LYME-THE LAST OF AN ERA-WILLOW-SHEEP SHEARING

HAPPY SPRING

  The pussy willow tree is in full bloom  We had some snow showers yesterday an rain today.  Looking forward to planting some peas soon.

lYME

I am now on my medication to treat babesia microti.  It seems my whole day now is spent taking medications.  In 3 months I should be free of all this and get back to a normal life.  I am so grateful for Northampton integrated Medicine without them I would have not found out about the disease or be treated.  It seems that this disease is spreading all over Massachusetts.  I will be spraying pyrthium on my clothes to make sure I don’t get bit again.

It’s a bright yellow in color and chalk  would taste so much better but its here and it should make all those little creatures in my red blood cells die so its worth it.

 

THE LAST OF AN ERA

My friend Debbie called to tell me my Cousin Bill Bisbee passed away.  I last saw him a few years ago.  The Bisbee’s were an old Chesterfield Massachusetts family settling there in the 1700’s.  My Dad spent most summers helping  his cousins bring in the hay. His winter holidays from the Holyoke schools were spent sliding down the many hills in Chesterfield. 

I still love going to Chesterfield, my Grandfather and many family members are buried there and I love  picking blueberries every summer at my cousin’s blueberry fields..  The memories of those wonderful days in Chesterfield are cherished by me, I was such a lucky child.   

SHEEP

The sheep have done well over the winter and they were sheared by Aaron last Thursday.  He is an expert shearer and they were done in less than an hour.  Glad that its done before the warm weather hits

 

WILLOW BASKETS

I plan to make some small willow baskets similar to the one I bought in Ireland for shows this year.  I have a small supply of willow I bought some years ago to get me started and cut what I grew some years ago to add to that when its dry.  I think next years willow crop will be better.

I made this soaking tub with a gutter.  It will work out well.

Many thanks for reading my blog an I hope you have a lovely day.

 

MILLIE, MRS BROWN AND THEIR CHARGES

LUCY

HELLO,

This morning is overcast but warmer, I think I can get my planting done today.

MILLIE, MRS. BROWN AND THEIR CHARGES

Lucy got moved out of the gentle coop a few weeks ago and has adjusted to living with Murphy and his gals.  She was just on the little hens case every moment.  Millie and Mrs. Brown have taken over the mothering role and its working out quite well

MILLY, SWEET PEA, EMMA AND LOUISE

I am hopeful that Hazel will rejoin them after Thanksgiving. 

MRS. BROWN STILL PERCHES ON THE UPPER PERCH ALONE WAITING FOR HAZEL TO RETURN

Dr. Connor and I will discuss how that will be done as Hazel is living comfortably in the house.  The adjustment to temps will have to take time.  He ate spaghetti today and some scrambled eggs.  His appetite is back, his crow not all the way back yet.

WILLOW

I planted the willow bush with help from Tyler.  I put it near the bird house and planted some tulips with it.  In spring as I write My blog I can look out of the beautiful flowers..

NEEDLE FELTING CLASS AT SHEEP AND SHAWL

Tomorrow late afternoon I am taking a class on needle felting fall leave and acorns.  I can’t wait to do this it will be so much fun and another addition to my products.  I just love dyeing wool in fall colors.

Many thanks for reading my blog today and I hope you have a wonderful day.   Carole  lucy laid another eggs today yea!!!!!

LOTS MORE SNOW-FOOD PRICES ON THE RISE-RUG-SHORTY

Hello from snow-covered Colrain,

The view outside my bathroom window.

It’s still snowing some, very wet and heavy snow.  Its covered everything. The sheep love it.  It’s a beautiful site.  Hope that this is the last snow storm of the season after all tomorrow is the first day of SPRING!!

Celery

I bought some organic celery last week.  I use about a package a month in soups, green salads and potato salad.  I was shocked at the price which is now $4.99 for the package.  It shot up by a dollar in less than a month. 

Celery is something I tried to grow and was unsuccessful.  And its a veggie that I will pay the extra for  organic.    I know the time and effort that goes into growing it.  I think this summer I will find someone local who grows it and buy plenty to cut up and freeze. 

Today I made potato salad it hit the spot.  I love it all year round.  People make it  in so many ways.  Homemade is so much better than supermarket  brands.

The Carrot Rug

I finished one side of the border soon it will be finished.  I have found a brown plaid for the backing and I think I will just dip it into the green dye that is left and see what happens.

Shorty (from his favorite chair near the wood stove) hopes you have a wonderful day and I thank you so much for reading my blog.

 Carole

 

FLOWERING MAPLE-OLD PITCHER-PUSSY WILLOWS

Hello,

Today we are having snow showers but tomorrow night into Friday we are having another snow storm.

Flowering Maple

 

 

 

 

 

In the darkness of winter this plant brings me great joy.  Most of my plants are in the small south bedroom.  It sunny and warm there.  I will start my veggies in that room in March.  The Flowering Maple is by far my favorite winter plant.  It flowers most of the winter in bits and spurts.  I have found a seed company which carries the seeds in various colors.  I plan to  get a package and try growing them.

THE PITCHER

I bought this pitcher many years ago at a tag sale for $.25.   It reminded me of the pitchers at the Ashfield Grange when we had Grange  Sunday dinners.  They would be brought to the table with either ice-cold milk or ice-cold water.   The Grange dinners would be full meals everything handmade by the grange ladies.  I went when I was a child through my children growing up.  I don’t think they have them anymore.  They were only held once a month and tickets had to be bought in advance and only May through November.  I use the pitcher  every day to fill the pot on the wood stove and to bring hot water for Sadie’s bucket.

PUSSY WILLOWS

These are from the branch I cut down a few days ago.  They are all starting to flower.  Some were already in flower from the warmer weather we had a few weeks ago.

Hope you have a wonderful day and thank you for reading my blog.

Carole

WILLOW-SADIE AND MAUDE-SUSAN’S VISIT

Hello

WILLOW

I finally cut a branch off of the Willow bush (which is now tree like) today.

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 I have been searching for an easy basket to make but wasn’t able to find anything on the internet.  I will go back to all my books.  In searching the web I found a basket which uses pussy willows.  It was done by Martha Stewart after a trip to Bulgaria.  She watched a group of women make these baskets and had them show her.  It’s a sweet basket which I hope to make and whenever I can get some sheet moss.    I did go out today in the woods but everything is frozen solid.

SADIE

On Tuesday Sadie will be 16.  She has done well this winter of course at 16 she has lived way past the average age of sheep.  She like where she is and enjoys her meals, gets up and walks around many times during the day and probably when its warmer will want to go out again.  All the sheep sleep out at night and she always did too.  But she was smart and knew when she need to be inside.  Her Mother Lottie lived till she was 16 so long life is in her genes.

SUSAN

My friend Susan is coming over tomorrow.  Every year we promise each other that in the winter we will have project days and this is the year we are finally doing it.  We see each other so rarely but e-mail everyday.

MAUDE

There are some things that you know you probably shouldn’t do but know that  you will never be sorry you did them.  Maude is one of them.  She is a delight.   In the short time she has been here she has won my heart.

One more carrot please

Thank you so much for reading my blog and I hope you have a wonderful day.     Carole