A DAY OF RUG HOOKING IN VERMONT

GREETINGS

We have been fortunate enough to get some rain some folks in the Northeast have gotten nothing and are in a severe drought condition.   The river is so low and with this being the hottest summer on record I doubt it will get back to normal till fall.

A DAY OF RUG HOOKING

Deb and I headed off in the wee hours of the morning to Rutland Vermont for a day of rug hooking.  I love the drive through Vermont.  Lovely quaint villages nestled between green mountains.  It was one of those perfect days.  We soon meet up with our friend, Louise from Montreal.

She is working on another family rug this time of her father studying for a test at McGill University.  Her rugs are full of  family history and are so beautiful.

Deb is working on a beautiful cat and bee skip rug .  Its being done in the primitive style which Debbie and I both love.

There were vendors there and people brought things they no longer needed and they were free or for sale.   I brought some wool and other things to sell and give away and came back with a few things that I needed.

Louise is going home with these lovely handmade baskets .

I am working on this folk art  rug which I started many years ago..  I am determined that this year is the year of finishing those started projects.   I take it almost every week to the Farmers Market.

Peg Irish gave a slide show and lecture on felting birds.

  She  started with making needle felted chickens and then went on to make other things including these beautiful water felted flowers.

The Screech Owl she did was so life like.    She also gave the three of us some information about TIGHR  a international group of Rug Hookers that Deb and I belonged to a few years ago.  I am going to rejoin the group.  In 2018 they will be meeting in the Dales of England and some of my Dad’s family originated from there.  It would be fun to go there.  Peg even had some ideas of flying into London and taking the train up.  Its always fun to dream.  TIGHR also offers ways to connect with like minded people all over the world.

Deb and I have another adventure coming up in September.  4 days and three nights on the lovely Star Island off the coast of New Hampshire.  I have spend many wonderful days there as a youth and returned later in life for time away from my harried life. We will spend our days hooking and enjoying the sights of this wonderful Island.  And if we are really lucky we will be able to travel to see Ceila Thaxter’s garden.  Home made food and sea air, sitting on the porch of an old Victorian hotel in rocking chairs, who could ask for more.

Every day can’t  be as wonderful as yesterday but there are enough of those days  in life to keep one uplifted  in darker times.  I hope you have a wonderful day and many thanks for reading my blog.   Carole

 

SIDE YARD CLEAN UP-BEATRIX AND PRUDENCE-BLUEBERRY PICKING

GREETINGS

Today is supposed to be the hottest day so far this summer and with humidity added to that I have gotten all my outdoor work done by 10 am.  All the animals have plenty of water and shade.

CHANGES IN THE SIDE YARDS

There were two jungles of grapevines with jewel weed mixed in on both sides of the yard.  Both yards need lots of work.  I think all the hard work is done in each now its just the tidying in the driveway side .

 

 

 

The side yard near my Son’s house will require more work.  The people who have lived here before used the side yard as a dumping area.  I though I had cleaned it all up but found more roofing material , a saw and light bulbs . I will finish it up this week.

 I am going to put another raised bed there and hope to get some carrots in soon.  I want to put a window frame on it in the fall so I can have carrots most of the winter.  I did this before and it worked fine.

BEATRIX AND PRUDENCE

Things have calmed down in the side yard chicken area.  I think Beatrix took over and Prudence  is in the mix.  Beatrix is now sleeping in the caravan with the rest of the chickens but Prudence is still in the dog house.  She will join them when she wants to.  Emma is being picked on by the jealous Mrs. Brown and Beatrix so there is something I can but to put on her that tastes awful  I may even have some of it and I am going to try that.  When I am there they will get a squirt.

ANNUAL BLUEBERRY PICKING

For the past three years my Son and his family and myself have made a day of it at my Cousins Blueberry farm in Chesterfield.  Saturday was a hot day but there is almost always a breeze in Chesterfield.  The berries were huge and sweet  and easy picking.  Some people ate more than they picked!

The following pictures were taken on the way home.  Lots of interesting sites that day.

Many thanks for reading my blog on the sultry, summer day.  Carole

SWEET CICELY-OLD HOME DAYS IN ROWE-THE CHICKENS

 

GREETINGS

The lazy days of summer are upon us.   The humidity will be gone for a few days and gentle cooling breezes are here.  New families are in the yellow bird house and the nest over the barn door.  Mom’s and Dad’s are busy bring all sorts of goodies to the babies.  As I sit in the sheep yard last night enjoying the nice breeze leftover from the storm i hear their wonderful songs.

SWEET CICELY

 

 

A friend gave me one plant many years ago.  Now I remove the seeds and  spread them farm from my house.  If anyone wants some seed I would be happy to send you some.  E-mail me.  It is a nice herb with wonderful leaves  for flower arranging and sweet flowers.  The seed pods smell of licorice.  Its a tall plant up to 3 feet and will spread like wildfire if it is happy.  

BEATRIX AND PRUDENCE

Beatrix and Prudence have settled in and Beatrix seems to have taken over the number one spot in the Flock and Prudence number two.  It may change several times before its settled.  It has been an interesting time with them.  Beatrix was always the low hen in her flock but once she arrived here she must have decided to stand up to all and take over.  The first thing she did was to go over to Hazel and peck him.   Hazel certainly wasn’t expecting that.  Things have calmed down and everyone is getting to know their place and the routine here on the farm.  They still have more changes coming.  This flock will be joining the front flock so I am adding to the yard in front and the dog houses will move there.  Hazel  Mrs. Brown and Emma will be staying behind in the yellow caravan and will winter inside .Although Emma will have her own cage as Mrs. Brown is so jealous of Hazel that she will peck on Emma if she is anywhere near. Mrs.Brown will put up with his philandering with the big birds but not birds her size.

OLD HOME DAY’S IN ROWE

An English phone booth right in the center of Rowe!  

 

On Saturday I did a sweet little fair in Rowe.  Rowe is a wonderful little town nestled in the  mountains with a  beautiful lake.    The fair was a wonderful place to bring your family with lots of things for everyone to do and great vendors.  Its the kind of town that I wish I lived in with a community feel.  In the afternoon there was someone  talking about owls in our area with several  different kinds with him.  It was so educational.

 And lo and behold last night while  putting the side yard chickens to be I heard the sound of an owl.  Be sure and put it on your calendar for next year.  It is not to be missed.  A bouncy house was there for the kids and a tractor pulling a cart with hay bales to sit on was there to gi ve you a tour around town.  Fire Departments were there showing their skills and Fire Works over the lake end the day.

Thanks goodness for cooler days this was Sammy yesterday

 

Many thanks for reading my blog on this delightful summer day.  Carole

THE SWEET LITTLE EMMA

 

NEW ARRIVALS-CATNIP-SWEET PEA’S

GREETINGS

We had glorious rain over the weekend  and we still need more.  It perked the gardens up but didn’t fill the rivers.  The cooler weather the rains brought was welcomed.  We are in for another hot spell and my friend Susan will be at Brimfield during it.  She will be at Quaker Acres look for The Plant Lady.

NEW ARRIVALS

PRUDENCE

My friend Patti is moving to Ireland soon and I have taken her hens Prudence and Beatrix.  Follow her on brookwoodshire.wordpress and learn about her adventures.  The girls came on Friday and are settling in .  There was some excitement on Saturday when Prudence had to lay an egg and decided to go home and do it.  My grandson Tyler (the chicken whisperer) caught her in my sons yard.

BEATRIX IS EXCITED ABOUT NEW FRIENDS

 Now there are (hopefully) no escape routes and they are  both laying.  They are separated from the rest pf the group and there has been much bantering going on back and forth.  Soon I will  open the gate some to see how things go.  Olive my last hen to arrive has taken over the leadership role in the flock so it will be interesting how things unfold.

 

CATNIP

Patti brought me this wonderful bag of catnip.  I am drying it and the house smells wonderful.  The cats are enjoying bits and pieces of it too.

SAMMY AND THE ELUSIVE CAT BABY ARE RESTING AFTER SOME AFTERNOON CATNIP

Patti’s cat Merlin is moving to Ireland too so I will pack him a good supply of cat toys.

SWEET PEAS

 

Yesterday I needed to get hay and discovered these wonderful sweet pea’s that John’s Mother has grown for years.  Against the stone wall they are so spectacular.  She gave me a bouquet.  These don’t have the delightful smell of some but nonetheless they are beautiful.

SUMMER BOUQUET

Many thanks for reading my blog on this wonderful summer day.  I will be at the Tuesday Greenfield Market today from 1:30- to 6:30 located next door to Greenfields Market.  Carole

 

HAPPY FOURTH-FARMERS MARKET PROJECT-WEEKLY RIVER TIME=COSMO AND CATNIP

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

The humidity has left and we have warm days with coolish nights.  Ideal summer weather.  We had some much-needed rain but are still in a pre-drought condition

FARMERS MARKET PROJECT

I have two pieces that I need to finish this summer and the Farmers Market is a good place to work on them.

This is such a fun piece I love working on it.

 

WEEKLY RIVER TIME

I love the river, its peaceful and quiet so this summer I decided to take the boys to the river once a week.  I will bring a project they will do whatever they want.  Charlie loves to swim and Tyler like to check out animal habitats and construct boats out of things found on the riverbed.  His boat yesterday out of branches and leaves worked pretty well.  He has plans for a better model.  I brought my quilting pieces there.  

COSMO AND CATNIP

Catnip is sooooooo good!

I am so glad Cosmo came into my life.  He is a unique cat .   He has taught me lessons about only having one eye, and made me understand in the animal world they adapt so much more easily.   Little did I realize that one day there would be a one eyes sheep in my family.

I don’t know if he ever had real catnip but yesterday I introduced it to him.    He was over the moon about it.  The dried catnip is nice but the real stuff is so good.

All he needs now is a bow tie!

A SUPER HERO NEXT DOOR.

If I ever need a super hero there is one next door.  Her brothers helped her make the costume and Lil is a super hero these days.

I am still planting things in the garden, Brussel sprout plants went in yesterday and some flower seeds.  Slowly things are coming up.  Many thanks for reading my blog today.  Carole