Over the last several years, the Relay for Life campaign has taken off.
When I lived in Virginia, it was a huge event that I helped cover whilst working at Cable 12.
The occasion unites a community that rallies around one cause – fighting for a cure for cancer.

Life is different for me now that I am no longer working at a camp.
Ever since I started a business with a dear friend, I am able to be more active in the community.
One way I was able to get involved was with the Relay for Life for the greater Travelers Rest area. Bottlecap (my business) was able to lend support by participating in the Paint the Town Purple campaign.
We showed our support by temporarily changing our logo as you can see below.

Those that participated in helping paint the town purple were entered into a contest and judged by a small panel.
The winner was chosen based upon certain criteria and were awarded the Spirit Award.
I had made some suggestions for a creative trophy, and then very quickly given the task of developing said trophy.
In trying to capture the essence of the event and the area, I wanted to do something unique.

Materials:
Paint brush
High gloss latex paint
Reclaimed barn wood
A Jenga piece
Industrial glue
A hanging thingy for the back

Below is the abridged version of the process…

…and where it currently rests (The Forest Coffeehouse was the recipient of the award).

So congratulations to my super-wonderful friends at The Forest, and well done to the folks involved in our area’s Relay for Life event.

Do you have a cool Relay for Life event in your area?
What are some creative things surrounding the promotion of the event as well as the all-night-long relay itself?

Just something I created to convey a little bit of truth.

Since moving to our new house, I have spent weekends outside trying to reclaim our historic domicile from weeds, limbs, overgrown bushes and the like. Not only has my family benefited from my willingness to confront the various forms of poisonous ivy and death-infused spiders, but some eastern bluebirds benefited too.

One afternoon, my son Bergen (who is crazy about birds) and I put our heads together to create a much desired birdhouse.

Materials used:
2 pieces of awesome-looking reclaimed barn wood
Scrap piece of an old crusty leather glove

Tools:
Super annoying/cheap drill
Old rusty nails from barns that are falling down
Small tacks
Screwdriver
Random brass handle
Strapping forearm muscles
Beard (optional)

Time:
Depending upon tools, 2 hours or so

Shortly after making the bird house, Berg crafted a small sign that reads “Home Tweet Home”.
It hangs underneath the entrance.

Have recently set out a bird feeder or a bird house?
Who are your visitors?

Not long ago, we invested in some chickens.
They were quickly dispatched over the course of a week by a clever fox or a chupacabra.
With that in mind, and after recently acquiring more chicks, I created a hutch using mostly reclaimed wood and other materials.

Now, I only have to wait something like 14 years before these tiny chickens start making some eggs for me.

Materials Used:
3 old wooden palettes
1 piece of scrap plywood (2′x4′)
Other random pieces of various old barn wood
Chicken wire
3 hinges
2 handles
1 latch hook

Tools:
Hammer
Screwdriver
Heavy-duty hand-powered/hand-debilitating staple gun
Super annoying/cheap drill
Nails
Random screws
Staples
Good music under moonlight (I built it in an evening)

Time:
About 4 hours depending upon frustration level and hand/forearm cramps

Have any of you successfully raised baby chickens?