Today we got so much done. The fellow that sometimes works here had the day off, so he came over to help with some of the little things that needed to get done. Then we went fence supply shopping because what else does one do when a windfall appears in the mail. We need the fencing and a he borrowed a truck. We now have 3 rolls of 330′ goat/sheep fencing and the metal posts to put it up. We still need the wood posts that go with the gates. It is just a matter of when I can get man power to do the work. I think (and hope) they may get started the first of December and I will be out there, cheering them on with coffee, doughnuts or whatever they need to keep going. The sheep and I will be so happy to get the main part of the fencing done. I’ll think about cross fencing later.
As long as we had the truck, we picked up all the potted trees that the renters didn’t want cluttering the place. They are now parked beside the barn. I’m sure when spring comes, we will find many places to put them. Some of them may even go into the ground at the rental. There are still rose bushes to pick up, but we filled the truck out to the end of the tailgate with what were in the front yard. The prior people liked to propagate plants which is why there are so many.
I took the time to quilt this today as well. The binding is on hold.
Gray skies and errands
Gray skies and our errands started here. This is a marvelous store in Puyallup, WA. They have everything to make your dreams come true and I have to be very, VERY careful when I step inside.
Somehow (probably from a few escapes it made over the years, my bobbin holder was out of round and I had to acquire a new one at the cost of $75.00. These things are not inexpensive!
From there we found our way to the post office and the library. Then back home to a very late lunch. DH wanted something raw. So I found these Brussels sprouts and red pepper in the refrigerator, thinly sliced both and put a bit of vinegar over them for a colorful salad. And now to remove a few threads from yesterday’s mishap.
Better days are coming
Better days are coming – they have to be, don’t they? I had a fellow over with a truck today which was a big help as he moved 30 bales of hay from the big barn to the little one. That would have been many trips with a wheelbarrow that only holds one bale. Now the hay is near where we use it. I’m hoping the fence will be up by the end of the year which will solve much of this issue.
Then I asked him to help me with this banana tree. See how it has popped out of the container and growing into the soil. These trees are very hardy and grow fast. Fortunately they are shallow rooted. If I take it outside, it will freeze back to the roots and grow in the spring. I just wanted to see what would happen if I could keep it inside, but it is banging its head on the top of the hoop house.
And look at all the offspring. This is how bananas reproduce. After a tree has bananas, it dies and the little ones grow up to produce more bananas.
But, no, this was not the biggest issue – I started quilting my turtle quilt, then after doing about 1/4th, decided I didn’t like how it was going. So the borders are all done and the quilt is off the frame as I will be taking all of the quilting (except the borders) out and re-quilting this quilt. Better days are coming – aren’t they?
Garden started to bed
We started putting the garden to bed for the winter. We don’t put all of it to bed as there is still food to eat throughout the winter. But as we clean a bed, we put ground cloth down to save ourselves some spring time work. First we picked this large bowl of peppers (with more ripening) and a few salad greens.
We found not only greens, but surprisingly one small head of cauliflower, some onions and carrots.
This single bed is now waiting for spring time. It looks so clean and nice. Since we don’t have heat in here, it will wait until March to get some new growth. The raspberries were also cut back and will be replanted this spring.
Mock Croc socks finished
The Mock croc socks in the hand painted yarn are finished! I used the smaller size by accident, so I knit looser and I am delighted with the socks. I love the color and the pattern. Someday, I will make another pair. This is a free pattern from Knit picks, Just click on the red letters and it should take you to the pattern. Now, I need to decide if I should start another pair of socks during this season or whether I have plenty of other projects that should get finished this year. It would be great to get a couple of the flimsies quilted.
Autumn flimsy finished and lambs
This autumn flimsy is finished and will go on a hanger until I have time to quilt it. See how far ahead I am. I know that I can finish this before next October. The corners were a bit of a challenge because I really wanted to use another fabric, but I didn’t have enough of it. Well, I guess that’s why so many are “scrap” quilts. And yes, for the most part I did use scraps. I’m happy with the way it turned out. Apples, corn, leaves, pumpkins = all speak “end of the harvest.
Keri, who is in the plaid on the left is having a birthday, so her friends invited us to celebrate with them at Panera’s. We really had a great time, and I can’t wait until we can get together again. Keri, please invite them over in April/May when the lambs show up or you can just send them to this site.
Speaking of lambs, today we witnessed a little play between these two. I wonder if their lambs will be black or white. Fortunately, he is very sweet and will stand between you and his girl friend, but that is the limit of his aggressiveness. So I mark my calendar for 5 months from now.
Seed inventory – ready for January catalogues
Today I spent some time doing my seed inventory. Some I have left over, some were from an end of the year sale and some I saved from my own plantings. It seems January 1, the seed catalogs start finding their way into my physical mailbox as well as my computer mailbox. And their offerings are so pretty that I tend to forget that I have any seeds at all and then ….you know the rest of the story. So this year, I’ll be ready. I don’t need many seeds – only perhaps some paste tomatoes and some foods I haven’t grown before. I still need to decide how much of each to plant as this year we will be planting for two families. I need to find out what they want to plant – this is new for them. The other thing for which I want to be ready this year is to replant the spring crops in the late summer again – things like broccoli and cauliflower. It seems we use a lot of them so it would be nice to have extra in the freezer.
This was the largest pumpkin we harvested this year and was too large for the oven without cutting it into several pieces. It baked for 4 hours and tomorrow the plan is I will put it in the food processor, freeze some and make some pies. However, when I have to spend 1.5 hours walking to get my steps done, and go to the gym to maintain the ability to do what I want to do, and then a birthday lunch, I’m not going to guarantee anything else except a rest will get done. These dark, rainy days – which I know we need – do not increase my energy level.
Busy day, not much to show
We had a busy day, but mostly running around to the gym, to the chiropractor, and two stores. No we did not purchase anything, and yes, my back is better. But that didn’t leave as much time as I would have liked for sewing. I wanted to finish this flimsy, but that will wait. I have one more row and then borders. I’m thinking I want to put something in the border corners, but that hasn’t come to me yet.
Last night I was looking through my 2014 goals for knitting, sewing, etc. I did not make one quilt on that list. However, in 2013, I achieved 10 out of the 12. I think much of my quilt problem is like the one above. I catch an idea from someone/somewhere and it soon morphs into something else. This one started with a Christmas quilt I saw, but didn’t need a Christmas quilt, so I changed the colors to autumn and then I was off and running with an entirely different quilt. So the lack of getting something on that 2014 list done, isn’t because I didn’t make quilts. I didn’t make those quilts, but I made many quilts. Yes, I’d still like to make them and I have another entire list to add to it. Perhaps next year, I can put one a month on my list the first of each month and actually achieve some of them. Too many busy days.
The same thing happened with the machine embroidery. I have plenty on my list, but nothing was done this year. It is time to clear everything off this desk except for the notebook with all the lists. Then maybe I can check off some of the items. I would love to check off more than I add. But I know that the neighbor lady and I are planning two gardens this year to feed both families. I’m not sure if that will give us more or fewer busy days.
Autumn wall hanging
I spent several hours working on Autumn Wall Hanging which will be about 48″ square so could also be a wheel chair quilt. I had the 4 pieced blocks done last week, but wasn’t sure where I was going from there
I decided that leaves and pumpkins both fit into the autumn there. Since I didn’t have a leaf pattern I went outside and picked up a maple leaf, put it into the copy machine and produced the pattern that way.
The pumpkin shape was taken from an embroidery design which I used it as an applique. Now I think this is how the blocks will look. I don’t have enough of the rust color in the leaves to do the sashing, so will have to look for another fabric that will look good there. All in all , I am pleased with the progress I was able to make today.
Time consuming errands
Not really an errand, but this window has been bothering me because it is in the laundry room, but can be seen by anyone coming to the front door. It was one of those little things that is annoying only when I am nearby. Today was the day, I could no longer tolerate people being able to look in. This is an old curtain from times long gone, but was usable. I cut off the bottom, turned it up and it will be fine until I decide what I really want to do with this window.
Time consuming errands began in earnest after lunch though the gym came before that. Off to Costco to return some clothes we decided weren’t best for us, over to Walmart for a gift certificate, then Office Depot – time to get next year’s wall calendar. We tried to find a new store but I didn’t have the name of it and we didn’t find it. JoAnn’s didn’t have what I wanted. All in all, several hours were consumed with mixed results. Those are NOT my favorite days. I like productive days.
I came home and tried to change the door knob on the barn, but couldn’t get the old one off. I’ll ask the neighbor to help with that on Sunday. I did get the bee equipment into the garage for the winter. As soon as I can get the barn all fixed up, we will store that type of equipment up there.
Wednesday and Thursday there is a chance of some mild freezing, so I need to get finished with outside activities. And according to my Iphone, tomorrow starts a week of rain except possibly Tuesday. And did you know that Thanksgiving is two weeks from yesterday?
Enjoy the restful Sabbath hours where you can recharge. Shabbot Shalom to those of you who celebrate.