Monthly Archives: May 2014

2014
05/11

Category:
farming
Life

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Mother’s day

I hope each of you women had a terrific Mother’s Day.    We were blessed by hearing from our children and seeing one.    And our first Iris showed up today as well.

P1010450 first iris

These beautiful lilies were sent by our California son, Andrew.

Kati and Zach brought a “pinks” plant.   I love them.   I need to find a full sun area for them.  They so remind me of growing up.   Mother always had them on the rockery where we lived.    Kati and Zach had lunch here, Then we took a small walk and then they planted tomatoes – 50 of them.  It was such a blessing to have their help.   Assuming most of them do well, we should have enough for canning and sharing.     Can you see the little plants right before the weeds/grass in the background.

P1010452planting tomatoes

This is a photo of the garden area.   Last fall we put straw over the boxes and the ground under it is beautiful and fairly weed free, but we certainly have plenty of weeds on the slopes between the boxes with which to deal.

P1010454

2014
05/10

Category:
Life

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Day of rest

The sun was shinning this morning which brings out the most beautiful shades of green, – very relaxing.

P1010436 lovely sunny morning

Happy, peaceful sheep are grazing just to the left of the above photo.  We so enjoy sitting on the deck and just taking in all of this.    The alpacas are beyond the trees right now.

P1010441 happy sheep

Anyone for a nice Polish haircut like this which still amuses me?  These bantams are now about two months old and look a bit top heavy.

P1010443 polish hairdo

P1010445 polish hair

The young children presented flowers to the mothers today at church.

P1010448 Mother's day flowers at church

It has been a very blessed day.

2014
05/09

Category:
Life

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Prepping or laying things aside for a rainy day

April’s list is checked and May’s list is ready.    Next week is supposed to be sunny, so hopefully the garden will go in.  This reminds me of laying things aside, a practice my mother passed on to me.    She was a farmer’s daughter and if they didn’t prep their food for the winter when it grew, they didn’t eat.   Needless to say, she canned many, MANY quarts of whatever was in season, even if she didn’t grow it.   She would get fruit in season and spend many hours in the kitchen, washing jars, prepping the food and canning it.   And because we had a generous sized family and one income producer, I did the same.

Now most families are two income families and time is shorter than income, so many no longer put things up for the year.   Having said that, I think there is still a place for putting things aside.   What if there is sickness in your house and you can’t go to the store, or if there is something like a huge windstorm, snow storm, power outage or whatever that closed the stores or that detained the trucks from getting there? (grocery stores at most carry a two day supply of the majority of their items)    If something like this happened, how long would you be able to hold out, and since your neighbors might not be prepared, can you help them?

When Bill and I went to the grocery store on Wednesday (seniors save 7%), I needed a bottle of rice vinegar which is his favorite in salad dressings.   Instead of the usual 3.49, it was marked 2.39 (-7%) making a savings of 1.26 on each bottle which is nearly 1/3.   I bought a dozen bottles.   He asked where I would put it.   When we came home, I showed him.   He was surprised and his next question was “Do you know what all you have?”    I do, but not nearly enough, which is why I buy (and rotate) when I find items we use on sale.   Then he saw some apple juice which surprised him and off he went with that – a happy man.

I still have fresh squashes we grew last summer waiting their turn to be used.  And the freezer is slowly emptying for the next round of food (though if power is off, you may lose your food).    Not only do we have food to keep us from the grocery store at least a month, we also have stored away at least that much for our animals.   And don’t forget that water would also be needed.   We are on a well, so no power, no water.   Even in the city, water can be compromised.    And while you’re putting things aside, it wouldn’t hurt to check your bathroom supplies as well.

We also have firewood stacked and blankets if we lost power which would without a doubt be during a cold snap.  I do have to get a new supply of flashlights.   It seems they get easily lost.   And I should check my match supply.   Yes,  there are still areas where we aren’t ready.

Then there is the matter of what would you do with the time, if you can’t get out and there’s no power.   We have books and I have handwork I can do.  I think I could even come up with a monopoly game of checkers left over from when the children were still at home.

It has been years since our last big power outage.   We were without 4 days and had neighbors who also needed to get warm and have a warm meal.   We cooked over the wood insert stove and slept on the floor in the room with the fireplace and lots of blankets.   During that time, I also did a fair amount of spinning wool.   It wasn’t lots of fun, but it was doable.

And if the news should give a wanting, the store shelves will empty so fast, you won’t believe it, unless you’ve seen it.  It’s nice to be able to hole up and not worry.   And it is doable, just a bit at a time.   And if your house is really small, how about small spaces, like under beds, attics, etc.  I think this is something we should all consider.

2014
05/08

Category:
Life
quilts

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Tell it to the Stars update

Rainy again today – such lovely weather to work on my blocks for the BOM projects.   And that’s exactly what I did.

Judy’s “Tell it to the Stars’ blocks were calling my name.   We do two of the same new block each month.    It is advanced beginner level.  We will find out how they all fit together at the end of the year.   But for now here is May’s block.

P1010432

And here are all the blocks we have done so far

P1010433

I also notice it is May 8 and I have not yet tallied what I finished on my April “to do” list, nor have I put down what is to be done in May.   So I will work on that list for tomorrow.   I enjoy the quilting but have spent more time than I like to think about walking.   I averaged 10,000 steps a day this past week which my fitbit thinks is 4.25 miles/day.    It gets to the point, I can walk in a zombie state.   But walk I will!    So tomorrow I will plan the rest of the month so that I will actually get something done.

2014
05/07

Category:
Life

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Grandpa’s Pond up to date

I tried cannellini beans for the first time today.    They were good mixed with pasta, some garlic, and a bit of kale. So here’s what lunch looked like.

P1010428 lunch with cannellini beans

Did you know that walking for 1/2 hour after your meal helps to regulate your blood sugar.   That is just a moderate walk, which could even be around your house (in 0r out) til you get 1/2 hour in.   (It also takes time from my day which makes me have to force myself to walk).    Even so, after lunch and the walk, I worked on my Grandpa’s pond block and I’m now up to date – thru May.  This block was the cattails.

P1010429 bulrushes

She hasn’t told us yet, where to put them, but my guess is off to the left.   I’m not sure if something will go between it and the boat or maybe the cattails will go on the other side.  What’s your guess?

P1010431 granpas pond thru may

2014
05/06

Category:
quilts

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On my design wall

The March block of “On grandpa’s pond” was lots of fun.   I enjoyed watching it come to life.     However, I’m really thinking next year, I will collect all the months for a BOM and do it when they are all in.   I like to know how they are all going to fit together before I start and I like any errors in the pattern to be corrected before I begin as well.

P1010425 ducks

Here is how it attaches to the other blocks.  It is still pretty narrow, so without a doubt, there will be more blocks on either side of the fish.

P1010425 ducks added (2)

Tomorrow I will do April’s block and will be caught up on this BOM, I think.   But the sun is supposed to shine, in which case I’ll be outside planting.

2014
05/05

Category:
Life

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On Grandpa’s Pond – May block

 

I do hope the forecast is right and that we will get a couple days with sun .   I know the rain is important and maybe in August I’ll appreciate it much more.

 P1010423

Here are the May blocks.   I think next to the January fish, these have been the easiest so far.

 

P1010424

I have not done the March and April blocks, but did May because they show them as fitting together like this.   Hopefully I can get caught up this week.

 

2014
05/04

Category:
Life

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A Birthday

Ah, yes, I am blessed with another birthday.   Many of our family members met at Panera Bread for a get together, complete with cards, gifts. noisy chatter, and laughter.    Having a big family is GREAT!    (I am on the left with the black jacket)

P1010417 gathering

These are cards I received.   Notice the one telling me I am a custom design, tailor made.

P1010421 cards

And gifts:   some wonderful mesh bags for bringing produce – no more dragging all those thin plastic bags home, only to recycle.

P1010420 bag gift + worms

And a worm bin from one and worms for the bin from someone willing to part with some of his much loved pet worms    (no photos of these yet)

And a really darling little hedgehog magnet that now holds front and center on the refrigerator

P1010422 HH gift _ worm bin

And soon after I came home,  these two marvelous creatures arrived.    They are darling 3 month old white Cormo lambs.

P1010418 he she babies

P1010419 cormo babies

Plus all the emails wishing me a Happy Birthday –  I am indeed blessed     Thanks to each of you.

2014
05/03

Category:
Life

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New Friends

As I was going through the door, I bumped our name sign that was setting by the front door.   And look at the new friends who just happened to have their little family there.

P1010410 little toads

P1010411 toad family

One of these parents resided their last summer and now has brought a partner and is raising an adorable little family.  Aren’t they just adorable?

2014
05/02

Category:
quilts

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Feb blocks for “On Grandpa’s Pond

February’s blocks were a bit more interesting with the “castle”.  I decided I liked the look better with the zigzag around each piece in the color of the piece, so that’s what I’ve done.

P1010407 Feb blocks

And here I’ve placed it beside the January blocks.  It appears the quilt will be building upwards month by month.

P1010408 Jan & Feb blocks