Coop Predators
There seems to be universal agreement that I am in skin cancer country. Proof available, but I am still declining the invitations to the Med Parks. My variety of skin cancer risk is the field variety. I visit swimming pools, etc., but I take my breaks under whatever shade is available. Sun bathing hasnae ever appealed to me. The field variety of skin cancer risks is high among people who live more of their lives outside than in.
Fast forward through the yaddah blahs and this summer finds me beyond patience for the lotion UV protection. I have been experimenting with fabric sun blocks. In the current go round, I am testing sheer fabric, thick enough to shade but sheer enough to see through with enough fiber to cling to the fibers of a straw hat. Lazy woman that I am, I am hoping I won't need to fix the fabric to the hat. Just toss the fabric over the hat and let them cling. Theory testing in progress.
My chickens have been refusing to sleep in their roost for the last few nights. They have been roosting in un-cowboy places on hubby's pick up truck and getting hysterical when I have tried to coax them into the coop. That reaction made me wonder if a new predator was sniffing the perimeter of their coop at night. There sure are allot of members of the bioweb who enjoy a tasty chicken dinner. Yesterday, while working the plants just outside the waterer in their coop, their reaction told me I might have discovered the newest predator. Me, in my latest sunblock experiment.
Ladies and Germs, I introduce to you, "The Newest Predator of Horehound Hill."
I'm mostly guessing, but I'll bet dollars to wishes that once they figure out that it's me under there, they will likely try to eat the sequins with enthusiasm equal to how they go after my scabs and moles when I let them. Insert Coasters here: Why's everybody always pecking on me?
Replies
I like straw hats..... Good for you taking care of your skin.... I used to tan some years ago and I've had to have a couple of precancerous lesions burned off now.... Foolishness
The poor wee chicks.... It's great that they have somewhere to escape to.... I looked up fear any being right down to bugs can feel and the fear factor is the same for all of us apparently and it sure t'aint nice
It's so nice that you've made a home for them... Haha.... do they run away when they see you in your new outfit??…..xo
Love the hat Arfie. Great idea.
As a suffer of both sun disease and sun allergies (I get all the fun), I know the value of protecting my skin unless I want to look like a human pickle of bumps, rashes and welts, lol. But I can empathize as years of required sun blocks has me hating the effort and expense of daily applications. I’ve come to rely heavily on uv protection treated fabrics in the last year and UnderArmor’s HeatGear as a way to survive my body vs the sun. “The sun is a deadly laser,” to quote one of my daughter’s favorite YouTube videos, lol.
Thankfully now they make even UV protection hates and I’m very grateful to the local TJ Maxx for providing affordable UnderArmor and head ware otherwise I might not ever be allowed outside again, lol. I may have inherited my mother’s Romanian olive skin and not burn but the other consequences are far worse than being tawny, lol. Where’d I put the 100 proof sunblock? Lol
Hopefully you’re lovely hat survives the pecking order of the coop, Arfie. I think it’s brilliant! I’m starting a petition for “No more pecking”, lol.
Hugs & love my UV protection fashionista! Let the functional Arfie wear take the summer fashion world by storm!
for some reason I am reminded of the mystery woman in the film "Immortal Beloved" - I think the fashion would be Beethoven approved!
Thank you, Jan. My skin care hasnae passed any more beauty bar approvals than med park approvals, and I ain't too friendly with people who want to cut or burn me by design while calling it, "Minor," but I trust my senses and they say, "UV protection needed." Reapplying those lotions every 90 minutes is a pretty tall order for a nutjob who has trouble remembering to eat every week. My abnormally thick hair follicles make hats of any kind a misery for me, even in the dead of a sub-arctic winter, but. . . Those sunburns have been making hats feel like the lesser discomfort. July sun is mean in the sub-tropics.
The good news is that my last trip to the coop found the flock less afraid of the experimental sunblock. They ain't pecking at sequins yet, but they didn't run away this time, either.
Tech note: I theorate that the sequins will provide greater sun protection by reflecting sun away from the user.
Thank you for the tribute from the fashion set, Mighty River. Good luck in your political campaign.
Beethoven has a stellar special place in my heart and life, Mark. His 5th Symphony, in particular. I adored Gary Oldman's interpretation of my idol. In spirit, I was, indeed, that mystery woman in "Immortal Beloved." Thank you for that tasty caveat I wouldnae have connected on my own.
Arfie, I say whatever works. It seems to me the sparkley fabric would work better than sunscreen because your not exposed but just my 2 cents. Just like those silver sunshades on cars, they deflect the sun. Ive stayed out of the summer all along. I'm olive skinned and tan easily because of my Native American background however, my dad was much darker than me and we theorize skin cancer was his demise. So, since then, I go out for about 10 minutes to get my vitamins and then back in. No matter my parents didnt use sunscreen on my as I was in the sun unprotected almost everyday at the pool when I was a kid. I am a fan of straw hats too. Especially the ones with the big brims. Wouldnt the chickens be safer in the coop?
A definite fashion statement, and very functional. First day after school got out, my mother would let us play outside, swim in the bay, and get burns that peeled off in huge strips. Already dealt with one squamous cell cancer; probably more to come. Heaven help us when they invented the machine that will show the sun damage from our earlier years. Not something I need bother checking. Glad the chickens are figuring out it is you, the giver of food and water. Hugs to all.
The sparkles (sequins) do, indeed, seem to reflect the sun as hoped. Research in progress, but I am wondering if it lowers the temperatures inside the hat tent considerable. That ought to be an easy measure.
I believe this sun block has an SPF infinity. It offers sun protection for however long you care to keep it on your head.
hahaha well now, lets hope they figure it out soon. I like that color btw triple hugs~