We are Done with Winter at the Shanty Chalet

We have decided that we are done with Winter at the Shanty Chalet.

The chickens have started to lay again and there are ducklings in our basement.

Any logical person would know that spring must be here!

Let's hope mother nature agrees.

This Is My Studio

In a conversation earlier today, I lamented to a friend that, as of late,  my life's work strongly resembles a messy house and two fussy babies.

Sounds sad.

But it's not.

It's all about the framework. If I called my home 'a studio' and our growth as a family 'art', I'm sure I'd find far more patience for the process.  The terminology sets the tone.

So, loved ones, this is my studio:

This is the pile of laundry I'm getting to since we are no longer as sick. 

*COMING UP FOR AIR*

This couch,  still covered with pillows, electric blanket and baby wraps is now clear of the ten thousand  tissues that covered it. 

*SAFE PLACE TO LET INSPIRATION HAPPEN*

Diaper station and what used to be a pile of library books.  Now only holds those that weren't cool enough to reread all week. 

*ENRICHMENT*

Bikes, walkers, toys of all kinds. They challenge and encourage the two tiny loves of my life. 

*TOOLS FOR THE JOURNEY*

This one. 

And this one. 

:) 

Love our boys, our crazy lives. 

Trying to remember to be patient with myself as I journey through the creative process. 

Free of Oil!!!

It has been a long process and I honestly feel like there is still residue in my teeth, but we are FREE OF OIL!!!!

Today the tank came out, liberating more space in the basement, sealing the deal we have with clean energy.

Aaahhhh the relief! Nasty stuff out; good stuff in!

Toddler Party Room

We blocked the entire weekend,  'Hang out at home with kids' and I couldn't be happier.

We started to get creative about the space we live in, as well. The new heating system allows for some extra wiggle room in the basement, which is some fabulous. We have a few sketches in the mix for rooms down below, a laundry / sewing room, an office and an extra bathroom for use when we come indoors, filthy from the hop yard. Much of this construction will not be in motion until the garage is up, but it's fun to think ahead.

As the winter months often bring a bit of stir -crazy, we do our best to refresh the environment for the kiddos. Today we reclaimed one of the eaves off our bedroom and created a toddler party space. One little boy is thrilled :)

December May be Magic, Afterall

I'm not the world's biggest fan of December. Given a chance to rank all twelve months of the year, December would likely fall close to or at the end. From where I stand, it seems like the month of December nearly DEMANDS that all persons great and small cough up every measure of sentimentality that could ever be imagined, and vomit it out within the confines of four hustle-bustle, run your ass off, never sleep, try to meet unreasonable expectations, martha-stewart-marathoning weeks.

It's not me.

I like to give, that is not the issue. I like to craft. I like to bake. I am thrilled when I stumble across something that I know a loved one would enjoy.

But in much the same way as HAVING to make dinner takes a lot of the fun out of cooking,  the holidays make December slightly less appealing...  From a distance.

And then, each year, we stumble into the month, bellies still stuffed and ovens still smelling of Thanksgiving. Starry-eyed, we wrestle a string or two of lights, check out list twice, and hope we did OK by those we love.

This year, the stress is heightened because our house is under construction, rooms are congested by closet contents. The work we had planned for completion before November began, is terrifyingly close to NOT being completed before the close of the year. The boys are not sleeping because drilling has been going on, seven days a week. And we are all just a little off our game.

In any other month, we could mask our frazzled selves a little better, but December is not always so sweet.

STILL, this year, like every year, somewhere between December one and January two, however, magic always seems to slip in.

For 2013, the magic struck just last weekend. At a much anticipated shower for our dear friends, I saw tables of women, gathered, giggling, celebrating, and sharing. I was able to share hugs with a very dear friend. I had time to visit with my Mother. I slowed down enough to cuddle just a little longer with my boys. Amid all of this, as luck would have it, we had a marvelous snow hit our area. Perfect snow-globe flakes fluttered around for about 24hours. Magic was definitely here!

Adding to the wonder of the weekend, we headed out for our Christmas tree. The boys were fussy, the tree was a rip off (but you never find that out, somehow until it is already cut, wrapped and strapped to the top of your vehicle) , parking lot congested and magic was tested. But we returned home, enjoyed some cocoa, naps and recovery.

Tonight we decorated our tree, took silly pictures together, and watched Frosty. I'm in love... With our family, our construction-riddled crazy home, our blurring chapter of life, and again with the holiday season.

Thank you, Kate and Steve for including us in your magic! Clearly it is contagious ;)

Geothermal Progress

The outside work is now complete.  In the week ahead,  the interior work will begin. We are still holding high hopes that things can be wrapped up quickly, but it looks like it will be close to the end of the year before the job is entirely finished. 

Construction IN the house, a week and a half before Christmas, with two babies. We are getting good at 'rolling with the punches'! 

A huge' thank you' to those who have been HELPFUL and PATIENT with us during this crazy time!!!! 

Chicken Update

We field a great many questions about the chickens. And let's be honest, chickens can be down right entertaining. So here is the chicken update.

We currently celebrate a real potluck pile of foul. We have one male Buckeye. One female, advertised to be a Buckeye but nothing close to the truth. We have two Welsummer males, one of which is the Bear's famed Rudy. One Welsummer female. Two male French Black Copper Marans. And two female French Black Copper Marans. Should be a total of nine there.

The Buckeyes initially captured or hearts because they are a heritage breed, winter hardy, supposed to be good layers. The Marans are jaw–dropping gorgeous and they lay a valuable, beautiful, almost black shelled egg. The Welsummers came as a perk with the Marans, but they are also beautiful and have a champion disposition. As seen in the Bear's buddy, Welsummer roo, Rudy.

Each of the breeds we have may go broody, raise their own young, which we think is an appealing prospect.

They are all also quite pleasant, and not aggressive (good when you have kiddos around).

Kevin made a water jug warmer when he was in town, which has been tremendously helpful as temperatures have dropped.

Also, Big Ted crafted some laying boxes on a recent visit, which the chickens love to sit in, even when they are not laying.

Currently, our elder non–Buckeye female lays about twice a week. This is down from her summer production of roughly five a week. We all get a bit lazy in the winter months and chickens are no exception. We hope to celebrate four layers very soon. The younger ladies are due to begin egg production any time.

That is it for the chickens for the moment :) Here are some pics:

Geo Day 1