MURPHY-LAST DAY FOR THE POP UP SHOP

GREETINGS

We are having a bit of a cold snap but for Christmas Eve  day its suppose to be around 60.  Too warm but we will take it.  I am sure we will get plenty of snow in the new year.

MURPHY

Murphy is a great rooster, hatched right here on the farm he is truly the kindest and gentlest .  Two nights ago I came home from the pop up shop and did my usual animal routine.  I lock up each coop and count chickens.   Murphy,Francis and Miss Speckles were missing.  I got my large flashlight and ran out to their yard.  There himself was with his wings covering the two girls.  The netting  covering  the top of their run came down and covered their doorway so they couldn’t get into the door.   He takes care of his girls and knows when one is missing and will go back out and stay with her and nudge her to come in.

Francis is quite old in chicken years, yet she goes out every day and in summertime still manages to lay some beautiful blue eggs.

LAST DAY FOR THE POP UP SHOP

Today is the last day for the Pop Up Shop.  Its been so interesting .  As a group we offer diversity in products and we would like to do it again.  Many of our customers wanted to know where and when we would be again.  Its given us all something to think about.  I have met new crafts people and got to spend some time with my friend Susan.  I have also learned  a lot about doing this.  Its fun and exciting and a short commitment at a busy time.

CHRISTMAS YIKES!!!!!

With so much going on with shows and making things I am so far behind.  Hope to catch up in the next few days.  I haven’t even made my Christmas cards yet so they will be  late.  I do have an idea though and it has something to do with Cosmo..

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

THE POP UP SHOP-HELEN-EDDIE- SHIELS SPINNING WHEELS

GREETINGS

The weather here has been wonderful,  for the past 5 nights it has not gotten below freezing.  I can’t remember a time in mid December that it has happened.  the temps will dip this coming weekend but then warm up again for the holidays.  

Last week I got the flu shot.  I have been doing it for years.  Now having Lymes disease it seems more important to keep myself away from the flu. There are two flu shots one for people under 65 and the other for people over 65.  I got the one for over 65 and have not felt well since.  I will think twice next year and check with my clinician at The Wellness Clinic before getting it.

THE POP UP SHOP

What a wonderful idea from Christa.  Its worked out so well for all of us.  People just love a place that sells locally made things..  Everyone’s things are different and wonderful.  Wish  we could do it every year.  Thanks Christa for setting it up.

HELEN

She is laying eggs again and is perky and bright.  Its been a long haul but so worth it.   It will be great for her to be outside this next summer.  I will be changing all the side area around.  The large tree was cut down and a new tree to give them shade will be planted in one of the chicken yards.  Which means that another yard must be made.  A fun project.  

EDDIE

Eddie has been showing his powerful (so he thinks) rooster self lately.  He is only about 8 inches tall!!!!   Yesterday he jumped out of the coop and was flying around the bottom of the barn.  he had gotten himself stuck between rolled up chicken wire and dog crates.  It took me about 15 minutes to find him.  I am more cautious now when opening the door.

SHIEL’S SPINNING WHEELS

I had a delightful surprise in the mail the other day.  I small package from Ireland.  It was a handmade wooden tree made by Johnny Shiels.  It is so beautifully made and will go perfectly with my Christmas village.

He is hoping to see where all the  Shiels Spinning Wheels are located.   Do you have one???   I will be trying to locate owners here in the states and in Canada.  If you own one of these wonderful wheels please let me know.

PRIM SANTA’S

I am making more Prim Santa’s for the Pop Up Shop and for gifts.

Many thanks for reading my blog on this spring like day.  Carole 

MURPHY AND THE GIRLS ARE SO HAPPY TO BE OUTSIDE

 

 

 

BEACH TOWEL INTO A TABLE PAD-MAKING GINGERBREAD MEN AND STARS

GREETINGS

It looks like its  a spring day instead of an almost winter day.  Mist is thick in the woods and the temps in the 40’s

.BEACH TOWEL INTO A TABLE PAD

My Mom had this wildly colored beach towel.   It was always taken to the beach in Florida.It was surprisingly unlike my Mom.  Inside her house was all painted white, she just didn’t like a lot of color, she was very conservative.  Of all the things I kept from her this one is precious.  But I had to do something with it so it could be used.  So its been sitting around for a few years.  Finally in the summer I cut it up.  It was a little fragile and there was little pieces of the towelling material all over.  I tried to crochet with it to make a bath mat but it raveled more.  Finally this week I decided to braid it.  Now its a table pad.  I do like it and it will go with my primitive red dining room.

In one of the houses I lived in all the rooms were painted white too.  Now I have moved on from that and am making my house so colorful. The kitchen is coco brown and mustard, one of the bedrooms is a pumpkin color and the dining room is primitive red and mustard trim.   This weekend a few friends and I are going to  an open house in Leyden.  Kristen Nicholas, a famous knitter and crafter extraordinaire is holding it in her very colorful house.  We are all hoping to get some new ideas for our worlds.  An exciting thing to look forward to.  And she has lots of sheep.  A kindred spirit.

GINGERBREAD MEN

Today I have made these Gingerbread Men and stars.  I will be bringing them to the Pop Up Shop that is coming up in Turners Falls.  I have made then before and sold them they are not edible and will last a long time.

 Most of the stars will be used in swags which I make.  There will be bay leaves, cranberries and the stars.  The whole kitchen smells wonderful

It saddens me on this night to see more gun violence in California.  I hope and pray that we can stop all of this around the world.

Many thanks for reading my blog on this rainy day.  I hope that you enjoyed the day.  Carole\

Shorty and Willie

BIRTHDAY SURPRISES-GETTING READY FOR A POP UP SHOP-THANKSGIVING AT THE DEERFIELD INN.

GREETINGS

The cold spell is here and I am still getting a couple of outside chores done. Life moves at a slower pace after the first of the year.  I am already planning the gardens for next year.  One of the most important things I am going to do is plant a Christmas Greens Garden in  one of the new excavation spots near the stone wall and woods.  Every year I either have to scour the woods or buy Christmas greens and I am sick of it.  I would rather have them growing here for the birds to enjoy and me to pick.  I plan to get 3 Winterberry bushes.  I planted three about 4 years ago and realize that they were not planted in the proper spot and only one survived.  It had one berry on it and a bird got it! I also want to get a couple of of box wood, a couple more holly plants, my only female plant got winter kill during a bitter cold winter a couple of years ago.Add to that a couple of evergreens and I think I will be set.  These will add places for the birds and squirrels along a stone wall and will make a pleasant view from the barn and house.  I have the rest of the winter to look at catalogs to find the best plants.  What fun.

BIRTHDAY SURPRISES

My birthday this year was full of surprises.  It started with a face time from my two daughter saying they had found a car for me.  My poor old car was falling apart.  Now I have a van which will carry more hay and allow me to take many more things to shows.

Next my son said he would rip up all the old floorboards in the barn and replace them.  I have been so concerned about the floor, the water has come in for several years and the floors were rotting.

Even Lil helped

These two things I needed most thank you so much to my children and their spouses.

Everything is set for winter now.  The hose is brought in and the electric water bucket filled and plugged in.

POP UP SHOP

 

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I am going to be involved with my friend, Christa in this Pop Up Shop in Turners Falls for the Christmas Season.  We will start on December 11th and will be open that weekend  each day from 11-5.  And then the following weekend.

I will be giving you more info as the time nears with lists of things that we will be selling.  Buy locally made things and meet the crafters .

Today I am drying oranges for the Christmas Balsam Mix.  The house smells wonderful.

THANKSGIVING AT THE DEERFIELD INN

This is the second year Cindy and I have spent Thanksgiving together at Chandlers restaurant and the Deerfield Inn.  Cindy has now finished Law School and will graduate with her class next June.  We may resume our annual Thanksgiving in Ireland next year which we have done for years.  We had a great dinner at Chandlers with a special treat of having my neighbor Christa (the pastry chef) come out and  visit with us on this very busy day.  After a peaceful night and a wonderful breakfast we both went back to our busy lives.

A wonderful raised Herb garden in back of the restaurant at The Deerfield Inn

Old Deerfield is a wonderful place to visit, History of America abounds here.

A SURPRISE VISITOR

I wonder who it is   It doesn’t smell skunky, haven’t seen any raccoons around so it might be a possum.  I am sure I will find out.  But it is time for animals to find warmer quarters.

Many thanks for reading my blog on this chilly morning.  Hope you have a wonderful day.   Carole