Coops by Ty : October 2012

Monday, October 15, 2012

Coops: Riehm

This was an awesome coop & hutch all-in-one! We have MANY people who ask about cohabitation of chickens and rabbits, and honestly our stock answer is YES! it can be done but as ALWAYS we encourage you to monitor the temperaments and personalities of your animals.

This beauty is a 6x8 Chateau with a slant roof, chicken roost AND rabbit enclosure, including bottom wire and ramp. We added windows and shellac as well.

The client built the bottom floor for the coop to sit upon.

This was truly a gorgeous set-up! And we can only hope that they were as happy with it as we were!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Greenhouses! Glorious Greenhouses!

Well, if the weather will ever calm down enough for a day - we are having some terrible wind out here on the farm today - and not rain (gasp! I know the heresy!) then Ty will begin construction on TWO wonderful greenhouse designs.

These will be first models at 4x4 and 6x6. No word on pricing yet.
For more information, or if you would like to discuss these glorious greens please contact Ty.

Here @ The Farmhouse

Seed Catalogs Revisited, 2014

Ok, enough is enough. Last year I had 23. Twenty-three. This year, I imagine it's doubled. The strange part I realized as I was flipping through one of my favorite: Botanical Interests is that every single year it seems I gravitate towards those same catalogs over and over again. Unless of course they happen to *bleep* me off like those people over there who own several gardening catalogs did. Return policies and gardeners. Ya. Bad stories.

So anyway, back to the light on this one. Same catalogs, year after year, and yet every year there is an onslaught of new ones. And while that's okay I guess, there is something so comforting about flipping through the Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds catalog. And yes, it still makes me hungry.

For roses, as always, Chamblee's Rose Nursery over in Tyler is just a hop, skip and jump away from us. A lovely afternoon jaunt and the best part you can stop and have a Fried Pie at that little BBQ joint along the way. Oh my. And no, I haven't tried their BBQ. They have fried pies. Enough said.

I would be amiss if I didn't also mention the fine folks at Antique Rose Emporium because if you are looking for something rare, unique or special they may just have it. Be warned! They do sell out of some cultivars, and fast.

What else...hmm tomatoes. Aside from the above two I also do a lot with both: Totally Tomatoes and Tomato Growers Supply Company. As several of you may know, I am a bit OCD when it comes to growing tomatoes. Last year, I grew almost 400. We gave A LOT away. This year I am determined to curtail my addiction by - ho hum - only planting half of that?!?! We'll see. I love growing tomatoes y'all, it really is some sort of addiction which I know needs to be addressed at some point but until then, if you want a tomato, let me know. And ya, my little toms are free - if I like ya ;) BUT!!! Not to be greedy, a couple of people brought me strange and unusual creatures from their own gardens which was just like totally my thing. So, trades are awesome but hell, I don't care if you need an heirloom tomato plant - let me know!

Let no man, woman or child be without a tomato should they need one!

The Donut Experiment

Some of you may know this, some may not. I have lost a lot of weight the last year (and am still working on it but that is not the point here). The point here is I have a LOVE AFFAIR going on with donuts and now that I am more particular about what goes into my belly, I want really good donuts. This - donut love - is like a long-term thing. Since I was a child, back when we had Winchell's in Texas. Ya, I am *that* old. So...anywho. Donuts. Love them. All kinds. Never met a donut I wouldn't at least drool over a little.

It all started with Apple Fritters at Christmas. Oh my. First try, I baked them. And while they were aight...they were not spectacular. I tried them, again, a week later at New Years, frying them...and Oh. My.

And so this year has suddenly become the year of the donut. I know, technically the Year of the Horse. Ya, ok. I am all about Chinese history and many of you know why. That aside, here at the farmhouse it *IS* the Year of the Donut. So, I am sending out the call - watch no one answer - send me or should I say, send Ty (oh he's gonna love this when his email is full of donut recipes, lol) your awesome donut recipes if you happen to have any GREAT ones!

Critters

I am not going to preach about what you should or should not do with said critters that may get into your coops, hutches, etc. While our coops are fairly wild-animal proof, nothing is guaranteed. You still may get snakes, raccoons, possums, rats, etc in places where your beloved animals live. What I am urging you to do is do not LEAVE them there!

There have been several instances in which people on the internet have said they were allowing said cute, cuddly, WILD creatures to live - cohabitate - with their flock. Um, no. Not a good idea. This is not only inviting disaster to your animals but encouraging a multitude of diseases not only to your flock, but yourself and your family as well.

Again, what you do with these wild critters is up to you. But I implore you to please think twice before allowing them to live amongst your pets!

If you need the number of someone who can remove them, we do have that available, please just call or text Ty for more information.

Light & Love,

Kay

What our clients are saying...

"Beautiful chicken coop!" - K. Morgan

"Love our coop thank u so much" - C. Huniu

"Ty, Thank u so much for this beautiful greenhouse. Hope to have many years of great veggies. It was a pleasure planning this with you and watching it come to life." - S. Edmonds

"Ty, just wanted to say I LOVE the chicken run extension. It's wonderful and works so well for the purpose. Thanks for building and deliver it so quickly!PS. The Silkies also thank you for saving them from the hawk." - D. Jindra

"Ty - Thank you for building our hutch, and for your kindness. Merry Christmas to you and your family." - D.Thurber

Pages

Monday, October 15, 2012

Coops: Riehm

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Greenhouses! Glorious Greenhouses!