MAUDE-CHICKENS-MAKING FURNITURE POLISH

GREETINGS’

Finally rain today and tomorrow with showers off and on the rest of the week.  It’s badly needed.

MAUDE

The surgery was very successful .  Almost immediately the results were seen.  We did try everything we could think of  but nothing worked.  The eye was removed and Maude is her old self again.  She still has a way to go.  The stitches need to be in at least a week and we are on day 4-1/2.  It would be better if they stayed in 10 days..  She is rubbing and I am putting antibiotic meds underneath where the stitches.are.  She is eating well and so much more with it..

 

 

 In another week or so she can have supervised visits with Carol K. Then in three weeks if all goes well she can return with the group.  My sincere thanks to Dr. Stephanie and Dr. Amy who did a wonderful job and are the most kind and considerate Vets.  Dr. Stephanie brought Maude dandelion greens yesterday when she came to give her a booster shot.    I am getting back to my old self too.  The past weeks have been hard on all at the farm.  Many things left undone and need to get done and now they can be tended too.  Many thanks to all of you that have sent good wishes and thoughts, they have helped me in so many ways.

CHICKENS

Now is the time of year you see advertisements for two-year old chickens for sale.  They go cheaply.  People want new birds for more eggs.  I keep all my hens.  They range in age from 1 to 14.  All still laying!!!!  I get at least 5 eggs a day and will get more in the summer.  My philosophy is to keep all hens and get two new ones each August.  It has worked.  My 14-year-old hen Francis lays an egg every other day all summer long.  Another hen, Gladys who is up there in age has been laying a couple of eggs a week all during the winter, she was given to me and her owners said she hardly lays. The following is a picture of her beautiful blue egg.

So if you want to start a flock now might be the time to get a few hens who are already laying.   If they were going to have a problems with laying it would have shown up by now.The price is right and sometimes they are free.  Look on your local poultry site and have fun.  Chickens are delightful creatures and teach one all kinds of life lessons.

MAKING YOUR OWN FURNITURE POLISH

i have lots of old parts of spinning wheels lying around.  Just couldn’t find  a product that would put some life back into them permanently.  I had read an article somewhere  about beeswax being the best thing for wood.  I have a wonderful supplier of the best bees-wax.  He lives in Florida and I have visited his operation many times when visiting my Mom in Florida.  The wax comes from the orange groves and is very fragrant.  I love it and love supporting this small business even though it’s not local.

Beeswax Furniture Polish and Restorer

1/4 cup beeswax

3/4 cup olive oil

 

Buy the best bees-wax and olive oil you can.  When buying olive oil make sure its pure olive oil and not a combination of other oils too.  Check the label and make sure its got a long shelf life.

Melt the beeswax in a double boiler, after its melted  pour in the olive oil and heat thoroughly, stirring occasionally to make sure its blended well.  At this point if you desire you could add a few drops of essential oils.  I feel that the beeswax is fragrant enough so I don’t add anything.  Pour into a jar and let set overnight before you use it.

It’s not as quick as a spray can of furniture polish but what it does for your wood is remarkable.  And to top it off there are not petroleum products in this and you made it yourself in 10 minutes.  

Remember when melted the bees-wax and olive oil  care should be given  Both are flammable.  An old sock is a great way to apply and polish.

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

A CHANGE IN THE CHICKEN KINGDOM-GRANDMA’S SEWING-MRS.BROWN-MOM

HELLO,

A CHANGE IN THE CHICKEN KINGDOM

For sometime I have been thinking of just having bantam hens..  I have 10 large hens and Murphy left, this year many of the real old hens have passed on and I only have 6 that lay, the rest are having a well deserved retirement..  Its time to start replacing them  with Bantams. I won’t be able to sell eggs anymore as people will not pay for smaller eggs but my family and I  can still enjoy them.  They are much easier to manage, take up less space, eat less food.  It’s a win win situation.   I will have to investigate where to purchase them and may talk to the chicken man to see if he will raise some up for me.

GRANDMA”S SEWING

This flour sack was destined to become a pillow case. The sides were hemmed.  It was never finished and was found in a trunk some years ago.  Her stitching was perfect, she was a professional seamstress, I am using it as a wall hanging now.  When stitching the ends together I thought of her and wondered what she was thinking about while she was stitching this.

She had married and moved to a city from the country.  Had many children and worked hard, I never knew her but felt like we were kindred spirits.  SHe was talked about with love by her children as long as they had voices, they called her Ma.

MOM

I called Mary at the rest home today and Mom has gained weight and now weighs 113 pounds, more than she ever weighed.  SHe is doing so well under Mary’s care.  We are so lucky to have found her.  She addresses medical issues like UTI’s which can really get an elderly person angry and hostile early so there is never an issue.   They are having cold weather in Florida and tonight it will be 36, which seems balmy to me, it’s all relative.

WINTER

This morning the temps were below zero.  The chickens water will have to be warmed up 3 times today  They will get a special mid day snack of sunflower seeds, cooked oatmeal, yogurt, and seaweed and blueberries.  A special treat for very cold days.  The sheep of course are fine and were given a little grain this morning and will receive some more tonight.

MRS. BROWN

Mrs. Brown did it again, she laid another egg today and made a nest and then left it  I am wondering if the  nesting area just isn’t good enough.  Today while at the grain store I bought some bagged Timothy hay which is longer and tomorrow I plan to weave up a nest for her  It may or may not work but worth the effort I think.

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

FLORIDA-MOM-HOOKED RUGS AND JELLY FISH

Hello

I am back home from Florida, I have to say it was the best trip we ever had there, even though it was short.  My Mom has been living in Florida since the early part of the 80’s. OUr trips to Florida entalled getting mulch putting mulch all around the yard and helping out Mom.  Mom would take us around to placeS which she liked, like the big flea market in Daytona or the alligator park!!!!!!.  Now we are enjoying the many things Florida has to offer that interest us.  We went to the farmers market

again where people were spinning, if we were  going to be there another night a preforming group was putting on The Christmas Carol.  We spent some time at the beach where the temps were in the 70’s but the water was a little chilly.  I hope on some trip to conect with some rug hookers, that would be so much fun.  Speaking of Rug Hooking here is a picture of a beautiful hooked rug at the Riverview.

MOM

CINDY, ME, MARY AND MOM

My Mom smiles a lot looks through magazines and enjoys the newest dog Mary has.  A far cry from the way she was a year ago.  Loving care and a wonderful home made the turn around for her.  Its always hard to leave her, Florida is 1200 miles away but Mom loves it there and doesn’t want to leave so that is the way it is.  I will try and get down in the spring to see her again.

I hope you enjoy these pictorial highlights of the trip.

THE BREAKERS PUB RIGHT ON THE BEACH

THERE WERE JELLY FISH WASHED UP ON SHORE

CINDY AND VALERIE OUR FAVORITE WAITRESS AT THE RIVERVIEW.

THE DRAWBRIDGE NEAR THE RIVERVIEW.

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

MOM-FLORIDA-RIVERVIEW FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER

Hello,

FLORIDA

FISHING BOAT OFF OF NEW SMYRNA BEACH

Cindy and I  arrived in Florida on late Wednesday night and are happily staying at the Hampton Inn at New Smyrna Beach.  In my rush to leave I left my laptop in my car in Longmeadow .

MOM

We went to see my Mom before noon but she was asleep in the chair and it’s not her routine to wake up till around 2 pm so we decided to return after 4.   Mary the owner asked us for dessert but after the big meal at  Riverview we just didn’t have room.  Mom recognized us both and we had some pleasant conversations.  Mary’s family and friends were there and there was a family sing a long.  Mom enjoyed that.  It’s a wonderful place, full of love, family and pets.

MOM

RIVERVIEW

We had our Thanksgiving dinner at out favorite place .

  Val was our waitress and had been for years.  The water was choppy today but there were still sailboats on the water. The time has slipped by fast and tonight we head to Orlando for an early flight home.  I will have more pictures of our visit when I arrive home.

Many thanks for reading my blog today from sunny Florida and I hope you day is wonderful.   Carole

TRIP TO FLORIDA-MOM-PERMACULTURE

Hello,

It’s so good to be home.  I couldn’t do the blog while I was away this time as my lap top screen needs repair.  So I am glad to be back blogging.

Traveling

After picking my bags  I found yet again my bags were rifled through.  I find it very upsetting to have my bags checked almost every trip to Florida and sometimes coming back too.  I know that it makes people feel secure but It doesn’t make me feel secure at all.  It feels like someone has walked around my house looked  and touched everything in it and left.  

We stayed at the Hampton Inn in New Smyrna Beach.  If you are looking for a great place to stay, this is it.   You are close to all the wonderful shops and restaurants and to the beach.  It just opened in November and has a saline pool.  Unfortunately it was too cool to swim.  Cindy and I can recommend The Patio Restaurant (the chef personally comes to your table) and the Riverside Grill for great meals.

WE had a very busy trip, we have settled lots of things.  My Mom will be coming here to live mid May.  It will be difficult for her to leave there and changes for us both.  She still knows Cindy and I  but still thinks she has a new car and the house.  She is more feeble now and can’t walk at all.  I will hopefully be transferred to hospice here and have their help.  The house did close but we are still in a sort of limbo about things.  That will change soon.

PERMACULTURE

In Florida the big beautiful Red Bay trees are being killed by a fungus carried by the invasive Asian ambrosia beetle. Federal officials think it was brought to this country in shipping packaging.   Before people know it they are infested with them and its too late.  Many people are treating the trees at a $100. to 300. cost. Red  Bay trees are so beautiful and create a canopy which provides shade .

Minnie

Minnie enjoyed all the attention while I was gone, Sammy is still talking and talking and the other cats were glad to see me back.

THE BARN

I was concerned by the fast melting snow before I left.  The barn floor is soaked but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.  I did put lots of shavings down before I left and cleaned them up this afternoon and put new down.  There is still snow to melt but I think that I can keep up with it.

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