Life without Chickens

 

I have to admit, although I miss watching them in the yard, my plants haven’t been happier and the garage hasn’t smelled better! We took a rainy Saturday and worked in the garage, cleaning and organizing everything. We got some peg board for two walls, brought in all the tools and rearranged the garage cats’ space. Most tools are hung up or in a drawer and the cats have easy access to their food with steps and two window perches! We put their lounging areas close to the heat source so they stay warmer in the winter and the litter box is located further away from their food and lounging areas. This has seemed to make them happy for the most part. Duste was and still is so excited about her peg board system, she also have shelves and cabinets to keep everything. It is so nice to have a functioning garage space!

 We have been working hard to light up our yard without the help of electricity. We have solar light around the boarders and in flower beds, solar lights on the fence and soon to be on the buildings, we have hanging solar lanterns, solar spot lights and string solar lights. All this and we still have a few dark spots left!

 We have the solar cover on the pool and we are ready for it to warm up! It took a few weeks to get it out of the swamp look but it is now clear and clean. Of course once it warms up I will need to get in it to really sweep it well and that usually takes a few days to get it sparkling clean. Miss Ivy Rose has already been in several times to take a lap or two; she doesn’t mind the swamp look or the cold water! We wanted a water dog and boy did we get one!

 Ivy Rose is nearing the end of her second round of obedience class. She is doing well, although her high energy gets her in trouble some times. We are working with her on our walks every evening; she is now even running a half mile with me on Saturday and Sundays! I don’t think she misses the chickens at all.

 I have to say it was nice to go away on vacation and not have to worry about the chickens. I usually worry they have gotten out or something has gotten in and so on. Shew!

 So far the yard is coming along and looking better than ever before! We put in a sidewalk to get from one sidewalk to the garage and we extended the garage side porch now that the coops are gone. It is now a nice grilling station and Duste loves it! She has her grilling tools hanging on the wall, a shelf to put things on and a trash can, along with a chair! The landscaping we had done around the porch and pools have really made all the difference in the over look of the yard! We are excited to see what adding a custom, wooden gazebo by the pool will add, but that is next year’s project!

 

My home and my Duste—I have it all, I am so lucky!