Category Archive: Life

2021
02/03

Category:
Foods
Life

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Life ends and begins again

2 month old Will, named for this grandpa, arrived by plane and this photo was taken a few hours before the end of my husbands earthly chapter.  We were blessed that each family member had some time with their dad the last day.  His mind was clear, but his heart just wasn’t strong enough to carry on.  The good news is we WILL meet again.   I am looking forward to that chapter of our lives.

I have been keeping very busy, using what energy I have.  There is so much to take care of: paper work, finances, and cleaning things out.   Each of the children was able to take some memories that are important to them.  The clothes have gone to meet other peoples needs.

 

 

 

When Bill retired, he decided to try some of the hobbies I enjoy. This is the only pair of socks he ever made. They will go to his namesake.   Before he broke his arm in March, Bill  made some of these Aunt Matilda slippers.  I just finished sewing them up. They still need little pompoms.  Crochet was much easier for him; so there are a number of these infant caps.  I will take them to the hospital.

 

Today I canned 21 quarts of potatoes.  The winter has been so mild, they are already sprouting.  I use the french fry cutter and when ready to use them, they are so easy to heat up for mashed potatoes or for soup.  Another way I like to use them is to add seasoning and blend them with a cooked carrot (for color) and use them as a gravy for my baked potato – no added calories.

Next on my list is to start working on taxes and try to put some fun activities in my week.

2021
01/16

Category:
Life
sheep

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January “fun”

As soon as the sun comes up on these cold days. I love looking out and seeing this sight.  It is so calming, something I need on these days when I have two close family members in the hospital with bad hearts.

 

Right now my husband is in the hospital fighting for his life.  His heart is struggling to pump enough to clear his lungs.  We wait for the daily call from his physician, mean while, we pray the Great Physician will heal him.   We do not know the end from the beginning and pray that God will do what is best for him, knowing that if he is not healed, there will be a great reunion in the hereafter.

It seems life is on hold while we wait.  It’s difficult to want to do the things that usually bring pleasure and I’m not fighting it.  Some of you have been where I am now.   Others have it in their future.

 

 

One day this week, we had the “fun” of power outage for about 12 hours.  It is wonderful to have a roaring fire to keep warm.   However, our son, was outside cutting the trees that fell across the fence line and the road.  I’m so thankful he enjoys this type of work, as it is so needed. He now has the tree removed and the fence and hot wire back in place. The livestock are once again secured.

 

Tonight I will  go and work on some fleeces, getting them ready to go to the mill.  Tomorrow is a new day and a new week.  We will be getting a half load of hay and maybe some snow later this week.  I will hope for no surprises this week.  And I pray that you will also have a great week.

2021
01/07

Category:
Knitting
Life

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1 Comment »

Knitted wash cloth therapy

Even a small project is helpful in chasing away the blues while sitting with or tending to a patient.   This week I knitted 2 wash cloths to chase away the Covid blues.

For this Christmas Flower Washcloth from NobleKnits.com I used Knitpicks Dishie and a size 8 needle.   Next time with this yarn, I will try size 9 needle as it is just a smidgeon small.

Then I knit “Pumpking” by Teresa Gregorio using size 8 needles on Bernat Handcrafter Cotton.  The size knit correctly.   However, I have never tried this type of increase (KFBFB) before and I pulled the stitches a bit tight.   But it was great learning a new stitch while lowering the stress level.

What have you found helps you during these times?

2021
01/01

Category:
Life

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A New Year and starting again

2020 was a difficult year not only because of Covid, but my husband has had a difficult medical year, starting with a broken arm.  We have spent time in the hospital and at Doctors offices.  He still takes a lot of care, but I need to reach out to you my friends for my sanity.  Therefore, I’m making an effort to get back to some sewing, knitting, quilting, this year and share with you.  My goal is to post at least once a week.  And I would absolutely love to hear from you.

Join with me in making this a better year.

Happy New year.

 

2020
02/02

Category:
farming
Life
quilts
sheep

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1 Comment »

Child’s Sunbonnet Sue Quilt

The neighbor girl who has been helping by playing with the pups needed a quilt – or so the pups and I thought since she didn’t have one.   So I made this for her which is 50 x 60.   I “enveloped” it and used the butterflies and ribbons where our ancestors would have tied the quilt.  The backing is so fitting since we live in Western Washington where we are setting rain records lately.

Even the pups have been bored with the rain and mud.  They are finding indoor activities, called “Who can make the smallest pieces out of Mom’s calendar”.   

The other “fun” activity we have had this week is an unexpected population explosion.  6 new babies in the last 3 days.   Either the girls had secret dates or there was a very young boy that reached sexual maturity extremely early.  We did purposely breed 5 ewes that we believe are due in April, but those are not the moms giving birth.    Oh, what fun a farm can be!!!! Certainly not boring.

We have been relaxing by putting together jigsaw puzzles.   Somehow they calm the mind and give one space to think. 

But really, who buys purple sheets?   I guess it’s better than dying my hair that color.  It was a daring stretch for me.

2020
01/29

Category:
Life
quilts

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

Sunbonnet Sue flimsy

Using a bit of time here and there, the flimsy is done and the quilting has started.  I used the same layout my mother used when she made me a quilt using similar blocks when I was young.

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2020
01/07

Category:
farming
Life
quilts

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Comments Closed

Time Flies

Time flies and this last year, the sheep have taken most of my time and energy, but I really miss the quilting and blogging.   I decided this year, it is important enough to at least get a little done each month.   This morning I pulled out these Sunbonnet Sue blocks and my goal is to make a quilt top from them before the end of the month.  After making 3 twin size quilts with the other blocks, these 15 were left over.   I’ll think this layout will work.   I am linking to https://www.elmstreetquilts.com for the sake of accountability.

The 10 pups have had a lot of extra attention this past week since the schools were on vacation.   Here the neighbor is telling them the story of the Lion King.   At their 10 week vet check this past Friday, the weights were between 18.5 and 25#.   No wonder we are going through so much food!

2020
01/02

Category:
farming
Life

COMMENTS:
Comments Closed

Happy New Year and Decade

 

Yesterday was a family day to play.   I chose a rather challenging puzzle which may be here for the month.   It is interesting to watch people’s reaction.  Most people find it compelling to fit at least one piece.

 

The Great Pyrenees pups are now 9 weeks old and in with the sheep.   They are loving the additional freedom and room to explore.  So far they and the sheep are mostly eyeing each other     Tomorrow will be fun.   The neighbor and I are taking all 200 pounds of them to the vet for their official wellness visit.

I’m still trying to make ICLOUD work so I can access photos from both the upstairs and the downstairs computer.   So far, a lot of time spent and a big failure.  If you are successful, please let me know how to download and upload photos.

My prayer is for each of you to have a blessed year.

2019
06/23

Category:
Garden
Life

COMMENTS:
3 Comments »

June 2019 garden

Here is a photo of the outside garden boxes.  Onions in front, with squash and corn at the other end.  The next two boxes are potatoes and the 4th box has beets, peas, green and yellow beans.  Each box if 4′ x 32′.

The upper hoop house has sweet potatoes (experimenting) and tomatoes fill the other half.   There are some unhappy banana plants on the potting bench and some citrus that are recovering from sunburn.

On the left the empty spaces are harvested greens, then purple Chinese cabbage, a green bok choy, carrots, radishes, salad onions, lettuce seeds, and the raised part at the end is strawberries.   On the right, the cabbage and celery  got burned due to my misunderstanding of the on and off buttons and we had a hot day and the fans were off.  They are starting to recover.   There are some healthy weeds at the far end and up front chives, harvested “cut and come again” lettuce and parsley.

The hanging basket has tomatoes, another experiment, while there are red, orange, and green peppers below.  There are beets and broccoli at the far end.   On the right, the cucumbers didn’t make it, so have some squash in the back and some melons in front    There is another box on the far right which is not yet filled with new dirt and a box across the back from which we have harvested some garlic.   The garlic is only okay, so will find a new location next year.

The upper hoop house, outside boxes and two of the lower hoop house boxes are new this year and we started late.   Hopefully next year, I will be able to start planting at the proper time.

 

2019
06/17

Category:
Life
quilts

COMMENTS:
1 Comment »

Quilt that didn’t want quilting

 WOW!  I’m sorry for neglecting this blog so long.   I started this quilt a year ago and put it on the quilting machine early June.   I had plenty of time to get if quilted for a gift, but it didn’t happen.

First, I lost power and had to find the pattern again and set it up to fit as I was in the middle of a row.

After that, the computer on the quilting machine died and I had to get an upgrade as that one was no longer supported.   When that arrived, I had the machine serviced and the new computer adjusted.

Then I had to have the technician return as the program was not behaving correctly.  Even now, the thread wants to keep jumping out of the tension disc.

Then I ran out of the correct color of thread.  I bought more of the thread the end of February and tried to avoid going into the studio because this quilt just kept looking at me very accusingly.

The only sewing accomplished this winter was mending sheep coats.

Finally, enough is enough, and in order to get over this mental block, I took myself in hand and finished the quilt.   I had issues with thread jumping out of the tension disc and took the quilting out each time it did that and started over.  However, it is quilted.   As soon as I took it off the frame, I squared it up and bound it.   It is now on the way to its new home, and at last, the studio is once again calling my name.