Farm Fare #4: Start Your Engines!

When I tell you my big news, I know you're all gonna laugh at me!

In my frustration to get the driveway organised, I asked Vaughan if he would start the weedeater for me so I could get it done.

He decided that he had a better idea...he would teach me how to start the damn thing.  I did try to explain to him that there would be no point - I had tried before and I just didn't have the knack of pulling that cord thingy quickly enough to bring the engine roaring to life.

But no...Vaughan insisted.  And when Vaughan wants to teach you something, he likes to do it thoroughly, which usually means I run out of patience and have a hissy fit!!

I had a little chat to myself, told me to shut my mouth, listen and do as I was told.  And what do you know?  I DID IT!!  (twice actually).

Before I got too pigheaded about it, Vaughan thought it might be a good idea about how to start the lawn mower too!!  I got that one sorted and proceeded to attack the driveway and turning bay.  Not bad eh?  The only problem is.....I think I'm expected to mow all the lawns now!  (How did he sneak that into my year off unwritten contract?)  I think I've been conned!!

So when V decided he wanted to show me how to use the chainsaw yesterday, I decided then and there that some things are boys toys and only they should play with them.  Come on people...imagine the damage I would do with a chainsaw.....!!!!

Crafty Crease #4: Craft Room Stage 2

I cannot believe how long its taken me to organise my space.  Of course, in my defense, I have a new blog to distract me!

I reckon that I am about 70% of the way there now.  Everything has a place, even if its temporary, and I can now actually do craft work because there is now room to do it....YAY!

I think that this is going to be a 5 stage project and I'm only at Stage 2!

Stage 3 is a simple stage - probably born out of my need for organisational things to all be the same.  This will end a final decision about which containers I need to use and can live with in about 2 weeks.

Stage 4 runs during Stage 3 but will probably take 4-6 weeks to complete.  Sometimes you just have to spend some time working with things to decide if it will work for you.  Stage 4 is all about the arrangement of equipment, deciding which tools are vital and need to be near to hand.  It also helps me to identify what other other aspects I may have forgotten.

Stage 5 is bringing it all together, putting labels on things and everything in its right place!!

I know you're all laughing at me, but you know this makes sense don't you!!

Anyway, here are my Stage 2 photos and comments......

Stage 2 overall look

I have several types of containers here to test.  The silver ones are aluminium roasting dishes - cheap - but I am not sure if they will be durable enough.  There is one row of sistema cake containers, solid and clear but expensive.  The bottom row are just random containers.  All this modge podge of containers will drive me crazy, but I don't want to spend a fortune on containers!




These mini drawers are left over from my classroom.  Because they are on discreet shelves I think I could probably live with the fact that there are several types of containers!







This is an idea I got from another blog.  I taped strips of magnetic sheeting to some MDF boards and stuck my thin metal dies to them.  It's an easier way to use and keep them...taking them in and out of packaging was a pain.  Vaughan tells me he will attach them to the wall for me later on.

This is the part of the craft room that I am particularly happy with.  All of the containers used are the same except for one.  However, since I use stamps and inks all the time I need them to be close at hand.  These draws are particularly good for holding all the different types of inks. I put them in upside down so that the ink is always at the top of the pad.  I use a make up sponge to swipe a sample of the ink colour on the back so I don't have to turn every pad over to find the colour I need.

This is my new craft caddy.  It holds all my "Must Have On Hand" essentials.  It holds 5 jars.  Each jar has its on use: scissors, rulers & bone folders, punches, pens & pencils, craft knives & eye settlers.  In the container, but not in jars, are glue sticks, tape and hammer.  My two corner rounder punches slot into the square holes on the outside.  It has become an indispensable kit!




The jars are all the same.  I just used a bit of leftover scrapbooking paper and tape to give them a little more zing!!

I even have enough desk space for my precious computer!!

 One area I need to work on is the wall to the left of my computer.  Although I may put a rail or two up, I think it needs a bit more than that.  But other than that, I'm still at a blank.

The blue basket is currently how I store all my paper.  It works but I am not sure I like it where it currently is.  However, it does need to be in a place that is easily accessible.  This is a stage 4 problem so I've got a few weeks to sort it out.

Crafty Crease #3: Folding Tag Wallet

Kayln's Tag Wallet

Charise's Tag Wallet

This an an origami folding technique.  Originally used as a wallet to hold actual money, it is also perfect for adding tags to.

The wallet is made from one sheet of PAPER only.  Unfortunately, it is rather difficult to manage with cardstock - the folds end up worn and torn in places.  I have used gift wrapping paper (particularly love those double sided bright papers!), tissue paper, even baking paper.  It all works because there is no cutting or adhesive used!

The technique can be applied to ANY sized square or rectangular paper.  But to include tags, you will need a standard 12' x 12' sheet of scrapbook paper.

Here is my first online video, showing you how to make the basic wallet:

Ok.  Now you have a wallet you can make cool tags to put into it.  Because each wallet comes out a slightly different size every time you make one, it is difficult to give accurate tag measurements.  As a guess, they are around 7cm x 12.5 cm.  You can decorate and embellish them any to suit its purpose.  Here a some examples from Kaylyn's & Charise's Tags when they indulged in a 2 day craft frenzy with me in early January.





Bookmark
Made with...
white cardstock
distress ink on edges
stamps

Bookmark

Made with...

white cardstock

distress ink on edges

stamps

BookmarkMade with...

white cardstock

distress ink on edges

stamps

'Dream" die cut from sizzix
Rhinestones

Bookmark

Made with...

white cardstock

distress ink overlay

stamps

'Birdcage" die cut from Tim Holtz Alterations

Bookmark

Made with...

white cardstock

distress ink on edges

stamps

Bookmark

Made with...

white cardstock

distress ink on edges

stamps 

Journal Tag

Made with...

white cardstock

distress ink on edges

stamps 

Farm Fare #3: Driveway Wilderness

The wonderful thing about good friends is that they know how to get into your mind!!  When several unrelated friends commented on the jungle wilderness that is supposed to be the driveway, I knew it was time to sort it out.

So dear friends....your queries have been heeded.  The manuka trees have been trimmed up and the wild grasses mown to within an inch of their life.  The letterbox no longer competes with bush like weeds, and you can even see the flowering Hydrangeas from the letter box to the turning bay.

OMG!  You can actually see the Hydrangeas now!

Even the turning bay has had a makeover.  It is now bound in post and rail fencing.  Fruiting cherry trees have been planted behind said fencing and grass and weeds have been hacked back.

There's still work to be done, but now at least there will be a better welcome!

Farm Fare #2: Chicken Feeding Methods

GRANDPA'S CHICKEN FEEDERS

One of the best investments we have made was to acquire one of 'Grandpas Feeders'.  It took about a month to train our chickens to use it, but since then it has made our lives easier.  Now, we only feed the chickens and not the birds and rodents.  The chickens eat on demand.  We only have to fill the feeder about once every two weeks (for 11 chooks).  It also means that we can go away without having someone feed them.

Our chickens using Grandpas Feeder

If you have chickens, then it is worth getting one - Vaughan paid about $75 at the Field Days, but I don't know how much they are usually.  Here is a link to their site and a video of how it works is below:

Grandpas Feeders Website

How they work video:

EASY CHICKEN PROTEIN FEEDER

One of Vaughan's latest feeding inventions provides some extra yummy protein in the shape of maggots.  The chickens love it!

Its basically as you see.... a bucket with holes in it, some straw and a small dead animal inside!

I know it sounds awful but its not that bad.  There are holes in the bottom and sides.  You put straw in the bottom, then lay the dead animal on the straw (we use birds) and then more straw on top.  There was a bad smell for one really hot day but Vaughan is going to put a lid on top to help with that in the next version.

The flies somehow find their way in and lay eggs on the carcass.  They hatch as maggots and feed off the dead carcass.  Eventually, they fall out of the holes onto the ground and are quickly gobbled up by the chickens.

It also gave Vaughan an excuse to acquire a flash air rifle slug gun thingy to shoot those pesky Myna birds to use as fly bait.  I made a whiteboard tally chart which is tacked to the deck wall so he can compete with friends.

He loves sitting on the deck waiting for birds to come along and shoot them!!  He's such a boy at heart.

Farm Fare #1: Feeding Chicks

Baby chicks are so darn cute!!  And now I know where the term "Mother Hen" comes from.  Our Light Sussex mum is vigilant and fiercely protective.  She will peck at your gumboot if she thinks you're threatening her chicks!!

Baby chicks need feed that is different from an adult chicken.  Our chickens are fed with Pro Lay.  It contains all the stuff they need to promote good health and also includes stuff to improve healthy egg production.  The chicks are fed on a chick starter crumble.

Anyway, when the chicks and their mums were confined to the hatchery, feeding the chicks was easy.  However, when they were introduced to the general population, our other hens thought that they should have some too.  Why go all the way to the full feeding bin when you can push out the chicks and have their food to??

We were frustrated.  We needed to ensure that our chicks were getting enough food - we knew the hens weren't starving - but needed to figure out a way to keep the hens out.

Fortunately, my husband is a great problem solver.  He rummaged around for some bits and pieces and 'voila', a hen proof chick feeder was created!!  Its only temporary, but it works great.

You need: A long metal tray / shelf, four bricks and a container for the feed

I think it sits about 10 cm off the ground, with just enough room for the chicks to get to.  Put the feed tray in the middle at the back.  You can easily adjust it as they get bigger by raising it higher and using wood to create walls with a chick size door opening.


As you can see the other chickens 'try' their luck.  This Brown Shaver got as close as she could above the feed container and tried to stick her head through - without success!  Its hilarious trying to watch them stick their heads under with their bums in the air trying to wiggle in!

Don't feel sorry for them though.  These chickens are spoiled rotten.  Full feed bins, free range feeding over the farm and gardens and a daily bit of bread too!! They don't starve.

The Light Sussex mum stands guard.  She makes this funny call sound when she wants her chicks to come.  She will often 'gather' food around her for her chicks.

You often hear her call to them and then she gives them 'chicken' lessons like how to scratch for food, how to have a dust bath, etc...  It is amazing and amusing to watch them try and copy her.

A better view of the "Hen Proof Chick Feeder"

Birthday Brag

Today is my sisters birthday - so this is my chance to brag about her.  Tanch is all about 'less words and more action'.  Once she's made up her mind about doing something it's practically done.

God, I wish I had more of her genes!!

For as long as I can remember, she has become an indispensable asset to any workplace she graces as an employee.  And its not hard to figure out why - its because she never sees any job as 'beneath her'.  She is not afraid to make the workplace her own and soon it becomes easy and efficient as she is.

She has so many friends because she is so approachable, so easy to be friends with.  When you meet her for the first time, she treats you like someone who could become a good friend.  When you talk with her she listens, you feel like you're the only person in the world (even though I know she's multi tasking in her head - she's that clever!).

She works hard and plays hard too.  Tanch loves her family and we all love her in return.  Her idea of a great time is hanging out with friends and family, eating and drinking and sharing a few laughs.  Of course, being the action girl she is, she's cooking or checking up on drinks or finding something to do even if there isn't anything to be done!!

A Big Happy Birthday to you dear sis!
You are a wonderful and loving sister and
I am so glad to have you back in NZ again.
I love you....xxxoooo