Farmgirl Friday

Huckleberry Muffins

Mooove over goats!  We are upgrading to a cow.  Bella and Eve have found a new home.  The jersey cow we've been working on buying calved last week.  She had a not-so-little boy.  I was even more grateful that he was born at their place and not ours.  We will find out for sure today when we will pick them up.  At this point we are planning for tomorrow.

Someone asked if I had cows growing up.  Hello.  I grew up in Phoenix.  We had dogs.  I don't think I even saw a cow close up until I was an adult.  I have lived in big cities almost all my life.  So, no, I don't really know what I am doing.

I have read a lot and the lady we are buying from is great at answering questions.  She also has an amazing gift for people in this area:  she'll tell you what you NEED to know without waiting to be asked.  Now, plenty of folks around here are happy to tell me all sorts of things I DON'T want to know, usually negative things about other people around here.  But most people don't seem to want to share helpful information, unless you specifically ask.  I think they believe in learning things the hard way.  (Hear that banging sound?  It's my head against the wall.)  Seriously people--help me out!!!  I quite regularly admit to being new to all of this.  I pray that when I am the old timer around here I will share a bit (!) more grace to the newcomers.

Anyway...back to the cows.  I am excited and honestly a bit scared.  I think that is wise.  I've never been responsible for any living thing this big.  The goats were our starter animals and we all survived that experience.  I milked twice a day, every still single day since we got them.  No break for almost six months is a good start, I think.  Sweetheart says he will help with milking her.  I hope so.  I know it will usually be my job, but it would be good to have an extra set of hands available.

The next step is to figure out what I will do with all the milk!  We will see how much we are getting and using and figure out what we have left to sell.  I have my butter churn, ice maker, and yogurt maker all on standby.  The cream separator is set up ready to crank.

All suggestions and advice is welcome at this point.  We are also thinking about names:  #902 just isn't a great name.  Still no name for the farm yet either.  We've been too busy to really decide.

Other other fronts, I have been rushing around trying to finish up some projects before the cows arrive.  Yes, it is a bit like waiting for a baby.  I have been working on preserving food and sewing.  I finished my kitchen curtains and hung the last part up last night at about midnight.

It was then that I discovered that I used the WRONG piece of fabric for the valance.  I had cut a foot wide piece from the fabric that I had intended to use.  However, when I picked up the beautiful fabric to sew it all together, I inadvertently grabbed the remnant piece which was two feet wide. Not paying attention, I sewed all the edges and other fabric pieces to it and attached it all the way I wanted it.  I was so proud of myself as sewing is a newish thing to me.  Pride comes before a fall.

Now, I have to decide what to do with it.  I can leave it as is, but the proportions are all wrong.  I can try to modify is and sort of foof and balloon it up.  Or I can rip apart all those little seams that for once are really straight and nicely done and start alllll over again.  Did I mention we are getting a cow tomorrow?  Ugh.

Which also means I have no more time to write!  Do leave a comment with cow wisdom, name suggestions and tips for what to do in 10 minutes for less with my curtains.  Much obliged.   -Kimberly

I am linking up to Farmgirl Friday.  Stop on over for a visit.

Today's Project

I love how the trees here dapple the light. It is so lovely.

This idea for a large bulletin board is just what I've been looking for! I love google. I had been looking on craigslist for a used one, but they were still too expensive or too far away. The camouflage fabric is so not us, but we'll head to the fabric store and find something.

I wasn't really planning to start more directed learning with Pumpkin until the baby arrives and we settle into life with that, but he is more than ready RIGHT NOW and wants to learn everything TODAY. :) I'll post pictures when I get it all together. (Ok, when will that happen? Luckily, I am just talking about the bulletin board.)

I finished up all my sewing of baby things and used up all my flannel. I made about 10 washcloths, 6 cloth diaper burp rags with flannel decor, and a bunch of all flannel burp cloths, and three blankets. LOVING the softness of it all. So does Dumpling. He's got a little square of the flannel he loves to rub on his cheek and play with. Of course, then Pumpkin wanted one. He's not as tactile as Dumpling so his square has become a car cover for the lego convertible he made.

Tomorrow night is my home visit with the midwives. I was hoping to have the nursery all set up, but it hasn't worked out. The crib I was going to borrow ended up not happening. Back to craigslist! I should be able to get most of the things I am planning to borrow when my Bunco group comes over next week. Crazy, I know, but I will keep it all realllly simple.

Plus, I may get company tomorrow as my Dad and Stepmom may be coming through town to see us. I hope so! I miss them.

And, I was able to make plans to meet up with Janna next Friday. We haven't been able to get together due to moves and babies. Her having a baby while I was moving and now her moving while I am having a baby just have complicated it all. I am looking forward to meeting her little Beth.

Pumpkin and Dumpling are finishing up breakfast as I type. Pumpkin asked for some Banana Dippers. I had to ask what he was talking about. He said, "Get some yogurt and honey and raisins and cut up some bananas and you dip it." No problem, we've got all that. So I mixed it all up for he and he is over there, "Mmm! That's good stuff!" Sounds good to me.

Now here is Dumpling wanting some. I love that they love good food. Reality check- Pumpkin ate his while wearing the Krispy Kreme hat he got yesterday from the donut store. It's not all perfect. ;)

Busy Kitchen

Ok, so I've decided I need to get back to some regular posts here. I confess that it has been hard to write much lately. This has been an incredibly difficult time for our family this last year and I don't want to just mope and complain. I do want to be honest though, and not one of those perky, perfect bloggers who seem way too together for me to relate to.

I also know that many of you do pray, and I seek that out as a community of faith. Some of you have become true friends, some I see in real life, some through personal emails and writings. Thank you all for being so loving and supportive.

So, life continues on around here. It has rained/snowed/hailed seven out of the last eight weekends, making our dreams of finishing our yard seem a distant reality. We even had a tornado warning on Sunday afternoon. I've got a skid steer tractor stuck in my backyard from Sweetheart trenching for sprinklers. It's too muddy to move! Plus the 16" deep trenches have about 14" of standing water in them. Again. We thought we'd have the garden in and lay sod this weekend. Not going to happen. *sigh*

Seriously, our weather is absolutely gorgeous during the week and abysmal on the weekends--the only time Sweetheart can really work. Of course, we've still been out there working in the rain and Sweetheart does as much as he can in the rain and the dark. Not always too successful as we now need to replace a fencepost on our fence because it got in the way. Oops!

As for inside things, I finally completed a projected I've been working on forever and my sister will finally get her birthday present next weekend. Her birthday was in January. Yep. Sewing is new to me and I'd been trying to sew a purse for here out of some fabric I had she liked. First it was put off because I couldn't work the sewing machine with my bum ankle, then we had Pumpkin's stuff. I've been a bit addled myself and not too good on finishing projects. I've had to switch patterns because apparently pattern writing is a second language and not one I'm fluent in. But it is done. Finally.

I was so excited to finally finish, and was on such a roll sewing that I whipped up some new valances for the family room. I took down the velvet drapes and sheers when I washed everything for spring cleaning. When I was done, I hung back up the sheers and loved it not wanting to rehang the heavy drapes. It looked unfinished though. I had some fabric I'd picked up at a fabric sale in November. So far I'd made it into a table runner, but still had a few yards left. So, I quickly rolled out the fabric making sure it was wide enough and cut it into four equal lengths. I then hemmed all the edges and made a pocket thingy for the rod. Done!

(Look closely~you can see the skid steer through the sheers!)

Moving the sewing machine to the kitchen counter has made it easy to work on things and not have to wait until the boys are sleeping. I've also been whipping up some easy drawstrings bags for all sorts of things. I made fleece bags for Sweetheart's sunglasses collection which of course meant the boys needed bags for their shades as well. I made a bunch of light-weight bags for all my bulk foods and produce. I've used them a few times already and I love them!

Today I'm making salves, body butters and more lip balms. I'll do a separate post on the salve later. I've got little bottles and tubes all over and lots of things cooling on the window sill. The house smells great~like beeswax and lavender mostly.

So, picture my kitchen. I've got all my body product ingredients out, the sewing machine on the counter, and two flat of seedlings I'm trying to keep alive until they can be planted. It looks awful, but necessary. The boys are happily reading and playing with trains as I type. We can hear the birds outside chirping and there is a gentle breeze stirring the lace curtains at the kitchen window.

I'll sign off for now. I need to check on the body butter, and get lunch going for the boys. Hope you all are having a lovely day as well.

Happy New Year!

Dumpling
Pumpkin and I and a pile of presents...

The cousins!!

What I've been sewing: Aprons for all the ladies...

...and jammies for the kiddos...

*******************************

I didn't mean to fall of the face of the earth, but I did fall off the stairs. A trip to the ER and a lovely air cast later, I am glad to say that my ankle is not broken, but my Mother's hand is. Huh? It's quite simple, really.

Saturday evening we were all bundled up to go out when I went upstairs to get a map off the printer. On the way down the stairs, I somehow missed the last stair, or few, and fell. As I sat on the step trying to not pass out or throw up, Sweetheart called Mom to come over and watch the boys so he could take me in for an x-ray. She drove/sped over and took care of the little guys while we went to get my ankle checked. So far, so good--for her.

Now, fast-forward to Sunday. Mom came over to give Sweetheart a hand with the boys while I layed on the couch with my foot up on ice. They went upstairs to get the boys. No problem. The next thing I heard was an awful thud. Sweetheart was carrying the boys down with Mom behind them. She reached down to pick up Pumpkin's Bunny on the stairs and down she went. We are all glad she wasn't carrying anyone. Except Bunny.

She got her x-rays on Tuesday, and Wednesday had to see a hand surgeon. She now had surgery scheduled for tomorrow. As I cannot drive yet, Sweetheart will have to take her to the hospital. She'll stay with us afterwards.

I'm in the recliner now with the laptop on my lap and the boys playing at my feet. I am up and around now, but trying to not stand or walk too much. While no time is good for something like this, we are all grateful it happened the day after the rest of the family left town and not before Christmas.

We had a Merry Christmas and are enjoying a quiet week this week. It's time to go fix supper now. Blessings to you all and a very Happy New Year!

A Present-For Me!

Look what I made at naptime today!

I've been meaning to do this for awhile, but I'd packed up the sewing machine and put it away for a few months--coinciding with canning, now that I think about it.

Well, after Bunco was done Tuesday night I left the extra table up and Sweetheart got my machine back out for me. I'm planning on doing a bunch of Christmas presents on it over the next few weeks. So far I've made a hat for Dumpling, started one for Pumpkin, made myself a bag/purse, a red gingham scrunchie, and now my watercolor pencil holder.

It's far from perfect, but it's just perfect for me! I love taking my pencils with me, but didn't have an easy way to haul them around and seemed to always be misplacing them or having them falling all to the bottom of my bag. Now, I can see each one and easily have at hand which color I want.

I just made it up as I went along, which accounts for the parts I had to redo. That's ok. I'm getting more comfortable the more I try, even if I am becoming really good friends with my seam ripper...

Isn't This Adorable?

Ok, so there are times that I wish we had a little girl in addition to our wonderful boys.

I would so buy this. That Little Jenny Wren is so talented.

I'd even consider trying to make one myself, but for whom?

I'd be the only one who'd want it...

Woo Hoo!

The Settee

*****

Pumpkin's Corner (Not Time-Out--Just where is rocking chair and watering can are!)

I finished sewing my porch cushions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Having conquered this, I can do anything! Well, maybe not. But it looks so much more cheerful now. I even took my coffe out this morning to read quietly for awhile before the boys got up.

I took a few pictures, but they aren't the best. I must have had the camera on macro settings. This works for now. There is also a full-sized rocker that I sewed a cushion for, but it didn't make it into the picture. Now, to make a pot of tea and go relax. Maybe later. The boys are up and running and it's time to get dinner going.

Plenty of Thyme

Progress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big breath in! I feel like I'm actually getting my head above water. I've been completely a bunch of projects around the house that have been half done for far too long. It's felt like I haven't finished anything in so long, but tonight I've reviewed what I have done in the last two weeks.

* The garden is all in. Yippee!

* I've finished painting all the porch furniture, except a small part of one piece I need to touch up.

* I've sewn two of the cushions for the porch. I think I have three to go.

* I've clean out our closet, our room, and the loft. These were an utter disaster, especially after dashing out of town last week.

* I've done some sewing on a bag I've been wanting to get to for quite some time. It was a black canvas bag that I loved, but it had an ugly logo for a reading curriculum company that I got at a teaching training years ago. I gave away most of my teacher bags when I quit, but this one was always comfortable and the inside pockets so useful. So, finally I cut out a rectangle from some of my Grandmother's old barkcloth curtains and sewed it over the logo. I tried to sew it on with the machine, but since it was on the pocket of the bag, I couldn't get it to work right on the machine. So I ended up hand sewing it with embroider thread. It's not perfect, but I like it a whole lot better! (I love the fabric, but entire draperies out of it might be too much even for me!)

* All the dishes are washed and now I have time to go work on my projects for the Art Swap over at Quill Cottage. I am excited about this as they are manageable projects with a end result and a deadline. Finally, an excuse to just be creative because I want to! I needed something like this to do just for me and just for fun.

* I've been cutting roses and filling the house with them this week. The bushes have simply exploded with blooms! I'm sure I'll post pictures soon. It's amazing.

New Project

I found this lovely fabric yesterday at the fabric store. I thought it looked...happy. I liked it even more since it was 40% off! I was hoping to get some good, outdoor fabric, but was afraid it would be too expensive. Aren't sales wonderful? So, now it's time to get sewing!

I am planning to make cushions covers and pillows for the settee, as well as cushions for the rockers for the front porch. I am planning to make everything so that the covers maybe removed and washed as needed. I am encasing all the pillows and cushions in plastic garbage bags inside the fabric covers so that they do not get ruined in the weather.

While the porch is covered, everything on it is still very exposed to the crazy Colorado weather we get. (Please, no more snow! It's May!) We also live in a part of town which is heading out to the plains and high winds are quite common. In fact, one of the pillows that came with the settee when we bought it blew away one day, never to be seen again!

After sitting out on the porch for a few years, the original cushions were just to faded and worn to keep. Also, the fabric wasn't removable so one needed to shove everything into the washer and dryer to clean them Not good.

The wicker itself has also become quite weathered as well. Sweetheart picked up the paint for me the other night. I've already painted the table and am trying to just do once piece at a time as I am able, and as the weather allows!

I am really excited about this project and look forward to serving a lovely tea in time for the Blooming of the Roses. We'll see. I have lots of grandiose plans, but not the energy to complete them all as I would wish. Slowly, but surely what matters will be done.

I would love any of you lovely ladies ideas and suggestions, so feel free to share. Jody, I believe you sewed all your cushions last year, any tips?

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Sewing Spree

After I slipcovered Dumpling's highchair, Pumpkin declared he wanted "Cowboys!" So this afternoon I obliged by making him a placemat for the dinner table, so now they both can eat with the Lil' Cowpokes.
I also appliqued a square onto one of Dumpling's onesies. I had to include both a both and a red-headed cowboy. (Wonder what we'll get this time? Brunette, like Sweetheart?) Pumpkin doesn't have any plain shirts, or Im sure I'd have decorated some by now. Guess I'll have to keep an eye out. Maybe I can embroider Lightening McQueen onto something. (Not.)

So, here's a picture of my sewing room. Nice, huh? It's a table set next to our dinner table in between the Dining Room and Living Room. With an all-open floorplan everything is just out there.

Here's the boys playing just after I finished the projects for the day. It's the only place to put the machine where it's sort of out of the way, but that I can be by them playing while I sew. It's hardly a perfect set up, but I am getting sooo past my perfectionism. This works.

Hope you are having a lovely day yourself. I'm off to go make dinner. We just went to the grocery store this morning so I have lots of choices. Sweetheart just called to say he'll be late, though, so I'm not so sure what to cook. I may just have us eat now. Somehow, being pregnant and eating late just don't work together for me. At all.

(Wow! Two posts in one day--that hasn't happened in a long time!)

A Finished Project!!

I was given a fun book on beginning embroidery for Christmas.

I finally got everything together and started this the other night and finished it last night.

It's not perfect, but it was fun and I think it turned out cute for a first timer.

Besides, Dumpling won't care!

I doubt he'll get to wear it today as it is s*n*o*w*i*n*g!

Thank You, Ladies!

Thank you to everyone who wrote in with suggestions for what might be wrong with my sewing machine (besides the sewer!) Since the manual said that one need not adjust the tension unless sewing fabric like denim, or canvas, I decided to try a few things with the bobbin. I found a new red bobbin and threaded in some new red thread on top.

I sewed this up with out any problems at all! I even remembered to turn it right side out before I stuffed it with the lavender blossoms. (Read between the lines on that one. Did I mention before about my total lack of sewing skill?) Note to self: next time sew the buttons on first before sewing the hearts together. See previous sentences for help with that one. *sigh* Looking on the bright side, I'm learning something new with each project.

I love gingham, especially red. It's so cheerful. I sewed a bag a few days ago for the laundry room in this gingham. It's like a clothespin bag, but for those net bags I put all the bibs and baby socks into the washer all tucked inside.

I had a ugly, cheap looky bag before that I had the pins in, but I've always hated it. I tucked the pins into a little metal wall pocket so they're easy to grab with I need them. Then I just started cutting a sewing until I made my little bag. I used a baby hanger to hang it up on the rod. It's a bit dizzying with the gingham ribbon, but I'm leaving it on until I figure out something better. It has really brightened up the laundry area. I may make another lavendar-filled gingham pillow to use in the dryer.

I stopped using those dryer sheet things about a month ago. I'm now just adding a half cup of vinegar to the final rinse cycle of the washer to soften the fabrics. It works really well. No, the laundry does not smell like vinegar at all. I was just thinking it might be nice to add a bit of a lavendar scent.

I'm planning to begin making our laundry detergent soon as soon as I finish up the regular store-bought stuff. I'll post the detergent recipe once I've tried it a few times to see how it goes. We're not having the best luck with alternative/natural dishwasher detergents yet, but we're experimenting. Once I have something that I feel like I can recommend, I post the instructions. Until then, we'll keep on trying.

I was also thinking that it might be nice to add some lavender to the next tea cozy as the heat from the tea would help release the fragrance. I wonder if the scent might be overpowering, though. What do you think? I may try first just sewing a lavender pillow to use as a trivet under the pot. Can you tell I'm having fun? It's neat to think of all the stuff I can make even without using a pattern.

Well, tomorrow afternoon I'm planning to do a simple Sweetheart Tea with my Sweetheart during naptime. I'll brew Earl Grey for him, and a pot of the Valentine Blend for me. I'll make some chicken salad sandwiches, scones, and something yummy for dessert. I'll include a few slices of the banana bread, unless he eats it all first! I have a million different heart-shaped cookie cutters, so everything will probably be served in little heart shapes. I love that.

Have a lovely weekend!