Welcome Home, Argosy!

A few hours after I came home from my trip with Candice to Iceland and Paris, Adam told me he had found us a vintage motorhome on Craigslist!

We drove out to Yakima the next morning to see it in person and ended up buying it. It was essentially an impulse purchase, though we have talked about getting an RV, camper, or trailer at some point in our lives...just didn't know it would be so soon!

We love it, though! Isn't it so cute?! Now we can take our homestead on the road :)

This is the cool house in Yakima where we bought our Argosy:

Midnight Sun

(10:30 pm)
Candice and I are living it up in the land of the midnight sun. We had heard it would be light all night, but we were not prepared for daylight conditions 24/7. As a traveler, cramming as much as possible into 3 1/2 days, I have only slept 17 hours over 4 nights :)

We have been sight-seeing around the clock; we actually left for a small car tour at 11 pm and returned at 4 am...no big deal.

(12:27am)

(12:42 am)

(1:01 am)

Tomorrow

Packing for tomorrow!

Elliott loves climbing on or walking next to his new trike.

Happy Father's Day!

To many future climbs!

roof on the coop

I finished roofing and weather proofing the coop today - the first nice day in a while. We've had about 3 weeks of rain after the 3 weeks of sun in May that allowed me to build the coop.

I'm considering adding siding and painting it this green with brown trim...

duck visitors

Last Friday, we had a lovely surprise visit from Adam's sister and her kids right as we were digging the duck pond. It was so fun to show off our ducks and the kids loved digging up worms to feed them.

Punk Rock Flea Market

Folks, it's June and time for the Punk Rock Flea Market!

Isn't the flyer this year hella cute?!
Unfortunately, I will miss it this year (you know, going to Iceland instead!) but my friends Micah and Cydney will be there! Check it out if in Seattle area!

Duck Pond!

The ducks now have a pond!!!!!

The ducks are getting their feathers!

Snap shot of our days...

Broccoli and oranges

1912 Guesthouse

I booked 3 nights for me and Candice at the "1912 Guesthouse" in downtown Reykjavik!

It is right next to the Parliament building (Alþingishúsið), and in a great location for all the restaurants and sights in Reykjavik.

Dah!

Elliott's first rudimentary word was definitely "duck," or, rather, "dah." He said it at about 9 1/2 months. Elliott loves the ducks and loved visiting them both when they lived in our mudroom and now that they live outside. When we are inside and something reminds him of the ducks, he says the word and then smiles and laughs when I say it back and quack. I think it's because he's excited I figured out what he was saying. Then we go visit the ducks and bring them dandelion leaves.

He also knows about waving Hi and Bye and he makes my heart explode with love every time I look at him!

You must see this video:

Duck and Chicken Coop

I wish I had taken the tarp off for the photo :(

We assembled the chicken coop I've been working on for 3 weeks and finished the covered run before we left town for Memorial Day last week.

Our two ducks - Drako and Helen - have been living in a pet igloo under the coop for a week and there have been no predator problems yet.

I need to finish the interior by making a sliding drawer for the bedding (will be easier to clean), a roost bar, nesting boxes, and front door. Then we can get our chickens! We are planning on 3 laying hens and 3 meat hens.

When I get more money, I want to cover the roof and sides in tar paper, then attach roofing shingles and siding shingles. It will look pretty nice when it is fully finished.

Here are some step by step photos:

I made the coop 3' x 3' x 4' and it is 3' above the ground.

Attaching the front wall was tricky - I used the car as a support for one side wall as I held the other side wall in place with my knee to keep my hands free for hammering. Elliott was strapped to my back and helped out by pulling my hair! This photo symbolizes a great accomplishment :)

Interior, before installing floor board

After raking out all the blackberries, Adam drove over the designated site to compact the soil.

My goal is to finish the interior before I leave for Iceland in less than 3 weeks....