The "Urban Feel" Chicken Coop

So I got Chickens a few weeks ago for my Birthday.  My dad helped me to build the Chicken Coop as his present for me.  He had just done a renovation on his house plus he works other construction jobs, so he rounded up all kinds of supplies to build my coop! It is not only functional but reclaimed materials so I can feel good about my chickens living in a re-purposed coop. 

We started out with the base.  We used 2X6's as the corner posts and a band of 2X4's so we can set the floor onto it.  We also added a band of 2X4's at the top too to set the roof onto but I don't have an explicit picture for that (although you can see it in the second picture). 

Getting Started!

We used 1/2in plywood for the floor, sides and roof.  We made three roof joists with an angle of 22.5 degrees at the peak. 

Taking Shape

Originally I wanted to build the nesting boxes out like most coops I've seen but since the square footage of our coop ended up so large (20 sq feet: 5ft wide and 4ft deep), we decided to build them on the inside.  We added a ply-wood roof so that the will not try to roost on top of the nesting boxes.  We made three of them each about 12 inches deep and 16 inches wide.  The dividers don't go all the way up because we didn't have a piece large enough but also when the chickens are bigger they will not be able to get on them.

Nesting boxes

We used a smaller board for the roost.  It is about 13 inches off of the floor.  I haven't seen the chickens use it yet so we might have to make a ladder for it.

 

The roost

All framed in and ready for the siding

My dad had left over closet cedar lining so we decided to make the coop look real classy with that as the siding. We started in the front and moved to the nesting box side.  We did the front door and the nesting box door separately but they match each of their sides.  We ended up running out of the cedar but Lowe's has some so we bought a few more packs!

Cedar-sided Chicken Coop

We covered the roof with extra ice and snow guard that my dad had from the roof on his house.  This protects the wood from ice creeping up from the edges.  Hopefully it will also keep the coop warmer in the Pittsburgh winters.  Then we shingled it with, you guessed it, extra shingles from his house.  We added the doors with black hinges and bolts.  I even added a little round knob to the nesting box door that I found in my dad's truck! We added two vents to either side of the coop, high enough so that the chickens don't get a breeze while sleeping.  They are just ac/heat vents from Lowe's.  The one is adjustable on the side of the coop that will get the most wind, so I'm hoping that will be a good feature for the winter.  We just fenced in the bottom of the coop with poultry wire.  We dug a trench about 10-12 inches down and laid the wire in there covered it with bricks then the soil on top.  This will hopefully deter any predators from getting in.

All read for Chickens!

The Chickens are in!

For the feeders, we used some extra PVC pipe lying around and strapped it to the corner.  We haven't designed any fancy water system yet but that will come! 

Eating food right away!

My dad calls it the "Urban Feel" coop because he doesn't know that urban means city haha.  I think he meant to say the rustic feel but my sister and I kept teasing him so it has become the "Urban Feel" Style Chicken Coop.

All finished with the run added and some of the chickens checking it out

Here is one extra picture with evidence that my dad was building!

Check back for updates and the addition of the run!

With His Love,

A

Backyard Chickens: Oakmont Edition

I turned 25 a few days ago and all I wanted for my birthday were Chickens!!! So about a month ago, I told Sam that's all I wanted for my birthday.  We drove out to a Farm in Kittaning and there were loads of Chickens to choose from!! I ended up choosing some 4 week old pullets so that they will start laying eggs in about Mid-May.  There are four different breeds that lay 4 different colored eggs so that I will know who is laying!

When we brought them home, it was still too cold to be outside so we set them up in Layla's crate on our sunporch.  It's heated so they could be warm until the weather was not freezing to be outside.  They will be able to winter outside next year because they will be full grown. 

Layla is the best chicken guard!

From top going clockwise: Cuckoo Maran, Hamburg, Speckled Sussex and Easter Egger

Getting Bigger!

The Hamburg (black and white speckled) will lay white eggs, the Americana/Easter Egger (light brown) will lay green/blue/pink eggs (one of the three colors), the Speckled Sussex will lay (speckled brown) brown eggs, and the Cuckoo Maran (black with some white) will lay dark brown eggs.
 
Then I told my dad that all I wanted from him for my birthday was a Chicken Coop.  So over the past couple of weeks we built one!  I will post the tutorial because we basically built it for free from all of his scraps from his renovation.

Moved out to the Coop on Saturday

Exploring outside for the first time!

I will post the Coop Plan and updates once they start laying!  I'm so excited to have fresh and nutritious eggs so soon.  Plus the chickens can eat kitchen scraps and help me in the garden.

With His Love,

A

Crocheted Baby Blanket

One of the women at Church is pregnant and so we threw her a small baby shower after the Service on Palm Sunday.  I had been wanting to start a bigger crochet project so this was the perfect time!  I decided to make a baby blanket but also sew a piece of flannel cotton fabric on the back so that it would be warmer and softer. 

I hemmed the fabric so that it would have a nice finished edge

I pinned the fabric to the back of the blanket so that the sizes would match up when I sewed the two pieces together

The finished project!

I also made two pacifier clips

Baby Blanket Pattern

Materials:

I Hook

Lion Brand Pound of Love in Bubblegum

piece of fabric as large as blanket

Step 1: Chain approximately 100.  Depending on the yarn and hook size that you use, I just chained an amount that would equal 38 inches (I bought by fabric before I made the blanket so I would recommend crocheting the size of blanket you want then buying the fabric to fit)

Step 2: Start at 2nd chain from hook and Single crochet the entire row, Chain 1 and turn

Step 3:  Double Crochet in 2nd chain, then Single Crochet in 3rd Chain.  Repeat alternating Double and Single crochets until the end of the row, chain 1 and turn

Step 4: Depending on the last stitch of the previous row, you will do the opposite.  For example if you ended the row on a double crochet, then the new row will start with a single crochet.  Just keep alternating double and single the entire row.  You will always double crochet in the previous row single crochet and the opposite for single crochet.  This creates a nice textured pattern.

Step 5: Continue alternating until your blanket is a square (or any size you want).  You can check to see if the blanket is a square by folding adjacent corners together.  If they fit together, then the blanket is a square.  If is it hard to get them to fold nicely, you need to make it larger.  You can also measure it!

Step 6: Finish the blanket with a row of single crochet. Then a row of single crochet the entire edges of the blanket to give a smooth foundation row to sew to. Weave in the ends

Step 7: Iron and Hem your fabric to a size that will fit the blanket.

Step 8: Pin the Blanket and the fabric together.

Step 9: Hand stitch.

Step 10: Admire your work and take plenty of pictures, then give your project away and enjoy the reaction of the recipient.

Notes: I used one whole skein of the Pound of Love and needed just a little bit more of another to finish a few rows and the edges.

Let me know if you try this pattern out, I would love to see pictures.  Look forward to more crochet projects!!

With His Love,

A

"The Love Chapter"

 
Source
 
"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 

I'm sure we have all heard these lines of scripture at a wedding or read them before.  I just hear them yesterday at my cousin's wedding.  They are great and Paul writes about some awesome attributes of love.  There is a reason why they are chosen for weddings because the officiant is reminding the couple of all the attributes we should take on as spouses and share the love between us.  

However, I think the point that is often overlooked is that the love we have comes from God.  God gives us love and He loves us but most importantly God is love because He is all of those attributes: patient, kind, not envious, boastful, proud, not dishonoring, selfless, slow to anger, wipes away our sins, truth, protective, trusting, hopeful and perseverance.  I think we believe that since there is love between a man and woman, these attributes will come naturally.  I am not married but I can say for sure that even though I love my family, I am certainly not always patient or kind.  I need God's love in my life and His source of patience and kindness to be able to show those to others.  

Another comment is that we distinguish this as the "Love Chapter" in the Bible.  I want to scream and shout at the top of my lungs on the highest tower that love is woven throughout the entire Bible.  God is in each and every word written, which means His love is there always.  I see His love as He creates in Genesis, as He disciplines in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, as He comes to Earth in Matthew, and as He prepares us for His coming again in Revelation.  From beginning to end is Love.  

So I would argue that we can't call this the "Love Chapter" because the entire Bible is a Love Letter from God to us.  He wants to show us the entirety of His love which ultimately culminates in Jesus' death and resurrection to rescue us from the destruction and penalty of sin.  Although this is where Paul describes Love and those attributes, we can extend them to our every day lives and not just the sacraments of marriage.  I know that I need to display all those characteristics to each person in my life.  So will you join me in changing our perspective on how we view the "Love Chapter" and categorizing love to only a few verses in a much larger book all about love? 

What are your thoughts on the use of 1 Corinthians 13?  Do you love it, cherish it, rebuke it?  Did you read it at your wedding?  Let me know, I would love to hear your thoughts! 

In His Love,

A

Isn't it enough?

I know that it's been awhile since I have written, but I'm not going to focus on that.  In the Summer, I wrote a post about me not being enough for God to use.  Since then the theme of enough has been on my mind a lot.  I am enough in who God has created me to be. Jesus is enough for me that I don't need to be looking for love in other places.  But lately God has revealed some other aspects of enough to me.  Isn't what He was given to me enough in the terms of service?  My last post was about me personally being enough, but lately as I have been studying Moses at BSF, that question of enough service took root in my heart.

Let's start in the book of Numbers.  Apparently, it is one of the least read books of the Bible.  I have never really read or studied it until this year but it is soooo rich with Truth, just like every other book of the Bible :) .  In Number 16, a man named Korah started to complain against Moses and Aaron.  He said:

"You have gone too far!  The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them.  Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?"

Numbers 16:3

If you aren't familiar with Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, I'll give you a brief overview.  God called Moses to lead the Israelites (Hebrew nation) out of Egypt.  Aaron was Moses' brother and God chose him to be the high priest of the nation.  God also gave Aaron the tribe of the Levite ancestors to help him with all the work of the Tabernacle and offering sacrifices to the Lord (Numbers 3-4).  Korah was part of the Levites and he had the special task of caring of the most holy things of the Tabernacle (Numbers 4:4).  

However, Korah is not satisfied with the work the Lord has set him apart to perform.  Out of 12 tribes, only the Tribe of Levi was chosen for this work, so it was special and very important (Exodus 32:26-29, Numbers 3-4).   Korah wanted the priesthood.  He even convinces 250 others that Moses and Aaron are setting themselves higher than all the others.  The Lord had set apart Israel to be His Holy Nation so in theory anyone could be a priest but He specifically chose the linage of Aaron.  Only Aaron's sons and decedents could serve the role of priests and high priests.  So Moses calls Korah and his followers out on their ungratefulness:

"Isn't it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the LORD's tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them?"

Numbers 16:9

 

Can you substitute your name and circumstance into this question from Moses? I surely can:

Isn't enough, Amanda, that the God of Israel has separated you to do the work of serving your mother and to stand before your family and minister to them?  Isn't enough that you serve me at BSF and your church?  Isn't enough that I have given you my son Jesus Christ?  Isn't all of this enough????

Do you feel convicted yet, because I do?  Where are you being ungrateful for your placement from the Lord?  Are you always wanting to do more like I am?  Where can you just slow down and appreciate what God has given you to do?  I have realized that God has given me just enough that I need to serve Him.  I may not have children but I have children that I am teaching and that is enough for now.  I may not be growing in a relationship heading towards marriage but I am growing in my relationship with Jesus so that I can spend eternity with Him.  These are all enough right now, right where I am. 

The root of the issue of not enough service or activities is that I'm not satisfied.  I don't feel the satisfaction of a full schedule.  Who deemed that satisfaction comes from a full and busy schedule?  I've never read that in the Bible, so certainly not God.  Therefore, I need to be satisfied with the work that God has given me to do because Jesus said in His parable about loaned money:

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master's happiness!'"

Matthew 25:23

Oh how I long to hear those words from the mouth of God!  But there is a deeper truth in this statement.  We need to prove that we can be faithful with a few things in order for God to give us many more tasks to complete.  This is how we raise children.  They are given a few responsibilities such as taking out the trash and cleaning rooms before greater responsibilities like driving a car and attending college.  So why wouldn't God do the same with us?  He wouldn't give us so many tasks that we couldn't complete them all well.  He wants to see how faithful we are with just a few.  That's the real truth that I am learning.  When I complete these tasks, the Lord will provide me with more, I just only need to be patient. 

God has called you to your particular service for a reason.  Prayfully consider adding anything onto the most important roles in your life right now.  God will answer you.  Just the other day, I was praying and asking God want I should do with the extra time He has given me, immediately I receiving the whisper in my heart telling me that I should spend that time with Him.  What an amazing God we serve!

Drop a comment below of where you struggle with the satisfaction of God's provision! 

In His Love,

A