Simple Chicken Shelter
Paula constructed a simple chicken shelter the other day, assembled from left-over plywood, wood from demolition work in the house, and old metal barn roofing from Mike M. It has…
Installing a Solar Attic Fan
We installed a solar attic fan yesterday, to reduce the heat build-up in the exposed attic space (it was a wilting 106 degrees up there). Today we'll monitor how well…
Pole Bean Structures from Cedar Branches
Paula built some wonderful pole bean structures (sculptures) from cedar branches the other day. And there are a few bean sprouts poking through the earth now. It will be interesting…
Demolition #7b: Old Oak Rafters Revealed
The old oak rafters in the "demolition room," or the dining room, have been revealed after weeks of work. Today I've been contemplating the question: "Now what?" The house warmed…
Demolition #7a, and Thoughts on Corrugated Steel as Ceiling Material
You have to follow your instincts, your heart, when renovating an old house. I spent the last few days tearing down almost half of a ceiling in our main "demolition"…
The Secret to Finding Morel Mushrooms
Paula discovered the secret to finding morel mushrooms yesterday: try mowing the lawn. We had been looking for them in the woods, without success. Then, mowing the lawn by the…
Chickens, Outside
The chickens got a little taste of the outside world the other day. We're working on the "interim chicken coop," and hope to put the finishing touches on it in…
Barred Owl on the Edge of the Ravine
Paula and I were working on the "interim chicken coop" in the barn, and when we took a break and stepped out onto the lane along the ravine, Paula saw…
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
The Jack-in-the-Pulpits have made their appearance in the woods. A search on the web tells me some other names for the plant: Parson-in-the-Pulpit, Lord-and-Lady, Cuckoopint, Aronskelk, Indian Turnip, Iroquois Breadroot,…
The Fox and the Chicken
You can tell by the look on Lilly's face — Lilly, the growing Silver-laced Wyandotte pullet — that she overheard us talking about the fox I glimpsed as it strolled…
Walking Meditation #1
A meditative hour walking through the woods. Walking slowly, then stopping, looking, staying for a while, and quietly moving on. The poet Wendell Berry writes: Ask the world to reveal…
Spring Beauties, or “Pay Attention”
Spring beauties in our woods. Back several years, I didn't notice Spring flowers and did not care one bit about them. Now, with age, I guess, and with the understanding…
The Body Electric Poetry Film Festival
"The Mantis Shrimp" video/film/poem has been juried into "The Body Electric Poetry Film Festival" in Fort Collins, Colorado. The screening is May 4. You make something; you send it out…
Chickens, 20 Days Old; Tomato Starts; and a New Moon
The chickens are growing so fast! Paula has named 5 of the 6 pullets: Amelia, Rhoda (Rhode Island Red), Lilly... She's been spending more time with them than I have,…
“Emerald in the Rough” from Dwell
Inspired this morning by a 2006 article on dwell.com. As Annie Dilliard says, "We can live any way we want." *** Excerpts from the article (photos by Cornelius Scriba): “Our…
Spring Notes
The other night, at dusk, Paula and I were walking down the lane along the deep ravine, coming back from the back pasture, and a barred owl flew past and…
A Week in Early Spring 2013
Snow. And fire in the Buckstove. And Spring Peepers talking at night. Video of peepers' chorus coming sometime soon. I love — we, Paula and I — love this land.…
Spring Chicks
Today we got our first chickens — one of each: Barred Rock, Silver-laced Wyandotte, Red Rock, Red Production, Buff Orpington, and an Americana. They are five days old and currently…