Thrifting, Makeovers, Independence Days, Cooling Mist For Chickens

Thrifting-
I hit a few places yesterday and got some fun things: the Avon tray above from the 80's, very summery! It's under Anya's cat food and water bowls for drips.

A nice lined basket for kitchen storage

a birch bark covered peg rack, for drying herbs or display

a little Ball jar for some homemade goodies or a gift

a vintage kitchen spatula says Made in Hong Kong, from the 40's/50's?

a nice little pine shelf I waxed for one of the bedrooms

Makeovers-
Last week I bought a used exterior light for the side of our house. Our old one was small and burned thru light bulbs too fast. I got this at a used home fixture store, for $3.00, really dirty-

I took all the glass out and washed it, scrubbed and re-painted with leftover paint. Looks like new and Dave installed it already!

From vintage kitchen kettle to cat food container!

Independence Days-
In the last couple of weeks since I last posted here's the run down:

1. Plant Something- Green beans by the side of the house, coming up nicely! Planting season is pretty much over

2. Harvest Something- Raspberries, Western Service berries, rhubarb from the neighbor again, chives, rosemary, dill, eggs, compost.

3. Preserve Something- Froze fish, butter, cheese, bacon, and made rhubarb sauce. Will make another batch in a few days. Getting ready to start canning pickles, as cukes are in the stores. No locals ready yet...

 4. Store Something- Working on freezer and pantry mostly.

5. Manage Reserves- Get A Good Deal/Barter/Stock Up/Prep- Bought extra items for freezer.

6. Eat the Food- Try New Foods/Recipes- Using more low cost chicken parts to roast since it's always cheap this time of year, barbecue season. Made new potato salad, everyone loved it.

7. Build Community Food Systems- Went to 3 farmers markets yesterday, got corn, cherries, and mustard. No pickling cukes, will have to get those at the grocery store.

8. Recycle/Re-Use- Fixed up light fixture, moving items around the house, kitchen kettle for cat food container, using up leftover paints for various projects, sending things out for donations so to not get too much "stuff" and clutter. It's easy to but too many fun things and get the junky, over decorated look. I don't like being a pack rat!

9. Skill Up- FINALLY- I found a local homesteading group!!! I'm going to take free classes on building a smoker and making fermented veggies. I can't wait!!! I'll post some info after I take them, in the next couple of months.

10. Regenerate What is Lost/Salvage Something- Light fixture, fixing lots of stuff around the house, painting, need to re-seed part of back turf.

Cooling Mist For Chickens-
We had to replace our broken mister from last year that we use to help cool the hens. Since it's hot and dry here it really seems to help in the garden and next to the coop. It uses very little water and can drop the temp about 10 degrees. Just screw onto your hose, turn on a little, and it's instant mist! Since the girls like to be in the shade of the berries I attached it to the fence right above there. Here's pictures of ours, cost about $8.00 at Home Depot-

Girls chilling in the shade

Anya chilling inside, she loves her little bed!