Monthly Archives: March 2018

2018
03/31

Category:
farming
Life
sheep

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Road work, tagging

  Road work has been the “item” the last two days, the men have been working on this road which has been a big mud problem.  It is 300 plus feet long and in the wet winter can try to eat a vehicle.   Midweek they will be laying the gravel. (and I’m betting we will be on a starvation diet after this expense).   But what a treat it will be to walk up to the barn from the house (you see the garage in the distance) on dry ground.

Yesterday after sweeping, mopping and other household chores we spent considerable time

tagging the babies that are big enough – actually we were a bit late in tagging and had to watch to see which lambs claimed the rights to which mother.   Rams are tagged in the right ear, ewes in the left.   This is Kaarstan, a keeper.   She is gorgeous and will be shown this fall. She was born February 13, so is about a month and half.  They grow so fast.

 

Dinnertime is crowd time.

We pray each of you has a wonderful Passover, Easter, or maybe just a wonderful Sunday tomorrow.

 

2018
03/29

Category:
food
Life

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Shopping

Shopping was my word for today.   Beau went with me to get the sheep grain.   I didn’t think ahead or I would have left him home.  He usually lays down in the back of the wagon, but when these bags of grain were loaded, he had a difficult time as they are bagged in that slippery plastic paper.   At first he slid around a lot and then he found a place for each of his 4 feet straddling the bags and planted himself.   He probably won’t want to go next time.

 For lunch I made tabouleh with some of the parsley I picked yesterday.   I then made falafel patties to go with it, which made a great lunch and there is enough for another meal.

Then off shopping again.   We signed up at a new gym, and shopped Costco, Fred Meyers, and Office Depot.   We came home shopped out.

2018
03/28

Category:
food
Garden
Life

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Cooking/gardening day

My cooking/gardening day began in the kitchen.  I found another 10 jars of pear sauce to turn into pear butter since we eat the one, but not the other.   So I filled the slow cooker with the sauce and will cook it down to a bit less than 1/2 what it is now.    Then I went out to the hoop house.  The weeds have started growing again with this warmer weather as well as the plants.   So I spent time removing them and picking produce, I pulled the rest of the Brussels sprouts which were starting to flower.   I picked then pulled out half of the winter broccoli which is basically done.   The winter cabbage is still there along with half the broccoli plants.

 I washed and stemmed the parsley.   When I was done I had these 2 full gallon bags of parsley ready to use.   I washed, cooked, and froze the broccoli.   Winter broccoli is very different from spring  broccoli in that it doesn’t have the nice big clusters, but rather many shoots with buds which are very tender.  So between weeds, harvest, and cleaning, I filled the day.   It seems to take as long to prepare some of these foods as it does to plant and water them.

2018
03/27

Category:
Knitting

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As time goes by socks finished

“As time goes by” socks are finished!   I wished the toes had ended on a dark color, but that is one of those things one doesn’t know when starting.

Then we went to a book signing at Whole Foods with author RIP Esselstyn from Engine 2 foods.  We were quite sure we would freeze to death before it was over, but we didn’t.  It was interesting, however, we didn’t buy anything.  When I buy a cookbook, I use 1 or 2 recipes and I wasn’t about to put out 25.00 for that.    I can get plenty from the internet now.

2018
03/26

Category:
Life
quilts

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Spool Soufflé and Colorful Mountains

This is what happens when your body hasn’t decided if it is on the East or West coast timeline.

Spool Souffle has had trouble coming to the front and getting finished.   But it is now and ready for gifting.   It measures 62  x 74″ and is ready for gifting.   It is a Fat Quarter shop pattern.

 

Colorful mountains is a block in general public information and I used a fat quarter pack which I have no idea how I acquired, along with a pale blue for sky.  I used the leftover pieces for binding and the back is also a leftover piece of backing.  So this quilt used pieces that had not yet found a home.   It measures 55″ square and is a perfect lap quilt size.

And that is what happens when your body hasn’t decided if it is on the East or West coast timeline.

2018
03/25

Category:
Knitting
Life

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As Time goes by

(Photos can be difficult to get.)   I have been working on a pair of socks named “As Time Goes By” and the name is so appropriate for today’s post.   I flew to Wash DC for the Celebration of Life event for my sister-in-law who is at the end of her Alzheimer’s journey.   She was so active and her entire life was lived to bless others.  Maybe her genes knew time would not be as long for her, as she had what seemed like boundless energy.   If she saw a need, she was there with a helping hand, from offering child care to a mother who was trying to get more education, to mission service while working a full-time job, where she was able to share her love of baking.   She loved people and you never saw her without a smile that said “you’re special to me”.   And somehow she always had time for you.  At family gatherings when they would come to visit, she always made a stop at Costco and brought more than enough food for everyone. (even though it was a potluck and she was only bringing drinks).   Hospitality was her game.

On the plane I worked on my “As Time Goes By Socks” by Susan Burzynski.  This was a Ravalry free pattern, cuff down,  that I am making with Knitpicks “Felici” yarn in Sprinkles colorway.  I did not get finished but am ready to do the toes.  I am home now, so it’s anyone’s guess when they will actually get done.  Hopefully, this week.  But even that will depend on if emergencies arise.

Meanwhile nothing exciting happened at the farm.   Animals were cared for and no one new emerged.  Maybe this week, we will see a new face or two.

Give your loved ones an extra hug.  Life only seems long to the young.

 

2018
03/23

Category:
Life
sheep

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Stem cell – day after

We found last night when changing for bed that the areas from where the fat was removed was very bruised.  So we slept carefully.   But that was the extent of it.   A small price for the benefits we should receive.

Today I am headed to the other side of the country for a “Celebration of life”  for my sister-in-law.   I’ll be back on Sunday.   But I don’t want you to miss the lambs so here’s a cute face and another photo of how mothers hold the little ones.

2018
03/22

Category:
Life
quilts

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Stem cell day

Today was the big stem cell day.   It took 2 hours to drive into Seattle as there were several accidents, no doubt caused by the rain.  It really was surprisingly simple.   The doctor pokes tiny little holes in the “love handle” areas of the waist with a #30 needle and then suctions some fat out.   Now for me, I didn’t have a problem because I have a bit extra there.   For DH, it was a major problem because he really has no extra fat.   However, they finally did get enough.   They take out what would amount to a stick of butter.  Then they process it to remove the stem cells from the fat.   This takes about 30-45 minutes.  We rested while that was accomplished.    Because I have a bad knee, they inserted the cells into the knee joint and I should have full mobility without pain within 3-6 months.

For DH, it was inserted into a vein so that the body can choose the most needed area.  For Parkinson’s symptoms, we wait the same amount of time.   We do not know what the outcome will be for him.  The doctor has done many Parkinson’s patients and all have had some amount of relief from systems, though there is a variance from some relief to remission.   Also because this is a progressive type disease, they recommend an “annual booster”.    All of this research is so new and they are learning so much continually, that things could change.   We entered as part of a national study being conducted.

 Yesterday, I managed to quilt most of these colorful mountains.   I used a circle design that came with my machine , but changed it to become more oval

I was really short for backing so inserted a block that matched the front.  Now, I just need to get both this and the spool quilt bound and off to their new homes.

2018
03/20

Category:
farming
Life
quilts

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Spool soufflé quilted

After having looked at this on the quilting machine for the last month plus, I am excited to have finished the quilting.  But the binding will have to wait a bit yet.   I somehow injured my ankle so we spent nearly 4 hours going to urgent care.   They were extremely busy.   The outcome was that I just need to stay off the ankle as much as possible and see what happens.   I am so very fortunate to have a neighbor who has offered to clean the stalls for me this coming week.   By mid April, the pastures should be in good shape and that will cut the work load.

 

 

2018
03/19

Category:
farming
Life
sheep

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Younger and stronger

Yes, all this sheep work is exercise, but I bought the sheep to “make me younger and stronger” by keeping me moving and that is what they are doing.  They need me to be able to care for them.  My muscles are slowly growing.   Now I need to learn to better prioritize so that I still have time for quilting and the food garden as well as sheep care.   Bottle babies don’t help the schedule.   I need their mothers to care for them.   I had to laugh when a neighbor stopped by to see the lambs and said “well, I’m 76 and when you get my age…….”.. I didn’t want to ask her how old she thought I was.  I am her age.   That was a great compliment even if she didn’t know it.   And it makes the hard work worthwhile.  I am noticing a difference in balance and walking and plan to continue improving.  I am happy.

There is so very much to learn in caring for these wonderful animals, that I am in a constant state of learning. These 3 sets of Shetlands were combined today as the mothers and their offspring are now bonded.  In 2-3 days, they will be able to go out with all the sheep as the little ones will then know how to dodge the big sheep.