This morning, I felt like I needed some time to pull life back together, so I went through my photo memories on my phone. It was fun to go back and see what has happened in the last 3.5 years. There were quilts, sewing projects, a wedding, birthdays, lunches with family, grandsons riding the small tractor – wonderful memories. Remember these ducks from just a few weeks ago? They are nearly grown already.
I realized when going through the photos how much I miss all the sewing. So I started this paper pieced cardinal. Then life interrupted, I went to the post office, made lunch – you know the sort of things we do.
I decided to bite the bullet and start mending sheep coats. Some of them, I’m not sure what to do, because they need more mending than original coat. However, the lesser fatalities that are off the sheep have been mended. Some of these got caught in rose bushes, some rips are just from them rubbing on something sharp to scratch their itch.Chasing my tail
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.
However, we did start organizing the fleeces, marking which ones still need to be gone through and which ones are ready to advertise. The ready ones are now on a rack like in the back and I’ll start going through the others this week.
To make my time more valuable because there will be less of it, I had to tell the young man who sometimes helps me, that I can’t afford stand around time. So either I try to find someone else for a day a week or try to get it done myself, or leave it undone. Unfortunately, weeds still grow – even when it’s dry. Stalls still need cleaning.
I used 3 very large zucchini making this zucchini soup and have 4.5 quarts made so will put 2/3rd into the freezer for an appointment day. I’ll just take it out in the morning and it will thawed in time for dinner. It really is a very simple recipe. I used three large, seeded zucchini, 3 red bell peppers, onion, celery and water to cook the veggies. Then I made a “cheese” sauce to blend into it, seasoned it and done. And even better, those huge zucchini that got away from me are used.
Moving boys, hoop house update, quinoa casserole
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
The hoop house has been overrun with growth plus the fact that I haven’t had time for it for over a week. After a number of foods were nearly done, I poked some “delicate” squash plants along one side. Well that’s what the label on the plants at the store said. They are not Delicata, but they are squash and at least one pumpkin. They are threatening to take over the entire place. It’s near enough to the end of the season, I won’t pull them, but neither will I believe labels next year. Squash plants are now forever banned from inside the hoop house. They are just too happy in there.
This morning I picked tomatoes, onions, parsley, cantaloupe, cucumbers, red and orange peppers from the hoop house. Now they all have to be dealt with.
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.
After lunch and a rest, I had to sit down and pay bills.
And this is why you have not seen sewing or quilting. When the rains start, and days are shorter, there will be time for sewing. “To everything there is a season”
New wagon; exterminator
The wheelbarrow needs work, and it was suggested I get a wagon for what I am doing. So off to Tractor Supply, we went and purchased a wagon kit, which then had to be put together. My choice was to come back several hours later or put it together myself. Since it takes half an hour to get to the store and the box said it only takes 15 minutes to put it together, I opted to take it home and put it together.
The box said it takes 15 minutes to put together. What it didn’t say was that one also needed super human strength or the right tools to tighten the bolts. So my neighbor came over after work tonight and did that for me.
Now I have a little wagon that holds 800# and will tip to dump. I want to be able to haul the debris from stalls to the compost pile and dump it out. It is also molded plastic so will be very easy to clean.
Yellow jackets, paper wasps, and bald-faced hornets have been especially prolific this year, so I gave up and called the exterminator. They have little nests up in near the roof and have started nesting under the siding. But no more. They are gone! I won’t miss them a bit and will be able to use the deck once more.
Clean pens
Since it was cool this morning, today was a good day to clean pens. I tackled the one that is 20 x 12 and had several inches of wasted hay and waste in it. Tomorrow, I will finish by putting all this waste on the compost pile. It would have been done today, but I don’t have a tractor, just a wheelbarrow. Then I have a long area 12 x 30 to do and I can start all over again. Very few things stay finished. Think, meals, housecleaning, gardening, etc.
This afternoon I had a Groupon coupon for a massage and reflexology. It was great timing after all the pitch fork work and I enjoyed every minute of it. The next stop was City Hall to get the information on a permit we need to add a roof adjacent to the barn.
Headband
The winter hat left me with extra yarn, so I knitted a headband for fall using K2, P2 ribbing for 4″, then bound off. I chose 4″ because I wanted to get it done, but may do 5″ next time I make one. I like a headband when I don’t want to mess up my hair or flatten it, but want my ears covered
Today was busy from start to finish including business calls, picking blueberries, cleaning one stall, and so the day went. Tomorrow, I hope to clean another stall, pick apples, and get a massage. The apples are early this year and have started falling and I need applesauce. It seems I usually put more on my agenda for the day, than I have either hours or time to do.
Winter hat finished, Heart Dr.
My winter hat is finished and a welcome addition to my wardrobe. I have enough yarn left to make a band to go over my ears when I don’t need a hat.
This morning we went to the heart Dr. The news was very good. DH elected not to have a stent put in last year and the doctor was surprised that he hadn’t had any pain in that time. He told us that 95% of the people that he recommends having a stent ended up having to have one within two months. But DH is in the 5% that didn’t need it. We credit it with having changed his diet, but the Dr. wasn’t interested in that. So we will continue the way we are eating and enjoying the results. Dr. did remove one medicine from the list and cut a second one in half. If nothing changes, he will remove the second one from the list. That is all good news. We do have a Divine Physician who designed our bodies. We are trying to follow His ways and are thankful for each day He gives us.
Winter hat, hearing aid
With the appointments and the heat, I am progressing nicely on this hat. I have about an inch to finish and then the crown. It changed from a beanie to a hat with a nice flap for cold weather. So I am now using from the second ball.
For those of you wondering. The hearing aid looks like this. The technician takes a mold of the ear to have the plastic piece made to fit. This is to solve the problem of it falling out and getting lost. He did wear it today and life was better.
Quick cookies
Want some really quick cookies that aren’t overly sweet? Take one banana and about 1 cup oats. Mash the banana and start with half cup of oats. Keep adding as you continue to mash. I added a few raisins this morning. If you add too many oats they will be crumbly. Bake 15 min at 350F degrees.
A good share of the rest of the day was spent getting DH’s new hearing aids fitted. Now if he wears them, I should not have to repeat things 6 times and he should enjoy being back in the world where he can hear what is going on around him.
Winter beanie; ducks, grapes, and sheep
Winter Beanie
Just look how much these ducks have grown in a mere 3 weeks. Last year the baby ducks all drowned. It turns out that infant ducks don’t have the oil in the feathers to keep from drowning for 2-3 weeks. This year, our son has been giving them a lot of attention and has gradually been giving them deeper water. They have enough oil on their feathers and are very good at swimming, so he doesn’t have to worry about them, but now he has become quite fond of them.
While someone wasn’t watching, the grapes grew right through the top of the netting. No use cutting them back now. We will wait until they die back and next year have a better plan.
It’s just too hot to do much besides lie in the shade, so other than coming in to eat, most of the day is spent lying in the shade chewing cud.