The Future Ladies of the Coop

I've got about 50% of the supplies for the coop. I'm really excited to start the building project. I found some used cedar planks on Craigslist for the siding and thanks to some friendly folks from Facebook I got all the plywood I'll need for free! Even better quality than I was planning on getting too. I'd love to do the majority of the coop out of recycled materials. Doesn't hurt the bank account nearly as badly either so the hunt for more upcycled materials continues. I think all I really need now are about 4 4x4 posts, 2x4's for the framing, and some screening for the run area. We'll see how much I'm able to scrounge up.

In other news, I've finally landed on my chicken breeds. I've added some pictures just for fun.

2 Wyandottes- These hens lay on average 4 large brown eggs a week. They'll top out at about 7-8 lbs and are supposed to be pretty easygoing.

Silver Laced Wyandotte

Gold Laced Wyandotte

Welsummer- I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to find this one. I haven't seen it any of the local farm supply stores, but I'm hoping to hunt one down at the animal swap next month. They lay on average 4 dark brown eggs a week, are 6-7 lbs, and supposed to be pretty friendly.

Welsummer Pullet

Easter Eggers- I'm getting at least 2 Easter Egg Chickens. You never really know what you'll get with these gals as they are simply defined as chickens with the blue egg gene but don't fit into any specific breed. They generally lay 3-4 blue or green eggs a week. Hoping to luck out and get both a blue layer and a green layer.

White Easter Egg Hen

Cochin- This one is just for fun. They are super cute and super friendly, but only lay about 3 eggs a week, which will be the least productive girl of the group. That's ok, cause she'll have style. I just love how fluffy they are!

Blue Cochin Hen

And though I'm not currently planning on a rooster, if I ever do get one, I'm getting a Phoenix. Another rooster simply will not do. He will be named Hanz.

Silver Duckwing Phoenix Bantam

I still really would like a Sultan as well, but apparently those are pretty difficult to find. We'll keep our fingers crossed for King Cluck.

Finished Floors

That's right! The floors are finally done. I never thought this day would come. It feels so good to be able to put the floors behind us and move on to all the finishing touches. I'm absolutely thrilled with the way the floors turned out.

The Bona Mega really made the floors pop! The picture below shows the difference between sealed and not sealed. I was amazing at the difference the Bona made when we were all done.

Partially sealed floors.

Photo montage of the finished floors!!!

Sealed and completed plywood floors!

Close up of the finished floors.

After the floors we completed we started working on our baseboards. We were able to get them all painted and are hoping to put them up this week. We also managed to install a toilet, first time ever, and it's not leaking which is always good and ripped out the kitchen sink. Goals for the week include getting the baseboard up, counter tops painted, and appliances installed if we're lucky. 

Here are some more photos just for fun!

This photo was taken last October when we first started. Please ignore the McDonalds bag. Sometimes we make poor food decisions when we have not time.

This photo was taken this past weekend. My little DW has come so far!

The Light at the end of the Tunnel

We are getting so close I can feel it! We finished laying the floors that need done before we move and got the both coats of stain down. The plan is to seal the floors tomorrow. That means, that our floors could be completed tomorrow. I almost can believe. Such a huge and time consuming step to complete.

Once the floors are done we'll paint the counter tops, finish up the cabinet faces, install appliances, put down trim, and hopefully move! Should have some good finished flooring pictures for you by the end of the weekend. Big things are happening!

Chicken Coops for the Soul

Since I don't have any new house photos to share, I'll bore you with some future plans.

I have been promised chickens. Well, I have been promised that I will be allowed chickens. I'm pretty sure this means that I have to take care of them and Brad will tolerate them. As Spring creeps closer I am getting more and more excited to add to our furry, or in this case, feathered, family. My first step is finding the perfect coop. We can't just have any old coop in the backyard. It has to be "The Coop". I have high standards.

#1 I has to have a completely enclosed run area.

#2 It needs to house at least 10 hens.

#3 I want something that is easy to clean.

#4 It MUST look pretty. I like pretty things.

#5 Budget friendly. The chickens really don't care if they have a million dollar mansion.

Here are some ideas that I've found so far...

The next step is picking out chickens. I really want a variety of eggs. I want to open my fridge and have year round easter eggs! My niece has specifically requested blue and pink eggs. I'm allowing myself one non-functional bird because I am simply in love with Sultan chickens!

This guy is a Rockstar. I dub thee "King Cluck". He came to party.

Aside from my super awesome useless chicken, breeds I'm cosidering are Brahmas, Ameraucanas, Orphington, Plymoth Rocks, Sussux, and Java, and Cochins. Anyone have any experience with chickens? I would love some recommendations on what breeds to get.

Furniture that Won't Break the Bank

We have a bit of a dilemma. I don't think our current sofa will fit in the room we are planning as using as the main living area. We also don't want to drop $1,500 on a new couch at the moment. So I've been scouring the internet for ideas. This is what I've got so far...

This is the KARLSTAD loveseat and chase in Isunda Gray from IKEA. It's $978 and we would probably want a chair as well. I like the color a lot. We're hoping to go with lighter colored furniture to contrast the floors.

This is the Oregon Chaise Sectional from Dania, priced at $799. Again we'd probably need a chair to go along with it.

This one is probably more of a pipe dream. Also from Dania, this is there Wellington 2 Piece sectional. I love the look of it but it's $1,299 and probably wouldn't fit anyway.

Another one that is on the pricier side is this sofa from LA Furniture. It's $1,195.

If you know of any place that sells more modern style furniture at decent prices let me know. We could always get a cheap couch from one of the discount places around here, but I really want to have something that fits our style.

I can see the finish line...

I thought I liked the color of the floors with the first coat of stain. Oh how wrong I was! The second coat brought out so much more color and I'm in love. I don't think I could be happier with the color we ended up with. The first coat was a little ashy, which I liked, but the second coat has really darkened and deepened the color as well as added a ton of warmth. Should be done with them by this weekend. (Fingers crossed) We have to let the second coat of stain sit for a few days before we put the Bona on.

Plywood floors, you win!

Slow and Steady...

Nothing ever goes as quickly as I'd like. I was really hoping to have the floors done and ready for pictures by today. Alas, it is not to be. Finishing up the flooring in the kitchen took a little longer than expected on Saturday so we didn't get to stain until Sunday. That being said, we did get a first coat of stain on all of the flooring that is done. It's really dark and I love it! The pictures below are before the excess stain is wiped off. I pretty much looks like black paint when you first apply it. I kind of freaked out a little when I first started applying it.

The plan this week is for one of us to work on the house each night. We're going to swap out nights so that we each get a little down time and then hopefully we can apply the sealer this weekend. We have a ton of stuff going on over the weekend, so it would be really good timing if this all works out. After that we'll put up the trim, move the saws and everything into the side of the house and finish up the small amount of flooring that they sit on now. Then we can move! Wow, it's seems so small when I write it down, but I know that's going to take another couple weeks.

Here are just a few pics of the first coat of stain. I think that it's going to look fantastic when it's all done. Second coat will darken it up and even it out and the top coat will even out the sheen.