Category Archive: farming

2015
10/11

Category:
farming
Garden
Knitting

COMMENTS:
1 Comment »

Rain, then sun and some knitting

IMG_3330

This is what rain can look like, though rarely does in this area.   Usually it is more of a drizzle, but yesterday, the rain gave all it had.

Since the sun was shinning today, we walked, then went to the feed store and purchased another 11 bags of grain (50# each) which should last a long time with just 4 sheep and a few ducks, etc.    Before we unloaded it into the garbage cans, we cleaned out the feed room.   There is a hot water tank under the counter and it makes the perfect mouse nesting place. nice and warm in the winter.   Now that is all cleaned out and there is quite a bit of mouse “candy” in there.   I don’t think they’ll eat all of that, but if they do, there is still half a package.   Next, we unloaded all the grain into the metal garbage pails and had lunch.

IMG_3333

After lunch, we worked awhile pulling out the rest of the vines, such as tomato, cucumber, and melon.   We felt we deserved a rest and knitting, so we are taking the rest of the day a bit slower.

2015
09/27

Category:
farming

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

Bye Bye sheep

IMG_3279

 

  IMG_3278IMG_3271

It’s a sad day when your babies leave for another home.   2 left on Friday and 3 left today.  The pasture is feeling very empty, but hopefully not for long.  The consoling thing is that the people who purchased them seemed like good homes.   The ones on Friday went to a vineyard with others of their kind.   Today’s went to a family with 5 children.

Be sure and watch for the Blood moon tonight from 7:15 PDT to I think around 8.

2015
09/25

Category:
farming
Life
quilts
Sewing

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

Fallen deer and ?sewing

IMG_3281

Last night at dusk, we found we had a dead deer by the driveway.   So this morning we made many phone calls while government departments passed the buck and gave us wrong phone numbers.  The wildlife people won’t come out unless it was poached.   Now how would I know that?  Well, they could come inspect and if was an attempted poach, they would take it, but if not, they would leave it.   Seemed like a waste of my tax dollars.

IMG_3282

We finally had someone tell us that while it is on our property, no one will touch it.  Move it off the property and they have to deal with it.  So DH took it up to the corner where the school bus turns around and another neighbor reported it.   They probably didn’t want school children seeing it as it was removed.

IMG_3284

So after a workout, cleaning, and making a meal, there wasn’t a lot of my day left.    I started to make this cute little quilt, but stopped when I couldn’t find my roll of double stick stuff that I just purchased.   I need it to do eyes, wings, etc.  And this is how UFOs happen.

IMG_3283

So I moved on and cut out 4 doll raincoats.   Once cut out, I should be able to get them all done in the coming week.  The plastic is really cute tweety bird fabric that I think was intended for children.   I am lining it with solid yellow.

Have a great Saturday and I’ll see you back here Sunday evening.

2015
09/24

Category:
farming
Life
quilts

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

Day at the fair

IMG_3249

We did make it to the fair today!.   Fairs are so busy and fun that I forget to take photos.

 

IMG_3241

IMG_3242

 

 

 

IMG_3243

IMG_3244

IMG_3245 IMG_3247

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First we headed to the quilts.   These were my favorites

IMG_3250

Then it was off to the sales pavilion where I found this interesting DVD

IMG_3251

And Bill found this ratchet pruning shears

IMG_3270

Our last stop was to see the sheep.   I picked up this  card and sample of wool because the sheep was so cute and small and with all the talk about the sheep, totally forgot to take his photo.

IMG_3277

We came home and just about dark – after I thought we were stood up, the men who wanted these two sheep actually showed up for them.   It was a good day.

2015
09/21

Category:
farming
Life
Sewing
spinning

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

Finding something fun to do

IMG_3232 After finishing the last quilt, I’m having a very difficult time, getting in the frame of mind to start another project.   I found this lovely wool and angora roving when we were cleaning out the closet, so  started spinning it.  It feels so soft and yummy.  I don’t even remember purchasing it, so it has been here for some time.

IMG_3233

DH wanted a small pillow – about 6 x 9 – with sleeping herbs for night time.   This is what I came up with.  So when he wakes in the middle of the night, hopefully, he will relax enough to go back to sleep. The pillow contains a combination of lemon balm, hops, skullcap, chamomile, mugwort, and peppermint.    I found the ingredient list in an old herb book and put them together awhile back, so don’t have the exact amounts right now.  ( the corner is just bent under – it really is rectangular.)

IMG_3235

And we can’t forget the sheep who love being under the maple tree when resting.  It must feel safe to them.

2015
09/01

Category:
farming
Life
quilts

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

Sane?

Today after breakfast, we, no I, decided to do our workout.   So we took the mattress off our king sized bed, then proceeded to reverse the sides of each set of box springs.   What a difference that made.   When one often sits on the side of the bed, it gets a bit weak, so by changing them around, we probably will get another 2 years out of this mattress set.   And that was a big workout!

Then while I spent time on the phone with Carbonite (I recommend them to anyone who doesn’t want to lose info on the computer) DH went to get more feed.  When he came back we put it in the garbage cans for that purpose.

IMG_2990

After a late lunch, I had time to work in the studio, which convinced me that I may not be totally sane.     This has been on my desk for a very long time, Copyright is 1993.   I have no idea when I bought it nor did I remember even cutting these pieces out.   The finished size is 18.5 x 16.5″.  The pattern is meant to hang on the wall to pin lapel pins on.

IMG_2992

I found two sets of these vest backs with instructions to “turn under raw edges of armholes, shoulder and neckline 1/8″ and applique edges to background fabric.”   And I have 24 of these!

IMG_2991

This is the other set.  These vest fronts were sewn, but not turned.   You see there is one missing in the upper right and the first set (above this)  have only backs.   There is no additional colored fabrics, and only a bit more of the white background.   The fronts are attached only at the shoulders and many of them will have an inside pocket – also hand sewn.   This is how ufos are created.   So now I have what little vests have been sewn, turned.   I will put it away for awhile.  Maybe I’ll run out of something to do and figure out what to do with this.

 

2015
08/29

Category:
farming
Life

COMMENTS:
1 Comment »

The Foxes are ready for a new home

IMG_2967I feel so back to normal!   I’ve been enjoying this “California weather” we’ve been having for the last 2 months.  Yesterday,  I woke up to rain and cooler with the forecast for a whole week of rain – that’s right 7 days with wind off and on.  So normal, but not for the last week of August.  I think the earth shifted an entire month forward.    And we need the rain, so I’m not complaining.

IMG_2979

And I don’t think I’ve updated you on these fast growing chicks.  Two of them are no longer with us.

IMG_2978And these fellows are done and ready for their new home.

2015
08/17

Category:
farming
food
Life
spinning

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

The car failed me

 

IMG_2920 My cousin has been cleaning out items she thinks she no longer needs and has sent me several doll clothes books.    Interestingly enough not a one of them has been a duplicate of what I have.    Now I need to get busy and trace patterns so I can make clothes.    Christmas will soon be here and I want some little girls to be happy.

Today, the plan was to go to Seattle (an hour drive) to get some organic peaches.   I got about 5 miles from home when the car shuddered, started shaking, and sounded horrible.  So I called DH  – cell phones are wonderful  – and he came to my rescue.  We took it to our mechanic fearing the worst.   However, a spark plug had worked loose and that bill was only $70.   As long as the car was there, we had the annual service done, so now I’m ready for the winter and nothing should go wrong.   I do like to have the car trustworthy as there is no other service here in case of emergency.

We did get the peaches while the car was being serviced.   After coming home, we took my computer in for a new hard drive.   The technician argued that he didn’t think it was a hard drive problem, even though the Geek squad did think so.   He talked me into leaving it there for a week so they can check it out.   I nearly had a heart attack over being without it for a week     I have this little laptop, but if I save any messages on here, I can’t get them into the proper folders when the desktop comes back.

We went to Panera’s for lunch after taking the computer in.   This was the first time they really scrambled our orders.   When I asked the manager if they had new help, he said several were new and offered us a free meal next time we come in.

My days always seems so full and I wonder why.    Maybe it’s just all these little interferences.     I was able to do a bit of sewing and spinning which I find relaxing.   But nothing was finished.   I’ll get some photos tomorrow when I figure out how to load them on this computer.   I have some really terrific sticky stuff to show you – stay tuned.

 

2015
08/09

Category:
farming
Life

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

A garage?

Yes, we do have a garage.   And yes we have been able to park the cars in there, but we have had so much “stuff” here, there and the next place, that it is sometimes difficult to find things.

IMG_2880

Since my son purchased this shelf unit and didn’t want to take it apart, he gave it to me.   And more shelves are usually good.  All my extra bee frames are in plastic bags and the boxes fit 2 high, there is a place for the tops and the bottoms.    I am one happy person with these all in one corner.

we cleaned more of the garage, but if I could just let go of the fish tanks that I think I still want to use someday and the bikes that the boys have outgrown, I’d have even more room in the garage.  I need to find just the right family who needs the bikes – someone who couldn’t afford them otherwise.

2015
07/14

Category:
farming
Life
spinning

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

Fleece to clean

IMG_2751The morning was spent looking for a cooler large enough to wash the fleece.   I had one for washing and needed one for rinsing.   That took longer than expected because some of the stores were sold out.   I finally found one and came home.

 IMG_2752This is a very dirty “white” fleece from which I  shook loose seconds cuts and took apart

IMG_2753

to fit into these bags to keep it from felting while it is being washed and dried.    By the time, I had accomplished this, it was too hot to be outside washing it.   However, now that the parts are assembled and ready to go, I can do this on another warm day.