As a matter of fact decorating your chicken coop is TOO a thing as you're soon going to find out. But don't worry, if you don't have a coop all of this can be applied to a shed, backyard or garage too.
Surprise! It's one month until Christmas! I know. It happens every year. Nothing ... nothing ... nothing ... hmm ... Christmas is coming in the sort of far off, can't be bothered to think about it, distant future.
BAM!! CHRISTMAS IS HERE OUT OF NOWHERE! WHO COULD HAVE SEEN THIS COMING?
What's next? UFOs? Parachute Pants? Easter? God only knows what's lurking around the corner.
If you're one of those people who thinks "A month??? Christmas is still AGESSSSSS away, you crackpot! Feel free to let me know when Christmas is *actually* close. Snort.", then I'd like to introduce you to Maureen.
Maureen thought a month was a long time until Christmas too. Ages! So she scoffed at people who were already getting ready for Christmas and forgot about it until 2 days before the big event. Out the door Maureen flew in a panic not knowing where to head or what to do first.
As it turns out it didn't matter because before she even made it out of her driveway Maureen fainted from the stress of it all and couldn't be revived by smelling salts until well past Valentine's day; worse than that, while in her coma-like stress state no one plucked Maureen's one chin hair and by the time she woke it was 3 feet long.
The end.
I'm sorry to tell you such a scary story but I want you to have a relaxing Christmas so I want to make sure you don't leave things until the last minute. I haven't yet decorated my coop for the season but I'll be adding something to it this week like I have in seasons past. I will not be waiting until 2 days before Christmas.
Here is everything that's good about classic Christmas decorations with the added sparkle of genuine chicken poop. Backyard chickens are always cute, but it takes a certain something to make what's essentially a litter a box, shine.
Yes. Garland can make anything, ANYTHING look fantastic - even chicken poop.
Ditto for bows. And this is coming from a very unbow person. I don't even like them on my running shoe laces.
Throw a sprig of greenery or a burlap bow on anything utilitarian outside like feed buckets. If you don't have a chicken coop add it to a shovel or broom handle by the door.
In the coop photo at the top of this post, all the decorating is done outside of the chicken coop, around the gates, framing the coop.
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
Below, the actual coop is decorated with lights, garland and swags which is the direct view I have from my dining room window.
Obviously you don't want anything flammable or harmful to the chickens going onto your coop. My chickens showed no interested in eating this pine garland. They were interested in the apple on the ground.
If you have a chicken coop (shed or other outbuilding) that you can see from your house why WOULDN'T you decorate it?
In the case of a chicken coop it's something you walk up to and see every day. And chances are you see your shed out of one of your house windows too so LIGHT it up. Put garland on it, a wreath, twinkle lights and bows.
This year you might not be seeing a lot of other people's homes. You might not have family around. You might not go to parties or dinners or restaurants and it might make you sad.
The very least you can do for yourself is give yourself a pretty, cozy, comforting view that you can look at the entire month of December donned in flannel, watching Netflix and drinking hot buttered rums while quietly laughing at Maureen.
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Sherry (BTLover2)
Breathtaking!
gogothrift
Love all of your outside decorating and I'm sure the inside of your house looks just as spectacular.
You rock, lady!!
ev
Very nice, very welcoming, even the coop! The girls must feel festive! Thanks, Karen!
Candice
Everything is just lovely. I am aching to have chickens of my own, right now timing is not right...but one day, sigh...
Janie Farmer
Gee....I think I have to stop reading your blog until after Christmas.....or next year....or tomorrow. It reminds me what I can't do. This was going to be the year that I was going to feel well enough to decorate. It will have to be next year, again. My incision still hurts, the sewer backed up twice (the neighbor flushed tampons, baby wipes, etc) so the basement floor has to be disinfected. Had 2 more NES (non epileptic seizures) so I won't get to drive next year either. I can see why people go away this time of year.
Lynn Johanson
Sounds like a lottery win should be heading your way! A personal driver, new neighbors or a new house, and a cure. All are on my wish list for you.
Take care, and be safe! 2020 is almost in the rear view mirror. All of us are looking forward to that!
Bonnie
Everything is gorgeous! It's as though you have a magazine household. Thank you for sharing!
Cindy Marlow
Wow! Makes me wish I could go back in time about three weeks and have a do over so I could do it over like yours!
Any chance that this is a dream and you are the Spirit of Christmas Present?
Rebecca
Ah... my fellow Canadian girl and her Hudson's Bay blanket. It's just not Christmas/winter without one! Beautiful!
Karen
Rebeccanadian - I have a REAL soft spot for anything Hudson's Bay. Love it. ~ karen!
Pilar
Hi Karen! Your decoration is so Chrysmalycious! Very charming and inviting. I wish you a Merry Christmas!
Could I suggest you an idea for any of your january postings? We are all cooking and baking a lot of delicious foods and sweets for our family and friends. How can we resist all of the good tastings and smells? We will need some cool ideas to lose those few pounds accumulated after all those calorie excesses. It would be great at least to read how other people deal with it.
Angie
Ooohhh, that's just beautiful! Your evergreen drapes so nicely, mine just sticks up and looks all awkward. I've been trying to catch up on reading your back posts and I'm wondering....could those possibly be the same birch logs from the Christmas of 2010? I'm guessing not because these look more bendy, but if they do happen to hold up that good in storage then maybe it's worth tromping through the woods to find me some!
Karen
Hi Angie - Yes, those are the very same birch logs. One of them rotted this year but the rest are fine. I leave them outside all year long but they're fairly sheltered, stuck behind some bushes, and up off the ground. They'll last several years! ~ karen
Jen
Wow! I have to say I usually hate all the Christmas mess... I wrote last-year about needing $10 gifts for everyone (the replies sparked a chain of inspiration that led to gifts my sisters still have on display in their houses). Our family has had our share of hardships around Christmas, as I'm sure many people have, and it takes something special to get me in that holly-jolly mood. So Karen, thanks! Thanks for making it simple and beautiful. Thanks for making us aspire to have your backyard, blurry front porch ;-) , cute chickens, strategically placed dollar store crafts, and a tree on which we can use our shoe to open our wine. Let there be wine and celebrate!!!
Karen
Thanks Jen. Glad to hear the presents worked out last year! Yup. You sure kicked off a flurry of responses. You can do a lot with $10 if you're smart about it! ~ karen
Nancy Blue Moon
Very homey and deck the halls and fa la la stuff..You did good lady..Also I need your blanket..I sold mine on Ebay..I just have one question..What the hell am I doing up at 2:45 in the morning?? zzzzzz
Karen
LOL. Cripes. I don't know. You probably should have been sleeping at that time. Just a wild guess though. ~ karen
Nancy Blue Moon
Yeah..sorry about that..First I couldn't sleep..then I was starting to fall asleep at the table..You always do a great job of decorating for Christmas..The girls did a great job on their coop too..Such talented little ladies..lol
April
How did you make those amazing wreaths with the candles?! What a gorgeous home.
Karen
April - The wreaths are actually fake wreaths from Ikea. Best fake wreaths I've ever seen. And I just attached the candles to the back of the wreath with wire. They have a tiny timer built into them so they come on at 5 and go off, 5 hours later. ~ karen!
Leena
The coop is so cute!
Julie Beer
I think I am quickly becoming one of your biggest fans......I am totally impressed and jealous.....plus I have used quite a few of your ideas recently....I really like them!! Plus you are hilarious!!!
Karen
Well thanks Julie. I don't know where you came from, but I like ya. ~ karen!
Five Monkeys and a Chick
Everything looks fabulous. Shocker, not! You do have a definite eye for decor. Love it! I was going to tease you about having a light out. Then I realized you really did. How did that happen?
Gale
It seems like just last week you were harvesting your garden. Now you have SNOW!! Beautiful decorating. I love all the greenery. It must smell so nice around your house. Merry Christmas! Thank you for all you've taught us this year.
Lindsay @ Off For the Season
Gah! Please tell me where you got that blanket. I NEED one! Like a chicken needs a coop. Or let's be honest.....like a suburban gal needs a decorative throw, I guess.
Karen
Hi Lindsay. That would be a Hudson's Bay blanket which I got for Christmas from my niece a few years ago. They don't have that particular blanket in stock right now though but there are some others. My particular blanket is wool and cost $150. They have Hudsons Bay patterned throws and blankets ranging from $40 to $3,000! ~ karen
Lindsay @ Off For the Season
Is there a way of getting on your niece's Christmas list? That seem like the easiest solution. Easiest for me and easiest for my couch that needs a decorative Hudson's Bay blanket.
Shannon V.
Love it Karen. I may have come and steal your Hudson's Bay Blanket though :) JK!
Karen
LOL. Yeah ... that comes off the porch at night. ;) ~ karen
lauren b
I think out of everything, I'm most impressed with your work on the chalkboard in the last picture for some odd reason. The rest is fantastic, but that lettering is just impressive.