Kate’s Coop
Many people assume that Kate Hill is all about the barge she lives on but that would ignore her choice parcel of land that borders the canal. Over the years she renovated an old farm house and pigeonnier to be her residential cooking school and she has nurtured the surrounding land with flowers, fruit trees, and a vegetable and herb garden.
After an unsuccessful attempt to raise rabbits, she has recently acquired several chickens and roosters. The pleasure of interacting with the poultry and gathering a few fresh eggs in the morning has made her consider the possibility of adding to the brood. But for that she would need a new, larger coop. She has the land.....
....a plan.....
....and a willing crew of helpers (TJ, Tom, and HK) who brought enthusiasm if not expertise.
Under Kate’s guidance, we selected the stakes and then pounded them into the ground around the periphery of the future coop.
After a couple hours of work, we were glad to get out of the foggy weather to sit by the fire and enjoy some hot mulled wine, pate and crusty bread, garlic soup, grilled sausage, and mac and cheese that Kate seemed to effortlessly put together.
By the time we were ready to continue our work, the sun was shining brightly and Kate looked on approvingly as we strung and fixed the wire around the stakes that would eventually hold the frame of the coop.
I’d like to say we finished the task but by the time we had a coffee break (and B and B finished their play time), it was getting dark and we had to leave our job half done.
We vowed to return and help finish the job which in our mind’s eye would look something like this. Dream on!
Orr d’oeuvres
Sunday, January 18, 2009
