Ankle brace and long ago
I spent two afternoons getting this ankle brace fit. I somehow injured the tendon that goes by the ankle and so for at least the next 6 weeks, I will be wearing this. It does slow me down some. But hopefully it will give the tendon time to heal.
This afternoon, I was looking for felt that I think I have to finish the twinkling snowmen wall hanging when I found a box that was put away long ago and I wasn’t even missing. In it were some unfinished projects. Imagine that! One was labeled as a quilt that a daughter was going to make. However, she only chose fabrics and didn’t actually start. So that was easy, I just put the fabrics back with the other fabrics. Project done. 
Then there was this Fall pattern with pattern pieces pinned to it and not put back together very carefully. So I will try to figure out what was going on here and possibly finish it. The pattern is dated 2001, so I know that it is not older than that and might be 2-3 years younger.
I did make a trip to the grocery as it has been so very dry that we are having to supplement this for nectar from flowers so the bees don’t starve this winter. 
Then I went to the bee supply store. The item on the left is a “J” hook to use when looking inside the hive and the thing on the right is a “bee protein patty” which I’m guessing has peanut butter in it. The screen is for making the entry hole smaller to keep the yellow jackets from storming into the hive and stealing.
We froze a few more bananas for “nice cream” which we enjoy on hot days.
And, because you asked, this is what the cucumber chips look like when they are ready to eat.
Housework and heat
Housework was how I started my morning. It gets to the point, you can’t put it off anymore. No, it’s not all done, it’s just acceptable again. Daughter and grandsons came to visit and we played Crazy 8 as it was too hot to go ride the tractor. After they left, the animals were fed and it is still too hot to do anything. So DH and I are just relaxing. Tomorrow is supposed to be 10 degrees hotter, so I’ll deal with garden produce and fix a filling lunch. A son is coming for lunch and a visit and I have an afternoon appointment. Nothing exciting there. I’ll plan on being back on Wednesday.
September’s OMG plus other goals
ELM STREET OMG
This project has been in the making for 3 months and this is as far as it has come. So this will be my primary focus. I’ve stalled because this will take thinking and doing some unfamiliar things. All those spots in the photo on the left are little twinkling lights. Perhaps linking up to Elm Streets One Monthly Goal will give me the push I need.
OTHER GOALS: September’s sewing/quilting goals will be more modest as we have much work to get the sheep and pastures set up for breeding. We also will be finishing up the gardens in the next two months. Grapes are set to start picking in another week and tomatoes, cucumbers, and other items need to be harvested and put up. Then there are the new greens for winter which are just peeking out of the ground. Hopefully, we will get the water and propane lines finished that we started. Then we are still waiting for the big dozer to come in and clear more land that will be put into pasture. So the next two months will be extremely busy.
2. I haven’t chosen a project yet, but there will be one for Hatched in Africa
3. If there is time, I’d like to get another of the Sunbonnet Sue quilts quilted and bound.
TODAY: I occupied my time picking up some bananas at the grocery and two 30 mile round trips to pick up the grain that I had ordered. It comes in 40# bags and I was on my own today. So I was pleased to find that I could handle the 26 bags and get them where they needed to be.
I am also doing a fair amount to studying to find exactly what these sheep need to produce the best wool. It seems there is some controversy on this, so I’m doing some research.
Kitchen work, fiber play
Kitchen work this morning included finishing the pear butter which has now been finished and processed, ready for the winter. Then I sliced these cucumbers to dehydrate for chips. They are so good with hummus, which is made with one can of white beans and one can of garbanzos. I process this until smooth by adding a bit of water and then soy sauce and lemon juice to taste. Oh, soooo good.
Then it was time fiber play time. My neighbor and I changed coats on some of the lambs (can’t take a photo while holding sheep) and then we were joined by these lovely people from the Brooklyn Tweed company. They came to touch and examine the Cormo sheep that live here. They wanted to see how they are raised and how lusciously soft their wool is as they are considering a line of Cormo wools for their company. We spent a delightful afternoon with them and then it was time to feed and water the sheep for the evening. It was such a lovely way to begin September.
And now: Shabbat Shalom and have a safe and wonderful holiday.
2017
08/31
Category:
Bees
farming
food
Garden
Life
machine embroidery
quilts
Sewing
COMMENTS:
1 Comment »
Whirlwind August
What a whirlwind this month of August has been. I feel as if I have been chasing my tail. Today is the end of the month and I did finish 4 sewing/knitting goals, but two were left undone. A third,
is now put together with backing and batting, but when I have time, I’d like to add more quilting.
In addition to these projects, I have spent an incredible amount of time in the kitchen. Today again, there was more pear butter canned as well as more produce brought in. I have another dehydrator full of cucumbers for chips, the last batch of pear butter is condensing in the crock pot, the refrigerator is full of cucumbers waiting their turn. I gave up and gave some raspberries, blueberries, cucumbers, zucchini, and tomatoes to the neighbor. The grapes are starting to get ripe and the weather is so incredible, this scenario may continue for another month. We have started new beets and greens for the winter and they have popped their little heads above ground now. And we water, water, water, water. Usually it rains a day or two when school starts, but not this year.
Today a neighbor came over and we wormed 1/3 of the sheep for the winter. We will be dividing them and giving each group a suitor soon. Then we count out 5 months to start the baby business.
In between all this, we have made time for doctors visits and a very few staples to eat. (Today, I visited with the Geek squad so I could bring you this report – I love those fellows) And we have daily fed, watered, and cared for the bees, sheep, ducks, geese, and dogs – oh, yes, and for each other. I am loving this crazy, out of control summer.
Scrappy Hedgehog flimsy
The scrappy hedgehog flimsy is done. I put in two babies to make enough blocks. The fabric on the right will be the backing. But now I’ll wait until a baby is due that is just right for this quilt as it is easier to store flimsies than to store finish quilts with the batting. These little hedgehogs from Hatched in Africa are just so cute and easy to stitch.
Wedding question
My son and finance` are planning their wedding. They are considering 100 guests and live in San Jose, CA area. I need some advice on what they should expect financially. Her family is from Armenia and their customs differ from ours. He seems to think a wedding for this many people would typically costs somewhere around $50,000 which neither family can afford. Now, I’m asking you, my friends, your opinion on whether this is reasonable (seems like a lot of money for 3 hours entertainment). How would you go about coming up with a cost that is more reasonable?
It was hot here today – meaning 90 degrees in the Seattle area and Mary came for a visit. She is still wearing a brace since she fractured some bones in a CamAm accident a month ago. But she is healing well. So we relaxed and shared photos and did some watering. It should go down in history that no sewing or knitting was done.
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Male & Female cardinal, bee suit and naan
This is the female cardinal paper pieced. It comes with two patterns and not thinking, I made the one facing the same as the male, so at some point, I will make the other so they can face each other. I am linking up with ELM STREET Quilts “One Monthly Goal”
I finished this male earlier this month
This is my bee suit. The bees like to crawl in right at the top of the zipper and sting me on the neck. NOT a lot of fun. So I took a piece of fabric sewed it to the neck of the head piece and it will Velcro to the body part. This is my effort to keep those bees out of there.
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