Over the last two days I’ve canned 24 quarts of applesauce plus 2 pints. But if I could say 50 pints, it would sound more impressive. They are cull apples because we didn’t get them sprayed with anything so, I’m losing about half of each apple to insects. Still there are plenty of apples to go around. I’m canning the sauce now and when it’s ugly and cold, we can make apple butter.
And in between batches, I’ve decided it is past time to turn some of my spun singles into plied yarn ready to use.
This is the soft luscious wool from our dog, Beau. I am so pleased with the way it spun up, but don’t have a project in mind yet
A pretty red wool, probably destined to be a scarf as there isn’t enough for a sweater. I think I fell in love with this color, so purchased the roving.
I’m guessing this was one of our Babydoll sheep. But when I don’t label things, I forget. Since there isn’t much wool, that’s my best guess.
All of these are now washed and ready to wind and use when I decide what to knit. Plus I am plying a lot of – maybe 2# of brown yarn I have spun singles. It looks as if there is enough for a sweater. Maybe I can show that tomorrow.
Chicks moving day finally happened!. They are now in the barn in a safe cage and out of the sewing studio. I know they weren’t in here very long, but they don’t belong in here. They belong in the barn and now that they are feathered, that’s where they are. They also have perches and more room, so win for all.
The last three days, I worked on this scarf during appointments and free time, but decided there are things, I don’t like about it, so raveled it and will start again. The white is angora rabbit plied to black wool, so it is very soft and warm and I anticipate wearing it during the cold this winter.
Today was spent “chasing my tail” and waiting. I dislike very much when someone makes an appointment with you and then keeps pushing it back and finally 4 hours later you get together to do what you need to do together. It wastes so much time, because not knowing when she will be there, you can’t really start anything.
The young boys are moved away from their sisters and mothers. One here seems to think the trip was just too hot and tiring. They and their mothers have “baa-ed back and forth all day about how evil we were to separate them. Such is life on a farm
Then I picked some overripe apples as I’m out of applesauce and it makes a great sweetener in baked goods. I was able to can 10 pints. I picked a lot more apples – or rather shook them out of trees. I’m not sure how ripe they are. I’ll test them tomorrow.
While the apples were processing, I cooked some quinoa in broth. In another pan, I sautéed onions and added broccoli until just cooked but still green. Then I made a cheese sauce. I mixed it all together, reserving half the cheese sauce, put it in a greased casserole dish, topped it with the rest of the cheese and that will be our casserole for the weekend.
Most of the sheep have fresh coats on now and will move Sunday to a new field of weeds.
Today I pulled 2/3 of the garlic. It is early, but we had a good spring and because I didn’t have an outside garden ready, I put them in a corner in the hoop house. They will lie here for a week curing before I braid or otherwise store them.
Have you ever eaten the big leaves that grow around the cabbage head. We have found them to be very good – much like collards – only better. DH likes them better than the cabbage head.
My fall seeds are in the ground now for cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. I planted a few green beans bush style on the left side. I think this year we will forget the pumpkins and squashes as we just didn’t get them done. I’m very happy with this now. The peas on the sides are nearly done, and I will replant for the fall. In the outside area (no photo), the potatoes and onions are coming up nicely.
This little lady greeted me when I entered the hoop house this morning.