chercat: septembre 2017

Take a Peek at my Week Sept 24th-30th

This week, the temperatures soared to near 90 degrees, and dropped to almost 40 degrees just a few nights later. But summer is definitely over here in Maine. We enjoyed a week at home, gathering the last of the produce from the garden, getting kindling ready for our wood stove this winter and even had time for a day trip to Freeport for lunch and some shopping. I baked an apple pie using some of the apples we picked a few weeks ago and it was delicious! I love fall. I really really do! Enjoy this peek at our week.

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Can You Train Chickens to Play the Xylophone?

I'm sure some of you have seen the YouTube videos posted by Two Creative Chicks of their chickens playing the xylophone that have gone viral. Not only is it super cute, the chickens seem to enjoy it, and with our long winters here in Maine, I'm all for anything to help beat the winter "coop fever" that can sometimes set in. So I set out to find out just how easy it is to teach chickens to play.The chickens over at Two Creative Chicks seem to love playing their xylophone so much, I was curious...maybe chickens are born with some innate musical ability? Was I actually depriving my flock by NOT supplying them with musical instruments all these years? Now I felt bad. So, I did what anyone who loves their chickens would do - I ordered a xylophone for my chickens!
While I was waiting for the xylophone to arrive, I nailed two nails into the side of the coop about chicken eye level where I was planning on hanging the xylophone, but then I stopped and thought a bit about chicken behavior. I thought about how chickens are highly treat motivated and they like to peck at anything that looks like a bug (such as a freckle on my arm) or anything red (chickens are naturally attracted to the color red). I also realized that chickens aren't in the habit of looking up for treats, since they find most of their treats on the ground.

So, when the xylophone arrived, I drew a small black dot on each key with a black Sharpie. I hoped the chickens would think they were bugs or sunflower seeds and try to peck them. Then I set the xylophone on the ground. Nothing. My normally oh-so-curious-about-anything-and-everything chickens completely ignored it.

So then I had another brainstorm. I put a peanut half on each key. Now THAT got their attention. As you can see in the short video I took, the chickens LOVE their new xylophone...as long as there are peanuts on the keys!

A bit deflated, I hung the xylophone on the side of the coop and left the girls to their own devices. I was working out in the yard for the rest of the afternoon and kept an ear pealed for the melodic sounds of a xylophone coming from the coop - sadly that was not to be. But I'm not ready to give up yet. Maybe my chickens just need to get used to the xylophone and will eventually get curious enough to start playing. I'll keep you posted! In the meantime, has anyone else tried to teach their chickens to play? I would love to hear any tricks you care to share.Now watch the professionals over at Two Creative Chicks!

Professional Xylophone Players!So bottom line, apparently chickens aren't born with any musical inclination, but it IS clearly possible to train them to play. So if you have $16 to spare (or happen to have a xylophone lying around), and want to give it a try yourself, here's the xylophone that I bought. I still am hoping that I can get my chickens interested in playing a bit this winter!

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Take a Peek at my Week - Sept 17th - 23rd

I missed posting my weekly photo roundup last Saturday night because I was traveling and completely forgot to put it together before I left! So this week actually encompasses two weeks of photos - minus Friday-Tuesday of last weekend since I was in Texas and shared those photos in a separate post last Tuesday. Anyway....Summer is officially over and the weather has definitely turned a bit cooler. The leaves on the trees are starting to turn and all that's left in the garden are some sweet potatoes, a few ears of corn and one pumpkin that isn't quite ready yet. I always love the end of harvest and pulling everything out for the chickens to feast on! They love corn silks and stalks, the last of the bug-eaten collards and Swiss chard, and even the sweet potato vines and leaves. But what I love even more is growing my own fall decor! Mini pumpkins, colored corn, squash, galore. So fun! We also went apple picking at a local orchard, so I see a nice homemade apple pie in our future! The big girls are still in full "molt mode", but hopefully still have time to regrow beautiful feathers before temperatures dip too much lower. The Littles will be 12 weeks old next Monday, so still a ways away from laying, but a few of our layers are still popping out a couple of eggs a week for us. I hope you enjoy this peek at life in Maine over the last two weeks.

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Take a Peek Inside Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Market at the Silos

It's been awhile since I've written, but I hope you'll forgive me when you read this post! Although there isn't a single chicken to be found anywhere, I think it's got a nice, farmhouse vibe going on nonetheless. And after all, there's more to life than chickens..not much, but a little, teeny bit more, right?

Anyway, I had the good fortune to be able to visit Waco, Texas as part of the Tractor Supply Company fall chick days Chatting about Chickens tour (courtesy of Manna Pro) this past weekend and of course couldn't pass up the opportunity to stop in to Magnolia Market.
For those of you who don't know who Chip and Joanna Gaines are, don't covet a home full of shiplap, white subway tile and galvanized metal accents, or recognize the phrase "Are you ready to see your Fixer Upper?", you won't get it. For the rest of you, YES!!! I finally got to visit the farmhouse decor mecca known as Magnolia Market! And yes, it was so worth the trip!
I actually scoped it all out on Saturday, and then went back on Monday prepared to really take my time to savor the experience. In reality, although the entire property spans about 2 acres, it's entirely possible to see everything (and load up your burlap shopping bag with some "souvenirs" in a several hour morning or afternoon trip.

-I might have found a few things to bring home, good thing I left room in my suitcase!-

Although the main shopping area is all in one building, it's well worth walking around outside as well to explore every nook and cranny. There's a large area with shaded seating ringing a spot where kids can run around and play ball. There are also food trucks lining the perimeter outside. I walked past to take a look and have read the food is amazing, but didn't buy anything to eat outside, so I can't help you there.
However, I did pick up a few tips to help you enjoy your visit a bit more if you are planning on heading down to Magnolia Market.
1. Don't go expecting to actually meet Chip and Jo. According to the staff, they rarely (like never) show up there. Occasionally Jo's parents might stop in, but that's about it. You likely have a better chance running in to them at a local Mexican restaurant they're rumored to favor, or ironically, at Tractor Supply!
2. Don't expect to see anything that even remotely hints that they have anything to do with the HGTV show Fixer Upper. Obviously, that is a trademark owned by the television station and they're not allowed to use it outside of the promotional material for the show.
On the other hand, Magnolia is trademarked to Chip and Joanna, and it's hard to find something in the market that ISN'T stamped "Magnolia". And if you love the hashtags #shiplap and #demoday, you're in luck!

3. There will be a line to get into the bakery. Not to buy anything - just to get in. It's a fairly small space and the crowds are pretty heavily controlled. The cupcakes are good, but honestly, I was a bit disappointed in them. Frosted with basic buttercream, I thought the overall flavors of both the frosting and the cake of the Shiplap and Lavender Lemon could have been stronger, but then again, Joanna is the queen of understatement, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. However, I still think that it's worth waiting in line purely to be able to check out the bakery decor and honestly, just for the novelty alone, buy a cupcake or two - I mean where else can you get a Shiplap cupcake?
(Edited to read: my husband really seemed to enjoy the strawberry cupcake I brought home for him and both the pumpkin spice and cocoa bean were very good!)

4. They do ship right from the store if you just can't resist one of the larger items. And they sell gift cards as well that can be used in the store or online. I was surprised that the gift cards are just plain, solid black. I almost think that if they took the lead from Tractor Supply or Starbucks and designed a handful of really awesome gift card designs and displayed them at the registers, those things would fly out the door. But who am I to give them business advice? I did make the suggestion to the cashier who helped me though, so if one day in the future you happen to stop in and see some cool-looking gift cards prominently displayed...just sayin'...
5. Be sure to walk around the back to check out the herb and flower gardens as well as a few adorable outbuildings. There was a beautiful wooden structure that appeared that it was going to be turned into a greenhouse, a seed company building, and even a fenced-in pen and small shed that would really make a wonderful spot for a few chickens! (okay, see I lied, I did manage to squeeze chickens in!)
6. There is free street parking out front and also a free parking lot around back. Don't get suckered into paying $10 to park in one of the private lots.7. Everything is closed on Sundays, so plan your trip accordingly!So without further ado, enjoy these photos I took as I strolled around Magnolia Market at the Silos.

Magnolia Market

The main building that houses all the stuff you're going to want to buy. From tees and ballcaps to paint, kitchen decor, books and more, you'll be in Fixer Upper heaven (even though you're not even allowed to whisper that word there!). The stuff is a bit pricey, in the $25 range for a tee or ball cap, $12 for a tea towel, etc. but if you're a die-hard fan, you'll be trying to figure out just how much you can cram into your suitcase! There's even a Chip's Corner for the guys with more "manly" stuff like hammers( $38), travel mugs and leather journals.

The Silos

You can't miss the Silos. As you head out of the Market towards the Bakery, you will get to take in the enormity and rusticness (is that even a word?) of them.

The Gardens

Since you're outside, peek around back where you can stroll through the gardens. Raised beds full of vegetables and herbs with chalkboard signs are situated here and there amid paved walkways and wood chip paths.

-Even the restrooms are landscaped!-

-future goat pen maybe?-

-this would make a super cute chicken coop!-

And last but not least....

The Bakery aka Silos Baking Co.

-the cupcake line first thing Monday morning-

-I'm in!-

I really enjoyed my visit. And despite their underwhelming flavor, how many of those six cupcakes do you think made it home all the way to Maine with me? (I was told at the bakery that they have a two day shelf life, so don't worry about not eating them all that day!)Links:Find Magnolia Market at the Silos Shop Magnolia Market OnlineRead The Magnolia StorySubscribe to The Magnolia JournalBe sure to subscribe to my newsletter so you get my weekly blog posts delivered right to your inbox!

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Pages

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Take a Peek at my Week Sept 24th-30th

Can You Train Chickens to Play the Xylophone?

Take a Peek at my Week - Sept 17th - 23rd

Take a Peek Inside Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Market at the Silos

Magnolia Market

The Silos

The Gardens

The Bakery aka Silos Baking Co.