Fall creations.. Cornhusk doll and model train building begins

Depending on who you talk to October  is the month of pumpkin everything (my son, Noah LOVES pumpkin everything!) or time to hit every beer garden there is! A friend recently went to Germany and gave a few of us a peek into the wonderful world of Oktoberfest... Munich, Bavaria, the works.  But here on the homestead it is a time of preparation... the gardens are put to bed for winter, the barns filled with straw to warm animals and for creating … the cool weather and the indoors brings crafts, sewing, hobbies, and so much more to life. 

Today was a day to rest indoors with wind and rain coming across the plains. Dust devils ran rampant across the land to lead the rain that quickly came and went. 

I was a bit under the weather so I took time to  rest and then time to craft. 

We will have our craft party in a week and I need to practice with some of the crafts before hand. 

I made a cornhusk doll today. We made these as kids when I was young. I look out at the corn field and think of them every day.  I remembered I had some leftover husks from making tamales, found them in the pantry and got to work.  I soaked a few in a pan of water to soften in them.  To make them, it is best to use an even number of husks plus one.  I used four husks plus one. 

Dry them with a paper towel. 

I used embroidery floss to tie the top together tightly. It's a good idea to have a few lengths of about 5 or 6 inches ready for this project. 

Separate the bottom and fold it over the top. Tie another tie around for the head. 

Then take your extra husk and tie each end for the arms. 

Divide the husks by two and tuck in the arms. She is beginning to take shape!

Tie another around to create her waist. (save the trimmed threads to share with the birds)

I took a thin piece of husk to make her hair. I wanted to keep it natural and not use glue.

So, I tied a piece of floss around her neck and hair to keep it in place..  and here she is! 

Tomorrow I will show you how to make the boy to go with her. 

Joann's Fabric had a 60% off of fall stuff.  I got this adorable bakeware. 

Dude was also busy creating his model train. 

Hope he moves it to the side before Monday... we will need to use the woodstove if the snow begins to fly. 

My new favorite room. My sons came over and took the bed out of the spare room a few weeks ago. I made the room into a quiet reading room. It will be used tonight and many nights.

peace 

It was one of those days...

It's a full moon and it is pulling some odd force around me.  Okay, it's not but here was my wild day...

It was one of those days... yeah, those days.  I had my list like have every morning. Today's was easy...  Exercise, hang my witch wall-hanging I had just made, weed the herb garden, and order seeds.  Exercise and ordering seeds were easy - done.  

Hanging the wall-hanging was fine … until I went to get off the stepstool. I twisted just right and my foot got stuck. I don't usually wear shoes and this time when I did, my foot got stuck in the rung and I went flying off the top of the stool.  I found that yelling whoa, does not help you land on your feet. I scared the dog so bad he wet the floor and ran for  the door. I was a bit bruised and my pride tarnished but otherwise I was fine. 

Next out to weed the herb garden...I didn't get too much done when I looked down and found a … chicken head. Yep, that's all, just the head... no body, no feathers, no guts... just the head.  I wondered if the prairie dogs I am constantly fighting  were practicing voodoo in my garden against me.  Ugh... but realistically figured it is an owl.  I was done there and went to the greenhouse. 

Ahhh, much better...

I stopped to say hello to Gracie who was enjoying a dirt bath.

In no time it was time to head to work. I commute an hour. It was way longer today … two of the three lanes were closed. 

I finally got to work and saw this... dare I go walk under it? 

I shouldn't have walked under it … Five of my eight member team (plus one on vacation) called out sick! oiy 

My new plant holder was waiting on my desk … with his head lopped off. I had accidently hit him and his head fell off when he hit the desk. 

Later, I went to listen to calls with my team and as I went to go back to my desk, a cord was wrapped around my leg and I went flying … along with my cup filled with pop and ice. What a mess.

We are lucky to have this beautiful breakroom that is rarely used... I used it!

You don't know how happy I am glad to be home and ready to start a new day tomorrow! The homestead is my happy place.

peace

Getting ready for winter and repeat crafts

It's that time of the year where we hit almost all four seasons . Today is fall-like and foggy.  Tomorrow will be summer at 80* and Monday winter with snow. 

We put the outside gardens to bed and let the animals in to clean up whatever they can find. 

Dude split wood that a friend gave us from a tree they took down (thank you Lori). A nice start to the season since we heat with wood. 

Gardens but to bed and others started.

Lettuce, radishes, beets, spinach and other winter greens  just planted.

We are still getting food from the greenhouse and will for a while. It is not heated for now.

The birds can get rather loud in the morning between the geese and the guineas.  

 Geese love to tell you all the gossip around the yard even though, it just sounds like ---- "pickle, pickle."

Guineas lined up to eat.

Couple crafts

I have another going away party this weekend. I made an address book to pass around and have everyone put their information down. 

I used small packs of papers.

Just stack some papers, fold in half and staple in the middle.

Add some stickers here and there. 

Dollar Store skull... let's make him cool. 

Supplies

Cover in mod podge or watered down glue.  Lavish him with glitter. Roll up a pipe cleaner stogie. 

TGIF 

peace