Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

What a glorious sight!

Totally tidy nesting boxes

Yes, it's a cleaned out chicken coop!  I finished it yesterday - reveling in it's cleaned-out-ness for 15 minutes, then got over it.  Fresh shavings were spread and everyone was happy.  It was a very busy weekend - yard sale, house cleaning, errand running, garden planting, chicken coop cleaning, sister visiting.

The yard sale was okay, although it would have been much better, had the local rag remembered to run my ad.  I had big plans to get things set up and covered with a tarp so I wouldn't have to run around like a lunatic Saturday morning.  However, the winds were blowing and the temperature was dropping like a stone, so I spent the evening swaddling my tomato plants, etc.  Still, things were moved out of the house.  Of course, some things were moved in:

Thanks to my shaky hand, it's too out of focus to get the detail - it's my neighbor's old toy box for his boys.  It has a Western motif stamped in red on the front and top - saddles, horses and cowboys.  How could I NOT have it?  It replaces the shiny red chest, which got hauled out and sold.  So I'm even!  I was very tempted to keep this:

as I always wanted a tractor.  It's a child's riding Farmall - solid cast metal in really good condition.  I ended up selling it for pretty close to what I think it was worth.  Someone's lucky grandson will be tootling around in it.  I also chalked up 15,000+ steps on my Fitbit.  Thanks to all that standing and walking, I was whumped Saturday night and didn't have much energy Sunday morning.  As frustrating as it is, I am not as young as I think I am.  Plus, after a morning low of 33 degrees, the temperatures shot up to the mid-80s.  What weather!  I kept a low profile, ran some errands and cleaned the house.  Lovey's crate went into storage.  Out went the ratty rug in front of the sliding glass door, in came a new one.  Fig tree went out to keep Lemon tree company.  Windows were washed, floors washed, vacuum run.  Dust badgers tackled.

Sunday I finally mustered up the strength to tackle the coop.  My sister had dropped off her three lovely hens Saturday morning and they proved to be smart and sweet.  Never before have I had such a seamless introduction of older hens.  Penelope (RIR) mustered the troops (Izzy and Maddy - both Welsummers) and they stay in a tight bunch, keeping a low profile.  Just as I finished the dreaded job, my sister pulled up for an overnight visit (and celebration of her move closer to me/us).  What fun!  The dogs practically swooned when Auntie C came in.  As a matter of fact, the Pepperoni is entirely and totally in love with her.  I got up this morning and couldn't find him - until I located a dark lump curled up outside the guestroom door.  Cute. 

I am glad I had such a lovely end to my long weekend, as things at the office are in total chaos.