framed...



my husband was working hard on the chicken coop last weekend... not always easy when you have two little "helpers" in tow. the basic frame is up and this weekend the roof will go on and the actual house made. i know it is a challenge for him, especially as we lived in the city for so many years and he doesn't have all the tools he needs. my mania for chickens probably got the better of me and i appreciate his patience and hard work. we decided not to put them in the barn, as this is also our only storage place at the moment and it does need work (we did find out from a neighbor that a horse lived here not too long a ago!). instead we are building a new coop and attaching it to the run which already exists. we are making the garden coop, with a few modifications as we will already be at full coop capacity with eight birds. obviously, the run will be much bigger but we are also making the house slightly larger as well as putting the egg boxes on the outside wall rather than in. i will share more images with you as it starts to actually look like a coop!

the frame will be moved back to attach to the existing run

we definitely need to get things done, as the hens are growing rapidly. the older chicks are really starting to look like chickens now and the babies are feathering out quickly and imitating the older ones in behavior already. my husband made an outside box for them so they can explore in the afternoons, which they love, and give our house a little break from chicken mess!








i wish i could be more of a help with the coop. i feel kind of helpless when it comes to building. i have been busy in the yard myself though... planting flowers, herbs and some vegetables. i'm anxious to get a garden started for real. we actually have sun here! i also cleaned our front porch and made it fun to hang out on. i'm currently sitting out here while writing, and also watching a bird build a nest while my daughter builds some sort of elaborate trap to "catch" her brother in. i forgot to take pics of the porch but i will share some soon. i did take some of the downstairs bath, which i have been working on as well. i painted and made a curtain for the window... i hung some art and plants, and i need to make a skirt for the sink next.







needs to be painted but i can't decide a color, the floors will be painted grey also


sink is waiting for a pretty skirt to hide her ugly pipes

i am beginning to accept that this house will always be a work in progress. this bathroom will eventually be swapped with the laundry room, so i am just trying to make it livable for now.

wedding...

via prairie seed


a few photos from the wedding we worked on in praire seed last year. i think everything came out quite lovely... mostly thanks to the talent of my sister katy! i love the vision the bride had for the wedding, and i think it worked out really well.  if you are looking for something similar be sure to visit the shop... we are also having a customer appreciation sale... just enter the code may11sale when you check out.

pictures courtesy of j'adore love.

catching up...



well, our house has gotten quite full lately (and looks to stay that way for a bit as we haven't even started the coop, yikes!).  we had FIVE new babies arive last week. so we are up to eight. it took a little bit for the older ones and the younger ones to get used to each other but now it is like they have always been here. with eight they don't get as much cuddle time i'm afraid. the first three are so sweet and love to be held (polly is usually perched on my son's shoulder when she is out). they are extremely cute though. so now we have polly, sally, rosalita, goldie, brownie, cutie, eliza... and one sad chick who has yet to be named. they are a lot of fun... and just like real babies, a big mess! speaking of that, i hope you all had a lovely mother's day? mine was very relaxed and nice. last week was also my anniversary! we have been together 15 years and married 9! i surprised my husband with some prints from tastes orangey, which i love!! i framed them and hung them over the fireplace in our room. they remind me so much of my husband and me (my husband was even wearing the same pj's when i gave them to him!). my daughter even asked if someone had painted our picture. i'm so happy i got them... oh, and of course my husband likes the too:) here are some photos to catch you up...














a very important birthday...



no. it's not for this very special little girl, but for this one...




yes, her very special doll named cassidy turned one. i had no idea until she informed me in the morning, and then of course we had to set about creating a very special day for her. you can see the presents wrapped and waiting for cassidy as she takes a nap. of course bannana muffins with chocolate chips were called for...




she loves to help in the kitchen. we had to try them out for an afternoon snack to make sure they were just right. we saved the rest for when papa came home, so we could have the very special birthday party together... complete with singing happy birthday, blowing out the candle, and opening presents.







all of it done most willingly to bring a smile to the face of a very special five year old mommy!

happy earthday, happy easter...



one of the ways we are celebrating earthday and easter this year is with our naturally dyed easter eggs. we made them last year, and loved them so much that we have decided to do them this way from now on. we used basically the same ingrediants as last time... although the violets have already come and gone, so we only used blueberries for the blue. i had planned to use beets to do red, but alas we had only golden beets in the fridge! we experimented with strawberries and chili powder and got a lovely pink. next year we will do beets for sure. i love the variations and subtle colors. i can't wait to use eggs from our own hens next year!

today we are blowing out some more eggs, instead of hard boiling, and the kids are coloring them with markers to hang for an easter tree. i made a simple arrangement on the table this morning to set the mood, using a pretty vintage cloth underneath. the easter egg tree will go in the green jug. it was very pretty to look at while i had my morning coffee! i think this weekend will be lovely and warm and i am looking forward to a relaxing day spent with family. i hope your weekend is lovely, whatever you may be celebrating!








we finished the egg tree, so i added this pic!



spring at our house

chicks!!...


our chicks have arrived and we are in seventh heaven around here! i have been wanting to get chickens for years... ever since i lived in brooklyn. when we moved to atlanta i hoped to find the right place to keep them and we finally have found the perfect place, here in our 150 year old farm house! the first three arrived yesterday... the black barred rocks. they have two fuzzy yellow friends to keep them company until the next 5 arrive in a few weeks, and then they will go back to a friend (who got most of hers in the first round of delivery). they will be traded in for 3 buff orpingtons and 2 easter egg chicks! i am getting chick updates every 5 minutes from the kids. important info like... "mom, one is laying down asleep with it's foot sticking out!" they do that constantly and it is hilarious. they are really fun to watch and we can't wait to see how fast they will grow!

this one is "firestorm", though all she wants to do is sit in your hand


this one is "sally henny penny", though she is the feisty one who is constantly escaping!







we are all in love!

another giveaway!...



it's not me this time but my lovely sister katy who is also celebrating three years of blogging with a giveaway! run, run, run right over and enter quick. i have one of these beauties sitting on my mantel and loooove it so. i would enter the giveaway myself for another one but somehow that doesn't seem fair;) don't miss out on your chance!

diy fun with pallets...

via apartment therapy


i'm loving all the creative ideas that are being inspired by used pallets.... usually found free. i saw this one on apartment therapy... how cool is that for your patio or porch? you could hang it on a wall too. you can make yourself a pallet potting bench to prepare your plants...



via re-nest

and then you can sit back on your pallet adirondack chair to enjoy your work!



via instructables


i'm off to find some for myself!

etsy favorites (after the storm)...


oh snap fleece wrap jacket, by gaia conceptions

hello! i was without internet for a few days due to a bad storm/tornado at the begining of the week. we had no major damage, thankfully, and i have to say i got a lot done without the distraction of the internet! some major spring cleaning happened... boy was i sore the next day.... and a trip to the zoo. the sun is out and the weather is lovely. i am looking forward to a beautiful spring and summer too ahead.

nigel and lily embracing at sea,  by this is all i know

vintage white pottery vase, from modish vintage

handmadesailing vessel, by raphaela mccormack


march fox, by amber alexander



clothespin flower yellow chenille,  by winsome hollow



ps... sorry if the layout looks wonky today... blogger was acting nutty today!

giveaway winner...



first of all... thank you all so much for entering! i really enjoyed reading each one of your nice entries. you are all sooooo kind. beyond kind. thank you! i wish i could give you all a sheep... but at the rate i go that would take me about two years:)

so the winner of this giveaway is....


itchin' stitchin' wrote... "oh the sheep is soooo cute!!! love your blog and i'm a new follower:)"

well, thank you so much. i hope this will encourage you to stay a follower! send me your email and i will contact you about getting your sheep:)


thank you to everyone again! i promise to have another giveaway soon.