SHELBURNE FALLS FARMERS MARKET-MAINE ORGANIC FARMER AND GARDENER-TWICE 55

GREETINGS

The woods are shrouded in fog this morning and a gentle rain has been falling all night.  I redug the trench and no water in the barn.  I cleaned the barn yesterday and one to get on a once a week schedule of barn cleaning again.  It sure makes things easier and only takes an hour and a half.  I am off to the cemetery to plant spring bulbs this morning.

SHELBURNE FALLS FARMERS MARKET

Saturday was a perfect day for the Autumn market.  It was brisk and windy and the day ended with a few snow flurries.  The crowds weren’t there  like last year but it was an enjoyable day.

MY TABLE AT THE MARKET

 More and more fairs are held that weekend so the competition is brisk.  I made a lot of contacts and met  Eliza.  Eliza writes a beautiful blog with many wonderful pictures and she is only a few towns away.

ELIZA

It was wonderful to finally meet her.  Her blog is elizawaters.wordpress.com.  Check it out.

LOTS OF VEGGIES

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS AND PEARS

 

MAINE ORGANIC FARMER AND GARDNER

Lots of interesting news.  I particularly liked the article on the comeback of Granges in Maine.  With the encouragement of farming, Granges in Maine are making a comeback.  What good news. The Grange was an important part of my family life and I hope that our state can start to encourage small farming.  This newspaper is very reasonable and if you are a farmer, gardener or folks that are interested in your food I encourage you to join this wonderful organization.

TWICE 55

Since I got my Piano back I have been looking for these wonderful song books.  They were found in some books that I brought back from my old homestead.  I am delighted.  Twice 55 was first published with a collection of 18 songs in 1913.  It soon went to 55 songs and when World War One came along it went to 120 and was named Twice 55.   These song books came from my Dad’s homestead where there was a large family steeped in the arts of singing and playacting.  

My Dad and I would often have sing-a-longs on car trips.  One of my favorite songs was Loch Lomond.  I once was in Scotland and on the way back to the airport from The Highlands I saw a small sign Loch Lomond.  I quickly stopped the car, it’s a beautiful loch and it brought back those sweet times of my Dad and I signing that song.  I am not a great piano player but will enjoy playing some of these songs again.

The chickadee’s have been out in full force getting as any sunflower seeds as they can.  I hope you have a wonderful day its starting to clear up now.  Many thanks for reading my blog.   Carole and my helper Owen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A CHICKEN MYSTERY-OWEN-CHICKEN LITTLE- SHELBURNE FALLS AUTUMN MARKET

GREETINGS

Yesterday I was without internet for most of the day, I didn’t realize how much I would miss it.  Eventually my Son found the cause the phone line had become unplugged!   Its cold here this morning but will rise up to the 40’s this afternoon.  Then bitter cold tonight.   The people in Buffalo could get another 3-4 feet of lake effect snow today on top of the 4-5 feet they already have.  No one can really be prepared for that amount.

THE CHICKEN MYSTERY

This picture is of  a rooster and a hen or two roosters, not sure.

 I thought they were both roosters but Chicken Little now looks like a hen.  No eggs though which leads me to think that he is a he.  Strange though.

SHELBURNE FALLS AUTUMN FARMERS MARKET

Shelburne Falls has its autumn farmers market this Saturday from 11 am till 4 pm in the elementary school.  It’s a wonderful event where you can pick up some locally made items and still buy some wonderful produce.  

CAT TOYS

I have been busy making cat toys for the farmers market

and some to send to Ahimsa SHelter where my two new kitties came from

 

.  It’s such a nice shelter where loving care is shown to each animal and great care is given to find just the right owner.

OWEN

Owen had his doctors visit yesterday.  He certainly doesn’t like going anywhere.  All numbers are good so he won’t have to go back for three month.  He gained 2/10’s of a pound.

.  

The Thursday Spinner met at Jane’s today.  Everyone had an interesting project.   Many thanks for reading my blog today.  Its going to be a bitter night and the wood stove is keeping the kitchen nice and warm.   Carole

 

SHORTY-THE FARMERS MARKET-GARDEN REVIEW-NIGHT TIME ON THE FARM

GREETINGS

SHORTY

The dynamics of this house has changed considerably with the loss of three cats.  Shorty now tends to disappear every afternoon to a secret hiding place that I have yet to find.  He missed a vet appointment so no more appointments will be made for him in the late afternoon.  Yesterday he did get to the vets  for a shot.

 

Big Sam should be arriving here next weekend and that should change things considerably.  The house does feel empty now.

THE FARMERS MARKET

Instead of doing  work on the rug I  worked on the mat for the 2 Hooking classes I am teaching this fall.  I hope to have it completed by the weekend.  It is a smaller version of the Farmers Market Rug.

My friend Jill came down and spun yesterday while Jane joined me later.  I was not in my usual spot but found that the place I moved to was better.  Under a tree so I didn’t have to set up my umbrella.  It was a beautiful day at the market and Eric played some lovely tunes on the bagpipe.  There was much interest in our spinning and hooking.

GARDEN REVIEW

This being the last weekend in summer I thought it was time to do a review of the garden.  The cukes are doing so well, so many this year I have found the proper spot for them.  Herbs are still doing well and I should have many pumpkins.

 I am disappointed in the tomatoes and hope to remedy that.  I think the soil is too rich causing more growth to go into the leaves and stems, although I do have lots of tomatoes on the vine but the plants themselves are 6 feet tall.  The peppers got a late start but growing them in less rich soil has done the trick and I will have plenty to freeze.

The very late start with beets will bring me some small beets in a month or so.  

I really need to start planning out the hoop house and start buying the supplies for it.  Because of the cooler weather this summer tomatoes have not done their best so when I do get the hoop house  set up I will grow them in there.  I will be able to start them earlier and they will produce later.

NIGHT TIME AT THE FARM

I love night time on the farm.  In the chicken coops all are trying to get their favorite sleeping places,

 The sheep also have their favorite eating spots, Its a quiet time in the barn with the sounds of sheep munching on their hay.

CAROL K

  I enjoy those peaceful sounds as I sit in my chair outside looking at the fading  sunset while filling their water buckets.

Many thanks for reading my blog on this delightful summer day.  Carole

FARMERS MARKET-DYEING MORE WOOL AND LEARNING MORE LESSONS-SAMANTHA AND ROSIE

GREETINGS

Farmers Market

Yesterday was the farmers market.  Not many booths there but more people coming.  Jane came and spun this wonderful Finn Roving.

 We had lots of people stop by and chat.   One of Eric Goodchild’s Pipe students came and played the pipes for us.  It was wonderful, the afternoon flew by.

DYEING MORE WOOL AND LESSONS LEARNED

I had 4 more skeins of that wool to dye with food coloring.  I wanted to get a purple and did the normal thing I would do, mix red and blue.  It came out a muddy brown with a slight tinge of purple.

MUD!

 

 Really not good for children’s hats.  So I ended up using the last of the red.

I THOUGH IT MIGHT COME OUT ORANGE

 I came to the conclusion that food coloring when it gets old is just like dyes when they get old, you just can’t count on the color.    The last 2 skeins will be dyed blue.  That will be the end of my experiment with food coloring.

A NICE SALMON COLOR

SAMANTHA AND ROSIE

Samantha and Rosie had their first taste of watermelon this morning.  They didn’t know what to expect and dug right in.  They loved it.

ROSIE    

PATHWAYS

I have been building little pathways around my side yard, using up soiled hay.

 

 They still need work but hopefully they will be done this year.

THIS ONE WILL LEAD TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE

 I hope to build a small grape arbor this summer there too.  The grape vines have nowhere to go. Over the winter I will have to study how to train them.

We had a beautiful day here with sun and clouds the whole day long.  I hope your day was lovely and I thank you so much for reading my blog.  Carole

A CURE FOR ROOSTER CROWING-A BEDROOM SHELF-FARMERS MARKET RUG

GREETINGS

Yesterday morning was dark and gloomy with a smell of rain in the air.  Strong storms and much rain were  called for but didn’t happen.    We are getting use to the change in  weather. I can now see Carol K from my computer window eating the grasses and weeds in the new fencing.

A CURE FOR ROOSTER CROWING

Yesterday I received  a Poultry Magazine in the mail .  There was a small article about a collar for roosters. I investigated it  on the internet and sure enough its true and it works.  I so love Roosters especially Murphy who I raise from a chick.  I love the sound of them crowing but not everyone likes the sound and Hazel’s crowing is downright annoying.  The two boys are practicing their crowing now and they will be adding their song to Murphy’s/  I do really have to consider my neighbors so I plan to get a collar for Hazel and try it out and the get one for the two other  boys..  They come in all sizes and are relatively inexpensive.  They do not hurt the bird at all and I am wondering if they will give the rooster added life.  The article explains a roosters crow, how they take in much more air then needed to make it happen this collar will restrict that big breath, they will still crow but it will be at the sound level as a hen.  I just love this idea.  Roosters are so needed on a farm.  They are protectors of their hens, show them where the food is, take care of fights amongst the hens.  Which means less pecking problems.  They will fight to the death to keep their girls safe.  I think I will raise my own replacement chicks from now on.  

MURPHY AND HIS GIRLS

 BEDROOM SHELF

I have a bedside table which is always cluttered up with things and I have special books which I use a lot on the table too. I looked around and found a board and some shelf holders and yesterday I painted them all and today I installed them on a wall near my bed.

 

 

 

FARMERS MARKET RUG

Friday’s farmers market was wonderful, Nina, Jan and Jane came and spun while I worked on the rug.  A gal came over to see what I was doing.  The amazing thing is that she is the town foot Nurse in COlrain and she lived many years in New Foundland.  SHe was secretary to a large Rug Hooking Group.    She is a Rug Hooker.  You just never know where you are going to meet people.  I am hope to see her again and have a longer chat.  Here is he progress on the rug.  I do love the lavender color and how the dark of his wool makes a pattern in the border too.  My rug hooking with yarn class this coming fall and winter will feature a small version of this rug.

 

My friend Francine sent me this wonderful poem by Emily Dickinson, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

That perches on the soul

And sings the tune without the words

And never stops at all

Hope you have a wonderful day today and thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog.   Carole and Minnie