Happy New Year!!



    Well, the year is about over, and I'm waiting up to see the New Year in. Since I'm a wild, party person, I'm watching movies on Netflix.

   Today, Tim and I finally made it to Wolf Lodge Bay to see the Bald Eagles that come by the hundreds to eat the dying salmon after they spawn. Wolf  Lodge Bay is on Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho. I was even able to get a few pictures of the eagles. Unfortunately, I couldn't really get any of them as they were flying. We have 2-3 months yet to see them, so maybe I'll be able to get in flight pictures. I got a new camera and was having some trouble finding the eagles. I'd point the camera where they were, but I couldn't see them in the screen. New cameras mean more pictures to get more practice. I did manage to get some fairly decent photos of cooperative eagles just sitting in trees. Anyway, here are some of the pictures I took.

 

 



I was busy this month doing crafty things. Below is a picture of the rabbit I made for Michaela's 1st birthday.



Michaela's birthday rabbit





These are the bears I made for Christmas for our 5 grandchildren. At one time, I had thought about making them and selling them, but they were more work than I want to do to make and sell. The bears come with different outfits, so the grand kids will let me know what their bears want to wear.

                                               



I think I will start a denim patchwork quilt next with the stack of old jeans I have collected. I have no idea what size I will make it. The thought even crossed my mind to make several that are child size and embroider things on the squares and give them to the grand kids. I thought about making a large quilt and still embroider things on it. I guess it all depends on how many squares I can get out of the jeans.

Not that I really make New Years resolutions, but if I was going to make some they would be the usual loose weight, exercise more and fold the towels when they come out of the dryer instead of just taking a towel out of the basket when I need one. Oh, and the really big resolution would be to cut waaay back on the sugar.

I hope everyone has a Happy New Year.

The Things I Get Myself Into

   Well, Christmas is getting closer and I'm still cutting out bear pieces and crocheting Michaela's bunny for her birthday. I had to take a break from it all yesterday, so I'll be extra busy today.
   Little did I know when I decided to make these bears x 5, I would be cutting out 125 pieces. I just thought, without reading the directions of course, that 11 pattern pieces isn't bad. Everything is cut 2 except for the muzzle and nose, which is just cut one, because who wants a bear with 2 muzzles and noses. The ears are cut 4.
    Anyway, I have one more bear to cut out. The first bear took the longest because I am making it striped and I had to cut it to line up the stripes. Three bears are made from dresses that no longer fit, and I wish I could honestly say they shrunk while in storage or they are now too big, but I can't.
   I see on my weather thing on my blog it's 17 with a real feel of 2. Yeah, it's cold outside. The freezing fog doesn't help matters any, either. I have to be mean and really force Jake out in the mornings. The cold hurts his 3 toed foot. Poor dog. He's acting more and more like a grumpy old man. He's around 8 or 9 years old now, but sometimes he acts so much older until he sees something to chase, and then he's off like a shot and you can't catch him.
   Both Jake and Chip are banished to our room now when Michaela eats. They really know about babies in high chairs now, and Michaela thinks it's fun to throw food at the dogs.
   Poor Michaela is still confused about what she is. Baby or dog. Yesterday, she was walking around until she got to the laundry room, having a good old time hitting the metal folding chair we have there to sit on to take off our muddy shoes, when she decided to crawl over to the dogs' water. I heard a sharp intake of breath as she stuck her face the dish to get a drink. We were all in the kitchen, but she's a sneaking fast little critter. Now, Amy tells me that she gets on her knees and begs like their dog, Sadie. Just imagine what she would do if we had lizards or snakes.
   I'm about done with my morning glass of chocolate milk, so I'd better get busy. I'll be washing clothes for fun, too. Chances are, these bears will be finished in time for Christmas, but mailed too close to Christmas to get there in time. I'll just be known and the grandmother who sends late gifts. The kids will just have more days to open things this way.
   Well, my chocolate milk is gone, so, see ya later.

The Newest Fashion Accessory

    Well, here it is, my new fashion accessory. It's actually pretty comfortable and light weight. It only weighs 1 1/2 pounds. My back even feels better since it has a 3/4 inch lift in the the heal since my leg is that much shorter than the other. Teach me to break a leg in 4 places and then get arthritis, or arthoritis as the kids used to call it.

   I have started more projects, like I don't have enough started already. I am now making 5 teddy bears of different colors for the grand kids. It's taking me a lot longer to cut all the pieces out than I thought it would, but I really should have known better. Hopefully, the sewing part goes as fast as I think it will. I will have a regular bear assembly line going. They just get the bears now and I'll make the clothes for the bears later.

   Our weather has been pretty nice, even if a tad on the cold side. Our snow has come and gone. No snow in the forecast for at least this week.

   No one has started complaining about a brown Christmas yet. We thought it was funny when we moved up here in 2006. People were complaining about a brown Christmas. We just chuckled about that, because we moved up here from the Mojave desert and we really knew what a brown Christmas looked like. The grass was even green, so we thought it was a green Christmas.

   Christmas dinner is at my mother-in-laws house since I did Thanksgiving. Besides, if we do get snow, Tim won't have to go and get them and bring them here.

   The last week there has been some really loud explosions around here. The first on was the loudest and I thought it was some one's propane tank exploding, but it wasn't, and it was in the afternoon. Now, we hear them starting about 8:30PM for about an hour and a half. We have decided they are definitely artillery of some sort. Someone has a cannon and is firing it chasing away deer? Secret war games? Who knows, but we'd like to. We'd also like to know where they are coming from, since they sound fairly close.

   I hear bear parts calling my, so I guess I'd better get to them. Nothing like noisy bears that are in pieces.

Oops

   Have you ever had one of those days when you should just stay out of the kitchen? I should have the other night.    I thought I'd make some carrot bread. I doubled the recipe as usual. No problem there. I put everything except the carrots in my kitchen aid mixer bowl, raised the bowl up and heard a crack. I didn't see anything, so continued with the mixing. I added the carrots, mixed it all together and poured the batter in to two pans. First, things do cook much faster if you turn the oven on.
   I moved the mixer back to it's spot and found a small piece of white plastic that looks like nylon. It wasn't there when I started, so that must have been the crack. The mixer worked fine, so who knows.
   The bread baked, I took it out of the oven and turned the pans upside down to get the bread out. I did let them cool for a bit first. Most of the bottom of the first loaf stuck even though I used nonstick bread pans that I had sprayed with cooking spray just because.
   I went to pick up the loaf of bread and it was too hot and it really didn't want to be picked up, so my brilliant idea was to put another cooling rack over it and flip it over. I have done this many, many times before with no problem. Not so lucky this time. The bread slipped from between the racks, hit the edge of the kitchen island and broke. Most of the loaf landed on the floor. It's really a good thing I made two loaves. I figured I probably shouldn't do the 2 second rule, so it got tossed and then the dogs had a good snack of crumbs.
   I had Amy get the other loaf out. She did, with no problem. Amy did tell me I couldn't be perfect all the time.
   I then went on to make Tapioca pudding. I managed to burn it. The heat was on low, but it still burned. I even stood there and stirred it the whole time. I soaked and scrubbed and soaked and scrubbed the pan. It finally came clean. It's the first time I've ever done that. Such is life.
   All this is almost as bad as when I melted the plastic cutting board in the oven. I had used the cutting board, washed it and for some reason put it in the oven. Later, I fixed steaks in the broiler, wondering why the steaks smelled so funny. They tasted really odd, too. Seems the oven gets hot when the broiler is on. Duh!! Anyway, once the oven cooled down, the melted cutting board came off of the racks and the bottom of the oven with no problem.
   Unfortunately, these mishaps still don't get me out of cooking, so it's off to fix spaghetti I go. Hopefully, mishap free.

The Snow Has Come And Gone

   Our snow has come and gone, thanks to a lot of rain. I do think it would be nice to see the sun once in a while. The snow and rain has made the ground really muddy and we have been having high winds, (well, for up here they are high winds)and I worry about the pine trees blowing over since they don't have very deep roots.
   We all survived Thanksgiving, and we all over ate. The weather was actually pretty nice for most of the day, too. Family, good food, sun and blue sky, what more could you ask for?
   I have way to many in progress crochet projects going right now. Two scarves, socks, a rabbit, Jake's bed, an afghan and I'm sure there has to be one or some that I have forgotten about. The Rabbit is for Michaela's first birthday, socks for me, scarves for Myrna and Amy. Unfortunately, I'm doomed to have severely cracking fingers and thumbs on the fleshy parts, which makes crocheting painful. If anyone out there has any suggestions on haw to heal cracked fingers, please let me know.
   My favorite place to download old time radio shows is back up and running. If you like old time radio shows, Zoot Radio has a great selection, and they are all free to listen to or download, so I have been downloading them and putting them on my mp3 player to listen to. It's funny, but I don't skip any of the otr when they are on my mp3 player, but I carefully select music to put on it, and I'll skip songs, even though I put them on there because I like them. I like to listen to them as I fall asleep at night, but the downfall of this is, I have to go back and listen to them over again because I fell asleep through the show.
   I have an appointment Friday to get my leg brace. I really hope it works. I bought a new pair of tennis shoes and some socks just to wear with the thing. My walking stick is almost finished. It's getting the polyurethane coats put on it. I hate using my cane and I thought a taller, walking stick type would be nicer. I had Tim make it 40" tall and I selected a nice wooden ball for the top of it. With it being 40" tall, it will be great for uneven ground, hiking, etc. Besides that, I'm 5'10" tall and I wanted it that high.
   I'm seriously going to try to eat healthier and less. I really need to loose weight and cut way back on my sugar consumption. I know I am a sugar addict.
   Ah, well. I guess I should get up and do something. I am thinking about making some gingerbread today. We just happen to have some whipped cream in the fridge.

Snow? Fancy That

   It's that time of year again. You know, that white stuff falling from the sky, that keeps me stuck in the house. Still, it's pretty. Cold. Wet. Gray, gloomy sky. There was a very brief period of sun earlier this afternoon. Then it was blinding. I do have a good view of it all from my rocking chair by the window. Hot chocolate, crafts, something to read, TV to watch and a computer to play on and I'm all set.
   Chip is watching the snow fall. He really likes watching snow, rain and hail. Jake is curled up in Chip's bed, oozing over the sides.
   We had our first wild turkey today. Well, 3 of us had our first wild turkey today. Tim and I didn't think it was too bad, but I don't think Amy was impressed. I fixed it as a soup/stew with sage dumplings that called for partridge and not turkey. Partridge, turkey, they're both birds. Besides that, and the most important reason, is I had the ingredients the recipe called for. The breasts from the turkey are in the freezer for another meal.
   Our snow is suppose to wash away later this week with lots of rain. The usual will happen then. It will freeze and then snow on top of it and then it will be a really nice sheet of ice to slip and slide on.
   My custom made leg brace should be finished next week, so I can learn how to walk in snow with it on and with no left ankle movement.  And, because I couldn't just have a plain old boring white leg brace, I chose to have a purple one with yellow, green and orange butterflies and neon yellow velcro straps. If I have to wear a leg brace, I might as well have fun with the colors. It does have a section of tan leather that goes down the front of my leg. Could be it's because I grew up in the '70's or it could be, I'm just weird. Personally, I think a glow in the dark brace would be neat to have.
   Thanksgiving is this week, and I really hope the 21 pound turkey thaws out. There will be 6 of us and besides the turkey and the rest of the fixings, my mother-in-law is bringing a ham and a duck. Don't ask me why. I guess so we can be really stuffed. She is also bringing the desert. I hope pumpkin pie is on the menu.
   I hope everyone has a good and safe Thanksgiving. Black Friday, I will be home, I hope, but you never know.
  

It Keeps Me Out Of Trouble

   Since fall is in the air, with snow fast approaching, the California transplants are cold, so I've made some things for Amy and Michaela.

    It's really too bad the green doesn't show the true light grass green color. Even though I made these slippers small, they are still too big for Michaela. She'll just have warmer feet next year.

                                                 Here is a side view of the slippers.

                                            The other side of the slippers.

                                          The bottom of the slippers. The slippers were made from leftover yarn I had from last year when I made me some socks. I am pretty sure I will have to make me some nice, bright slippers like these. I like nice, bright colors. One of these days, I intend to make slippers like these and other styles and try to sell them at craft fairs. My problem is deciding on a price. I have made adult slippers like these and sold them for $20.00. I don't want to sell them so cheap, I don't make a profit, yet too expensive.

    Here are socks I made with self stripping yarn. I made them for me, but they turned out too small. Teach me to use different yarn and not checking the gauge. Anyway, they are Amy's socks now, even though they are a bit too big for her.

   Here is Michaela's sweater I made for her that was a gift from her Great Aunt Myrna.

                                                        I like the cute lady bug buttons.

   I am currently working on 2 scarves and another pair of socks. I finally found a book that helps me with crocheting socks. There is a sock loom that I think about getting, but if I can crochet nice socks, I guess I don't really need the sock loom. I'll take pictures of the next socks once they are finished. I wouldn't be making socks, except since I broke my leg a few years ago, I can't wear commercially made socks.

   My crochet project list isn't really getting any shorter. 

What's That Smell? Sorry About That

   So, last week I started dehydrating some onions. Unfortunately, the only place I had to dehydrate them was in the house. After a while, your eyes stop watering, but your nose continues. At least mine did. We go through a lot of onions, so we planted a few hundred. Last year, I dehydrated 99% of them. I dehydrated them so they'd last. We planted more onions this year than last year. This year, I guess I will chop and freeze most of them, and here is the reason why.
   Amy went to Walmart and was in the check out line, and the woman in front of her asked Amy if she smelled like onions. Amy said she guessed she probably did and explained why. This led to conversations about dehydrating onions.
   Daniel was called into the office at work because people complained he smelled. I guess some people just don't like or recognize odor de onion. He told his coworkers I was dehydrating onions and they wanted to know who in their right mind dehydrates onions?
   Tim noticed when he was talking to people at work, they'd step away from him.
   I do admit, this years onions had a much stronger odor than last years. One day, maybe I'll have someplace other than the house to dehydrate onions. every time I think about putting the dehydrator outside, it decides to rain.
   So, to keep coworkers and the general public happy, I will chop and freeze the rest of our onions. All I can say is, sorry about that.

Oh Deer, What Can The Matter Be?

Seen through the dirty window

   Tuesday morning, we had these visitors in the yard. They were so good, the didn't jump the fence into the garden. They probably would have, if they could have figured out how, so they ate from the compost pile and our small berry plants instead.
   Usually when deer see movement, they take off running, but these 3 didn't. They were very skinny and really need to fatten up to survive the winter.
   After grazing for awhile, they noticed something and went into alert mode. We didn't see anything from the window.
   All of a sudden, the deer took off. We knew it wasn't a run for your life run, since it wasn't fast enough.
   You'll never guess what scared them away? Have you given up yet? Well, hot on the heals of the deer, came 19 turkeys chasing them away.
   The turkeys were all fluffed up with their necks stretched out, running as fast as their turkey legs could go.
   It was really funny watching the turkeys. Turkeys chasing deer isn't something you see every day. As a matter of fact, I've never seen it before.
   The deer ate most of the good stuff from the compost pile, so the turkeys didn't hang around long. We have a first come, first serve compost pile.

I'm Running Behind

   Thanks to my dehydrator dying, I'm running behind on things. Luckily, last Sunday Any and Daniel found a brand new, in the box dehydrator at a yard sale for $10.00 and bought it for me. Today's project is to start dehydrating again. Since the weather is getting colder, we need to harvest the last of the garden.
   We have had rain the last few days, so hopefully, the ground is soft enough to put our snow gauge out. I also need to bring in the hummingbird feeders, since the hummingbirds haven't been around lately.
   Besides the dehydrator, the vacuum cleaner bit the dust. I am waiting for my bread maker to follow. It is so noisy. I only use it to make the dough in and then I put the dough in pans because I like the bread cooked in the oven better. I do know how to make bread in my mixer, just putting everything in the bread maker is easier.
   Our TV picture is getting darker and there is no way to adjust it. If the TV goes out, we will be doing without. I will admit, I will get more done with no TV.
   The animals are getting ready for winter. Tim has a large toolbox with drawers and there are nice piles of pine nuts in every drawer. Our squirrel has been busy.
   Poor Jake is having a rough time. Michaela throws toys at him when she is in her playpen. Her aim has greatly improved and she is throwing  harder as well. His feet are always good to try and get, too when she's crawling around. Unfortunately,Jake doesn't like his feet messed with.
   Well, I took a writing break and played in onions. I chopped onions for 2 hours and put them in the freezer. My eyes poured, then my nose. Later everyone else's eyes poured. Just wait until I dehydrate onions.
   Other than all this excitement, it's been pretty slow. My leg has been hurting a lot lately, so I've been taking it easy. Besides that, Chip thinks it's my job to sit with my feet up so he can lay on them.
 

We've Been Overrun By Turkeys

Lately, we have been overrun with turkeys. It doesn't help that we keep feeding them. The turkeys come right up to the door. I know, turkeys aren't the brightest of birds, but these are pretty smart. The actually knock on the door to let us know they're out there.
They have even learned to climb the steps to the back door and knock. If that weren't enough, they finish all the bread we throw them in the front or the back of the house and then they'll run to the other door for more.

We are going through quite a bit of bread feeding them.

This turkey seems to be the bread mooching mastermind. He and his 2 younger friends were the only ones that came for bread, but he told his friends and now we have more. We counted about 20 yesterday and today.

The turkeys are pretty funny. It's not safe to go out- side now without getting mobbed by them.  They come by several times a day. They still eat the grasshoppers, but bread is better. I know I'd rather eat bread than grasshoppers. I'm pretty sure turkey season opened last weekend or this weekend.

Anyone for pre-stuffed turkeys? 

      

I'm Tired Of Summer Now

   Once again, some people can never be pleased. I'm tired of summer now. We are having temperatures in the 90's, and our normal temperature for this time of year is in the low 70's. Fall is my favorite season and I wish it would hurry up.
   I know, not too long ago, I was complaining about cool wet weather and summer taking it's sweet time getting here. What can I say? I just don't like hot weather.
   Most of the garden is harvested. At last. The big freezer makes a huge difference. It's packed full of peas and green beans. I also have at least twenty pounds of tomatoes in it waiting for me to get to them.
   Amy will probably freeze this winter since it's her first really cold winter. It's suppose to be another La Nina year, so it'll be cold and wet.
   I haven't accomplished very much so far this year, just lacking in ambition, I think and a disrupted routine. Probably more of the lack of ambition, I think. It would help if there were more hours in the day.
   I guess this weekend, I'll start dehydrating the onions. I still need to finish doing something with the carrots, potatoes and garlic. I also have a baseball sized zucchini I'm going to turn into lots of bread and zucchini oatmeal cookies. Amy thinks no one makes zucchini oatmeal cookies. They sound good to me.
   I still need to finish the crocheting for Myrna, but since I don't think she needed hats and scarves during the summer in San Diego, there was no hurry.
   I do have all the towels and the rest of the clothes folded, hung up and put away, so I'm making progress.

Peas, Peas And More Peas



A very, very large bowl of peas

     Our peas have been peaing like crazy lately. This top picture is of one days harvest in a very, very large bowl. We have been getting about this much every day to every other day.
   Shelling peas is much better than cleaning spinach. I can sit in my chair and watch tv and shell peas.
   Of course the pea comments have started. Things like, "I'm going to go pea in the living room", if a pea pod manages to escape out of the bowl and stay in the chair the sheller was sitting in it's "who peaed in my chair?"


The shelled peas from the large bowl



   The deer have discovered the peas lately. Luckily, or unluckily, the peas have about peaed out. They still have some pods not ready to pick and some blossoms yet to do anything.

   After they have run their course, I'll take pictures the

nice 4 serving vacuumed sealed bags in the freezer.

   As a kid, I didn't like peas. My mom tried to trick us into eating them by telling us they tasted like candy. It didn't work. I don't think there would be much call for pea flavored candy.



The results of peaing





   My mom still puts peas in everything, but they still don't taste like candy.

   When my brother was young, he would skin his peas with his fork and have a pile of pea mush on his plate.

   I do think it would be nice if you didn't have to chase the peas around your plate and they stayed on your fork once you caught them.

   When the kids were small, Alyssa used to help me harvest the peas and they never made it into the house. Alyssa was eating them as fast as I picked them.

   I tried telling the kids peas tasted like candy, and they didn't believe it any more than we did. I don't put them in everything, either. I ask our granddaughter, Ashlynn, if she liked peas and she told me " uh...well...uh...I think they are kind of gross. I told Alyssa that and she said she figured that out since Ashlynn's peas kept rolling off of her plate.

   On the news not too long ago there was a story about Obama saying people should give peas a chance. What I want to know is, has Obama ever harvested and shelled peas? Harvesting them is hard on the back and shelling them is time consuming.

   When my mom was a kid, one of her brothers decided to try shelling them with the wringer on a wringer washing machine. I guess it didn't work all that well.

   The green beans are being harvested at the same time. I also take them to the living room to break off the ends. They are also going into the freezer in vacuumed sealed bags. I don't like green beans, but Tim and Chip do. Chip get more excited if you ask him if he wants some green beans than he does if you ask him if he wants a cookie. The dog is just weird. I'll let him have my green beans any old day.

   Our potato crop is going to be smaller than last years. We have some good potatoes out of the garden. Last night we started harvesting some of the onions. I have to let them cure in the house because the deer will eat them if I leave them outside to cure. Those deer are just so much help at times.

   We bought a 20.6 cubic foot freezer last Sunday, since we only have the small refridgerator freezer. We have to put all those peas and green beans somewhere, and I like frozen much better than canned. Unfortunately, the freezer won't be here until Sept. 6th because Sears was out of stock.

   Once the freezer is here, I am going to freeze mashed potatoes and hash browns from our potatoes. Later in the year, I think a deer just might find it's way into the freezer as well. A wild turkey or two or so will also probably end up in the freezer.

   Now it's time to shuffle some onions around so I can find the kitchen. For some reason, people want to eat around here.



  

But It Was A 6 Foot Fence

   Well, the deer have been in the garden, even with the 6 foot fence. I guess there is really no stopping them. They had a good old time eating whatever took their fancy. Who needs lettuce, broccoli and watermelon? Who needs peas and beans? We do have a freezer full of peas and beans. They haven't helped us harvest onions yet. I'm sure with time, they will.
   There is a pumpkin with some teeth marks in it, but it's still ok. Chard is also good deer food. I went grocery shopping yesterday. It was a really long day. I noticed people weren't buying the non-necessities.
   Tomorrow there is a farmer's market in Clayton, WA, which isn't that far from here and I am trying to convince Tim we need to go. There are going to be spinners there, with fiber to buy. Who cares that I have a bath tub full of still untouched fiber to do something with. There will be Alpaca fiber to buy and I've always wanted to try some of that. $10.00 for 4 ounces. 4 ounces of Alpaca fiber will go a long way.
   There will be other crafters there, as well. Also fresh cheese, homemade goat milk soap, small farm animals to buy, and free lemonade and cookies. Who knows, maybe we can get more peas, green beans, onions, carrots and potatoes.
   One of our tomatoes that had a big boy label in the pot turned out to be a cherry tomato. Big difference in tomato size. I bet someone had fun playing with the variety sticks stuck in the pot.
   The birds have discovered Tim's black berries and raspberries. He's not happy about that. He put bird netting over them and the birds were trying their darnedest to get in under the netting.
   The wild turkeys are still roosting at the end of the driveway high up in the trees. Tim is getting a good collection of turkey feathers for his fly tying.
   Amy caught Michaela walking yesterday. She just turned 8 months old. Michaela really has that throwing things down pat. She still spits up a storm, too.
   Well, my break is over. It's time to get back to playing in the green beans. Amy and Daniel are shelling the peas for me, but for some reason, they don't like doing the green beans.

Life Isn't Quiet Here Anymore

  

    Life here isn't quiet anymore. Michaela is not a quiet girl. Today, Daniel and Amy put shoes on here. She screamed and tensed up and shook. Every time she looked down at her feet, the screaming got worse. Amy and Daniel thought they'd try putting shoes on her at a store to see if maybe it was that particular pair of shoes only to find it's any shoes. Michaela has had shoes on before and this hasn't happened. Some parents are so mean. If once wasn't bad enough, they tried later in the day, and the results were worse.



Side view



   A couple of weeks ago, Tim sold one of the 3 generators we had and used that money to buy a wider, flat bottomed canoe. I guess it's not really called a canoe, but I can't remember what Tim was calling it. It was a good deal. Now, he can go on the smaller lakes out here that don't allow bigger boats.

   Last week, Tim took me to Fan Lake and we paddled around the whole lake. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, since I can't swim and don't really like being in or on the water. While we were on the lake, we saw a couple of Bald Eagles. One was carrying a very large fish in it's talons. We also saw water turtles and, believe it or not, fish.

   On the way home we saw many does and their spotted fawns out and about since it was early evening.



   Eventually, Tim wants to get a small motor so he and any passengers don't have to row all the time. The canoe  also needs seat cushions and seat cushions with backs would be nice since, the seats are hard and very butt numbing.







Cherry pitter

    Today, I pitted 10 pounds of cherries with the cherry pitter I bought at a yard sale last year. I think I paid $3.00 or $5.00 for it, and it was really worth it. I wasn't really sure how it would work, since there were no instructions with it. It did pit the cherries so there were no stray pits in the cherries. It also chopped the cherries at the same time, so they'll be great for my cherry jam. I will use the first cherry pitter I bought (also at a yard sale) that uses the plunger method, if I want whole, non-mangled cherries.

   It still took time to go through all the cherries and look for bad ones, remove stems and wash, but pitting was so much faster. When I was finished, I measured out and put in bags, in the freezer, what I need for each batch of cherry preserves. I did it this way last year, and it was much nicer canning in the winter than in the summer.

   I have finally finished harvesting, washing, blanching and freezing our spinach crop. I now hate spinach. I like eating it, but if I never have to do the rest, it will be too soon.

   Tomorrow, I'll be harvesting more peas and beans. At least they are more staggered than the spinach crop was.

   I still haven't done anything with the fiber in the bathtub since I was waiting for me to finish the spinach. It's done, so now I can play. Hopefully. Oh, there is another basket of towels waiting for me to fold, as usual.

   I need to tackle Chip and give him a bath and a haircut. I had to buy a muzzle for him since he's decided to be a nasty dog when I try to cut his hair and claws. Rotten poodle. I have decided to keep Chips hair short, even in the winter. It's funny, since hos hair is much shorter and Tim is mowing our whole 5 1/2 acres, you would think it would be less junk in Chips coat. Not so. Teach me to think.







 





















I Have Fiber

   I have 4 Llama fleeces and 2 Suffolk sheep fleeces to skirt, wash and, card and spin. I would still like the Shetland sheep fleeces. The Suffolk fleeces are white and about 3 inches long. The Llama fleeces are a nice brown, a nice tan, a cream colored and a white, black, gray, and tan and about 6 inches long. Amy wasn't really thrilled that I am teaching her how to spin with the Suffolk wool. Amy also has to learn how to skirt, wash and card the wool. She isn't really happy about having to touch dirty and then wet wool.
   The spinach is ready to harvest again, so I have to take care of all that before I play in my fiber. So now, since we have a bathtub and a walk in shower in our bathroom, the fiber is in bags in the bath tub. There are people in the extra room where it would have ended up. We don't have a garage to store it in or a shed, so the bath tub it is. Who knows where the bumper crop of potatoes will end up this year until I can work my way through them. Luckily, they aren't ready to harvest yet.
   I didn't buy shoes and socks with the money I paid for the sheep shears. Instead, I bought a table for my dutch oven. Nothing exciting, but now I can use my dutch oven and not break my back picking the heavy thing up. My dutch oven weighs 23 pounds empty, so having it cooking at table height is going to be much nicer. I bought a roast for my first meal since they are hard to mess up. I'll add some potatoes and carrots and onions and be good to go. Add some nice, fresh spinach as a veggie and a hone grown salad, and it will be great. Maybe, even fresh bread since I make 2-3 loaves a week.
   I do believe I've made myself hungry, so I'm off to go eat something.
  

Coming Soon, Lots Of Fiber In My Diet. Not The Kind You Are Probably Thinking Of

   Last evening, the growing lamb from behind us got in the yard. As she was trying to go back home, she panicked when she saw her people, and ran into the fence, getting tangled in it and tearing it down. They will try to fix the fence today.
   Wendy, the sheep's mom, is going to buy my sheep shears and some, if not all, of my goat supplies. I have no use for them anymore. I mentioned to Wendy before that I spun, and she wanted to know if I wanted many Shetland sheep fleeces and 2 or 3 llama fleeces. Of course, I said yes. I will use use some of it to teach her, possibly her kids and a friend and Amy how to spin. After I teach her how to spin, I will teach her how to crochet.
   The sheep's dad, William, is going to give Tim lessons in butchering. William was worried about teaching Tim the kosher way, but it doesn't matter to us, so I think Tim is learning how to butcher chickens this weekend.
   They will also give us an endless supply of compost from all their critters. Wendy and William were both impressed with our garden, even though we don't think it's doing as well as last years. With the lack of sun, and 12 inches of rain so far this year, things are behind.
   We did have fresh homegrown spinach with out supper last night. I have a lot more I need to harvest. William said they have never grown spinach, so it's now on their list of things to grow in their garden next year.
   Since I will be getting some extra money, I will use part of it for the pressure canner and more jars. I'm also thinking shoes and socks would be nice, since I figure one of these days I'll actually have to wear shoes again.
   I guess with people coming over, it's the extra incentive I need to dust.
 

So Much For Sunny Weather

   It seems our sunny weather has left us for a while. Yesterday, we had a brief high of 66. With more rain. It's so dark and cloudy now, it's probably going to start raining any minute now. We have 20% chance of isolated thunderstorms today. I told Tim the weather report and told him it would be a nice enough day do ride his motorcycle to work. I hope he doesn't get wet.
   The deer have discovered the garden and our fruit tree saplings. Pea plants seem to be really tasty. There is now a fence all the way around the garden.
   One of the 3 cherry trees we planted is now a cherry stick. No leaves or branches on it. It should come back. The deer started on a second cherry tree, but didn't eat much of it. I figure the deer was full because it eat pea plants and the cherry tree.
   The one cherry tree that had all the nice, red, almost ripe cherries on it, has none, thanks to little birds that went through the fence to get them. It has netting over the top of the fence around it, and the birds didn't get in that way. Darned wild life.
   In the last couple of days, Michaela has learned how to sit up by herself, get on her knees and not hold onto anything and pull herself up to stand. She's working on the how to get down from standing other than letting go and falling. Amy said she caught her holding onto the top of the crib with one hand and turning and bending down to pick up a toy to throw. Amy also said she walked around the crib while holding onto the rail. Michaela will be 7 months old Saturday. Michaela doesn't like being a baby. We need to find someplace else for the play pen because it's by the window and yesterday, she stood up and grabbed hold of the blinds. I guess it's about time to baby proof.
   Chris the llama, who lives behind us scared Chip yesterday morning, and now Chip won't even go to his favorite tree. It looked like Chris was eating, when he scared Chip, so I have no idea what happened. Poor Chip came running back to the house and if he had a tail that wasn't cropped, I'm sure it would have been tucked between his legs as he ran to the house.
   Once again, I'm trying to convince Chip he is a dog and that I am boss. It's really hard to do when I'm the only one who does it. I'm tired of being jumped on and pawed. Tim says he doesn't have any problems with Chip. Chip also has started growling at me and snapping at me when I try to cut his hair. You nick the god one time with a pair of scissors and look what happens. The nick barely broke the skin. I think I'll get him a muzzle. I also think stress from the now lively home has gotten to Chip. He was used to quiet sure and dull. It's not anymore. Jealousy is another of his problems. I'm not suppose to hold anyone but him. He keeps the other 2 dogs away from me.
   All four dogs play together now, which is progress. Unfortunately, Elsa and Sadie say that Jake and Chip don't know how to play. They play tug of war and Jake and Chip never have. Elsa wisely stays out of the way when Jake is playing. She'd get run over and hurt. So instead, she parks at the dogs as they are playing.
   The wind has started and I think I can see some sun. Hopefully, the clouds will burn off. I've got to go. I've got a basket of towels calling me. Again.

Those Darned Robins

   Tim is having robin trouble. A while back, a robin built a nest on top of his ladder that's leaning under the eaves of the shed. Those eggs hatched and flew the coop and Tim got rid of the empty nest. A week or two ago, the same robin, or another one, built another nest on top of the same ladder and laid eggs in it. Now, whenever Tim goes to the shed, this robin dives at his head.
   On Tuesday, Tim planted our fruit trees. A couple of the cherry trees had cherries on them. As soon as he stood up from planting the last cherry tree, this robin gets in the tree, thrashes around, knocking cherries off the tree, having a high old time. Tim thinks he hates robins now.
   Summer has stuck around for a week or so now, so things are starting to grow, at last. I will add, that we had 2 days of 95 degree temperatures, and it was waaaay too hot. Some people are just never satisfied. It's too hot, it's too cold, it's too wet, it's too cloudy, whine, whine whine.
   Michaela is starting to crawl, in between the belly flops. She really likes my old measuring spoons and a wooden spatula.
   I haven't even started sewing yet. I guess if summer really decides to stick around, I should get a jump on it. I have been reading books that I am reviewing for thewmreviewconnection.com. One down, 3 more to go. It keeps me out of trouble.
   My estate sale find of the day is a brand new, still in the box, indoor TV antenna for my kitchen TV. It was one of those things I was going to buy one of these days when I had the money. This one cost me $2.00. People just shake their heads about how I find just what I'm looking for at sales. I thinks it's funny, not haha funny exactly, more like weird. We also stopped at a church yard sale and I bought 2 more cookbooks, because you can never have too many, and a little ceramic fresh cream bottle that looks like it needs daisies in it. I could use some more money, but I really think the chances of finding any at a yard sale are slim. I'll keep my eye out for some, just in case.

All's Good Out Here

   Blogger has been very uncooperative lately, so I haven't been able to post anything, much less, write anything, for a while.
   We are finally suppose to have warm, dry weather for mare than a day at a time. We did have 10% chance of thunderstorms last night, and wouldn't you know it, we actually had them. Today is 20%, at least it was the last time I checked the National Weather Service site, which was last night, so who knows what we'll get.
   Today is my birthday and it has rained a good number of them. I've decided I really need to get in better shape. I look like someone's grandmother. It doesn't matter that I am someone's grandmother.
   Daniel took Amy and I garage/yard saleing yesterday. Amy thinks it's funny how I always find what I want at them. Yesterday, I found an opened bag of fiber fill. It's almost a whole bag and it was on my list of things to get yesterday at Walmart. I also found a hummingbird feeder. My 2 that I had both bit the dust. Now, I have 2 again, because Amy, Daniel and Michaela gave me one for my birthday. It would be nice if the hummingbirds came back now.
   Some of the garden is doing well. I think this isn't going to be a good year for gardens. There will be hope for it if we don't have an early winter.
   I hope everyone has a fun, safe 4th of July. We're staying home and BBQing hamburgers.

Summer Might Be Here, Finally

   At long last, summer might be here. We made it up to 86 today and tomorrow is suppose to be hotter. Summer is nice, but it's really OK with me if we don't have really hot temperatures. I know, some people are never satisfied.
   Hopefully, the garden will start to take off. All the cloudy, overcast days sure haven't helped it any. People have been upset that their gardens aren't doing well, due to the wonderful weather we have been having.
   With the warmer weather comes garage/yard sales. Friday, I spent $2.00 on an unused Black and Decker food processor. The date on the box is 1986. I couldn't pass it up. Alyssa did tell me that it is older than her. I also found one of those glass barometers you fill with water. I've been looking for one of those for quite a while. It was $1.00. It even works. It changed to cloudy weather when the clouds rolled in yesterday afternoon and so far it also is right with the nice weather. Even if it didn't really work, it's interesting. I figure since they have been around and used since the 17th century, they had to work.
   At the same yard sale I found what I really needed. I have been needing a sleigh hook so I can warp my loom, but didn't have one. Well, sitting on top of a shelf was a sleigh hook, The only weaving thing out there and the only thing I really needed. It was $0.50. A steal. Who'd have thought that I'd find one at a yard sale? Of course, Tim did tell me if he knew what I was talking about, he could have made me one a long time ago.
   I figure I will never win the lottery, but eventually, I find just what I need at garage/yard sales. Just goes to show you that the old saying of "One man's junk is another man's treasure." I find all kinds of goodies. I'll turn Amy into a good garage sale shopper. Daniel just shook his head and slapped his forehead with my finds. I really need to teach him that you don't play like you didn't see the garage sale or sign.
   Last Friday, a small circus came to Deer Park and a week before it was due to arrive, a clown was passing out fliers about the circus and she said setting up the tent was open to the public and afterwards there would be an hour long tour of the circus. Amy and I thought it sounded like fun, so we drug Tim and Daniel to go see it. Neither wanted to go.
   Once we got there, there was no one else to watch and nothing to see. The only animals were a miniature horse and some dogs, so we passed on seeing it. Tim and Daniel rubbed it in all day. I still think it would have been fun, if there was anything to actually see. Knowing my luck, all the animals came right after we left. I can't win them all. I guess I should never trust a clown.

Fishing Was Fun

My bass

   We went fishing today, and we all had fun. We all even caught fish. Tim caught a small bass, Amy and Daniel each caught a sun fish and I caught a small bass and a larger keeper bass. It's a good thing Tim brought 2 fishing , because we forgot mine.
   For a free fishing day, there just weren't  many people fishing at Fan Lake, where we were fishing at.
   The mosquitoes were out in force, and it did start to rain. We only stayed for about 3 hours because we were soggy by then, the fish had stopped biting and Michaela was getting fussy.
   Michaela was pretty bundled up trying to keep the mosquitoes from biting her. The rest of us were bundled up, too. Amy and Daniel in hooded sweat shirts, and Tim and I in hooded windbreakers. I'm beginning to feel where I was bitten through my windbreaker. I'll know tomorrow when they really will itch.

My cooked bass

    For supper tonight, I had my bass and everyone else had leftover pizza that I made last night.
   My bass was good. I didn't even brag and rub it in. Much. 

Free Fishing Day Tomorrow

   We are going fishing tomorrow. Daniel swears he's going to out fish everyone. It will be Michaela's first fishing trip. I found my old fishing license in my tackle box and it's dated 1989. I knew it had been a long time since I have been fishing, I have gone ocean fishing since then, but it was also a long time ago.
   Hopefully, the rain will hold off, it won't be really crowded where we are going and the bugs stay away. Some fisherman I am, not wanting to but up with that.
   I doubt we'll be staying long since we are bringing a almost 6 month old baby with us. We should have a good time, anyway, and I really want to catch something for a change. I'll let you know.
  

Amy And Daniel Are Suffering From Culture Shock

   Today, we took Amy and Daniel to return their U-Haul trailer, and they found out just how small this town is and how much it differs from CA. First, the U-Haul rental place was also an assorted equipment rental yard, a video rental store and a fishing and hunting license seller and bait shop. All in a single wide trailer.
   They were surprised they rented a back hoe to someone who didn't know how to operate it, but they gave them lessons before they left the lot. Also, if they didn't get it back to the yard in time, the guy gave the people his home address and told them to just park it out in front of his home and leave the keys in the mail box.
   They had 2 pretty German Shepards as watch dogs that were really laid back until the gates were closed and locked and then they magically turned into guard dogs. The owners and others in side were talking about the dogs and they ask Amy and Daniel if they had dogs. They said no, because they didn't want to look funny when they said they had a chihuahua and a maltipoo.
   The owner backed the car with the trailer up to put the U-Haul where it belonged and said since he had the keys and I was in the car with Michaela and Amy, Daniel and Tim were outside, he and I should just go down the street and have breakfast.
   Tim thought it was funny when I told him the owner said it had been really slow, but since it was a really nice day today, all the men were coming in with their honey do lists and they all had their wives with them telling them what to do.
   After that, we went to the Deer Park Friends of The Library book sale. Of course, I found a couple of cookbooks and Amy found a couple of books.
   There was a multi family yard sale in the little grocery store's parking lot trying to raise money to send the wrestling team to camp. I should Amy the fine art of yard saleing. I found a 6 quart programmable, working crock pot for $3.00. My 6 quart crock pot's heating element base died and I wanted a programmable one, I just haven't had the money to buy one. Just goes to show you that good things come to those who wait.
   Michaela is not as cranky, since she's sort of getting her routine back. The dogs are another matter. Chip is really good around Michaela, but I still won't leave them together. Jake licked her feet and let her touch him. Sadie is Tim's new best friend and Jake won't let her near his person. Chip won't let the other dogs near me. Chip and Sadie wanted to play, but Jake won't let her near his poodle. Sadie and Chip had a good old time when Jake was outside.
   Chip wanted to play with Elsa and she attacked Chip and Jake laid into Elsa, because his poodle is a pest but Chip is Jake's pest and no other dog is going to mess with him.
   The house looks like someone is moving in and there is baby stuff all over. Baby things sure have changed sine our kids were babies.Michaela has a swing and a jump chair (not together) and they have just about everything but the kitchen sink on them. She seems to enjoy them, but they all make noise. Still, it's better than a screaming baby.
   Daniel and Tim dug up a good portion of the garden and Tim is hard at work planting while I'm sitting in the house writing this blog. I also hear Tim digging more. His vacation is over Sunday, so, it's back to work on Monday for him.
   Now, if only we were done with the rain. But, can you guess?? We're not!

Life As We Know It, Is About To Change

   Today or tomorrow, Amy, Daniel and Michaela are leaving sunny California to come up here. Life as we know it will be changing, since they are moving in with us. All their animals, and the biggest change, Michaela. It's been a long time since we have had a baby in the house.
   Amy told me today that Michaela started crawling, even if it is backwards. We're in trouble now. I must admit, that it will be nice spoiling a baby and then giving her back to her parents when she's fussy or stinky. It would be really nice if we were able to see the other 4 grand kids more often, so we could spoil them, too.
   Weather wise, our desert rat daughter is going to freeze, even if it's not really all that cold up here right now. Amy can freeze when it's 100 outside, so it will be a big weather adjustment for her. It's also suppose to be raining when they are due to arrive. Moving in the rain is just so much fun.
   I really suppose since it will take them 2 or 3 days to get here, I really should get busy and finish emptying the room for them. I work better under pressure, so I've got plenty of time. besides that, they are family and they get us as we are.
   Jake and Chip are also going to have a big adjustment to make, what with 4 cats, 2 dogs and a baby. We'll really have to watch the dogs. Jake is a about 7 or 8 years old now and sometimes acts like a grumpy old man. We didn't have any kids around when Tim and I got Jake 5 years ago.
   Chip was terrorized by daycare kids for the first 6 months of his life and now at the ripe old age of 2, he still isn't over kid noise. He has made some progress in the 1 1/2 we've had him. At least he doesn't want to attack the TV whenever he hears kids on it.
   Tim and I have turned into set in our ways middle aged people. We need a change since we've turned into dull, boring people. Yup, life is going to be different around here. I hope all 5 of us and all 8 animals survive with our sanity intact.

Finishing Projects

   I have been busy finishing projects lately. Here are pictures to prove it. This is the Christening set for my sister-in-law, Myrna's nephew.

Christening Bonnet



Christening Booties

Christening Afghan

Close up of stitch and border

   This is the bear I crocheted for our grandson Nathan's 1st birthday. I almost didn't finish it in time. Next bear I make, I'm going to have to change the overall pattern some. As usual, I can't get faces on straight. I even pin everything in place and things are even, but when I'm finished sewing things in place, they aren't. Oh, well. It gives things character and makes them unique. I'm the only one that is bothered by it. Now, I only have bears for 3 more grandkids to make.

Nathan's bear undressed

The soles on Nathan's bear

A well dressed bear

The back of the well dressed bear

   The last project is our granddaughter, Ashlynn's, purse. Ashlynn will be 6 in June, so for once I am ahead of schedule. I thought Ashlynn needed something homemade, too, because this is her first birthday with the family, and she's lacking in the homemade by Oma department.
   I modified the pattern to make it more little girly. I hope Nathan doesn't eat the ladybug button. Ashlynn's favorite color is pink, so of course, it had to have a great big pink flower on it.



Ashlynn's purse closed



Ashlynn's purse with the flap open