PLANTING-CROWS-SAM-FOOD IRELAND-SHETLAND FLEECE

HELLO

Planting

My friend Susan brought me a boat load of plants the other day  I put 1/3 of them in and have the rest to do.  Just don’t know when it will get done.

 Hundreds of Morning Glories from last year have come up in the Herb Bed.  I will dig some up for the Farmers Market.

 It’s still overcast this morning but the sun is supposed to come out and be more humid for a day or two.

We had very heavy rains for the past few days.  Everything is waterlogged.

ENCOURAGING CROWS TO LIVE ON THE FARM

I visited a friend of mine the day before yesterday and she was telling me that she has some crows on her farm.  There are hawks around but  they are chased  away by the crows.  I know they can be a menace but they do play an important role in protecting chickens from hawks and eagles.  I have thought it out and I will not encourage them here.  I have lots of birds here on the farm and they have been here for generations.  The crows would plan havoc with them and there are nests everywhere in the yard.  

SAM

 Many thanks for all your kind words and thoughts about Sammy.  He is missed and wonderful memories of him will be with me forever.  He had a wonderful life and was King of the household.  

FOOD IRELAND  

I have been going through a little rough patch and in the mail comes this box of goodies from Ireland.  What a way to brighten a day.  Thanks Cindy.

SHETLAND FLEECES

 A while ago I got some Shetland fleeces for a bargain price, I am going to bag the three different colors up for people to purchase and spin and with part of this fleece I want to make some wool shoes out of it.  I think  slipper socks will work for the bottoms and I can always replace them,  The spinners group may do this as a project over the summer.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BREADBOX-NEEDLE FELTED SHEEP-HAZEL & MRS. BROWN

Hello

THE BREADBOX

I bought this breadbox many years ago for under 50 cents, I have another bigger one that is on the a radiator upstairs which I use occasionally to put blankets in to warm them up.

 This one in the kitchen is where I keep my gloves, mittens and hats all winter long.  If they are wet I dry them on the radiator and put them back into the box.  There are a few wonderful things about it, I always know where my hats and mittens are and most likely they will be warm when I  need them.

NEEDLE FELTED SHEEP

I had a wonderful time in this class. 

 6 people  came including my friend Patti.  We all made such different sheep.  Some made pins and some of us made ornaments.

   I have thought up some wonderful ideas for the Easter season.  This is what is happening at next weeks class at Sheep and Shawl.

Here is my sheep hanging on the Holly bush near my front walk.

 

HAZEL AND MRS. BROWN

Both returned to Dr. Connor for a recheck.  Hazel is still sneezing so I wanted to make sure his lungs were clear.  They are so cute together. Of course they were the hit of the place.

 Hazel started crowing soon after he entered the exam room.  WHen he was put on the table Mrs. Brown  started talking and he answered.  They do not want to be separated.  Its endearing. Hazel other lung is having problems, while the other antibiotic worked it took a long time to and now he is on a 1/2 pill of a stronger antibiotic.  I will call in a weeks time to let them know how he is doing, meanwhile I will watch Mrs. Brown to make sure her symptoms don’t come back.  On arrival home they were greeted with oatmeal and blueberries.  They are happy to be home.

Its sleeting as I write this and Vermont Public Radio said we could get 4-6 inches of snow overnight.  It won’t last as its suppose to be warm the next few days.  Glad that I don’t have to go out tonight.

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

WILBUR – SEED STORAGE-FLORIDA IS GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS EARLY – MOM

HELLO FROM SUNNY FLORIDA,

Its was  my son’s birthday on Thursday.  He got a special present from a lady at his workplace.  She had come here during the Crafts of Colrain and bought a skein of Wilbur’s yarn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She made this beautiful sheep for him out of Wilbur’s yarn.  Knitting it and then felting it.  The pictures don’t do it justice.  My son was very touched by this special present.  Wilbur passed away last spring, he was very fond of my son.  We all miss him.

SEED STORAGE

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the small, sunny south-east bedroom is a cupboard which I use for storage.  I have my seeds  in there and gifts that I have bought for people through-out the year.  I was going to put some candles in there.  I was shocked all the seeds that were stored in plastic bags were gone.  These were all heirloom seeds which I planned to grown in 2013.  Quite an array of seeds from worty pumpkins to several kinds of my favorite scarlet runner beans.  They were a tasty treat for those little mice.     They dug up my plants too I guess they are hiding some of the seed in the plants.  I have just ordered a new catalog from Baker Seed Company, my favorite place to buy heirloom seeds.  It will be at my door sometime in December.

I certainly will store the seeds in a tins from now on.

CHRISTMAS IS HERE IN FLORIDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pointsetta’s are out at Walmart and Christmas Tree vendors are everywhere.  People are buying trees too.

My Mother was very surprised to see us.  We are taking her out to eat on  Sunday.  She is a little frailer than I saw her last.  Hospice is helping with her care now which is so good.  She will be watched constantly for any changes.

We have a busy day tomorrow with visits to farmers markets.  More from Florida Tomorrow.  Thanks you so much for reading my blog, hope your day is wonderful.

Carole

 

 

TOMATOES,GARLIC and BASIL FELTING MORNING TEA AT MY SPINNING PLACE

GOOD MORNING                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Yesterday I Put together a tomato, basil and garlic mix.  I first had this at my friend Lynn’s house many years ago.  It’s a simple summer recipe that only takes minutes to make.

It is adapted from the SIlver Palate Cookbook.  It calls for tomatoes (I used my small Roma tomatoes) 4 garlic cloves and handfuls of chopped basil.  I did add some peppers chopped very fine and you could add sliced onions.  Salt and pepper and drizzle all with a good olive oil.  Leave this set out all day  to let the flavors mingle.  Then refrigerate.

Today I will cook pasta and slice mozzarella into small squares and top with the tomato mix.  Its good.

SPINNING  PLACE

I often come out to my spinning place in the morning

 

after feeding all the animals.   I will bring my cup of tea

and contemplate the day.  Its quiet and the sounds of the                                              

birds and chickens are calming.  A good way to start the

day.     The cup and saucer were a gift from my daughter,

Cindy on our first trip to Ireland together.  We were driving

down a  road in the remote part of Dingle and there tucked

into the side of a hill was a cute stone antique shop.  The cup

and saucer is Rose Chintz by Johnson Brothers.

FELTING

  This is the blanket that I got in my friend Carol’s collection.   It’s a perfect color to use with my Blueberry Jar rug.   I e-mailed my friend Deb to get her advise on how to felt it.  Several methods were tried and unsuccessful.  I think it felted a little in the dryer.  But JoAnn at the Wool and Dye Works suggested that I just cut it large and fold over the pieces.  I think that will work.

It’s still humid here and we are supposed to get cooler weather over the weekend.  I will be glad when it comes.

Have a wonderful day and thank you for taking the time to read my blog.

Carole

P.S.  Mrs. Brown and Morticia are still sitting on those eggs.  I will be kicking them out of the nest box over the weekend.  They need to get on with their lives!!!!!!