Memorial Day is traditionally the unofficial start of Summer.  Knowing I would be in Vermont this year, did my Spring planting a weekend early – first choosing to spruce up the porch in my 6-month home renovation project.

Kicked off Saturday at a local Chicken Swap with my friend Cliff.  Goal today: purchase 6 hens (legal limit for Lafayette residents – only hens, no roosters).  20 minutes away in Wheat Ridge, local farmers show all varieties of chickens (plus ducks, turkeys & even goats).

Settled on 6 Ameraucanas.  Fun morning – who knew buying chickens would be so interesting 🙂

The Ameraucana is an American breed of domestic chicken developed in the United States in the 1970s. It was derived from chickens brought from South America that carried the blue egg gene, and was bred to maintain the blue egg color of that breed while eliminating the lethal recessive gene.

 

The Ameraucana lays about 250 blue eggs of various shades per year.  It has an unusually long laying season. Birds start laying at about 5 or 6 months old.

After getting the girls settled in their new coop, hit Home Depot & Jax to purchase plants, shrubs, potting soil AND a wind chime.

In addition to planting annuals, this year’s goal was to take control of the giant evergreen mess near my fence.  Sheared off all bottom limbs, then pruned & pruned & pruned – until the ground below was visible.  Added volcanic rock around its base & bags of potting soil where I later planted holly bushes.  Lotta work but lovin’ the results – so much colour.

While putting up the wind chime, torn down bee hives from years past – home improvement projects are truly a labour of love.

Woke Sunday, threw on a blanket & took my morning cocoa outside.  Watched the sunrise over snow-covered Longs.  Totally worth it 🙂

Home Improvement Update – Sun May 31st

Weekend off from marathoning & the high mountains still unpassable (54” of new snow this May – crazy accumulation), so started painting.  Goal: create a home gym by July 1^st.  With Ash & Tom gone in three weeks, needing to find balance/make more time for Ro (he’s losing his bro Marty).  4 add’l hours of dad time will help keep my pup healthy & happy.

Went thru 3 tester cans before deciding on the right shade of yellow.  Roller brushes & pans, tape, edger brushes – and 2 gallons of Sunshine.  2 ½ days of sweat equity later – bam…walls done.   2 week plan: an electrician, a ceiling fan & a new TV.

goal: a home gym by July 1st