peachypear's Profile

Aside from a secure coop and run, chickens are inexpensive. Maybe you need to find a new source for your feed? Look into bulk sources and livestock feed stores.

I also disagree that it’s hard work. Cleaning out the straw in the coop periodically is dirty, but not strenuous. Feeding them is quick and even my preschooler can do it.

Our neighbors periodically ask if we still have chickens, so they don’t disturb homes nearby. They make some noise, but less than a dog. The worst offense is smell if their area is never cleaned.

I 100% agree with sealbeachy. They are livestock, not pets. One of the hardest parts of backyard chicken-keeping is that they feel like more than livestock but not quite pets.

I love that they eat (much but not all of) our kitchen scraps. What would have been wasted food become eggs for another meal! We work their waste into our compost, too.

The eggs are fantastic and certainly cheaper. They are tons of fun to watch. Kids love them. For us country folk stuck in the city, it’s been great to have a piece of the country life in our urban neighborhood.

For information, I recommend “A Chicken in Every Yard: The Urban Farm Store's Guide to Chicken Keeping”.

Find Your Spot was spot-on for me. Top hit was the town to which we're trying to relocate; third on the list is our current town, where we're pretty happy; we've lived in or considered many of the other suggestions.

Find The Best City For You gave some interesting suggestions, but I wouldn't seriously consider most of them.

Those sock fish look perfect for baby socks, which like mitenska says are the worst offenders!

Love this, thank you. Made me giggle and gave me some good uses for all those mismatched socks whose partner has gone missing or developed a hole.

Absolutely agree TammyE. A child’s perspective is different than a parent’s. A child remembers the rule/expectation and the times it was (so unfairly!) enforced. They don’t remember (and probably didn’t even notice) all the times they left things out that their parents let something slide or dealt with the consequences. They’ve also forgotten age development. You can be as confident as you find out how quickly *your* child can get a toy into a toilet.

In our house, it’s the sink instead of towel bars. I remind someone at least once a day not to hang off the wall-mounted sink.

I love that they got the scoop from a rental maintenance worker, but my one correction is that this is just as important to those who own! Home owners don't want doors torn off or holes in the walls, either.

source for the lighting fixture?

Love this list. Found myself nodding to all of them – learned the hard way.

The point of looking at the tag isn’t brand snobbery; it’s knowing what you’re getting. Essentially, you don’t want to put yourself into a position where you’re going to be investing yourself into redoing an item that you could buy new for the same (or sometimes lower) cost. Or, if you do, that you know you’re doing it.

For example, I once nabbed a used chair from a cheap hotel overstock. I knew it wasn’t anything nice, but I liked the size and shape. I went into the redo with eyes wide open. After buying the chair and materials, I could have bought a similar quality chair for less at a box store, but I was willing to pay more for *that* chair.

On the flip side, I once fell in love with some glass wall scones at a thrift store. I thought I had the opportunity to get some adorable, vintage items for a steal. I later saw them at home depot for less than what I paid for them. I still like them, but I wish I had known before buying.

Nailed it. Good work.

Oops, we also have the Oneida Paul Revere 3-Piece Child Flatware Set. It's a fabulous set for preschoolers.

I’ve been using the same concept at once per month since becoming relatively housebound at the end of summer. We’re good about taking pictures on adventures when the weather is good, but we never pick up the camera when we’re ‘just’ sitting around the house. So now I make the effort to start snapping pictures whenever I find myself with empty hands and a couple of free minutes. My husband thought I was crazy at first, but some of the pics I’ve taken have become our favorites. I love the idea of 365, but I find a commitment of once per month more organic and manageable for us now.

I knew someone who did it. It was fun, but wow was it a pain to paint over!!! So no, I wouldn't.