Category Archive: farming
Moving day
These two have learned to pull things down and drag them around, so it is definitely Moving Day. They were also trying to jump onto the couch. They were moved to the barn. They have their kennel in a heated room for the nights. as I was afraid moving them from the house to really cold might be a bit of a shock when the nights are below freezing. But in a couple days they will have acclimated and after Saturday, we are supposed to have a week of above freezing nights.
They will become real sheep and learn the ways of their kind. And I will get the toys picked up and clean the floors less frequently. Plus today was vaccination day and it was easier for them, to all be together. I will still be taking bottles up for them 5 times a day so we will have a lot of interaction.
When you need a boost , it’s very handy to have mom resting nearby.
There! – With mom’s help, she made it into the feeder.As for the people who live here. Today, we had our general blood work done. When we came home,
the friend that was here visiting yesterday stopped by with the most delicious loaf of home-made sour dough bread which we willingly accepted and is now half eaten. It is wonderful to have friends share with you especially when you have added responsibilities.Delectable mountain tutorial
I’m not sure if this is more for me or you. The delectable mountain tutorial was a dry run before I actually cut out my pieces for the quilt.
I started with 8 1/2″ squares cut on the diagonal. In this case I used the same fabric for the light color in each of my blocks. Sew them together and 
square them up. This I found to be the most crucial step, because somehow when I sewed those large triangles, they didn’t always come out square. So I squared to 8″. (the rest of these photos is using my practice piece)
I put 2 of these new squares together with sides reversed and matching the diagonal line, then cut the 8″ pieces into 4 -2″ pieces and 
switched the two outside pieces and then the two inside pieces so they now look like this. Because you have cut two of these squares, one is the reverse of the other and can be put together like this
to complete your mountain. If you have trouble visualizing this, you might want to make two squares and try it out first. It makes more sense once you have done it.
NEWS ITEM: Meet Paco and Pepita, our latest additions
She is white, but she is fresh and not yet dried in this photo.
Kaarsten, Kristie, and a new start
Meet Kaarsten and Kristie, our two newest family members.
Here are Petunia and Pepe’, our first two who were not expected to survive. Looks like they are doing well.
Our frozen wonderland has made me long for the sewing machine and a new quilt start. Really, I had run out of projects? – no, not really. Just a creative need.
This batch of fat quarters has been hanging around the sewing studio. I have no idea where they came from or when. They are not a grouping that I would have chosen, so they must have chosen me. They needed a purpose and so they are becoming mountains.
I have cut triangles from 8 of these pieces and sewn them together ready to square them up and cut again. Tomorrow, I’ll show you how they are going together.
Essentials
Essentials are all that are happening here, right now. Do you remember when you were a new mother and the baby demanded what seemed like all your time? Right now, that’s how I feel as I hand feed these triplet lambs. I feed 2, diaper, warm the bottle, run up to the barn and feed the one still with mother as she has no milk. Come back to the house and sweep or nap, throw a load in the washer or dryer, or cook. And some days, the grocery store calls my name. But not much else gets done. We are up to 4 hour intervals, day and night, so there is hope. In another week, we should be up to 6 hours and who knows, eventually life may go back to being normal. Thanks for being patient through all of this.
Spool Souffle Flimsy
I grabbed some minutes here and there this week and then an hour to finish the spool soufflé flimsy, which measures 62 x 68″. I’d love to get it quilted before the end of the month, but that will take some real time, which I may or may not get.
The wee ones take much of my time, but they are also a lot of fun and the diapers make it possible for them to have more freedom to follow us around. This photo was when they had full tummies and were tired.
New family
This new family joined us this morning. Mom was not expected to birth this early
therefore, did not get sheared on Sunday. My friend is taking off the excess wool so that the babies can more easily nurse. Another boy and another girl. I almost think they should have Valentine type names. I am getting very good at 1/2 naps. We are now at 3 hour intervals between feedings day and night. It does remind me of the sleepless nights when our children were babies.
Almost ready
The feeder is full, the floor is cleaned with fresh straw and 
she’s almost ready – just in the last stage of waiting. You can see her eyes are closed and she is tired. She’s breathing heavily and babies have dropped. We may be looking at 2 days, but you know nature has a way of it’s own.
Between watching sheep and cleaning stalls, I took some time to finish putting these spools together. I still have the strips and the squares to put between the rows. That will take time to decide which color to put where, but I am happy with the progress I made today.
Lambing supplies
Normally, sheep take minimal care-just feed, water, and cleaning. I’m hoping that the birthing process this year doesn’t take any more care than it has in the past. However, since there should be between 15-20 birthing, it was essential to purchase some emergency lambing supplies for insurance. There are some supplies that are needed for each birth, like the iodine, syringes with needles, etc, but other things are just for emergency. I think I have everything put together except to grab some old towels and purchase some more buckets. $250.00. Fortunately one lamb will pay the bill.
And to add to the fun we have around here, Beau tried to get through this gate as I was trying to keep him from getting through. Now the rotten post is being held up by the latch. Just another something to keep us from getting too comfortable. I think this summer will include replacing many posts.
And the skies just keep dripping – no, today, they were running. I am so ready to see the sun. But the forecasters are telling me that is still at least 10 days away.
Heated gloves
My fingers get so cold when working outside that I purchased these heated gloves from Amazon. There is a place in the cuff to put batteries which will heat the fingers. I was so happy with them for about an hour as they actually were warm. After an hour, the batteries died. I really need gloves that will keep my fingers warm for longer than that so will do more research. But while they worked, they were wonderful. Today I cleaned stalls for more than 2 hours and it is important to have warm fingers. Otherwise, they hurt too much when I come in.
No, I didn’t do any craft today, just relaxed after the barn chores and the lunch – oh, and had some company.
We went to Paneras for our 55th anniversary lunch. Interestingly enough, the area where we sat had 7 tables, 5 with people at them. There were mix ups in the meals of 3 of the tables. Eventually everyone did get what they ordered. Does that mean the caliber of people being hired has gone down?
What did we discuss at lunch? Why of course, the ups and downs, the left and right turns and in the end we are glad we stayed the course. The roller coaster ride has been interesting.
Shabbat Shalom
Juliette won!
Today, DH felt a real need to go to Costco, because we hadn’t been there this year yet and this Parkinson stuff makes him worry even more than before. So while he was putting on his shoes, I started out to the car. You don’t have to guess who bolted past me and past him, going from one end of the house to the other, with a pause in each room as if looking for something. Juliette won! She toured the entire floor (without mishap) before I could get her turned around with animal crackers. Then out the back door and up to where the other sheep are, she followed. She is now a sheep again, in the pasture with the other sheep. Grain does wonders.
And we did our damage at Costco. It is amazing how much one can spend without buying much food. We did buy raisins and figs, and some dog treats. The bulk of our buying was things like toilet paper, dishwasher soap, jeans, etc. and it added up fast. I was glad I had made mashed potatoes, with falafel patties and green beans to fill up before we went to a grocery store. It does save money.