Another one bites the dust!

Well, our vacuum cleaner bit the dust a little over a month ago. We've been doing OK, but dusting just doesn't seem to be cutting it... especially since my folks will be visiting soon. My dad has allergies to cats, dust, pollen, etc. So, naturally, I want him to be comfortable while he's here. So, I must choose a vacuum. Since the budget is tight, I've gotta do some comparison shopping.

Here's the one I'm now considering:


Any reviews?? Advice?? I'm all ears.

Update: It works wonderfully!!!

Herding Humans proves harder than cats.

You know, I believe that any other animal on the plant would be easier to organize in groups than humans. They could be lead to take action (be it stampede or hide), organized into subgroups with specific abilities and work together towards a common goal. I've been trying to get a parole package together for a friend of mine. This includes letters from friends and relatives regarding his character. People have known about this for months. Still, the letters from my husband, my mother in law, and me are the only reference letters we have collected. Sheesh people! Don't say you'll do something if you won't!

Chemical Warfare with Dangerous 8-legged Beasts in the Garage

I realize that I can't get rid of them all and that more will eventually come, I know that I live in the country, I know that some spiders to play useful roles in the delicate balance of life... but I feel better knowing that the nest of Brown Recluses I found is no longer a threat. I counted 5 full grown adults, 2 younger ones and 4 egg sacs. Gone. No more. I hope that means I have successfully avoided an infestation, but time will tell.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! A fantastic example, if I do say so myself!

My sister has a friend who is looking to get rid of 7 laying hens. It just so happens that Hubby & I are almost ready to start in the "Chicken Biz". Well, at least we're ready to try to raise some for eggs and meat. My sister gave me her phone number and said to have a coop ready for them.

I didn't exactly have a coop here yet and buying one is WAY too expensive. So, I set forth to make one with the materials already on the farm. Happy coincidence: when the house was gutted and redone 7-ish years ago, all the old stuff from the house was tossed into the garage, which up until yesterday appeared more landfill than garage. Yesterday it became a candy store and I, the proverbial kid! I walked around picking through the heap with a smile growing on my face as I uncovered precious treasures that would be PERFECT coop materials.

FIRST!!! A safety warning!!! If you are ever wandering about heaps of stuff outside, always watch where you put your feet and be super observant of your surroundings. Nails DO stick out of boards, ants DO roam around enough to find you whether or not you are near an ant bed, and Spiders DO lurk in EVERY nook & cranny available to them.

A Brown Recluse inside a cabinet in the garage.

Kitchen Cabinets from the remodel of the old farmhouse.
At times I actually am thankful for lazy people.

I took off the doors, turned them 90 degrees and attached the hinges
to the bottom so they would open into ramps the chickens could walk up on.

Staple gunned some chicken wire over the drawer openings for ventilation and light.
Found some pieces of siding to make a roof sitting atop more chicken wire for protection an support.

The back of the roof peels up for easy access to eggs.

Nailed in some wooden claw strips to ease the climb for the chickens.

True, it probably won't win any beauty pageants, but it only cost me a roll of chicken wire and some staples. I can't complain.

This'll sit next to the house for a while so we can clear its permanent location: next to the garage inside the livestock fence. We're hoping for tasty eggs, delicious chicken and silky smooth fresh milk by this time next year.