Friends, The Fleece Factory, and Movies for Lent

Dude spent the day installing cabinets for someone. This meant I was on my own. 

Started the day at a good friend's home.  She is moving and had some boxes, fabric and some tea cups (so beautiful)for me. I love to decorate boxes

She has the same sense of humor that I do. *smile*

Then drove over to mom's to deliver eggs. We are now getting a perfect dozen. No Easter dying required. 

A stop at the library. They have a box of books they are giving away for free and thinning out their stash.  I scored this pirate book just in time for Tuesday Craft. My grandson wants something pirate.  As you can see I have a movie that will go with it. 

I can't wait! 

I also found two more books perfect for the homestead. 

Then I went to a magical place called The Fleece Factory. It is out in the country with fields of alpaca surrounding them.  They are so friendly and kind there. They share all their knowledge. 

I want to take their peg loom class to make a rug. 

Oh and learn rug hooking. 

Wet felting to make hats. 

Felted blankets. 

And look at these beauties.  They have an awesome factory that you can take tours for free!

Then it was time to go home.  Dr. Featherbottom and Mr. Quackers greeted me. 

I took Norman for a walk. He LOVES tumbleweeds. 

I was very inspired to craft and such when I got home.  I found ideas for Tuesday's with Grandma crafts.

  I carded wool and made wool drier balls. I will post them tomorrow after they have been thrown in the washer and drier a couple of times. 

Dinner was the leg of lamb I made yesterday. It tasted great with a thin gravy, green beans and fresh pineapple.

Movie night. I love to watch movies. I don't get to watch television too much since I work nights. I do have movies ready for this week - Holy Week.  Here are some movies for the Lenten Season. 

The Ten Commandments

Romero (one of my favorites)

The Mission

The Way

Risen

Happy Palm Sunday.  We are planting seeds tomorrow.  Tag team... Dude will set up the trays with dirt and I will plant the seeds.  Then the rest of the day is Stitch it up Sunday - sewing and crocheting . 

peace

The weekend... planting, fleece, and Sunday Funday.

My mentor  and teacher is getting ready to move. I went to see her on Saturday. We are farmsisters. Her husband recently had a stroke so we lend support. She has always been there for all of us. I wish I knew how to support her more. 

Anyway... I was greeted by her peacocks. They had no fear and didn't seem to mind the dog that ran past them. 

We hugged and talked and then got to work sorting alpaca and llama fleece.  She suggested that I store mine in plastic bins otherwise these are just a nice fluffy home for mice. 

Since she is moving, she shared many of the bags she had. What a difference they felt after working with lamb fleece.

It was good to be with her but soon her home was filled with people willing to help and it was time for me to leave. 

I came home with a wonderful surprise from my nephew's wife.  An essential oil package. She is teaching me and encouraging me to use them. Fun, I just know nothing about this!

Next up I headed to the greenhouse to get to work. The greenhouse puts me in such a good news. 

First up I separate packages of strawberries. Typically, there are 6 plants in each but I had 7.  I am hoping for a lush  patch of strawberries this year. 

Then I plant the austrees I started in water during the winter. They are rooting well. 

Austrees are a type of hybrid willow tree used as a windbreak, grow fast and help with ground erosion. 

I soaked the roots of the strawberries. 

I had been started apple trees. I am not sure if they will make it but I am giving it a good try. 

Strawberries are tucked in. 

Austrees planted.

All the plants we potted are going into the house since there is no heat in the greenhouse and snow is due this week. 

I did plant some Oriental Greens seeds too. 

The rest of Saturday was spend cleaning for our Sunday Funday party. Family was coming over to celebrate two birthdays.  My daughter-in-law's brother, Rick and my son Nick. 

Sunday

We lined up and plugged in crockpots. 

We filled them with homemade macaroni and cheese, hot dogs and dips.  We also had salads, hamburgers, cheese and crackers , chips and desserts. 

It was a Sunday Funday. 

It is interesting to watch how children try to mimic adults. Be sure you are a good example. 

He wanted Grandpa to know he was strong enough to do whatever he does. 

Kindness to animals reigns supreme on the homestead. 

It was a bit chilly but we did get some horse riding in . 

We did take time to remember the time of Lent . Raising four sons it was always challenging to try and get them engaged growing up.  One way was to remind them it was a time of spiritual cleaning and to try and show them was by carving soaps.  So today we carved soap. (of course, raising sons they used to carve knives and skulls but it got us talking).  We will share later what we do with the shavings. 

Our readings today remind us of our 40 day Lenten journey and that Temptation is real. 

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.  Mark 1:12-13

How is Lent going for you? 

peace 

Meet Milo, bottling detergent from yesterday and more ideas for Lent with boys

This is Milo.  He is one of Running Water's sons born on Sunday 2/21/16.  He is the smallest of the two, loves hugs and kisses, long naps and is not afraid of Papa Skippy (aka Mountain Apache's Warrior). He loves his mom and hopes to live on a farm in Texas someday.

 

Oh, and he has blue eyes like his mom.

The detergent is ready to bottle up. We left it over night to thicken. Stirred it up good. I used juice jugs from work that were going to be thrown away or water jugs.  Fill half way with detergent and half way with water and shake, shake , shake.  At this point I did add lavender to a couple of bottles and some I left plain because even that smells great.  Be sure to shake before each use.  Man, I love this stuff.  Made 10-12 jugs.

I love it when our friend and neighbor raises pig!

Teaching sons alms-giving.  This one I learned from my mom. When we were kids  saved all our change during Lent, well, really, all year in a big gallon jar. I think we assumed it was for some trip. But one Saturday before Easter mom told us that giving should be done without others knowing and we were going to give the jar of money to someone else. So, she had us sneak into church way before a Saturday mass and put the jar right inside the vestibule. The goal was not to let anyone see us and we must never tell anyone.  This was a good lesson to teach my sons. We saved our change mostly by collecting cans on our walks.  It got to be a joke in our family because my sons were embarrassed to collect cans.  But they didn't mind going to the can bank to have the cans be put on the conveyor belt and up and over to be crushed. It was sad, though,  most of the people there were poor mothers and homeless people, but it was what we did.  Anywhoo... we collected the money most of the year and then came time to give it away...it was our turn to put it in the back of the church, in the vestibule, without anyone knowing or seeing them. We got together -me and four little boys. Strategize.  And came up with a plan.  You must be covert like the military!  They must sneak in, not be seen, drop off the money and rush back to the car.  They did it but always came back running and laughing... announcing that no one had seen them. Success.  I am not sure they understood the whole idea of almsgiving but they did know we were doing something for someone else and unconditionally .  A lot of churches are locked during the day now.  But maybe during adoration some day, don't be surprised if a jar full of change appears out of nowhere for someone less fortunate.

Oh, and your jars don't need to be plain. Here is a nut jar I covered in fabric, glitter and a Smurf.

Hope you have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by. I am heading to see a new generation of boy...my grandson before going to work. Fun!