Looking back at what we accomplished this year and what we learned.

Looking back at 2017 it was a challenging year for us but a good one. 

We paid off  a big chunk of debt. It wasn't  easy and it wasn't  fun. We did without a lot and sometimes we had to sell animals we love. We missed out on trips but we kept focus on our goals. 

We finished the cooper roof with help from family members but Dude did much on his own.

The front porch was built. 

We got a new furnace and air condition in case we ever need it in our old age. 

Bought a horse. Raised two horses. 

Went on a quilting retreat... I  am saving to go again this year. I had a blast. 

Started building the two back rooms and the bird/milking house. 

Dude had his back operated on. 

Bought a spinning wheel. 

Planted, harvested, canned and dehydrated  produce this year. 

Raised turkeys and 25 chickens to eat. 

Raised 15 hens for eggs, butchered and canned 7 roosters, raised 4 guineas, and 2 geese.  

Peppy gave us two new kid goats.  

We lost Maggie, our dog and Ginger our cat.   We have our new dog, Norman. 

We enjoyed grandchildren staying with us for a few weeks this year.

Wilbur our ram got his first shearing this year and I leaned to card and spin wool.

We learned this year which animals work for us.   We realized don't get every animal you can think of just to have everything. We sold the goats but found we like the larger Nubian goats for milk, cheese and yogurt rather than the smaller dwarf goats. The Nubians produce almost twice as much milk.  One goat is more than enough for us.

What grew well this year?  Whoa... we had cantaloupe and spaghetti squash coming out of our ears.  Peppers did well too. Lettuces, all kinds, greens - collards and mustard, spinach all do in the do well in the spring and fall. We had carrots, radishes, beets, onions (3 types), tomatoes (3 kinds) and pumpkins.

The greenhouse was definitely worth it this year. The thing I like about this greenhouse better than other hoop houses I have had, is, it has is the double layer of plastic with a fan that blows between the two to create a bubble. It keeps it warmer.  The inner layer is clear and the outer layer is white. It helps bounce the hail off it in the spring.  Right now we have two kinds of lettuce, spinach, cilantro, spinach and carrots growing.  We have to be very watchful of everything growing in it during the winter. 

Thank you for joining us in 2017!  May 2018 bring you all the best for you and yours. Tomorrow we let you know what we are dreaming of for 2018!

peace 

What to do in winter...

I love winter and all the wonders it brings... if I don't have to drive in it.

"In seed-time learn. In harvest time teach. In winter enjoy." ~William Blake.

It is a time for spinning wool, sewing, crocheting, baking, reading and dreaming of what you will do in the spring.

Carding alpaca...

Sewing...

Crafting...

Crocheting ...

Baking....

Reading...

Dreaming of building ... (this is not my picture found on dream catcher's fb)

Planning... our Epiphany Party...aka 12th Night... 3 Kings Day.

Dude?  He is off to remodel someone's kitchen and working on model trains.  

peace

4th Day of Christmas , Holy Innocents, and baking

Good morning!  It is the 4th Day of Christmas and Feast of the Holy Innocents. Following the 12 Days of Christmas is almost like using a decoder ring... can you tell I raised four sons?  Today is four calling birds or rather the four Gospels and Evangelists of the Gospels. 
It is also the Feast of the Holy Innocents and so heart retching to think of. Again, having sons it hits home that if I was living in another time I would be holding them just a little closer.  On this day we remember  Herod giving orders to kill boys two years and younger, Divine Marytrs : From Matthew 2:16-18 =

16When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

18“A voice is heard in Ramah,

weeping and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children

and refusing to be comforted,

because they are no more.”^d

Yesterday I made cookie dough for a cookie party this weekend and put it in the fridge. It's Christmas time for us ...fun, fun, fun! 

Today I rolled them out and baked them before heading to work. 

Grin, they kind of spread out a bit. 

Dude was giving all the oil lamps a good cleaning. We must have twenty or more.

Then he was off to take grandkids to the model train museum. 

peace

2nd Day of Christmas

Good morning and happy 2nd Day of Christmas.  We are enjoying a snowing quiet morning working on making Thank You notes. 

We work hard all year to have food in the winter.  We still have a few onions. 

The year before and many years I individually wrap the onions in newspaper but this year we put them in a box and wrapped them in burlap. I keep them in the spare room where it is the coldest room in the house. 

They are still doing good .

We picked carrots yesterday. They may look funky but they smelled and tasted fabulous. 

The outcome was lentil soup for the week. 

We did make a bunch of lasagna too and froze it for quick dinners using what we had ...some ricotta, some goat cheese and ...gasp...some American cheese. 

peace

Merry Christmas !

Luke, chapter 2

The Birth of Jesus. 1^* In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus^* that the whole world should be enrolled. 2This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. 4And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,^a 5to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.^b 6While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn son.^* She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.^c

8^* Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. 9The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.^d 10The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11^{* e} For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

14^* “Glory to God in the highest^f

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

peace

Winter Solstice of card making and sewing.

The last day of fall was a warm 60* yesterday.   I brought in wood to stack . It took a bit to convince Dude that I wanted to do it as part of my workout.  He kept insisting he would do it but I was able to bring it in. I like bringing in the wood and it was very low. 

The kindling. 

We found that the cardboard egg cartons are great fire starters. They help feed air to the fire to breathe life to the flames.

It's a start but I got a good stack piled. 

Our granddaughter got one last ride in before we have to take the two hour trip to take her back home. Whoa... it was a long day in the car.  Two hour ride down to her home was 2.5 because we all got to talking and missed the exit.... ugh.  Total of backside numbing  hours in the car? Almost 5 hrs. Let's just say it didn't end as chummy as it began.  We were glad to get home. *smile*

But we did stop at a cowboy stop for lunch. 

Today was the first day of winter and it showed - cold and snowy. 

It was the last day of my vacation and I crafted away. I needed a few more cards so I made them quick and easy. 

Just emboss.

Add some rhinestones.

And a bit of glitter. 

And let them dry. 

Then out to the greenhouse. Surprisingly everything was doing okay.  I picked more spinach to make my lunch and drink for tomorrow.

Then over to the sewing room to sew up this freebie pattern over at Pat Sloan's here .  The house was nice and quiet.

Until the cats wanted to sing show tunes... so.. Callie started with singing songs from Aladdin -  A WHOLE NEW WORLD --- and then 

Gracie wanted to sing songs from My Fair Lady... so we did.  *wink*

Callie cringed. 

Gracie pouted until we sang.  They were all very happy to be in from the cold tucked in tight in the fabric cupboard. They are taking a holiday from mousing. 

Time to get under a big quilt and read.

Happy Winter Solstice! 

peace