Yesterday after milking and chores and the school run we drove to the city and I dropped the cooking oil car off with the mechanic. It was a two and a half hour round trip just to get there and back. The mechanic is my new best friend. He totally ignored my accent, and my smile. He did not stare wide-eyed at me while I spoke, then ask me to repeat myself. He was just blown away that I had driven a manual, diesel Volkswagon Golf into his garage. Not every day you see one of these he laughed as he practically ran me down getting to the little car to give it a pat and check its fetlocks for heat.
Though he had to jog after me as I left because he had forgotton to get me to sign a piece of paper. Then bless him he stood holding the sheet of paper looking longingly at my car and said “Do you need a ride anywhere. Can I drive you somewhere?” 
My Mother in law pulled impatiently forward in her big black dark faced jeep. He saw me see her, nodded sadly and backed back into the shadow of his workshop.
On the way home we looked and looked for an old fashioned chicken coop. The Matriarch spoke of how even in town her mother and aunts had smaller versions of them. Always facing south she said. To catch the sun. Every farm used to have one. All sizes. A long slanted roof that started low to the ground, rose up then dropped and then a flat face full of windows that faced the sun. Like an N but without the last stroke upwards stroke of the pen. I will have to draw you another picture I think. 
Maximum light gives maximum eggs. We only found one in that whole drive.
On a very old farm that someone has forgotton to knock down and bury. I tried knocking on the door but no-one was home. Everything was original. It was almost magical. With the owner absent I could not take any closer shots. And this is not exactly what I am looking for. It is nothing like the N and it has a little extra built out to the South. But I am getting closer. And you get the beginnings of the idea.
You can’t put my Mom in a chicken coop laughed John. But he agrees that the shape of the structure will blend with the collection of old buildings we already have.
Something brand new will make the rest look old. You know what I mean? We have to be careful of that. These old hen houses used to be everywhere so to introduce one back into the landscape will not make too big a mark.
Good morning. John’s friend has told me of two cribs (I will take a shot of a crib for you, it is a little barn with a tunnel right through it where they stored corn ) that are being torn down. Soon I shall find them and begin to salvage wood for the interiors. Now that really will be a dangerous job.
OK it is 6am. Time for work. You have a lovely day.
celi
On this day last year – more wine less whine . Some nice shots of the grapes before my macro extension got stuck onto this lens with its other end gripping my camera body. It took me three days to get off the camera so naturally I am not risking putting it back in. Anyone know how to get an extension off a lens after the pins have sheered?
The Kitchen's Garden 
79 responses to ““You can’t put my Mom in a chicken coop!””
It’s wonderful that the Matriarch’s new house will blend in with your existing buildings. I HATE modern arcitechture which stands out like a sore thumb saying, “Look at me, I’m far better looking than any of these old things nearby”. You must be really excited about all that wood to reclaim!
Christine
My mother used to call it Urban Rubbish in a Rural Setting! I love a building that sits softly in its landscape, which is hard to do on the plains.. c
I know exactly the coop you’re looking for, Celi, I just don’t remember where I’ve seen it. I’ll often get off the main road and go driving through the countryside on my way to/from Zia’s to see the Spring flowers, Fall colors, or to avoid a storm front. Somewhere in Michigan is your chicken coop. I’ll keep my camera nearby should I see another.
Have a great day, Celi.
See!? You are just like me. i am sure i have seen one, i can see it in the lens of my minds eye but WHERE! c
Hope you are having a great day 🙂
We are tandy, more honey gathering today! c
I had not heard before of the type of car you drive, but as I was reading this, I am so not surprised ! 🙂 have a good day Celi!
Terry wants to tear down our old corn crib…I love the thing. He wants it gone…I wonder who will win?
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Hi Celia….my brother built a house with old wood from a chicken coop and developed histoplasmosis,
a lung disease. It was not possible to track it absolutely to his old wood…but a possibility !
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/histopla.html just an FYI….maybe its worth
looking into !!! Just wanted to let you know !
good god your poor brother and no i am not going to renovate an old coop, I am looking for the exterior design to resemble a chicken coop or small farm building.. the cribs we are bringing wood from used to hold corn, but thank you for worrying..really c
I too drive a VW manual, (diesel) 2004 reg, in dark blue! Four new tyres (eeek) this afternoon. Over 100000 on the clock 🙂
So to combine your older car theme with a chicken coup, how about this?
http://www.iainclaridge.co.uk/blog/8475
wow, mine is silver like a cloud! how amazing .. now I shall be off to look at your link.. thank you! c
Your are so fortunate Celi to find a mechanic who fell in love with your car. He probably also fell a little in love with you – as an extension of course.. I love that you are appreciating the vernacular of where you live and the surrounding buildings. I know this is going to be the most beautiful , perfectly designed and executed chicken coop in the world. Virginia
So funny, no chickens allowed though! c
Our chicken coop is a little wooden box about 2 foot square that the broody hen goes in. Not surprising that I was a bit alarmed at your title.
Hilarious, I will tell her..!
Hahaha!! Wonderful post Celi!! I always love reading your posts.
I’m not building the Matriarch’s home, but I am planning to build a chicken coop this fall. I am soooo excited about my chickens! My little foothills cottage home will soon be a tiny urban farm. 🙂
How brilliant.. good for you.. fresh eggs are SO GOOD! c
Lovely early light photos Celi. A blackbird announced dawn here today. He sang his long “these are the boundaries of MY territory,, where is my lady, spring is here and we must get nesting” song. So spring is really here.
As for “Crib” – I went straight down South where people have such things by the beach to holiday in and up here we call them bachs ( not sure of the plural spelling of “our” word) I had visions of your chickens having a great old time by the sea enjoying some R and R…..
i know. i was confused when i got here too.. i was like people have their holidays in those?.. NoOne knew what i was talking about!@! c
I have one of those vintage coops that we rescued from demolition and moved it to our property. My husband restored it and is now our goat’s shelter. I love it and so do they! And yes, it is in the shape of an N without the last I. 🙂 I hope you find one of your very own!!
all i need is a photo chris.. can you send me one?
you are like me. you will search until u find exactly what you want!!
Is there a local paper or website where you can advertise for a chicken coop – or where people advertise them for sale? Or a big local store where you can put up a notice?
Meanwhile, enjoy the fun of the hunt. I’m sure it will lead you on many adventures.
I must admit my first thought was similar to John’s, “mother in a chicken coop house?!”… My second was thank goodness I’m not building a house for mine! I love the idea of building with old materials so it blends in – nothing worse than shiny, new adjacent to old & interesting 🙂