How exactly does this work? Won't the chickens be in danger of other animals getting in the chicken house?

I too am recuperating from a cold that has run through the family. DH has it now. I have never had this happen: the sinus infection has made everything I put in my mouth taste spoiled for a week now, even toothpaste and water. I made some split pea soup, but I could not taste it to decide what I needed to do to adjust the flavor. Finally guessed at it and DH says it went from bland to quite good. He will finish it off today, and then I want to make some cream of carrot soup, a recipe we like that I discovered in my Joy of Cooking. Hope I can guess at adjusting the seasoning for that soup too.

I have spent the week knitting layette items for my younger son's best friend who is expecting her first child in the spring. Right now I am knitting Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket, which is knit all in one piece. The thing looks like an amoeba, and then you fold it up and sew two seams at the sleeves, and voila, a cute garter stitch cardigan. Next I want to knit matching booties and will select a new-to-me garter stitch pattern for them.

We won't know the sex of the baby till after he or she is born, and I will crochet the name afghan after the announcement arrives. In the meantime, my son has told me the mother is not fond of all the pinks and pastel blues, so I must find some other colors for little things I want to knit. I am thinking white, red and then who knows. I'll make a newborn vest in white and another cardigan or two with matching booties. For boys, I love using super wash wool sock yarn for cute booties, so I will check out the neutral variegated sock yarns too.

We are so excited for this couple who have been trying to start a family for over a year.

Hi Sue. Hope you get to feeling better. Had a sinus infection and bronchitis for nearly 3 weeks. Did 10 days of an antibiotic and my throat is scratchy again. I had one of my coworkers give me the flu shot yesterday. I need to call my doctor's office and see when I last had a pneumonia vaccination. I can't remember. I'm off the weekend. I ran some errands this morning and ran to Panera bread for dinner, half a sandwich and a cup of soup. It just sounded good and had $5.00 off coupon for ordering on-line. It was supposed to be ready for me when I got there at the requested time, but it wasn't. I also bought some mini scones, a cup of hot tea to drink on the way home, and a carrot cake muffin. They were out of muffins so the girl let me pick two other bakery items. I got a bearclaw and a pumpkin cookie. I don't need all that junk but it sounded good at the time. I thought the scones would be mini, but they are really big. I will probably take some of them to work Monday so I don't eat them all myself or they get stale. It's cool and rainy here. Going to start reading a book this evening, to finish it up. It's due before the end of the week, back to the library. I set up appointments for both dogs to get groomed/bathed at the vet. This entails them getting kennel cough shots and distemper. They are both stinking and I can't bath Chewie, he's just too big for me to handle on my own. He also needs some mats removed from his coat. Emily needs her nails clipped. She won't hold still for me and Lauren to cut them and she needs a bath too. It's not as much as I thought it would be.

ellendi6161, I am not quite sure what you mean? My chickens run free all day long and when dusk comes they go into their chicken house, I just came in from shutting them up. In the morning, son in law will come and set it so it will open and shut at the times I want. Yes, you take a chance when chickens roam free but they are happier and eat a lot of bugs when not confined during the daytime. I live in the country.

Sue

Will the chickens all go in at the same time on their own, then it will lock them in for the night?

We had a busy Saturday doing a lot of fall work outdoors.

We took a room-size portable greenhouse down, our son's, that we've had since September, and we have his 100+ plants as "guests" while our son gets moved from temporary housing to permanent. Moved the plants indoors to the spare bedroom (one of the only sun-filled rooms in the house where we can easily regulate the temperature and humidity) - 14 shelves worth!!! - on rolling shelf units. A few weeks ago we moved the furniture to the other guest bedroom and that room's furniture we dismantled and stored in the basement. I'll be glad when this gift of mercy is over (LOL)! He has a side business/hobby where he sells succulent plants.

Cleaned out the garden because we are expecting frost the next two mornings. Picked the last of any remaining produce, so had that to deal with. Did some fall maintenance on other potted plants and winterized the Garden Tower.

Hubby had just enough time to mow the lawn just before dusk. I raked small branches and leaves in the back yard from the neighbors trees while hubby mowed the front, so he could mow the backyard. We don't have any trees (by design - we did Xeriscape and edible landscaping due to drought conditions we often encounter here in central Kansas), but we seem to be the only people in our neighborhood with a rake.....or the inclination to use one (LOL).

-Grainlady

That is pretty much right Ellendi, chickens have poor eyesight when it gets dark and they all are in by a certain time. For now I will have it set at 8:00 in the evening as they are all in by 7:30. As lighting conditions change over time, the time the door shuts will change too. We will have to reset it. Some will go in sooner, but they just roost and finally the stragglers mosey in to roost, then the door shuts till morning when I will have it set to open around 9:00. I hope that clears it up for you, if not let me know.

Sue

Thanks. This reminds me of when my SIL owned a laundromat. She lived upstairs and had to get p early just to open the door. My husband put it on a timer which enabled her to get up later.

Amazing how something so simple can be life changing.

marilyn_c -- Pretty ladies! (Although I think Marah's eyelashes may be longer.)

I've been trekking to stores with DH, trying to find some new jeans. We have both gained around the middle! He's upset that the best looking Levi's we found are 501's that are 40 X 32. Another style (541) is 38 X 32. They don't look as nice on him,, but he is putting up a fight about going with the 501's -- hung up on that 40" waist. haha!

No news on my replacement dish drawers. DH and I are still playing 'the newlyweds', washing and drying by hand.