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How to Build a Colorado Chicken Coop

How to Build a Colorado Chicken Coop

When we set out to take up chicken keeping, we knew that our mountain environment would require some extra work to be successful. A lot of folks have asked me about our setup, so I thought I’d share what we did to predator-proof and make our chickens comfortable in their high-altitude environment! We have virtually every predator in Colorado in our backyard.  We’ve seen black bears, coyotes, foxes and even mountain lion tracks.  We also have a pair of nesting…

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Raising Chickens: 8 Lessons from a First Time Chicken Owner

Raising Chickens: 8 Lessons from a First Time Chicken Owner

A while ago, I wrote a blog about our first experience raising chickens!  We got seven chickens to start with, of several different breeds (Australorpe, Orpington, Wyandotte, Amerucauna), built a chicken coop from scratch and started collecting eggs!  Our chickens are now 2 years old, so we’ve been at it long enough to learn a few things! Here’s the top 8 things I’ve learned as a first time chicken owner: 1. Plan to lose a few.  Chicks are pretty fragile…

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Microadventures

Microadventures

Holy shit… I'm a mom. … I never thought I would ever say those words.  Since becoming a mom, I've been adapting to a new "normal."  I've been surprised at how simple this has felt in some ways, as I've gotten used to my daily routine.  On the other hand, I've also been surprised at how challenging this has been in other ways:  resigning from my job, getting used to the loneliness (yet never being alone) that goes along with…

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Former Tenant Evicted

Former Tenant Evicted

My last blog (a while ago… sorry!) addressed the massive suckage that is pregnancy.  Well, my little bundle of joy, named River, *FINALLY* arrived.  That whole birth thing was pretty brutal, but I had a wonderful, supportive husband at my side and a really kick-ass nursing staff to help me through it at the hospital.  I was induced, so labor took forever…  28 hours to be exact.  (You can bet your ass that I’m going to hold that over my…

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Pregnancy Sucks

Pregnancy Sucks

I’m not going to sugar coat it: being pregnant sucks.  Yes, of course I’m glad we made the decision to have a kid.  Don’t doubt that.  But I’m finding that the process of getting from point A (“Let’s have a kid!”) to point B (Actually having said kid) is kind of the worst. I’m sure some of you are horrified that I would say such a thing. All those smiling pregnant cover models on the magazines, books about the pregnancy…

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Who are you and what have you done with my friend?  

Who are you and what have you done with my friend?  

Who are you and what have you done with my friend Ginny?   This is the response I’ve heard the most since telling the world I was pregnant…which makes sense.  I’ve never liked babies.  I think they are sticky, ugly and gross.  Emphasis on gross.  I tend to run away when too many toddlers congregate.  I won’t hold my friends’ babies.  I’m not trying to be an asshole, I just don’t like babies and toddlers stress me out.  Yet here…

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My Dog, the Running Buddy

My Dog, the Running Buddy

Since my move, I have really missed my awesome and inspiring running buddies, Becky and Elida.  They are rock solid, fun, distracting, motivating and we have the most hilarious conversations while running.  I’m serious.  No topic is off limits with your running buddies during a 10 mile training run.  I’ve accomplished things with those two gals that I never thought I could have, always capped with a laugh and a round of high-fives. Sadly, now that I’ve relocated to the…

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The Couple that Plays Together, Stays Together

The Couple that Plays Together, Stays Together

Two weeks ago,  I got to take my first vacation since I started my new job (which I love, by the way).  IT. WAS. EPIC.  I didn’t realize how bad I needed a few days off!  Brian and I just celebrated our 9th anniversary.  Rather than getting stuff for each other, we try to go and DO something together.  Our relationship is rooted in the old adage, “The couple that plays together, stays together,” so it’s important to us to…

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Home

Home

What makes a place feel like home? I’ve been watching Tiny House on HGTV and reading blogs about living in your bus, or a van and I often ponder this question.  These folks that travel so much and wander for a living… What does “home” mean anyways? I just returned to Portland, OR for my fourth Wild Canyon Games (which was awesome by the way…) and part of me felt a little homesick.   Brian finds this entertaining, because he…

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