Category Archive: Life

2015
05/08

Category:
farming
Life

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Watched pot BOILS

We went to the eye doctor this morning and then lunch.   When we came home, we did not see Gracie anywhere.   I changed and went looking for her.  Yes, she was hiding and in definite labor.  So the rest of the day was spent as a midwife.   We got her into a jug and she was very calm with me beside her talking softly and some petting.

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It took awhile, but finally, some tiny hoofs

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And eventually a little nose to go with them

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Hello world!   I’ve arrived.

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This first time mom isn’t quite sure what this is, but knows to clean it.

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And she’s not quite sure what this fellow is doing.   But finally they get it together and they are a happy team.  I marvel at how the Creator has given these little ones the instinct to do the things that need to be done.  They will stay together in this small jug for a week until they are bonded, shots are given, and any other medical care is completed.   Then they join the flock.

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This is the curious crew who all must come and say hello to the new one.

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And so goes another day on the farm.   There should be another 3 days like this some time this month.

 

Around and around we go

In more ways than one we circle.

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I spend those little waiting minutes spinning – still working on the dog hair.

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I have made some progress, but still more spool to fill.

The other spinning area was spinning car wheels.   We started out with a scheduled doctor visit,  then to the sewing center,  then to AT&T to find out if they could get my Fitbit to work again.   No, but they had an idea we could try at home.   Meanwhile, they had them on sale for $20. off until Mother’s day and we had 14 days to return, if the other idea worked.   Ok, we went for that idea.   Then off to Costco for a few groceries.   As we walked in their door, they had a better deal on the Fitbit and longer to return it if we could make the first one work, so we bought one there.    After Costco, we returned the one to AT&T, gassed up the car and went home, just afraid one of the sheep had lambed and might need help.    No, but we are still watching that “pot”.

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So we had lunch* and headed back out to the grocery store and to get a few more tomato plants that someone recommended.  They also had alyssum, so must have some of that to put in front of house that is half weeded.    Home again, I collapsed on the bed for a bit of a nap.   Today was one of those days that I woke up at 3.30, so told myself I deserved a rest.   IMG_2215Afterwards. I went back out and finished the tomato bed in the hoop house.   Tomorrow morning, the plan is to plant the tomatoes.

 Please tell me this sounds like some of your days?    If so, know you are not alone.   We can certainly empathize.   Oh, and after we came home the last time, the dentist called and said they had a cancellation for teeth cleaning tomorrow afternoon.   Could I take that slot.   And that is why the tomatoes have to go into the ground in the morning.

* Quickie bean soup.    Because I guess on a lot of ingredients, these aren’t exact.   Also I cook my beans and then can them, which make them very soft, but you could achieve the same thing by cooking until really done.   I opened a pint of red beans (could be another type), into the blender with a pint of hot water, some Brewer’s yeast, chicken-like seasoning, garlic and onion powder and salt.   Using a high-speed blender, I blended them for about 2 minutes.  Meanwhile I opened another jar and heated the contents one minute in the microwave.   I put 2 tablespoons of beans in each bowl of soup.   It was so very good and it was fast.   I had salad ingredients prepped and so lunch was on the table in 5 minutes.

2015
05/05

Category:
Life

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Weeds

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Today after a lovely lunch, it was time to face the weeds as well as get the tomato patch ready.   I fertilized and raked the tomato patch, but  it was so dry, we are having to soak it before planting.   So then I attacked these weeks.   They are small, but plentiful.   At the half way point, the sky opened and I retreated.  The half I finished looks great.    One thing I noticed in weeding the front was the job that I paid a young man to do, was pretty on top, but not a good job when one looked deeper.   There were items just buried that should have been removed.    I guess there are lessons in gardening that we can all take into our lives.

 

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2015
05/04

Category:
food
gluten-free cookng
Knitting
Life
machine embroidery
quilts

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A birthday!

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Yes, I added another year to my age.   It is terrific that I am still active and can add another year.  Daughter, Jennifer sent this pretty fruit basket.   Another daughter called to tell me, there is a picture book coming.   Many friends from whom I rarely hear wished me a happy birthday (for your part, thank you Facebook).  It was a very good day which I will end with knitting.

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My friend, Mary, came over and we spent an enjoyable day in the studio embroidering these little ants for a coming quilt.   Naturally, there was also much conversation and laughter.

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 For lunch, I made my favorite cream of Broccoli soup from the 5 Loaves cookbook     I started by putting an onion and half a red pepper in the blender with a cup of water.  I added 1 teas of garlic powder, l teas of savory, and 1 Tbsp of chicken-like seasoning.   I brought these to a boil and simmered 10 minutes.  Meanwhile I took some frozen broccoli from Costco, microwaved it 1 minute and cut into small pieces.   Then I put it in with the onion and added 2 more cups of water, brought it to a boil and let it cook, maybe 10 minutes – until the broccoli was still green but nearly done.  While the broccoli was cooking I put 3/4 cup raw cashews in the blender with 1/4 potato starch and 2 cups water and blended well.  I poured this into the broccoli, mixed well and served.     I usually make double or triple this much as it freezes so well and I love having it for those days I don’t want to cook.

I did not get the lambs we’ve been expecting for a week.   But then I guess the ewe’s bodies know best.

2015
05/03

Category:
Garden
Life
quilts

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tomato plant shopping

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Another quilt is cut and bagged.    I started to cut another quilt, but then found that part of the fabric was not washed and since it is a red and white quilt, that is important.

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Meanwhile we had a young man here helping us get control of the overgrowth between the planting boxes.   Next time he comes, he will help put plastic down.   Those areas are steep!

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Then since the box in the greenhouse is mostly finished (I have to get the dirt all raked flat), we went over to the greenhouses and purchased several tomato and other plant starts.  Most of the tomatoes, I had never heard of.   Joy grows 100 different varieties of tomato starts.

 

 

 

2015
04/29

Category:
farming
Life

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Naked sheep

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Shearing day arrived!.  Fortunately these sisters work together to make the job faster.

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The sheep being sheared are relatively immobile when set up on their back-end like this.

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But little Ava did not like that they took her favorite adult and were working on him.

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5 sheep, 5 big piles of wool.   At this point, I just piled them on the wheel barrow to bring them up to the house and get them washed, which will happen when the sun comes out again. IMG_2133And the sheep are bare.   With all that wool off, it is clear that we should be getting a couple of lambs in the very near future.

2015
04/28

Category:
Life

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Piano Keys Table Runner

 

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Hurry, this pattern is free at Craftsy, but only until the end of April (Thur).   There are so many  ways you can use the basic design.    Piano Keys by Connie Kresin is simply 2.5″ pieces cut to different lengths and sewn together.  In fact, if you purchase a jelly roll, there is very little cutting.  There are many free patterns at Craftsy.  If you haven’t been there yet, you are missing out.

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I decided to go through a few of my scraps  and I made this blue runner.  It was easy and fun.  I haven’t decided on an applique yet.    It would be fun to have these themed for different holidays.  Maybe I should be doing one for July 4rh.   I know I’d like one for Valentines day.   It’s time to look through a few more of those scraps that moved from the cutting table to the longarm machine.   Oh, yes, and then I could quilt the quilt on the machine.

 

2015
04/27

Category:
food
Life

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Sneezing, coughing and a fast

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The sneezing has been going on since Thursday, but when it interferes with life, it’s time to take action .  After seeing that another blogger was happy with this program, we watched the movie Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead with Joe Cross and decided that might be a way to end this cold a bit sooner.    Although if one does have to get all those veggies and fruits, and clean them, then prepare then, it may set one back another day.  Some of his recipes are pretty good and others I can live without.   It’s a good thing we have a choice.   The good news is if you don’t like something, the next time you make it, use a different fruit or vegetable.

Today was our first day and though we are full since we drank a lot during the day, I am very much wanting to chew – you know, like a handful of nuts.   Our goal is 5 days and day one is DONE.

 

 

 

2015
04/25

Category:
Knitting
Life

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Pausa – the green/purple dish cloth

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This is a nice enough dish cloth or should I call them sanity cloths.   However, the instructions were not to my liking.   It had one start with a cast on of 27.   This is none to wide and I cast on of 36 stitches.   There were a couple other places that took a bit of interpretation.  As you can see, the pattern that I ended up with does not look like the photo.   I will not be using this particular pattern again.

 

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Near the end, the ball fell apart and since there wasn’t much yarn and it was big cotton yarn, I handed it to DH to learn to unscramble.   Let’s just say, I ended up doing it.

 

 

2015
04/24

Category:
Life
quilts

COMMENTS:
2 Comments »

Upward and onward with yellow stripe

Thank you so much for all the emails with hugs and prayers.   Daughter is now home, with no memory of how she fell.   So it is time for us to resume life.

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I needed something fairly simple to do this afternoon and these stripes were cut, so I assembled them and this top can now go into the pile to be quilted.   I still have a table full of strips that need to be sorted and put away.  These are easy and pretty enough, that I may make another one or two for people who need them before cleaning off the cutting table.