Catching up

I finally figured out that I have to make Google my browser in order to download pictures onto my blog.  Now where have I been?  I'm way behind, I'll tell you that.  Sooooooooo,

I'm going to try to catch you up on what's been going on here.

Below are the ribbons I won at the County Fair last week.  I still did not get a blue for my Raspberry Jelly, which was my goal.  They tasted it and wrote "Yummy!" on the scorecard, but also indicated I was to have 1/4 inch of space at the top of the jar.  I guess I had 3/8ths inch.  Afterall, I sew.

Here is the afghan I made out of my own alpaca yarns, together with a few novelty yarns for interest.  I was docked 2 points for the novelty yarns because "texture is distracting".  I laughed at that, because texture and color are my mantra.  In these competitions, the judges get very confused by artistic application.

I had to harvest my first potatoes early because the chickens that are residing at my place, owned by an organic farmer, get loose and are destroying all of my beds.  They scratched so much around the potato plants, the potatoes were exposed to the sun, so I had to save what I could before they dug to China.

Then, I canned some cherries.  There is a story to this.  My Grandmother, who lived across the street from us my first 10 years, canned cherries, and called them Cherros.  My brother and I loved them, and would have contests to see who could eat the most.  Since the pits were still in, it was easy to keep track, but my brother always won.  These are for him.

Now, due to the 1000 chickens on my property, causing me nothing but grief with the smell and the mess in the barn, and the destruction of the gardens, the owner is bribing me with a CSA box of goodies every two weeks.  I'm not sure what CSA stands for, but it is a program that you can subscribe to by paying ahead of time for boxes of fresh goodies every two weeks.  By paying for it up front at the start of the season, it gives the Farmer the collateral needed to plant and grow the goods.

The picture below is last weeks box.  I made juice out of the peaches and nectarines and canned the tomatoes.  I also made pickled dilly beans, but added lots of garlic, hot chilis, anaheim chilis, and small onions.

The Gravenstein apples are ripe, and I have made lots of canned applesauce and apple juice for my Grandson, Cadel, who is now 6 months and trying out foods.

I have several people coming to pick apples today, so guess I'd best get on the ball.

Anniversary

I have been trying to post here for a week now, but don't like to do so without at least ONE picture.  Blogger does not want to download any of my pics!!  I don't get it.  Does anyone have a clue?

So, writing seems to sooth my soul, and I have the need for some soothing.  Next Sunday marks the 40th wedding anniversary of my deceased DH and me.  I try so hard to be strong, and I continue to insist that dates and family traditions don't mean anything to me.  But here is the truth:  Your heart and your mind are in control.  I have been crying for three days now.  Even knowing why does not help.  I guess it's just another stage of grief.  I am so thankful for the support and prayers of my friends, and especially my friend Char who has been widowed for 6 years.  She's been here and can guide me.  Sometimes it hits like a sledgehammer, others it's just creeping in, lying below the surface.

I know this will pass.  I know I am strong.  I also know I am painfully lonely.

NOOKSACK CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Plans for the Nooksack Centennial Celebration are moving right along.  It is only about 7 weeks away, being held on September 8th.

I wound up handling publicity and entertainment, but I'm thrilled at how it is all falling together.

Above is one of the banners we have along Highway 9.

Here is the BIG banner, being carried by some kids I recruited the day before the parade for the Everson Nooksack Festival.

We will be serving hot dogs, ice cream and cake.  Afterall, it is a birthday party!!!  What else would you serve?

The entertainment includes two barbershop choruses, an Elvis impersonator, the Nooksack Indian Tribe with a drum ceremonial and dancing, and hopefully a Latina rock band.

Several businesses are having open house that day.

I'm hoping that Country Partners 4-H group decides to provide a petting zoo.

AND, we have a carriage drawn by draft horses that will give free rides through town and on my farm, past the homestead house of Mary Harkness and the 120 year old barn.  I'm really excited about sharing my farm for this purpose.  It is the only piece of agricultural zoned property left here in town, and it will provide a living history lesson to those who take the ride.

The Celebration will be held in Nooksack City Park on Saturday, September 8th from noon to 3pm.

Oh, I forgot to mention that my church, Nooksack Christian Fellowship, will be holding open house from 11am until 5pm.  Their building is also 100 years old this year, and they will be featuring on display the vintage quilt that I researched and traced back to this church.

Now, let's all pray for a bright sunny day!

Ducks in a Row

I LOVEMY DUCKS.

I never realized what wonderful personalities these birds have.  They are such characters!  I hear them each morning as I awake, and it reminds me I have animals to care for again.  They are pretty easy maintenance, but it's fun to go out and check on them.  If I can't find them, I just say "Here duck duck". and they will chirp back at me.  (being youngsters, they don't yet quack)  In the picture above they are on slug patrol.  Those slugs must be as good as a box of chocolates.  Oh, here's a big one!  Let's see, does this have a nougat filling?  They really know how to put them away.

Here they were following me so closely, I had difficulty getting a picture.

The other night I had my knitting group here.  We were sitting in the shade in the front yard.  The ducks could apparently hear the frivolity and came around to join us.  When the first person got up to leave, they escorted her to her car!!

Here is part of my back garden.  I decided to fill it with containers this year to give it height and interest.  I like it, but it does take more watering than flowers in the ground.  Good thing I have an irrigation well.

Last, but not least, here are the yarns I made this week.  I have been trying to rest my ribs so have gotten alot accomplished in this area.

Just a Matter of Time

I'm sure you've all been waiting for me to get some kind of animal to care for.  Yes, I need something to nurture.  So here are my ducks.  I can't name them all yet, because I don't know what sex they are, but the white pair is male and female Muscovys, and they are Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett.  Then I have a Khaki Campbell, a Black Swiss, and an Ancona.  I think I got the breeds right.  They are so funny and entertaining.  I want them for eating my slugs.  Have you seen the price of slug bait?  Holy Cow, it's ridiculous.

I was watching a movie with a friend the other night and we heard people just outside my window.  It was the neighbors, herding the ducks back home.  I guess they had decided to pay a visit.  They know where their enclosure is, so I was easily able to herd them back in and close them in for the night.   During the day, I let them out, and they pretty much stay in my garden.  They are also intrigued with the chickens on the other side of the fence.

Summer didn't arrive until July 4th, and since then it has been hot and humid.  My flowers are finally growing.  At the feed store the other day, they were giving away vege starts, so I got 4 more tomatoe plants, orange and yellow.  I like to make different colored sauces, so this will be fun.

My yard is looking beautiful.  It helps to have a lawn service, but I still have lots of weeding to do, and my garden in the back.

For those of you who missed this on facebook, here is my new swimming hole.  Ya gotta do what ya gotta do to cool down.  That is a 35 gallon watering trough.

I have been giving great thought to establishing an alpaca rescue operation.  I have heard that alpacas are selling at the Auction barn for $2 to make dog food.  I would be very selective about which alpacas I would take on.  In most cases, they go to auction because people do not know how to handle them.  I will determine if they can be trained, and then work with them.  When they are ready, I will re-home them.  However, the person or persons who takes them will have to go through a training class with me.

This is still in the groundbreaking stage, but I'm getting very enthusiastic about it.

Fourth of July, 2012

Summer finally arrived on the Fourth of July.  Above is the bouquet I had for the table outside for our 4th feast of roasted hot dogs, potatoe salad and smores.  Doesn't get much more American than that.

The red and white striped rose in the middle is named "Fourth of July"

One of the 1000 plus chickens got loose and showed up in my garden that morning.  Isn't she cute?  I never had chickens before.  They are so funny.  I now appreciate the title of the movie CHICKEN RUN.

The afternoon before, I had received a phone call from Melissa, shown above.  She was panicing over a cria delivery, so I walked her through it.  My friend Sheree, who was visiting from Tacoma, and I went over on the fourth to visit the new baby and her predecessors.  Here is Madrone, weighing in at 22 pounds.

She is a beauty.   Her fiber is stunning, and she has the longest legs!!!

This is Pippi Longstockings cria, Thunderbolt.  Unfortunately, he does not have her wonderfully friendly nature.  She still comes up to give me kisses when I visit.

Then we visited the baby goats who happily attacked us.  Rosie untied Sheree's shoes.

This one tried to take my blouse off!!!

I took Sheree and her son, Kyle to the local Mexican restaurant, Mexico Tipico.  This is Kyle's real expression when he saw his fajitas delivered.

My Expresso Burrito, which I can usually only eat half of.

And here is Sheree enjoying her Tortilla soup.

I've had alot of visitors this summer.  Next weekend it is my two neices, then a couple of girlfriends whom I worked with mmmmmmmmm, many years ago.  Let's just leave it at thatl.

Yarn Production

I hate to complain about our weather, when everyone in the east half of this country seems to be suffering from record heat, but it is wet and humid here, and I'm getting tired of this.  I wish I could send the rain to Colorado to put an end to those awful fires.  And the coolness to you in the East.

I have all of my windows and doors open to try to get some air, and I have spent my day carding wool to spin.

I borrowed my friend's drum carder, since mine are toast.

Here it is, with a supply of fiber to comb.

Here is the container full of fiber that I dyed a couple of months ago. 

I'm having fun blending colors and am looking forward to seeing the yarn I make out of these "roulags".

And here is the latest yarn I am spinning.  What a little workhorse my spinner is.  My yarns are selling well, so I need to pick up my production.

This skein is the last one I finished, made from whatever was left on my bobbins.