FROSTY MORNINGS-OCTOBERFEST-GARDEN DELIGHTS-DRYING HOT PEPPERS AND HERBS.

GREETINGS

The hot and humidity has cleared out and now we are hit with almost frosty temps.  That is New England for you.  We  finally got some longed for rain. And now a stretch of  wonderful weather. 

OCTOBERFEST

 

The Brick Meeting House is active again..  Come join us for lots of local crafts, food and a good time in Colrain.  Next Saturday or rain date is Columbus Day, Monday for a wonderful fair.

GARDEN DELIGHTS

 Sadly none of my pumpkins came up this year but to my surprise one rogue cucumber did come up and is giving me some nice cukes at the end of the season.

 The  leeks did wonderful and I did remember to hill them up occasionally this summer.  Half are in the freezer and I will pull up the rest soon.

DRYING HOT PEPPERS AND HERBS AND RECIPE FOR ARTHRITIS SALVE

 

I bought 10 hot peppers I don’t know what kind they are but after they were in the dehydrator for an hour or so I started coughing and my eyes were tearing up.   Finally after a couple of hours I had to turn it off.  Today I am finishing them .  I am including my recipe for Arthritis Salve which is easy to make and works well.  Please remember when using that this is made from hot peppers …

ARTHRITIS SALVE

 CAUTION PEPPERS CAN CAUSE BURNS WEAR GLOVES AND DON’T TOUCH YOUR EYES OR FACE.  EYE PROTECTION IS RECOMMENDED.

WIDE MOUTH JAR WITH CAP

Hot Peppers  ( they must be dried and sliced )

Olive Oil enough to cover the hot peppers by at least 2 inches

Small amount of Beeswax  It all depends on how many peppers and oil that you use.

Dry peppers (either in a dehydrator or by hanging them up)  Place in a jar and cover the with olive oil then add two inches, making sure that no peppers can reach the top of the olive oil.

Let sit for at least a month.  Mine will sit for 2 or three months.  This lets the peppers infuse with the olive oil.

   Strain the peppers  through a cheesecloth and place in  a saucepan.   Put aside . Melt beeswax over a double boiler and put aside.     Warm up the oil till its warmed through and then add the beeswax a little at a time.  Testing drops on a plate as you do this.  When you find that the drops solidify your are done.  Do not overdo the beeswax. Pour into jars.  

This salve has worked wonders for me.  When you put it on there is no hot sensation.  It works slowly.   It  has also saved me a lot of money.  Fr a small amount of money you can make 10 or 20 jars , and compared to what it cost in the store you could save hundreds of dollars.

 

PRESERVING SWEET ANNIE WITH PLANTS FROM SUSAN BATES HOME AND GARDEN

I started preserving Sweet Annie, which is one of my favorite plants .I finally found the perfect spot for it and they took off..  This year I bought 2 plants from Susan Bates at the Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair. She has a brick and mortar store in Ashby, Massachusetts called Susan Bates Home and Garden.     Her plants are of the best quality.  She has lots of wonderful things at her shop, furniture, and antiques handmade things and she also occasionally has classes.  Check her out on Facebook.

 This year I have enough to sell a few bunches and am preserving them in a glycerin based mix.  1 put 1 part glycerin and 2 parts water.  With freshly cut branches place them in the water mix for approximately one week.  They will stay as they were preserved and not turn brown  The smell remains and they are a perfect fall decoration and they repel insects.

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

DOT AND SHE HAS A NEW FRIEND SEE MORE ABOUT HER IN MY NEXT BLOG

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE CABINET STORY-LOOSING ANIMAL FRIENDS-VISITING FRIENDS

 

 

LEMON BALM

GREETINGS

Freezing sweet corn , drying lemon balm, digging up  garlic,picking tansy and artemisia, waiting for the tomatoes to ripen are some of the things I love about summer.  the house smells of herbs and flowers .

LOOSING ANIMAL FRIENDS

On Saturday my youngest daughter, Betty had to put her beloved horse Beamer down.  He was a beauty who came to her as a young horse from Western Canada.   He was the perfect horse for her.   A registered Morgan who was loved by everyone who met him.   The decisions that we who love our animals more than life itself have to make are never easy, but they have to be made for the animal sake.  Run free Beamer you and Betty will be together again someday.

THE CABINET ADVENTURE

It all started with a ride to Brattleboro, Vermont to look at appliances.  We didn’t have much luck there but we did see a sign saying doors and window for sale.  This was Deconstruction Works of the former renew store.   We asked about cabinets and he said to follow him on Facebook and so I did  In less than a week he  had cabinets from a home he was working on.    $250. for 6 pieces seemed like a bargain price.  They were a darker maple color and it came with a counter top and sink.

 

Measurements were taken and they would fit nicely.   I plan to get a new counter top and will have the new/old sink that I bought put in it.  Now they are on the porch awaiting the other things to get done  I really like the idea of reusing and the trip to Newfane, Vermont was delightful.  The house was located on a muddy dirt road with a wonderful field and meadow and beautiful views.  It had a lovely large birch tree close by and a huge stone wall.

VISITING FRIENDS AND WINDING  A  WARP

Yesterday I went to visit friends and wind a warp.  Charlie and Ken live in a lovely cottage by the side of a babbling brook.

And there are many wonderful gardens.

 Charlie wanted to weave again and I told him about the Structo Loom used by The Springfield Weavers to show people how to weave.  He remembered seeing the group at The Massachusetts Sheep and Wool Fest this year.    A couple of weeks ago he purchased on   eBay and  yesterday I wound a warp for scarves out of mohair boucle.

  There is enough warp to weave 4 or 5 scarves.  Ken made a delightful lunch and Charlie and I spent a delightful afternoon.

Heading to the Heath Fair on Saturday.   Come and visit me at the large tent.  I hope to be spinning.  Many thanks for reading my blog.   Carole

 

 

 

 

NEW LOOM, VISITING FRIENDS-GARDENERS BASIL & LIME SOAP-BUS TRIP TO THE 2018 MARYLAND SHEEP AND WOOL FESTIVAL.

GREETING FRIENDS

MY FAVORITE SPRING FLOWER

Today is the last of the rainy, dreary, damp and cold days.  The sun is suppose to come out this afternoon and the winds are going to pick up and dry it all off.  We are certainly not in a drought situation any more.   There is so much to do this spring I have almost finished manuring and weeding the front yard and need to get to the back this week.  I am transplanting some wild raspberries  near a fence in the front area, hoping to be able to contain them better.  My female elderberry isn’t doing well, does anyone know if they are hard to root.  I would love to start some new ones.  The male plant is flourishing.

NEW LOOM AND A VISIT WITH FRIENDS

I have been looking for a loom for months now and knew that one would come along.  When mentioning it to my friends Ulla and Dick they said they had the perfect one for me.  A 36 inch Leclerc  4 harness loom.  It’s a beauty. And there is a story behind it.  They drove up to Canada to pick it up!  Solid Maple which will be good for rugs.  About a year after I sold my looms I did a workshop at The Springfield Weavers and realized that I missed weaving.  Especially overshot which is my favorite weave.   And  also I needed a way to use up the boxes and boxes of hand-spun yarn in the sewing room.  I have decided to have it in my downstairs bedroom and have taken the room apart and made room. Now I would like to refresh the room with some paint and the loom will have a new home.

I had a wonderful visit with Ulla and Dick on the loom picking up day.  It was shearing day for them and it was wonderful to watch Aaron (my new shearer) get the job done.  He has just gotten back from Australia where he sheared hundreds of sheep.

Ulla in the background and Aaron shearing

  We had a wonderful day remembering old times,  new projects and garden ideas.  I can’t wait to visit again to see the new weathervane that Dick is making.  I was lucky enough to see a picture of it almost done.  Itsa carved turtle.  Next time pictures.  When I next visit them they will have their new chickens.

THEIR SHEEP ALL SHEARED

LYMES

The 90 days on Doxicycline did very little for the Lymes Disease I have.    I did tolerate it well though.  I will now be on another antibiotic as it is summer and with Doxi I could have a severe reaction from the sun.  I will be on it for at least 6 months and there is no guarantee.  I have to try it .  I have already had many ticks on me they say that this year is going to be one of the worst.  I am going to make up a herbal concoction to spray on myself each day.

BASIL-LIME WITH GROUND UP CORN GARDENERS SOAP AND OATMEAL SOAP

 

I made these two soaps a couple of weeks ago and they are now drying on racks.  They will be ready for the Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fest.  The kitchen is filled with their smells. It was the first time I used my grinder and I love it.

 

NEW PROJECT-THE LEAD LINE AT THE MASSACHUSETTS SHEEP AND WOOL-CRAFT FAIR

GREETINGS

We are having such hot weather but some rain overnight and maybe some more tonight will help and slightly cooler temps.  Gardens will be popping up.

NEW PROJECT

The Seamus rug was a hit at the show.  SO much so that I will be offering a class in Proddy at Sheep and Shawl over the summer.  A smaller version though.  It was so much fun working on it

 

THE MASSACHUSETTS SHEEP AND WOOL- CRAFT FEST

It was  a great success lots of people came on Saturday.  Sunday is always a slow day at the fair and was this year too .  It was great seeing old friends and my spinning students but I missed by friend Lisa who was unable to come.  The show wasn’t the same without her.  Susan and I are now next to each other again so it was great fun visiting.  Of course I wish I could bring every sheep home  I just love sheep so.  

The lead line was Sunday and I wanted to share some of the contestants with you.

This woman and her sheep were so darn cute.  The sheep was very well behaved and the woman said that she was always like that.  Only the best of sheep would allow a woodsman hat to be  kept on!

 

I

Barb Giguere

Many thanks for reading my blog today and I hope you have a wonderful day.  Carole  This wonderful Tunis sheep below wanted to come home with me. Isn’t she a beauty.

MASSACHUSETTS SHEEP AND WOOL-CRAFT FEST-PROJECTS I WILL BE WORKING ON AT THE FAIR

GREETINGS

Gentle rain at last, its so needed.  Lilacs and Violets still blooming.    The fence is holding for the sheep.  A little tricky to open and close but it gets easier every day.

MASSACHUSETTS SHEEP AND WOOL-CRAFT FEST

Hope you will come and visit the show this coming Saturday and Sunday.  The only cost is the for parking.  It will be a day of wool and sheep.  Lead Line is Sunday, dog trail  ongoing,  Visit the barn and see the sheep.  Fleeces will be available for sale in the afternoon on Saturday.  Visit the vendor booths, and say hi to me I will be in Barn One.  There will be all sorts of demo’s all around the grounds. I will be demonstrating rug hooking doing a English style of hooking called Proddy with wool material and some yarn and locker hooking with roving.   New food vendors will be onsite.  Spend the day and enjoy.

Are you growing flax this year?  Or thinking about it  I will have these for sale in my booth at the fair.

$50. a piece

PROJECTS I WILL BE WORKING ON AT THE FAIR

Many years ago I took a workshop in  Vermont with Heather Ritchie from England.  It was the most delightful class I have ever taken.  We had so much fun and laughed through the whole two days.  She had done this wonderful rug  with a sheep and stone wall.  While I am not up to a stone wall I am up to doing a sheep in the proddy style.  I bought the material more than 5 years ago.  Every once in a while when I am cleaning out I come across it.  This year i decided I would blow up a picture of Seamus which I had used in a smaller rug and do him in proddy with a yarn face and legs.

   I plan to work on it during the show  By the way Heather has a wonderful book out on proddy  and her rugs and life in the Yorkshire Dales.  I have always wanted to take a class from her there.  Wouldn’t that be wonderful.

The other project I started in the early 90’s.  I have 3 rugs to finish from those days and I hope to get this done this summer.  Locker hooking is done with roving and some string and a hook.  Its fun and easy and a good way to use up roving.  I have a rug from the 80’s by my bed  they just don’t wear out and are so comfy on a cold winters night.

ewhere along the line it got wet and the color bled a little and it looks like there is a tea stain on it which will come out when its done.  Its half way done now.

Many thanks for reading my blog of this hot summery day, hope to see you at the fair.  Carole