Repurposed chicken shelter

We had the last week of the summer holidays off work and decided to get some things done. We've both been a bit lost with where to go next with the house so wrote a list of a few things to get done. Now we've made some progress we're both feeling a bit better and I think we've got the motivation back.


One of the jobs we wanted to get done was a new chicken shelter. I think you'll agree the one we made 5 years ago form pallets is past it's best!

When we bought the new land last year, amongst the brambles we found an old oil tank. Unfortunately the digger driver drove into it and left a big hole, rendering it pretty useless for it's original incarnation. So like all tight asses we cut it in two and made two chicken shelters.
The girls took a while to grace it with their presence, but now they're at home.

We also decided to put up the post box we bought at Easter, so used some wood that James got from the 'goods in' department at work (rescued before going to the tip). As you can see the wee man got in on the action. Looks pretty good just inside the gate, I'll put up a pic next time.

The new lawnmower was delivered a few weeks ago and is awesome, it flies round the field and so the grass is looking lush.

Baby girl had her fourth birthday a few weeks ago and did her first day at school this week. She's been so grown up and wee man has settled back in. 

She also had her first haircut and was treated like a princess so loved every moment.

Last weekend we went to a friends wedding and the kids looked beautiful.

Lastly James has MOVED THE BOILER!!! And what's more it works so we'll have heating for winter. That means a vast network of pipes has been removed leaving the house looking tidier and greatly reduces the risk of frozen pipes like last year.

Not your normal holiday purchases

Now we're home we've got the post holiday blues. That said we're starting to make plans to move the house along and get the garden looking better.

I took some photos of some of the bits and pieces we bought. As always happens we had our luggage searched by the TSA security guys. To be fair whilst everyone else's suitcase is packed full of new clothes, we come home with some odd stuff that must look curious on the x-ray machine.

As you know I'm keen on having some food, water and fuel stored and doing what we can to ensure if we need to we can keep to ourselves for a good period of time. So the first picture is what I was most excited to buy.

I have wanted a mini Sawyer filter for ages and look what I've got!! I also managed to get a lantern for about £6. It burns kerosene the same as our boiler, so is ideal for if we need emergency lighting as kerosene is the fuel we have most of. We need to have practice soon to get the hang of it.

Plus ball jars, a whole tray of a dozen for another £6 odd and what's all they all got home in one piece. A £1.50 toasting fork and some ziplock bags. As you can see the machete made its through UK customs.

Anyone who's seen my Christmas posts knows we buy a Christmas decoration for the tree when we go away and this year we've continued the tradition.

My other joy is home decor and we got a few vintage bits when we were in Mount Dora at the most amazing antique mall. I always like homewares and lucky for me it's pretty common stuff so you can pick it up at a really good price. We got an old mirror, a cornbread skillet, an old oil lamp (that had a bracket that just caught my eye) and a salesman's sample stove. God know's where that will find a home.

I've also been looking for a post box forever and look what I found, I love enamel things and it will hopefully do a better job of keeping my post dry than my current one.

Last but not least, we didn't buy a whole lot at Disney as it's pretty overpriced but I had a silhouette made of the kids. It captures a moment in time. The lady does it there and then with a small pair of scissors in about 2 minutes, it's certainly a talent.

Now we need to start planning what our goals for the year are and getting started. Here's hoping that the weather turns for the better so I can get out in the garden.