Sewing/Creating Bee Day

Today was our sewing bee day.  A bunch of us gathered to sew, talk about what is going on in our lives and share a good meal. 

Remember when we made our Cherry Bounce?  

It looks a lot richer and darker now. Well, we gave it a try today and it was FANTASTIC!

Then we have show and tell. 

Susan's creation... It looks small here but it took up a good portion of a wall. 

Shelley's afghan...

Daisy's quilt...

Another of Daisy's quilts...

A pocket quilt...

Then we begin to create...

I did get an autumn beach shoe done... I met with a very good friend from "back home" this week. We grew up near the beach.  I wanted to remember the week and made a beach shoe. 

And then I started a boot ornament for my new adopted home - Colorado.

Susan is creating Christmas gifts so we can't show you what she is doing - smile. 

I really believe we cannot forget these old ways of sewing and being together. It's a time to socialize and help each other in our craft.  I can't wait for next month.

peace. 

Rough day, Pho, and a Cute Game

Today was the forecasted to be the only warm day for a while at 61*. We rushed out to run two errands - the library and pick up a new log splitter.  We have been saving our money for a while.  Wood is our primary source of heat and we need to get our wood cut fast. We drove to a farm and feed store after stopping at the library for a new splitter.  We went to three stores to compare prices and brands. After finally deciding on one, we headed home. We decided to take the back roads. Halfway home Dude decided to stop and make sure all was well.  Hmmm... it wasn't ... the bearings were broken on one of  wheels holding the splitter up.  We had to figure out how to get it home. We were stranded in the middle of nowhere.  The game warden stopped to see if we were okay.  We were .  While Dude thought of what to do, I was glad to have a book and something to crochet. We are so extremely blessed to have friends to call, understand homesteading , who we could call and stop to help us.  We drove the back roads at 20-30 mph praying the wheel did not totally fall off. Our friend Jamin and his son drove behind us with blinkers flashing to protect us. 

I told you it was in the middle of nowhere. 

Dude rode in the back of the truck watching the tire while I drove until we got to the highway (an over glorified country road) 

When we finally did get home the men tried to fire up our brand new log splitter. Nothing. It wouldn't fire up.  Crud! We did call the store and they will have a new one waiting for us tomorrow fresh out of the crate. 

Things we were thankful for  - 

It was a nice day, warm and sunny.

We were together.

We had water and snacks.

The wheel never came off. 

We have awesome, amazing friends.

And as someone pointed out... we were safe. 

And we were planning on going to New Mexico today to pick up a horse trailer...so thankful we didn't have these problems doing that -5 hours away!

I came in the house and opened one of our cans of grape juice.  Ahhh. 

Next up was a hearty dinner of PHO.  If you never had it... it is delightful !

I used this recipe HERE .  We used many of the fresh veggies from the garden plus a few from the store. 

It hit the spot and filled us up.

Game for the holidays

Fun game over Thanksgiving was with plastic candy canes from the Dollar Store. It is played like barrel of monkeys and with two people playing against each other , with the winner playing the next person.  We had a pile of  plastic candy canes. You put one in your mouth and try to pick up as many as you can and put them in the bucket. Put on the timer  for 3 minutes.  The one with the most in the bucket when the timer goes off wins. It was harder than it looked. Fun and full of laughs, even my mom got into it! 

~smile~ 

Yes, there were crafts afterwards :-) 

peace 

Spring planting

There is something to be said for the sisterhood homesteading.  You read it old books of sewing bees,  canning, and even hunting!  Men tend to like to be more solitary and of the phrase... "we can do it ourselves!"  Well, with Dude's slip disc and working long hours and me working plus having surgery not that long ago I have been very slow getting the garden in.  I finally sucked up when one of my homesteading friends asked if I would like her and some kids to come help. Yes, please!  We planted trees, over 40 tomato plants, seeds, cantaloupe, peppers, 30 hyacinth bulbs, and eight broccoli plants! It had to be done before the rains came in and heading to work.  When I asked for a time check , I found we had gotten it all done in less than an hour! As one of the wise wee ones said, "Many hands makes work go fast."  Yay to the sisterhood!!! These kids did a killer job.

Who cares about wonky rows.  As one of kiddlettes said, " "Who cares if the lines are straight as long as you get tomatoes!"   So true little sister!!!!

Spring has finally arrived on the plains!  It rained all night and is raining again today.  Perfect timing.

Today's veggie dinner - polenta with red pepper sauce, 3 bean salad and garlic bread. Dude is adding meatballs.

                                                           peace, health and happiness

Apple recipe and fence mending

I felt like I was on the road forever today.  I went to the Denver Metro area to meet a great group of Catholic Women.  Great conversation and prayer. Learn all about Montessori schools - love this idea,  France, new stuff in child birthing, churches these ladies go to and all in a gorgeous neighborhood with a gracious host.

It was all great fun until I tried to get home.  It felt like every road was clogged or being worked on.  I call my mom who informed - ohyeah, they are working on the bridge on I25 near Alameda. That was exactly where I was sitting in traffic.  ... well, you should listen to your mother then.   I told my mom she only just now told me there was working being done!  Ohwell she replied.  Gotta love the old lady -smile- xo  I got off the highway only to stop in traffic on Federal. I called my son and asked are they working on every road in Denver?!!! Yeah, mom, it's Denver. (think of your garden, think of your garden!)

After an hour and half in traffic. I am finally home. There is no congestion, no traffic, not even the train was stopping me getting onto the homestead. Dude was out in the field when I got home  I beeped and waved as I go by. Once I got in the house he calls on his cell to ask me to bring the post driver out to the field. He was mending fences the goats have been leaning against to scratch themselves.

Skippy learned he could pick up this log and scratch his head with it. 

Everyone is out helping him...goats, turkeys.  It is always cute to see the turkeys defending the goats when the dog comes around. They get between the goats and dog, fluffing themselves up and stomping their feet. Man, I love those turkeys.

Recipe of the day: Laughing Apples

Mix together :

1 cup of yogurt
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Add to :
3 large chopped apples
1/2 cup craisins
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Combine everything and let chill for an hour or two. 

Cleaned and got ready for my sewing day tomorrow. Yay!

Tonight - meditation and crocheting.  

Getting back into the swing of things

We are back fulltime working in the foothills and part-time on the homestead (sadness).  Monday, before work, I met with the Yaya farmgirls.  In our cold environment we wear thick knitted or wool socks especially when out working with the animals on a snowy day. We learned to darn socks. At first I thought why would I want to know this but when I got home and told Dude what we did he dug his wool socks with holes out of the bedroom trash.  Hmmm guess this skill will be useful.

We got our supplies ready.

 Sunny's husband, Fred, made us tools we could use to get the job done if we didn't have a sock egg.
Thank you!!!

This is our example...no way did I do that well on the first try!

My Yaya sister began her lesson from Sunny.

Now it's my turn to give it a try. We learned it is basically weaving , first one way and then go back and weave between, up and over,  all the rows you just added.

All in all a fun morning before heading to work. Now I have Dude's socks to give it a go.


Here is an update on the animals:

The turkeys hang out all day with the mama goats.

Peppy is getting bigger every day.

Angelo is still the prince of the homestead.  Skippy had escaped and I had to run him out of the girls pen.

Mother's day is coming up and I am taking my mom to a Scottish Tea. So I am attempting to get a dress made by then.  Wish me luck.

Friday the Yaya Farmgirls are going to make cheese and faerie jars. So, I began to cut the silhouettes.

The snow has finally melted but I am still working in the greenhouse transplanting tomato and pepper seedlings.

Cheese is draining and clothes need to be folded. Hope you day is great.

Peace, health and happiness.