Day: March 25, 2011

Turkey Tracks: Chicken Sandbox

Turkey Tracks:  March 25, 2011

Chicken Sandbox

 We let the chickens out last week.  Even though there is still a lot of snow on the ground, there’s enough open patches where they are not so visible from above.  Or at least we hope so!  They’ve had it with the coop and cage, that’s for sure.

Chickens love spring.

Chickens love dirt baths in spring.

Chickens get into flower beds as soon as the snow melts and the mud dries up a little.   I went over to Rose and Pete’s last weekend on a sunny day, and their chickens had dug holes in the dry dirt under the bushes next to her porch and were hunkered down for sunbaths.

Sometimes you can give chickens such a powerful gift that your yard is spared:  a sandbox.

But, when you first put it out, they aren’t so sure about it…

For two days they weren’t sure, then on the morning of the third day, John called me, saying “Come quick and see!”

Here’s a close-up of the Wheaten Americaunas, Sally and Nancy.  They hog the sandbox and won’t let the bigger Marans into it.  These two dainty hanks of feather and bone lay, every day, the most beautiful blue eggs.

Dirt baths keep chickens clean.  Use play sand, not all purpose sand, which has silica in a form that can be inhaled and hurt chickens or children.

Turkey Tracks: Leslie Muir-Volpe’s Miniature Quilts

Turkey Tracks:  March 25, 2011

Leslie Muir-Volpe’s Miniature Quilts

Leslie Muir-Volpe makes REALLY TINY quilts.  I tried to take some pictures, but it’s hard to see HOW tiny they are unless you catch them in the background.  Or, go to her web site:   http://www.mainecraftsmen.org/flying-fox-studio.aspx.

She gave a terrific talk and trunk show to Coastal Quilters March 12th, and she will be teaching at Pine Tree Quilters’ Guild annual meeting next July.  She’s an engaging speaker and a talented quilter.   Here’s a picture of her:  note the TINY hanging quilts in the background.

 

Here’s one of my favorites, but there were many, many favorites where the picture I took just didn’t do the quilt justice.

The “flying geese” in this quilt can’t be bigger than 1/2 inch!  Leslie does machine quilt these tiny blocks, but she hand quilts the quilt itself.  This quilt is about, as I remember 5 by 6 inches or so.

If you’re looking for a very special gift for someone, consider Leslie’s tiny quilts.  She also frames them so you don’t have to.