PROJECT ALMOST DONE- SPRINGFIELD WEAVERS

GREETINGS

Fall here in Colrain has been beautiful.   We avoided the drought that everyone else had this past summer, so the colors were spectacular..  The air has a chill in it these days letting us know winter is not far behind.  The gentle sound of the sheep happily munching on their hay this morning reminded me just why I continue to do this.  Their coats are now getting heavy with wool .  Cosmo is doing quite well, acting more like a kitten than an older cat..  The chickens are almost done with their molt and ready for the dark days ahead.  I am hoping to get a small hoop house done for them but time is fleeing and it may not get done.  Today is the last day for the Tuesday Greenfied Farmers Market to be outside .  We will be inside on Main Street.  Look for our signs.

PROJECT ALMOST DONE

I saw this quilt pattern  years ago and decided it would make a great rug.    I dyed the yarn from the flock and  changed the pattern slightly.  I have to finish whip stitching it and put a backing on it.

SPRINGFIELD WEAVERS

I was asked last year to teach the Springfield Weavers how to hook with yarn.  A couple of Saturdays ago the day arrived.  It was a wonderful Day with new friends and many old friends.  I was a weaver many years ago, taking a 4 year class at Hill Institute.  This group was a group that I had belonged to.

We had a wonderful day and fun was had by all.  They all hooked and  many I think , will continue to do so.  I haven’t woven in years and got rid of my looms.  But maybe I may do some weaving again only on a smaller loom.  I do long to do some overshot which was my favorite weave and would love to make some hand towels to sell.  Who knows what the future will bring.

The leaves are mostly gone in the woods now with the wild winds of this past weekend.  I did get my garlic planted and plan to spread manure on a new area where I plan to plant flax in the spring and pumpkins and gourds to sell at the  market next year.

Many thanks for reading my blog on this crisp fall day.  Carole

 

PICKING LEAVES-IRELAND-WORK ON THE KITCHEN

GREETINGS

It’s  very cool morning here with temps just rising to the mid fifty’s today.  It will be  cold weekend with some frosts coming.

PICKING LEAVES

This has been  tradition since I was a child.  I have been out twice and will go out today looking for more.  I especially am waiting for the oak leaves which offer an array of colors.  They aren’t quite ready yet.  It’s a wonderful thing to do with children, that is how I learned to tell a maple from an oak.

My Mom would put a square of wax in an old pan and put the pan in simmering water so the wax would melt slowly.  We would have  cookie sheet lined with waxed paper at the ready and I would hand her the leaves.  She would carefully dip them into the wax and  hand them to me.  I would let them drip and lay them on the sheet. These leaves would be used in decorations around the house .  Years later I would send her waxed leaves when she lived in Florida  and missed the fall.

Another method of preserving leaves is with glycerin.  I have used this method to preserving the leaves right on the branches.  Happy leaf hunting.

GIFTS FROM IRELAND

Cindy often sends me things from my beloved Ireland.  This time it was the cherished items that we loaded our suitcases with .  Fairy Liquid and Radox.  Since we have rented houses in Ireland for the past 20 years we have to supply the simple things such as dish detergent and groceries.   When I smell the above two products it just sends me back to the place I love.  Thanks Cindy.  Now to light up a brick of turf and I am happy.

KITCHEN RENOVATION

My kitchen has needed renovation for years.  There has always been more important things to fix in this old farmhouse.  I have bought a double Soapstone sink for $75. many years ago and it sits in the downstairs barn area waiting to be installed.  Maybe next year that will happen and it will make , canning, dyeing wool and making soap so much easier.  But for now I am fixing up some of the walls with beadboard.  I am inspired by Kristen Nicholas with her colorful farmhouse and using colors that I would not ordinarily use. 

The kitchen  was made by combining two areas many years ago.  A wood shed  and the original kitchen.  Both have no cellar and are only a foot or so above the dirt which is why pipes freeze so easily in the winter.  My neighbor , Pat redid most of the wood shed portion some years ago, insulating the walls and adding a new window.  I love how that looks   

Chris and I started this project while he was here.  Neither of us are carpenters but we forged ahead and got it done with .  One wall done and painted.  I hope to get another wall started today.  It will probably take most of the winter to get all the walls done and painted.  Some of the  walls will have beadboard only half way up and the upper walls painted another color.  I am going to paint some sunflowers on the walls , thank to you Kristen for the wonderful ideas of color and design.  Look for more pictures of my progress in the future.

The small window comes from my Great-Grandmother’s house i Maryland.  When they were tearing it down I saved some of the windows.

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

 

WIND AND RAIN LEAVES A FLYING-CHESTNUTS-LIL

Hello,

WIND AND RAIN LEAVES A FLYING

This afternoon has been wild.  Heavy rains, high winds, electric going on and off.  The leaves are being wisked from their branches.

THE RAIN MADE THE PICTURE BLURRY

I am glad that I got lots of pictures.

AMERICAN CHESTNUTS

5 pounds of the chestnuts are going to a chef in Cambridge, Ma.  The boys  are picking them and my son and Lauren have found out the best way of keeping them fresh.

 It’s very interesting how many people want them.  It’s an uphill battle with the squirrels.

LIL

Lil is so funny these days

 

 

 

 

  She talks up a storm, and dashes here and there in her walker.  She is a good little eater and is such a happy child.

Chris

Chris is coming up for the long weekend.  Hay will be coming on one of the days.  The fire department is putting on a pancake breakfast and we will go.

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

ELLIOTT THE PROTECTOR-WAXING LEAVES

HELLO

Last night I was putting the chickens away and decided to walk up to the sheep pasture, it was dusk and there was Elliott near the fence guarding his charge Sadie.  I ran into the house and got the camera but it was almost dark but a moonlit night so this is the picture I got.  By then they were all out.  Even though his charges can be annoying and demanding Elliott takes his job seriously.  

WAXING LEAVES

For most of my life I have been waxing leaves in the fall.  I did it with my Mom when I was  very young and with my friend Francine.  Searching for the best colors or  different kinds of leaves is fun.    It’s easy to do all you  need is dry leaves, some wax, a double boiler.  Because wax is extremely flammable all care must be taken. Never leave the area in which you are working.  The first picture is my version of a double boiler.  I filled the saucepan 1/3 of the way with water and got it boiling before putting the other pan on top and then lowered the fire to low.   The wax will melt quickly.   When its melted I turn off the fire and start dipping my leaves immediately.  After you have covered your leaf with wax let the excess wax drip off and then over your finishing area (which is a dish with aluminum foil covering it) make sure it’s almost dry before laying down.  You are done.  The sky is the limit to the colors, texture of the leaves etc.  You can do small branches too.   

You can buy wax anywhere they sell canning supplies or your local supermarket.  I bought this wax this year and it will probably last me at least 5 years or more waxing leaves.  A little goes a long way.  You can also use old clear or white candles or beeswax.  Both of these will hide the color of the leaves a little.

GLYCERIN LEAVES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is another way of preserving larger branches.  I have included two pictures on is last years leaves and as you can see the color has faded but they have lasted this whole year and the other is the ones I did recently.    I bought my glycerin in Ireland, but I am sure you can get it at a drug store.  Put enough in a vase to cover the bottom of the branches and that’s it.

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

Carole