Handiwork ~ Good Price for Straw

Although the weather forecast is showing thunderstorms for this coming weekend. I made some fun crafts.  I had a bag of pin backs, so I used scrap fabric and a button to create some fun brooches.  These will be so cute on tote bags or aprons (or anything else for that matter).

Recovery and Back to Farmstead Fun

(Sapphire chillin' one evening)

While I had the internet off, I worked on my recovery.  It's not so fun, when you cannot taste your food.  I used hot and cold compresses, took hot, steamy baths, and sipped hot herbal teas.  I am still suffering from the sinus pressure, but thankfully, all my work paid off to help my sinuses drain.  I'm still congested, but much better.  And if you have never had Thyme tea to break of mucus, it really does work (remember I am not a doctor, only sharing my experience).

I couldn't really work on too many "crafty" projects, as my pounding head made anything (even reading) almost impossible.  I did do a lot of sleeping. I managed to write another postcard, and was able to sew up a few fabric yo-yo's.

The meat chickens are slaughtered now, the bedroom closet catastrophe is repaired (which caused us to clean out our clothes and donate 2 bags of clothes to the thrift store), and more goat fencing supplies were purchased (again).

Two of the kids (my son and 16 year-old daughter) picked wild black raspberries.  To be truthful, I wanted to stuff the berries in the freezer, but will try to can a batch of jam today.

We've been getting rain almost every day, and I am thankful for it.  I am thankful I don't have to go out to weed, and I am thankful for the rain in my barrels.  I am thankful the rain gives me time to recuperate a bit more. I'm thankful I got the chance to see the yellow finch family flutter around in the driveway - Mom, Dad and baby.  I am also very thankful for the wooden drying rack my mother and cousin bought for me on their recent getaway.  I'll try to get a picture of it, so you can see how nice it is.

What's next?  The bathroom tile. It's been 3 weeks or more since we tore it out.

Black Mold ~ Shower Project is Not Over

Remember all those winters I got very sick?  Pneumonia and so forth?  Guess what Hubby found last night?

Speeee-iiiiiiiii-deerrrrrrr!!!

There is nothing worse than waking up to screaming kids, or worse, reaching into the kitchen sink to be greeted by a big hairy wolf spider.  Do you like my spider trap?  I'm not sure if I saved my 11 year-old or saved myself from this hairy beast.

Last night it was my 13 year-old who was screaming about a big scary garden spider, crawling up to the top of a door jam.  And yesterday, while weeding my herb garden, I was greeted by a baby, black and yellow orb weaver.  The rain has woken up the spiders here.  

My son, aka the "Spider Man" pulled a joke on me.  He enjoys catching these hairy and scary beasts and releasing them outside (just so they can come back in again, ha ha ha!).  He does this with his bare hands.  Ewwww!  So, back to the story.  He walked towards me with his hand curled up and smiling.  He continued to approach me while I screamed bloody murder, and none of the kids came to my rescue.  Hmpf!  After torturing me, for what seemed like hours, he opened his hand in front of my face - empty.  Another "not cool" moment.

Things were not going smoothly in regards to the tile project in the shower.  The saw we had was not cutting straight cuts, so the guys had to go rent a saw (thankful for renting vs. buying).  They ran out of grout, etc. etc.  

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, kids bickered about who was going to clean what, and the tension levels were high.  Screaming, yelling, you name it.  

And in it all, I was trying to crochet a new doily pattern, to see if it would sell at the market.  You noticed I said "try" to crochet?  

I not only fastened off too early (which is fixable), but skipped one row completely.  I was not able to concentrate with all the hoopla here that day.  

However, as it turns out, it made a nice cup coaster.

So now I am reading this book.  When I finish it, I should be able to crochet anything in any "storm."  

The beginning chapter (Escape the Lunacy) starts out with, "Somewhere along this frenzied journey called modern-day life, we've lost our sanity."

Any suggestions on how to clean this ball of yarn?  I received it in a farmgirl barter, but when I took the wrapper off, I discovered it was pretty dirty.  I may just have to make something for using here vs. selling, and then wash it after it's finished.  Otherwise, I can't use it.  I may try tucking it in a sock to wash, but I'm afraid it'd end up in a knotted mess.  I'm thinking, knit or crochet, then wash.

The tile project continues.  The grout has not dried, and today will be 48 hours.  It is still soft.  I have put a fan in there to speed up the process.  The grout to fill in, has not yet been applied.

Today, is the last day of school for the younger two.  They are excited and have jabbered all morning after the spider incident.  Weather is humid and blah, and thunderstorms are expected possibly.  I was secretly hoping for rain, so I could work inside again.  Yesterday, I managed to weed my largest herb garden, with the help of my son.  The tarragon and basil seeds have sprouted, and now I just need to plant curly parsley.  I thinned out my lemon balm, and brought some in to make freshly brewed tea with my spearmint and lemon.  Yum!

Yesterday, I was complaining that I had not done "a thing" all day for the next Farmer's Market.  My 16 year-old responded with, "Mom you are always doing something."  

Thrift Store and Flea Market Finds ~ Oh My!

Over the weekend, a thrift store was having a customer appreciation sale - 50% off store wide.  I got all of this (two bed sheets, 3 vintage tablecloths) for about $8.00 total.  The bedding will be saved for camping, and possibly a few of the tablecloths. 

Rooster's Gone Wild and Other Farm Frenzies

I found this cute garden rooster, and it has a flower pot in it.  I admit, I didn't get very creative with the pot of flowers, but at least the grass in it looks like feathers.

From the Homesteading Journal . . .

. . . ordered 30 white rocks (for meat) and 6 more barred rocks (layers).

. . . my daughter finished the gate on the goat's "birthing" stall, and sold both bucklings already.

. . . put the seed potatoes in a single layer in front of the corn/pellet burner to encourage the eyes to produce sooner.  

. . .Hubby picked up 1 1/2 tons of stone (cost us $20.00) to upgrade the driveway.  He also had a neighbor drag the driveway (pulling a piece of equipment behind his tractor) to smooth out all the dips made over winter.

. . .finishing painting the kitchen cupboards (yahooooo!) today.  We just need to install knobs on the upper cabinets.

. . .started the process to locate someone, and tear down one barn.

. . .my 16 year-old daughter made a batch of goat's milk soap yesterday.

. . .put up Hubby's nephew's camper and made repairs on the door and table, so it can be put up for sale.

. . .gave away our kids (wooden framed) play set to extended family today.  They are bringing in a trailer to haul it out.

. . .received my cheese making supplies this week, to make 2 batches of soft cheese with our goat's milk this year. 

. . .our "extreme clean" week is starting - my 19 year-old daughter cleaned the utility room, and my 20 year-old son swept off the wood debris on the front porch (and brought out my front porch furniture - YAY!).  I started organizing one hallway. I need a new spray bottle to mix up my tea-tree oil/water mix to clean mildew off windows.  Two girls are still at 2 night sleepovers, so their work will be upstairs in their own rooms.  We'll definitely need to make a trip to the dump, after cleaning up.  Lots more to do yet.

 

  

Reflections of 2012

I made homemade deodorant for the first time.

I learned to be more resourceful.

 Finished a crocheted blanket to take camping.

 Had "wig" night with the kids (and pets too). 

I baked more foods from scratch.

(photo taken by my daughter)

Buried a very much loved barn cat named Joey.

 Did many farm/barn repairs.

 Tried new foods and recipes.

 (photo taken by my daughter)

Experienced the birth of two different baby goats.

Took an "accidental" road trip with hubby.

I added a few more useable antiques to our home.

Invested in Araucanas.

 (our daughter who tends the goats and makes the soap)

Had successful soap making. 

Participated in the Farmer's Market for the first time ever.

  Got through many trials and tribulations.

 Took more time out for myself.

 Made homemade ricotta cheese with our goat's milk for the first time.

 Canned more.

 Planted more.

 Dehydrated more.  

 Received "Farm Girl of the Month" in July. 

Went camping.

  Spent more time focusing on my marriage with weekend trips to rejuvenate, relax, and enjoy.

 Had a "salsa" party to celebrate and try new canned salsa recipes. 

Inherited many family heirlooms (Grandmother's doll my Aunt made, my mother's rings and hankies, and more).

 
Buried our good friend Gus.

Happy New Year's and may 2013 be full of blessings, love, and peace. 

  

 

 

The Dentist Office. . .

Be careful what you say and do in public.  You may be creating good writing material for someone's upcoming, best selling novel.

The dentist office is a great place to collect writing material.  Most days anyway.

During my visit to the dentist, where my youngest had an appointment, writing material was in overflow.

One woman was sitting in the back corner, with her head leaned back, sleeping and snoring.  Could you imagine yourself snoring at the dentist?

One woman, a young mother, sat quietly, with her head lowered.  I wonder what she was thinking?

One woman, who sat two seats from me, gave me enough material to last a chapter or two.  She sat with a laptop open, papers in one hand, and a cell phone in the other.  However, halfway through her very long phone conversation (and loud I might add), she ended up putting the laptop away.  This woman talked the entire time she sat there, until the office staff called her back for her child.  Literally, this woman talked about people, talked about work, and more.  She crossed her legs, leaned back, and acted like she had the room to herself.  She was annoying too.  

After "Annoying Talks A Lot" left the waiting room, another woman entered.  She sat on the other side of me, with a table in between us.  She too, was fidgeting with her phone, texting possibly or playing games.  That was after she made a phone call.  But this woman crossed her legs and bounced her foot constantly, as if she had jumping beans in her shoe.

Then I was called to collect my daughter.  The fun was over.

 (My lovely ladies paying me a visit where my desk is inside)

 
This morning I was up very early.  The only bathroom is in my bedroom, so it's "Grand Central Station" for the week.

I best get my chores done early, so I can get back to writing.  No waiting rooms today, but I have more writing material - conversations while standing in line to vote yesterday.