. And very expensive (by our standards anyway) about $13NZ per dozen, I think that is about $6.50US. They have got their act together now and large eggs are usually under $10NZ and way kinder to the chooks!
(Good job I proofread that before I posted it, I had hit an extra number and was saying our eggs are under $120 per dozen lol)
Wow, Anne! Your eggs are crazy expensive!!! I can hardly believe that!!
Maybe they’ll go down soon…
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi Charlotte,
Our egg prices at Walmart are $4.53/dozen right now. I haven’t heard any mention of bird flu around here. Hope it stays away!!
I am loving all the shelf space but it’s filling up too quickly!! My hubby said even if I had another room, it would be full too. Time for a little downsizing I think!!
Yes, please do show us a picture or two of you and Tonya being “twins!”
Thanks Charlotte
Blessings, Jeanne
I always did think it would be a piece of furniture for your sewing room, Jeanne! Knowing you, a ramp just wouldn’t be it! Wow, George sure had his work cut out fo him to be out all day in the cold!
It was good to see that the chickens were still warm and laying eggs for you! You ought to put eggs on your Ebay site! Just kidding, but what do you do with all those eggs? Surely you can’t eat them all!
I was glad to see that George did the sanding outside, in the snow and cold, plus no gloves,no less! Just think of all the dust you would have had in your house if he did it inside! Michael has his workshop in the basement, and has one of those vacuums that work while you are sawing or sanding , so it doesn’t get into the house vents. Since the basement is heated he can do whtever down there but then you do have to take it upstairs if you are building anything. That would take some work with a bookcase the size of yours! All in all, it will be a wonderful addition to your sewing room!
Hi Linda,
We wash the eggs and take them to people at church when we have extras.. We had 6 cartons of 18 this time. We always take 2 dozen for Jean and Bithar’s family too. We have a few people who like to buy them from us and that helps pay for their feed. We have 16 hens and they are doing a wonderful job of laying. My hubby babies them and takes very good care of them.
Thanks for liking my bookshelf so far! It’s big but it’s filling up too fast!!! My hubby was a real sweetheart to do this for me. I helped cutting the boards and doing the measuring of the shelves, but he knew the steps to make it last a lifetime!!
My hubby would be thrilled to have a workshop in the basement… and the vacuum system must be a dream for your hubby!
I did some sanding inside between painting so we did get some dust, but at least our fingers didn’t freeze!
I need to get some more drawers cleared out… and figure out what else gets a spot on the shelf!
Thanks Linda
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m glad it’s not a ramp! That’s some bookcase! I can’t believe George could do all that and be having a procedure next week. Yikes! I’ll bet he was sore. Now for a fancy little staircase like you see in museums to be able to reach the top shelves. Best take it easy for a while though.
I bought a dozen eggs at Trader Joe’s for $3.49 on Saturday, the regular ones. It was the last dozen but all of the specialty eggs like brown and free range, etc., were fully stocked. They are always more expensive but I didn’t check the prices. Are you able to sell eggs or donate them with the bird flu going around? Maybe it’s an East Coast thing so far?
Hi Susette,
He has been working outside most of today, picking up sticks and new branches that have fallen, hauling those long branches he had stacked up by the shed, and he was trying to fix the Bradford pear tree that lost a big limbs. He will probably tar the fresh cut spot on the trunk to keep the insects out.
He will be tired and sore when he comes in… he’s still sore from working with Mike Saturday.
Oh, I am taking it easy still. I have a step stool in my sewing room, but so far my feet have stayed on the ground.. and I’m wearing a compression hose on that leg.
We have no bird flu here, so yes, we are giving some eggs away and a few people buy them from us!
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m now thinking about your eggs, and since you mentioned not being able to go to church for a couple of weekends, that maybe you either sell or give them to people at church? My mother always bought eggs from a neighbor when we lived in the country, never at the store, and she should give back the empty cartons to her when buying more. They were just regular eggs, some of them white and some brown, all costing the same, like 15 cents a dozen! Of course, she would then have a conversation with her, about family or local things, so buying eggs was kind of a social thing!
Hi again Linda,
We have people bring us egg cartons to church all the time!
Glad George was able to do all that clean up but am concerned for him. I know you can’t slow him down. Just praying. Next concern is moving that book case. Hope Kristoffer will come help. Looks like it will be a challenge but a wonderful asset to your sewing room. Also glad the girls are laying so well. Eggs at Walmart here are close to $5.00 a dozen. Love and miss you both.
Hi Gloria,
There is no stopping George! He’s just like Larry was… if something needed done… it got done!
I helped him steer the appliance cart with the bookshelf turned on its side. Getting it to stand upright once we got it inside the door was a challenge because the ceiling is slanted. We tipped it (very slowly and carefully) where the ceiling was the highest in my room. I think we cleared the ceiling with about a half an inch of space. My ceiling is tiled with some older tiles that have a bit of sparkle to them so I didn’t want any nicks in it… we got it set down and then slid it in place over in the corner.
Whew!
Thanks Gloria,
Love you, Jeanne
I see a lot of cakes cookies quiches, scrambled, fried, poached, …eggs
I love eggs
I love the new shelves. I am so happy your hubbs did all of that and the yard clean up.
That is a lot of work indeed
Funny how we are at an age where 100 feels like something we may experience. My daddy lived to 100. Anyway, I couple of hot showers, good sleeps, and a few restful days should fix him up.
I hope this week-end was a good one for recovery and that you are feeling good.
Excellent painting, Jeanne. yes, painting is a lot of work, I bet that was tedious
but the result is perfect
Facebook market place.
I sold a 9 panel mirror, some modern heavy mirror that was in our house when we bought it, on FBMP. What a zoo with all of the messages. A lot of work really, but I sold it for super cheap and a cute couple from Alexandria (20 miles away) came and got it.
I have a list of other things to sell, but ugh, sitting by the computer checking for piles of messages was a headache. Maybe I will just donate everything.
Your chickens are beautiful and they look so happy
Hi Rosemary,
I DID make a quiche the other day, but it only used 8 eggs. It wasn’t a drop in the bucket… I’m making some oat bran muffins tonight… only 1 egg and one egg white, so not many again. Reuben gets 2 small ones just about every day.
He came in very tired this evening. He worked hard and I rewarded him with a big sheet pan full of cooked veggies and some chicken cooked and mixed in. Now the Oat Bran muffins will be our dessert.
I am looking at things in my sewing room and feel the same way as you… do I try and sell them or just donate them and get them out of here… hmmm…
I think our hens are pretty too! :o)
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Wow, so much going on at Jeanne’s place. On the bright side, that stump looks like it would be a perfect place to put a large plant saucer to make a bird watering bowl or feeder. 🙂 Nice that the neighbor has a place to put the downed branches, but chipping and composting would be my choice. You know, the environment.
And I’m so glad to see the chicks. That’s great that they can still lay in the cold weather. So, I was wondering what you did with the eggs? You take them to your church? Hope you sell some eggs to make something to pay for the chicken feed. Is there any worry about bird flu in your area? Sure hope the flock doesn’t get it. That would be devastating. Our neighbor has two, and we hope nothing happens to them.
How fun to see the mystery photos. Originally, I thought the wood purchased looked like a bookcase, but seeing the photos from the top, I changed my mind. First, a table? Loved that pic of George sanding in the snow. And then, definitely a sandbox for future grands? Finally, voila, a bookshelf unit. It looks great! I can certainly believe that it is heavy. We have a unit that my dad built for us to specifications years ago. It fills a whole wall in the family room. He made it in two pieces with the bottom section a cabinet with doors and shelves inside and then the top with adjustable shelves and frame that reaches the ceiling. The bottom was very heavy, but we managed to roll it on flat furniture dollies through the house onto the deck and then back inside for a straight shot to the family room. The top part came in the same way, but without the shelves so it wasn’t extremely heavy. We installed it on top of the cabinet, but not until I had painted the bottom cabinet, the unit above, and twelve shelves white, just like Jeanne. We have really enjoyed that unit over the years, and I’m sure this custom shelf unit will be so nice to have in Jeanne’s sewing room. That back corner will definitely become more useful. Good job Jeanne and George.
Here, we did not get any rain. Bummer. And last night and for the next two nights, we have frost warnings, so I’ll be continuing to cover my tender plants. Sun is out, so that will hopefully warm things up a bit. 🙂
Just had a minute to look it up, but it looks like there is bird flu in Illinois. Sure hope it doesn’t effect your beautiful birds. https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/health/bird-flu-illinois-latest-cases-and-what-you-should-know-as-virus-spreads/3654243/
Hi Joy,
We don’t have a chipper and Mike’s got a great big open field so that’s where it all got hauled to.
That Birch tree wasn’t my hubby’s favorite. It was always dropping twigs and branches. He was constantly picking them up. I’m not sure what we’ll do with the stump… but I like your ideas.
Yes, we take eggs to church and give them to people. We gave 6 cartons of eighteen eggs away. Some people do buy eggs from us… it helps with the feed. In fact, as I was trying this, I got a text from one of our paying customers wanting 2 dozen this week.
I haven’t heard anything about Bird Flu in Southern Illinois. Hope it stays that way.
The bookshelf is really nice, but I’m finding it hard to decide what goes on it and what stays in drawers… I love being able to see everything at a glance.
Your big wall unit sounds wonderful. I LOVE real wood furniture.
Hope you get some rain.
Blessings, Jeanne
What a great bookcase. I would love to have one like that but I wouldn’t know where to put it. There is no extra wall space in my sewing room. I use floor dollies to stack boxes of fabric, etc., on so I can put them in front of cabinets but still move them easily when I need to get into the cabinets. I will never entertain the idea that I might have too much stuff.
My hubby has a cute mug that says “Measure Twice, Cut Once”. He was once on a job where a man with little to no construction experience was having trouble with some measurement. The guys told him he would need a two by four stretcher to get the measurement correct. He went in search of such a tool while the guys were rolling on the floor laughing. They, of course, did fess up otherwise he would have spent the day looking for something that didn’t exist and they needed to keep training him.
Jason and Stephanie’s wedding on Saturday was lovely. The reception was in our church parish hall and they had things decorated so nicely. The service included Communion, which we weren’t sure they were going to do for everyone, but they did. I was over the moon that my 14-year-old grandson, who was also the junior groomsman, was my escort to my seat. I thanked Jason for waiting so long to get married (he’ll be 50 in April) so Skyy could do that. Since he didn’t think he would ever find “miss right” he said he was glad to not have to wait till Skyy got any older.
Looks like it will be raining most of the week here so not much will get done outside, which is driving David crazy because they still have a lot of clearing to do before they can start to build the houses.
Sounds like the wedding was wonderful. So happy for you that your grand could participate.
Sorry about the rain in your area. With the sun out today and warmer weather, other person here is back to working on the upper deck. Yay, finally. Sure hope your rain stops so your “team” can get back to clearing.
Hi Barbara,
I know what you mean about never having enough stuff, but I have been doing a little soul searching and actually admitted to someone that I think I may have been addicted to buying things for my business. I’ve decided to slow down and take a step back. I don’t actually know what I’ll do about it, but I’m thinking!
That “Measure Twice, Cut Once” has been our motto since we bought this 1892 fixer upper. I am POSITIVE there have been times we’ve measured something, wrote it down, then measured it again and it was completely different. We always blamed it on the house being crooked and might have shifted slightly. Who knows, but we always measure twice… usually him first, then me.
I’m glad the wedding was wonderful and so glad you love Jason’s choice for a wife!
If you’re getting rain, we’ll probably be getting it in a few days too!
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
I figured it was someplace to store dolls, so I was close in my guess. Seven feet tall will give lots of room. Our family room can accommodate a bookcase just shy of 7and 1/2 feet.
That’s good that your hens are cold weather hardy. I’m guessing you give away some of those eggs. You can freeze them. I’ve done that many times and it’s works great. We always buy organic, pasture-raised, brown eggs and back after my grandmother moved from her family’s farm and had the egg man coming instead she always bought the brown ones. They cost less because people didn’t want them, not knowing it was just a different breed of chicken. Brown eggs were still the cheaper ones when I was a child. so that’s what we bought. I think it would be funny to see white eggs in the fridge after all these decades.
HI Laura,
If my bookshelf could have gone on the wall to the left when you walk in the door, the bookshelf could have been 8 1/2′ tall. The ceiling slopes that much to the right. But I like it where it is… it would probably look too cluttered if it was out in the open where it was seen.
I know eggs can be frozen, but ours never last that long… they are always spoken for or being used by us.
I do like having fresh eggs on hand. Sounds like you did too!
Thanks Laura,
Blessings, Jeanne
I am sure you will find a use for more storage Jeanne. Years ago I read a book about housework (not my favourite pastime) and the author said, “housework expands to fill the time available plus half-an-hour”! I use that same quote but amended for storage. No matter how much storage you have you always need one cupboard/shelf more lol.
Bird flu is becoming an issue here. Every time it shows up all the chooks on the farm have to be euthanised. It is scary for our wild bird population because we have so many endangered species. It hasn’t affected the price of eggs yet, though.
I’m so sorry to hear that the Bird Flu has reached your lovely country. They are getting worried here that those few humans that have contracted it will increase. We don’t eat many eggs any more. You know, the cholesterol problem, but it is nice to have an egg sandwich once in awhile. 🙂
What is it now four months until your big trip? May?
HI Anne,
Of course I’ll find room for all those shelves… in fact, I’m wishing I could have made it longer, but I guess I’ll accept what I have. I LOVE being able to see everything on the shelves and not have to pull something out to get to what I need. That’s what I’ve been doing for a while now, and I finally decided a bookshelf was my answer.
No bird flu here so far… and hope it doesn’t ever come.
Thanks Anne,
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, wow, that is a ton of eggs. The hens have definitely been productive (smile).
I hope your leg is better. I am glad you are getting a custom made shelving unit. One cannot have too much storage.
Can this really be the last week in January?
HI Dorothy,
The hens have really “gotten the hang” of laying those eggs… My hubby takes an egg carton out with him in the morning and in the afternoon and so far they have been filling it up. His hens are like pets to him. He is so kind to them…
My leg feels better today. It is still swollen and I can feel it pull on the inside every once in a while. I guess it’s the vein shriveling up… the old vein will find a new vein to join to or form a completely new path down my leg.
Yes, January is almost over… then we have February, March, April and then your FAVORITE MONTH… May! I bet you are counting the days!
Thanks Dorothy,
Blessings, Jeanne