Painting again

Its been so long since I picked up a brush...and this big white surface has been beckoning me for weeks, to paint a mural. Its on the chicken house and will be portraits of my five hens as if the viewer is looking into the henhouse. I started by drawing each hen from photos, on separate pieces of paper and moving them about until they all fit into the background.


Then the design was transferred with carbon paper to the coop.









The dark floor will be mostly covered by painting in the straw litter at some point.


I might get this finished tomorrow or the next day if it doesnt rain. Gee, I look at these pictures and wonder if I'm at the "dotty old lady" stage of life.



Its a fun project, and it gives me something to think about besides worrying about the poor Iranians and their horrible government.

Hammock making

I've been learning how to weave a hammock and I'm quite pleased with the way they are turning out.

Here's my first one in progress on the weaving frame up in my studio. Not much to it : 2 dowels and a 2x4 and a book of instructions. And a LOT of rope, 600 feet in one hammock!

At first it looks very confusing and I had to unravel a few rows when I caught my mistakes, but now I can weave and talk at the same time without any boo-boos.

This one is finished and hanging in the ceiling of Salty Dog Arts, our shop at the local wharf.

Its made of a soft non-cotton military cord, uv resistant and impervious to moisture. I opted not to use cotton as my research told me the squirrels like to chew it up for bedding.

The stretchers are 5 foot birch cut from the hillside behind our farm. They look beautiful finished with a few coats of linseed oil.

It's a cosy fit, designed for 2 adults.......

(Sigh... if we just had time to lie in it!)

Newest addition : Chicken Little

I couldnt resist this goofy looking little hen at the Petitcodiac "Wings and Whiskers" sale. She is a mutt, part silkie and probably part banty.

I traded 3 jars of jam for her and what a sweetie she has turned out to be. I named her Chicken Little because she is the littlest of the flock and she has a startled 'The sky is falling" look about her.

My former favorite, Buffy, a Buff Brahman who was the lowest on the pecking order because she was gentle and small, now has someone smaller than herself to pick on, and oh boy is she showing a mean streak!

I have moved the big hens to the barn for a while so poor little Little has only one at a time to get used to. This could take a while because it was a week before they stopped bullying Buffy. Little must think I am Mommy because she runs to me and tries to hide herself in my clothes, what a funny little bird she is.

The original black hens, a few posts back , enjoyed their retirement for over three weeks without a single egg forthcoming, and sadly have gone the way of all non laying layers.....

Enough said about that..

Their replacements are Serena, a large White Rock who is moulting and can be excused for not laying right now.

And Sonia who is an Ancona, a breed originating in the mediteranian.

Sonia is high strung and flighty with tail feathers like a roadrunner. I dont know what her excuse is for not laying yet. The Rhode Island Red, Rudy, and Buffy lay their predictable egg a day so hopefully the others will take note. The chicken house is full, Ive gotta quit before I turn into one of those warped collector people and the neighbors start talking about me.