HAPPY JULY-GOODBY GARY-HERBS AND OTHER THINGS DRYING-CHRIS TACKLES THE BATHROOM CEILING

HAPPY JULY

Sunny today and rain on the 4th. Parades and fireworks over the weekend.  We have had so much rain, lots of it was  torrential. The last rains washed more mud in the barn.  Chris got the barn ready for the next rains.

GOODBYE GARY

Gary Left on Tuesday and may be back for The Crafts of Colrain in November.

FISHING

I took Chris, Tyler and Charlie fishing over the last two days.

CHRIS

 

TYLER AND CHARLIE

 Otters were frockling on the banks and in the waters, we saw and were very near a copperhead snake and enjoyed watching a duck and her babies swimming up the river.  No fish though.

OTTERS

DRYING HERBS AND OTHER THINGS

The dehydrator has been going non stop.I have dried basil, peppermint, rose petals, dill and eggs shells.  Yes I do dry my own egg shells and crush them with some herbs and feed them back to the  chickens.

 

  It saves me from buying those heavy 50 pound bags of oyster shells.  I am also drying plantain for the poison ivy save which I will start soon and comfrey for the healing salve.   Now I have to look for some gallon size pickle jars to put all these dried things in.  The house smells wonderful everyday.

CHRIS AND THE BATHROOM CEILING

The bathroom ceiling in this old house was the original ceiling of plaster, the only plaster ceiling left in this house.  The bathroom is a small odd shaped room with a 6 foot claw foot tub, a sink that someone built in the 60’s (someone  with no knowledge of plumbing or stye).

held up with scrap lumber and with plumbing that astonishes the plumber

he bathroom needs a huge makeover which I don’t have a lot of money for.  The ceiling was sagging in spots and had lost some of its plaster so it was time to take it all down before it fell.  I started it and Chris did the major portion and now its down.  WHen I have some extra money I will have someone put up a new one. 

 

I am still getting my garden in at this late day.  The Farm Stand where I get my plant starts and veggies in the summer is done selling plants and gave me a flat of basil and some other plants including 75 leek starts.  My peas did not do well at all not one pea pod.  Planted too late and then rains and heat did them in.  Beets are up and so are radishes.  I had to replant the string beans as so few came up.  Its and interesting year for the garden.

Hope you have a wonder day and many thanks for reading my blog.   Carole

 

 

 

 

 

MYSTERY ILLNESS IS STILL A MYSTERY-GARY COMES-CHRIS IS COMING FRIDAY -LIL FINALLYS FINDS AN EGG

GREETINGS

We had another day of crazy weather yesterday.  Heavy rains, thunderstorms, Tornado warnings. Today is wonderful summer day.  This morning Lil found an egg.

MYSTERY ILLNESS

The medication has not improved me at all so I will probably stop taking it soon. I think I have a form of Lymes disease which is often not diagnosed.  Further investigation is necessary.

GARY COMES

Gary came yesterday to spend some time here and may come back to help me out with the Crafts Of Colrain.  

 

Unfortunately on the way home my car overheated and had to be towed home.  David can fix it and  will be back driving around tomorrow.

 

 

Today Gary turns 65 and we celebrated his birthday with a CHrista Snyder Cake .   Lil helped Gary blow out the candles and loves cake.

Chris is coming on Friday and will spend a week here.  I sure can use his help.  We will be working on the downstairs of the barn and a new website, fishing and swimming.  HIs Mom and friends will visit on Friday too.  How exciting.

Hope you have a wonderful day and many thanks for reading my blog.  Carole

 

 

THIS TIME THE FLU-AMTRAK COMES TO GREENFIELD-SAMMY

GREETINGS

A wonderful CHristmas was had here on the farm with most family members here, Tea’ and her father were sick with the flu so they stayed home.  It has been a while since the whole family had gotten together. The day after CHristmas I came down with the horrible flu.  It has been going around in the central and eastern part of the state, closing schools in its wake.  I am much better now and went down toGreenfield’s co-op and got some immune boosters.  My immune system needs boosting from the last bout of sickness I had.  I hope my flu shot will cover me for other things that go around.  I have been lucky to have Chris helping me and my son getting me things to drink at the store.

AMTRAK-THE VERMONTER

There was a brisk wind today on the Greenfield Platform.  The train was a little late in coming.  I got there about a half hour early and there were only a couple of people there, close to the arrival time the numbers swelled and there was hardly room to stand.

 It came through the small tunnel sounding it horn and the crowd roared. There still are many diehard train lovers here.

The train was sold out with many people taking the last train to Amherst yesterday and the first train from Greenfield today.

 In retrospect I wish I had done that.   I would like to take the train to Noho once a month.  Even if I don’t have errands to do it would be a welcome change to my routine and I could even meet a friend there, How about it Patti? The ride to Northampton is only around $6.00  roundtrip (so a friendly train lover told me) and there is time to get a lunch and do a little shopping before getting the next one back.  The ride winding around the river will be spectacular.

SAMMY

Sam is a lot like my old Sammy, No one but himself slept in the kitty hut now I find the new Sammy in it happy as a clam to find a quiet spot.

Chris bought a toy for his cat but Lilly Pad didn’t like it, Sam got right into it.

Matilda has been busy laying an egg every day.  I have been getting more eggs lately Yea!

Many thanks for reading my blog on this cooling winters day.  I hope you have a lovely day.   Carole

 

A WINTER REPRIEVE-DECEMBER 29TH-SKATING

SEASONS GREETINGS

 

My front door decoration.

 I have had these wonderful old skates for many years.  I remember paying 25 cents for them at a flea market.  They have bought me a lot of joy.  Just looking at them I can see someone skating on a lake in the early part of the 20th century.  I used to take my children skating on Bray Lake at the Mount Tom Reservation.  I went there too as a child, skating.  There would be fires to warm you up.  What fun.  I don’t hear of skating much anymore, just indoor rinks.

WINTER REPRIEVE

Usually by this time the snow is up to the outside door of the chicken coop.  They were out yesterday and will be out today.  I still want to have a greenhouse set up for them and will try to plan it this winter.  I do have some windows and it could attach to their door area.

Is it Oatmeal time?

THE 29TH IS A GREAT DAY

Amtrak will be stopping in Greenfield for the first time in many years.  The tracks are fixed .  If the weather is good I plan to be there when the train pulls into the station. I would like to take the train to Springfield sometime this summer.   The scenery along the Connecticut River will be spectacular.  Sadly though they are not redoing the old Holyoke station and have put up a box type thing  for a station.  It was a beautiful station in its day.  It’s too bad that it couldn’t be fixed, the government spends it money on many other foolish things this would be much more inviting to tourists.

Another great event is that FINALLY happening The Vermont Yankee Nuclear power plant is closing.  A dangerous plant where its owners don’t even live around here.  I am still in the danger zone and will be till the plant is totally dismantled.  But its a step in the right direction.

Many  thanks for reading my blog today and I hope that you have a wonderful day.  Carole