Another Paint Project

I love this kind of paint project: House is empty. Paint is all one color, except for the baseboards and doors/trim.
After cleaning up the dust, we mask off the floor, and spray primer on the baseboards and doors. Some of the doors we remove beforehand, and attach together in the middle of the floor, and spray them there. Once the primer is dry, we spray the baseboards and doors with the topcoat.
The following day, we mask off the baseboards and doors and spray the walls. (We are not painting the ceilings for this project.)
Now we paint the bathrooms and the kitchen. We are just going to brush and roll these, because its a small area, and not really worth it to spray.
Finally, we remove all the masking, take care of any touch up, and voila! Another beautiful home, painted by Executive Painting and Texture!

Not Too Late To Read Atlas Shrugged

Time always seems to be running out for the US to shape up...and by that, I mean, "move to the right." Despite the fact that we haven't degraded back to the Stone Age, it seems we get closer all the time.
It took ancient Rome many hundreds of years to fall completely. I suppose it will be the same for the US and the rest of the world, but I predict that the fall WILL come. Because for every Ronald Regan (my favorite president) there are hundreds of Nancy Pelosis and Antonio Villaraigosas, trying to convince hard working capitalists that they are immoral, and misshaping the vision of our founding fathers like some unskilled potter ruining a vase on a potter’s wheel.
These “do gooders” crawl out of the woodwork to try and convince those with weaker minds that the American dream is evil. Anyone who succeeds or tries to succeed in business should repent of their debauchery. From each according to his ability, to each according to their needs. You only have to look to the former Soviet Union see where the philosophies of these morons are going to take us.
In my short life, I’ve seen our country, which has never been perfect, go from rewarding hard working successful entrepreneurs, to punishing the Bill Gates and Warren Buffetts of the world, and treating them as no more than scapegoats for the lack of initiative that most people show in life. What would have happened if Henry Ford or Thomas Edison were alive today? They would be reviled by those who benefit most from their inventions, which did indeed move us farther from the Stone Age and into the modern era.
What’s so great about the modern era? Oh, I don’t know…how about medical science that has extended the lives of people with cancer, no longer an automatic death sentence? How about modern farming that provides more food than the world can eat while preserving the soil for future generations to continue to flourish? How about the ability to stay close to relatives and friends who live on the other side of the country or the world?
It’s not too late to read Atlas Shrugged, which takes these stupid ideals to their extreme, and examines the consequences. So much of that book has come to pass. Indeed, much of it was true before Ayn Rand wrote it. Maybe if everyone knew the significance of the question “Who is John Galt?” we would root out the wrong thinking supporters of President Obama before they had the chance to move us one more step backward in progress. Before the lights go out for the last time in the world of their creation.

Baby Chicks

I love Baby Chicks. There, I've said it. Who wouldn't love a brood of these little fluffy ping pong balls peeping about?
Unfortunately so do hawks, crows, squirrels, dogs, and before the dogs, coyotes. Everybody loves them. (Squirrels? Yep. They love baby chicks, too.)
When I came to the animal farm, the free ranging chickens were already - free. They run around the ranch all day, philosophizing and fornicating and whatever else it is that chickens do during their free time, and then they fly into the trees at night to sleep. (Do chickens dream in color? They see in more colors than humans do.)
But they can't nest very well in trees, so they hatch eggs in the hay feeders, under the porch, in the brush on the hill, behind the garage, etc. Then one day you have 15 baby chicks following a hen that you haven't seen for a while.
They don't hide much when they're looking for scrumptious insects and seeds to eat, so once the predators notice them, they start disappearing. It’s sad, but it’s the way of the ranch, just like zombie goats and cancer cows.
Being a handyman, I've finally decided to exert my influence, and UnFree the Free Range chickens - at least the hens and the young'ns. It'll take a few $100's, but I'm going to build a new chicken coop and hen house. I’ve researched it a little, and I think I’m going to enjoy this project. If I’m not careful, I will go overboard with little windows, siding, shingled roof, play ground equipment…We’ll see how far I get.
I should point out that the current, dilapidated chicken coop is occupied by peacocks. They are also loved by dogs and coyotes. I don't know if a hawk would take one on... We've realized (read: I was told) that I need to improve this animal hotel. It needs more vertical space so they can go up higher. We run a hose to the pen for their water. I’m sure they would like a Jacuzzi.
Chicken coop photos to follow…