A Project is Needed

Tres Colinas on the Road Less Graveled

Summer is Here

 A Project is Needed

Existing Porch Swing

Since it is summer and we have this existing porch swing, I decided (with some strong suggestion from Pam) to build a couple of matching chairs.  After searching the Internet for some free plans, I found these: 

http://www.skiltools.com/How-To/Documents/Internal%20Projects/Step%20By%20Step/09-06-Workshop_Double%20Adirondack.pdf

This plan builds two chairs connected by a small table.  That was a good fit for our porch and I liked the idea of including a table (have to set your beer somewhere).  I bought the supplies (treated lumber-I used this instead of Cedar since I'm going to paint the chairs-, nails and screws) and got to work. The plans and directions were pretty good but all of the cuts and angles you have to create are a little challenging.  It would have been easier to have had another pair of hands when attaching the backs to the chairs but I managed. 

 



The base to one chair

The back to one chair

One chair built

 Once you complete the two chairs you connect them by building the table.  All of this makes for a very stable set of chairs.  I'll paint them in a couple of days.


Ready to be painted

The chicks are growing fast and while they hadn't outgrown the Brooder Box we decided they could handle the move to the coop.  I caught them, one at a time, with a butterfly net (sorry I don't have that process on video) and Pam ferried them to the coop.  She's pictured below with an Ameraucana chick.  Once in the coop they seemed to like it with a couple immediately trying out the roosts.  We will leave them in the coop for a couple of weeks before letting them outside in the run.  This should imprint it in their brains that the coop is their home and they'll willingly return each night to roost.



We've started getting some produce from the garden.  I guess with green beans, zucchini and some cherry tomatoes we are no longer dependent on HEB for groceries. 

The corn looks decent and the other beans (lima, garbanzo, crowder, pinto and black) and okra are coming along.  The water melons, cantaloupes, pumpkins and butternut squash seem to be doing the best.  They like the sandy soil and we've had a couple of nice rains recently.  I've still got a lot of work to improve the soil but the cattle are doing their part in converting grass to fertilizer for me to spread. 




Cora helping Clark with his French Fries.

Clark (my oldest son) visited last weekend.  We showed him around Austin (visited the State Capital, etc.) and Bryan/College Station and made sure he got his share of Texas food and beverage.  We also had a big fish fry with Pam's family and some friends.  He will probably be out of detox in a day or two.  He is finishing his clerkship with the Federal Judge and will be moving to Nashville to start his practice with Bass, Berry and Sims in August.  It was great to see him.

 

I've got to get a corral built for the cattle which will keep me busy in July.   That's it for now.