This is my first winter with chickens. My coop is a renovated 14'x14'x10' mini-barn. I re-shingled and cleaned it all up but I didn't insulate it. (I have mixed feelings still on whether to do that or not because of moisture issues). Our temperatures here went down to 15-20 degrees so I started to track the temp in the coop. It's been reading the same inside as the outside. I bought a heat lamp and started using it just during the daytime when it went below 35 degrees and I'd shut it off an hour or so before dusk - hoping that the warmth might last through the night. It didn't. [And Roberta, I did turn it off too late one night and the girls were so confused. They didn't find their roosts and just stayed where they were when the light went off - especially since 2 of them sleep up in the rafters]. So I bought a red light and decided to try and leave it on all night (using the thermostat) over the water & food area since it's not as bright as the clear light. Big mistake. I don't think they slept at all. They were bickering and picking on each other the whole next day. When it was time to bring them in at the end of that day, I gave them some treats and sat down to watch them for a while. When they plopped down in the bedding I thought they were going to start their dust bathing. But within 5 minutes each one tucked in their head and went to sleep. They were so exhausted and I expected to hear them start snoring. After this experience I decided to go back to my original routine of just using the light during normal daylight hours for a little extra warmth and no light at night. My only concern (with the cold nights) is for their comfort and combs. I'm not concerned with egg production since these girls are pets for me. Sorry this got so long. Stay toasty all and Happy Holidays!

Charles, I'll be 69 this year and have citrus in heavy 22" clay pots. I also have figs in half whiskey barrels. Been rethinking that one. Anyway my husband and I move them with a 2 wheeled cart (dolly). I think that I could move the clay pots by myself if I had to - probably not the half whiskey barrels. The leverage is all wrong. If worst comes to worst, I'll top and root prune the plants to fit them in smaller pots, sort of bonsai them over time. I suppose when I get very old I may not be able to grow the plants that I like but I intend to fight it. Buylady, We move the citrus out in the Spring about mid-April and back in in the Fall about October 7th. The timing is based on frost dates here. Because the moves are only twice a year, it may be easier to coordinate it with your helper than this year. Cath

I really don't like granite. It's too speckeldy, too pretentious, too cold, too ostentatious, too expensive. And maybe it's just me, but doesn't most of it just look like rust stains? I also researched all the other countertop choices. Throughout our homebuilding we've tried to remain focused on our twin goals, Durable and Low Maintenance. And so we've come back to granite. What I found out is that granite showrooms only have a tiny selection of slabs onsite for you to look at. And most of those are ugly speckled rust stains. BUT, when you've found a company you want to work with, they'll hook you up with the huge granite yards where you go to pick out a slab and they send it to the installer. In our case it's a two hour drive to a huge city where there are a half dozen granite yards and acres of slabs of granite to choose from. You walk around for a couple of hours dragging your husband (who really doesn't want to be there and doesn't like anything unless it's cobalt blue) and your kids (who are fighting over a piece of gravel they picked up in the parking lot) and suddenly you turn a corner and find The Perfect Slab. And you hear a heavenly chorus that swells to drown out the sound of the kids squabbling and the perky salesperson who doesn't have a clue what you're really looking for (you couldn't tell her because you weren't really sure either.) And tears of relief and joy spring to your eyes, your husband drops to his knees in shock when he hears the price, and then you're done. Then you get to choose a backsplash!

Bob ate his dinner and all of it, which is unusual.. it is so difficult to keep his weight up, but they say the emphysema is eating up most of his energy and as long as his blood sugar and cholesterol, etc.. levels are good.. just to let him eat whatever it is he wants. Tonight, he asked for some brownies.. so I whipped up a pan of them.. he at a third of the pan.. lol... but then said he felt sort of sick.. (jeez I wonder why ) But after about an hour and a nice cup of coffee, he said he felt better... I have to be very careful about scatter rugs now, and have taken them all up. It is too easy for him to mis step and take a tumble.. and I am getting a fellow to install a good sturdy banister on the stairs going down to his man cave.. He doesn't want any, but I think he should have something for balance.. He is feeling pretty good, but he is more childlike than ever before.. but still is loving ..... he does have a temper, but it is just frustration that his body parts just don't function like they did 10 years ago.. We had a nice talk tonight over supper.... and he asked if I had considered his going to a nursing home... I assured him that a NH would only be a very very very last resort, and I would look for other alternatives first... and that I would always be here for him as long as the Lord will grant us that blessing. He seemed to be satisfied with my answer... and I meant every word... We will see the doctor tomorrow morning at 8:30, so maybe we will find some answers there, but I seriously doubt he will be able to offer any more than what we already have... The doctor is an Ultra Christian (Pentacostal)and believes in the power of prayer... and also understands how to deal with the spiritual side of doctoring too....so we are very fortunate to have him... Please keep Bob in your prayers as we begin another day... Please pray that I am able to remain focused on the cross and not of the world and what it has to offer. (Not always an easy thing) Thank you all, Kitt