#WeDidAThing

As if two kids, two dogs and two cats weren’t enough, we decided that our pack was looking a little thin. Let’s start where the hole in our lives started.

At the end of March, right before our beloved Lab’s 5th birthday, (April 7th) he laid down to take a nap in the warm sun and didn’t wake up. We have no idea why. He was perfectly healthy looking. We had even played ball that morning. I found him by myself and y’all, I can’t explain the devastation. That sweet boy was like my child. I don’t think I have ever cried so hard over a pet’s death in my life. He was my running companion, my confidant, my absolute best friend. I miss him so much. Hubs and I decided that rather than burying him, we would have him cremated. I have never been one of “those people” who cremates their pets. I’ve honestly always thought that it was a little over the top. I stand fully corrected now. It was honestly the best decision we could have made for him. No matter how bougie I now feel. Rebel was kind and loving, hilarious and hyper, sweet and gave the best kisses. The hole he left will never ever be filled.

But. I firmly believe that he would’ve given us his blessing for the next few moves we made. Starting with an 8 year old German Shepherd/Husky mix who had been shackled, beaten, her front teeth ground to the nerve roots presumably from trying to free herself, and no telling what else happened to this dog before she made it across the Bestie’s Mom’s path one stormy night. This baby is terrified of every tiny noise. She’s astonishingly sweet to any and everyone. She’s never been trained as a service dog but yet she knows to perform DPT on Kiddo when he’s about to have a meltdown or is already there. For a dog with so much anxiety, she actually counteracts my own anxiety. It’s like we connect on that anxious level and it calms the both of us. Bestie’s Mom had Roxie for a year and had been trying to get me to bring her home with me every time I came to visit. I just couldn’t. Not with Rebel and Dixie already. I wanted to, I just couldn’t do it, knowing I wouldn’t be able to give her the time and attention she deserved. So when Rebel died and I couldn’t take the sad, lonely look in my perpetually puppy dog eyed Dixie any longer, I asked if she was still trying to re-home Roxie. She was. I set up a day to go pick her up and it’s been amazing ever since. We had a few bumps in the road at first. Dixie had to accept that Rebel was gone and he wasn’t coming back and Roxie wasn’t leaving. She wouldn’t get anywhere near Roxie for the first week. Right now, they’re in her kennel together because they can’t stand to sleep apart. Roxie’s unconditional love for people, even though she’s been previously hurt by people, has helped us all heal a little faster. We sure do love her Scooby-Doo running self.

After life with Roxie had become normal, we did something a little crazy. Hubs knows that I’ve wanted a particular animal for a long time now. We’re talking years. Not for the cuteness factor or because I just really love them but because they would also be useful. So after much debate, waiting, prepping, reading and researching, we took the plunge and Hubs came home with a box full of peeping, feathered, fuzzy balls of fluff. We’re adding a flock of hens to our eclectic mix of animal friends! Three Barred Rock hens, a Cuckoo Maran, six Australorps, and two breed TBD yellow chicks! Ambitious to have started with 12? Probably. Am I loving every single second of it anyway? YES! And so far, fingers crossed, all of them have survived. We’re almost 2 weeks in now and while they’re a little extra trouble, they’re worth every second.

So, we’re building a coop outside. We’re re-purposing our dog kennel; outfitting it with all the things chickens will need. We’re taking our time as the chicks grow in their brooder and trying to maximize the potential of this 12’x12′ chainlink space. As of now, we have a two tier table that Hubs built some years ago being used for a dual purpose. On the top tier, we’ll cover it to allow for easy cleaning and they can either roost/sleep there or possibly attach a board or two above it for them to roost on. The tier below provides plenty of space to add dividers to create cubbies for multiple nest boxes. Then I can add in boxes, baskets, whatever to give them a place to nest and I’ll attach a PVC pipe along the top of this tier and outfit it with some handmade curtains. Yeah, crafty, right? I’ll add in pictures as we go along. The curtains will give the hens added privacy since they’re at their most vulnerable when laying eggs. I planted seeds to get some herbs and veggies started to add around the outside of the coop and/or in their run. These will give them something to munch that’s healthy and also help to deter rodents and insects. Hubs brought me home a box from an evaporator coil (from work) and there are so many different things that it’s absolutely perfect for that I’ve yet to determine what to do with it. A garden? A huge dust bath box? Something else entirely that isn’t for the chickens? I don’t know yet. Upcycling is fun! Suggestions? Our city is having a big tire dump where you’re allowed to bring 4 tires to a specified location for proper disposal. I didn’t realize there was such a problem with tires sitting on the side of the road as they made it out to be at the city council meeting but I digress. They’ve mentioned a few places where tires are just sitting around and I’m very seriously considering going to pick up a couple to upcycle into dust baths. That is, if I can’t talk Hubs into bringing me home one of his old, HUGE tires off his Dodge. We have a gravity waterer that was used for our dogs when they would stay outside in the kennel while our gate was being repaired. So, that’s in there for the chickens now. We had an above ground pool that we’re getting rid of and… are you ready? Re-purposing the pool ladder as a way for the chickens to get on top of the table and also to use to roost/perch/hangout on! Man, I LOVE upcycling!

In all seriousness, you would think that all this would cause so much stress and/or debilitating anxiety. But what I’ve found is that it’s doing the opposite. Yes, there are a lot of changes going on and have been and it’s been a bit of a struggle to find our grove with the additions to our zoo but, it’s been wonderful. I wake up early and have time to take care of all the animals before anyone else is awake. I get to spend time with my Hubs doing something that benefits everyone in our family and working on a project together is something we love. When I get stumped about what all is necessary for them or what their behavior means, I stop and look it up. I’m spending more time reading and learning things which is helping my extra frazzled brain. My heart is being healed by a dog who needed love and gives ten-thousand fold what she ever got before, baby chickens and projects. I’m happier and my cup is being filled which means that my kids are happier. Anxiety steals so much joy from us. Sometimes we just have to take back the reigns, shine a different perspective on it and grab that joy back in whatever form it comes. In my case, it’s in the form of fluffy, little, peeping chicks, hard work and a super shedding dog with huge, pointy ears and an Elvis lip.

Can’t wait to get out there and get more going! I’ll snap pictures soon and post them with an update on our progress. Be on the lookout for pictures of cute little baby chickies within the next few days! Hope you’ll enjoy our adventures!

Until next time I’ll…..

Clean, Cook, Sleep and Repeat!