Blue jean quilt. Done.

This is the blue jean quilt, held up by the husband. ( I was going to post the other picture of him smiling, but apparently, I can only post one at a time.) So it's plenty long enough for his 6 1/2 foot self. I finished it just in time Monday for him to take it with him when he left. And that night, can't remember where exactly he said he was, but it was 28 degrees. It kept him really warm.

I didn't sew through the pockets so the back looks a little wonky. But it looks pretty good. I just quilted from corner to corner one way then the opposite way.

Now on to other things. I need to make a rainbow scarf for my oldest grand daughter. We are supposed to be getting a little snow today. And some 25 MPH winds. So I hope we don't have any power outages because of fallen trees. So looks like a great day to work on something inside by the fire.

What are y'all working on during the cold wintry days and nights?

Water, water, everywhere.

This is the path to the goat barn, between the 2 trees. There are some boards under the water that they walk on to get to the milk room. All this water, that came from the creek to the right up above, is going through the yard straight to the sheep shed- hay island. Then it goes on into the South garden and down the driveway, then turns right and goes through the little orchard then down to the pear trees. Where it makes a little lake.

It is actually a little less water today. I did get to milk Sandy last night and feed some of the others in the milk room. They got to come out some this morning. But now it's sprinkling again. And we could possibly get some snow tomorrow? That's what I'm hearing now. I kind of hope it does so all this nasty mud will be covered up for a little bit.

I believe it's like this all the way up through Indiana. My niece lives up there and had water pretty close to her house. I had to go to town yesterday and could see all the lakes where there are no lakes. SO much water. But my mom says this will be so good for the gardens this summer. I told her I do not see how that works, as I still have to water my garden in the summer. Where's all this water then, huh? I don't know, but I guess somehow it does help.

I hope you all are dry and warm wherever you are out there.

Thinking about spring (and lots of plans)

Yes, it's STILL raining. Yes, it's STILL muddy. Yes, we have lakes and ponds and creeks and streams all over, STILL. I wasn't able to milk Sandy last night because there is NO way a goat will cross a creek for love nor grain. So she didn't get milked. It's times like these that makes me want to drag one of the stanchions out to the barn and make a little stall just for milking when it's pouring rain. One day.

So I have been thinking about my farm here. And what all I want to do this year. Way too many things and way too much money to do them. But the first thing I would like to do is make another greenhouse. We made one a few years back but didn't use strong enough plastic. We still have the PVC pipes. I'm going to look at some catalogs for a thicker mil greenhouse plastic and order some. I will save tons of money starting my own seeds. I spent SO much money on flats and flats of plants last year. And I can just start my own right here and maybe sell extras.

Plus, a greenhouse can be used as extra early growing space too. AND it can be used as a chick brooder and composting place. I have seen people use them for that purpose and it works great. The chicks are warm and they scratch up the soil and fertilize it too. I am planning on getting more Freedom Rangers in the spring.

And I am wanting to do a lot of rearranging in this house and the little house. And make some walkways that are more goat and sheep friendly. I hate that they have to stand in mud so much. They need some wooden platforms to get them up out of the mud.

I have also been thinking about fencing and pastures and rotating and parasite management. I do not want to lose any more sheep to those awful Barber Pole worms again. So I really need to make my 2 pastures into smaller yards and move the sheep every week so they'll be going around every 21 days.

Also need to make more garden space for the market gardens.

So many plans and so much to do. I just need money, the key ingredient to make it all happen. I hope to sell all my doeling kids as soon as possible. And most of my ewe lambs too. I only want about 10 ewes here. I really don't have the space for too many sheep. Or goats either. I have 8 does now plus the 2 bucks. I will probably sell the Lamancha buck and butcher the Boer buck.

I'm sure everyone is thinking about spring and have lots of plans too.

Blahs

It is nothing but WET outside. There is water everywhere out there. I feel so bad for my animals. The goats all have a dry barn and shelter. But the sheep only have an open shelter. It's big enough for them all and they are sheep with nice wool coats on. But the ground is SO wet and muddy. I need to make some wooden platforms for the goats and sheep to just stand on that's not in mud. I am taking old hay and throwing down on paths but it's still just WET.

I know I should not be complaining about all this wonderful water that we'll need this summer. But right now, it's not doing a bit of good. It's depressing to look out the windows and see lakes and ponds and streams where there is not supposed to be those things. I want to just go hibernate like the bears. They have the right idea.

It did get cold last night though. After a week of highs in the 60's and 70's here and no heat on, it's about 48 now. My hubby had to build a fire in the wood stove again. It took awhile to get it going, but he's a good fire building man. Now to get daughter to get some more wood in. She's good at that.

And I was going to try to get pictures of the finished quilt, but computer wants to go all wonky on me again. But it is finished and is on the way to my husband's truck with him. He just left. I told him that nice warm very heavy blue jean quilt might just save his life one day. if he's ever lost out in the middle of no where way up in Montana in a blizzard, stuck in his truck with no fuel for heat, that quilt will keep him warm. I so hope that never happens. Anyway, glad it's done and my poor fingers can take a break. I'll post pictures soon I hope.

So how is the weather in your neck of the woods this week so far? I so want summer right now.

Easy dinner

Well, it worked this time. This computer is so wonky. 

So this is our dinner the other night. Beef stroganof. I just took some beef stew meat and onions and garlic. Sauteed that with some mushrooms. Then added a can of cream of mushroom soup. Right before serving I add some sour cream. Put that over some egg noodles and there ya go. Dinner. 

My mom used to fix this all the time when I was younger. It's so good.

Horses in need of resuing ASAP

http://www.facebook.com/SunDewSavesHorses

I just saw this on a friend's Facebook page. A bunch of horses were bought by a kill buyer up in Pa. They have til this Sunday to be bought. There are steps you can take to get them to you. And they are really cheap too. Nice looking horses. If anyone needs a good horse, I hope you can rescue one of these. I just don't have room.

Just rambling on...

I can't seem to post a picture. I did a few days ago. But all day yesterday, every time I'd try, the computer would just freeze up and all I could do was shut it down. So don't know what's going on with it.

I have sold most all the lamb! I am so happy about this. After worrying about not selling any at all. I sold half to a friend. Another half to another friend who had hay that I desperately need right now. So we are swapping 37 nales for a half a lamb. Then there are 3 others who are just buying pounds. And a pretty good bit too. I hope there's enough for us now! But I can always use the money.

I have 3 ewes that will lamb around the first part of Feb. These are all hair sheep. Then I am not sure about Darla. She's so wooly right now I'd never know. She's half Suffolk and half Finn. VERU wooly. She looks like those little felted sheep people make with little tiny stick legs. She really needs sheared bad. So I hope she's been bred because now I don't have a ram for her. Since they are both in the freezer. I have her son, who's been in with all the ewes since before Christmas. I haven't seen any action between them. SO hopefully one of the other rams got to her first.

And then I have 4 younger ewes that will be lambing in May of they've been successfully bred by Mr. Abraham. These will be all mostly Finn lambs. Docking tails and castrating all of these. I'll castrate all hair rams too. What fun awaits!!! I love little lambs.

I hope to be getting a deer this week too. The slaughterhouse where I get my dog's food has a lot of deer that hasn't been picked up yet. They are giving the people til Friday to pick it up. If they don't I get one!! And I just want half burger and half sausage. So I am hoping someone doesn't want theirs so I can have it.

We also need wood. A friend up on the mountain has about a truck load for us. Free! I love free. I'll have to give him some deer sausage. It's been warmer than normal here the past few days and will be near 70 this weekend. So I let the fire go out. You just can't turn down a wood heater. And we can save quite a bit of wood this way. But I just know we are in for a blizzard or ice storm any time now.

And I have one doe that's about ready to pop. She'll be kidding around the first of Feb. Her first time too so I am a little nervous for her. She is already loosening up in the tail and quite puffy around the most important parts. I took pictures and wanted to post her and Zarah and Trudy's rears and bellies. I hope this computer cooperates soon so I can post them. I don't think I'll need to make kidding pens because Penelope is the only one the 1st of Feb with Trudy following later. So I can just put Penelope in the big back stall for a few days. All the goats are so stagered this year. I usually have them kidding all at the same time. At least within a few weeks. But this time they'll be going til the end of May. AND I will be selling ALL the doelings this year. I might keep the Boer cross bucklings to raise for meat. But ALL doelings MUST go!

Need to get the quilt done. Hubby will be home this weekend.

Have a great day y'all!

Quilting

This is my little quilting frame. I've had this for about 32 years now. It's a bit wobbly and has some duct tape holding one of the legs on at the bottom. Gotta love duct tape! And this blue jean quilt is heavy. So it leans a little to the left. But I love this frame. It's been in the garage for a long time. My husband keeps asking me if I am ever going to use it again. Well, yes. And I will keep using it. Til it falls apart and duct tape doesn't help any more.

I'm about halfway done going one way. So this shouldn't take too long to finish. And when hubby comes home, he'll have a new quilt to keep him warm. Because it looks like he'll be out on the road in his truck for another year.

And my fingers hurt. I feel like a diabetic that's having to prick my finger a million times a day. Because I have. And I HATE needles!

Free range chickens

I heard the dogs barking today out toward the field next door. Went to look and saw my hens way over next to the trees. Not a good place to be. The dogs across the road go over there sometimes. And I only have 4 hens and a rooster. I've been getting 3-4 eggs a day now and don't want to lose any of them. This is the first time they've all been that far away. Really free ranging hens.

These are some of the horses across the road. I love this view with Pigeon Mt. behind them. So pretty.

To market, to market

Not to buy a fat pig. But to take my 2 ram lambs. I am loading them up this afternoon to take them to the butcher. They are pretty big right now. This was taken during the summer at my friend's house. I'm keeping Abraham, the black ram. He's with the ewes now. He'll be staying IF he is successful at breeding the younger wool ewes.

SO, if anyone local would like some realy good lamb, let me know. I have one half already sold. So a whole lamb will be available for sale or barter. Half will be $150. Or if you just want a little, it'll be $5 a pound. I'll have burger, sausage, chops, legs and some stew meat.

I would be interested in bartering for firewood or square hay bales. Running low on both.

These guys are a mix of Katahdin, Dorper, Suffolk, Hapshire and Finn. All really good meat breeds. Should be some really good eating here.

They should be ready Friday.

Record player

I got this for Christmas from my mom and step dad. I love it. We went and dug out all the old records from out in the garage. We used to have a record player years ago when the kids were little. Out oldest daughter somehow tore the needle off and we never did get it fixed.

So this is sitting on our buffet in the dining room. It has a radio, CD player and a cassette player too. I have already listened to Cat Stevens, Willie Nelson and a few others. It's so nice to be able to hear records again. I love how they sound, with the scratchy noise coming through.

I love Willie Nelson. I remember when me and my husband went to see Honeysuckle Rose way back in the early 80's at the theater in Red Bank, Tn.  And we got the record. I put that on the other night while I was sewing together the blue jean quilt  I'm making for my husband. It brought back a lot of good memories. It's a good album.

The stack of records on the window seat. I need to go through them and put these loose ones back in the covers before they get all scratched up. Some of them look pretty scratched up but when I wash them off they play fine.

I used to have Peter Frampton. I can't find it. I am going to look for a new one when I am at a music store. I think that's got to be my favorite album ever. And he's still good. Hasn't aged a bit.

Now a little blue

It is BEAUTIFUL outside today!! Bright blue sky and sunshine! Everything's frozen but that's ok. I would rather walk on frozen solid mud than squishy mud any day. I did have to haul warm water to the goats and cats and dogs this morning. The doe's water bucket was nearly empty. Penelope stood there and drank for 5 minutes. Had to go get more after that. I need to check water buckets more often. But the sheep's water trough is still full. Plus 2 buckets. I did have to break the ice on theirs.

I am so happy to see this pretty blue today after so many gloomy drab grey days. I know, it is January and winter. It's supposed to be like this. So this is a very welcome sight to see. I hope it's like this all over today.

Kansas came outside long enough to hug Sybil.

This is all the wood that's left. We need more. But with the new wood heater, we aren't using nearly as much wood as we did last year with the open fireplace. We have a lot of wood inside. Enough to last a few days. I went yesterday to a place that sells wood. Oak is $50 for the smallest size. A rick? I can't remember. And the hickory was $60. But there were a lot of really small pieces. I'll look around some more. I have seen lots of ads on Craig's list. I'd love to have it delivered because our truck gets about 4 miles per gallon.

Waiting

It's been a nice day here today. I actually had to wear sunglasses while driving to town. But it's a muddy mess here. I hate that my poor goats and sheep have to step in mud to get anywhere. And everything is so brown and drab.

But I know that in just a few short months, it will be all green and pretty again. And there will be little lambs and goat kids jumping around and chasing each other. Little seeds will be popping up in the gardens. Flowers will start coming up again. Right now everything is just taking a little break. Resting. Meditating. Getting ready for a rebirth. A new beginning. New life. It's awesome. Something to look forward to. To long for. And wait for. It will come. The earth will bring forth new life again.

Until then, a little color. Lots of beautiful red berries, from my good friend's yard. Beautiful bright red.

And this old iron horse on an old barn, hiding from everyone. I had no idea it was even there.

All before coffee

I went to bed early last night. Felt kind of funny. While feeding and milking last night, I felt like I was gong to faint. Like everything was real distant. I had my jacket and gloves on and was sweating like summertime. I came inside and did a few things, then went to bed before 8. Then slept til almost 8:30. Feeling fine this morning.

So looked out the window first thing and saw the bad babies out in the pasture that they are not supposed to be in. Those 3 bad kids keep getting through the electric fence out back and going out to the pasture that's not mine. I've tried to fix the fence, but it's going to have to be all redone. So got them back in, fed them all hay. I got John Henry back yesterday so took Trudy out and put Abby in with him and Zeeboo. That was ok for awhile. Trudy is getting along with the others fine, but ran around looking for Zeeboo. So this morning, I took Abby back out and put Trudy back in. She is bred already but I'll just wait a little longer to put them all together.

Then went and got the 2 fences that I was going to use to separate the sheep. Put that along the fence the bad babies get through. It only went so far though. They all went back there and turned around and went back to the barn. So I hope that stops them til I get some money to fix it all.

Stella had gotten into the sheep pasture and chased them all over the place. I noticed a black flash while I was out back. Then saw all the sheep way down at the bottom of the pasture looking up this way, and realized it was Stella. So got her out and fixed that fence where she got in. I need to see if I can take her to a guy in Alabama that trians Border Collies. I do believe Stella would make a good herding dog if she was trained. She sure has the instinct in her. She's just turned 2 so should be ready to work. And I need a working dog to help me.

Then noticed Sandy and Zarah jumping on each other. So ran and got Arlo Guthrie, the little boer buck. Took him to the stall and got Sandy and put her in there. I just don't think I am going to get any kids from Sandy this year. But I won't give up trying. Then had to get them hay and water.

And also noticed that one of the bad babies, Iris Josie, was looking a little droopy. She had runny poop a few weeks ago. I gave her plain yogurt then. She got over that. So I brought her and her momma, Abby, into the milk room. Gave Iris some Cydectin, Red Cell, plain yogurt and a shot of Thiamin. She's a little skinny too. I'll keep an eye on her.

So I finally got to come in and get some breakfast and some coffee. It's a mess out there. Wet and muddy and just plain ole nasty. It's supposed to not rain for awhile, thank goodness. I am tired of it.

Now I am off to sew some more on the quilt. Have a great day!

A quilt in progress, a cat and some eggs

Just a few things to start off this new year.

I am about half way through sewing the pieces together for the blue jean quilt. My right middle finger is pretty sore from the needle jabbing through my skin. I have a bandaide on it so I can still sew. A little awkward, but it helps. I can't sew with a thimble at all. I can't wait to see this all done.

I love this picture. This is Sybil. I've had her 7 years now. Got her and her brother from a friend when she was a kitten. She is pretty deaf. And the sweetest cat I have. I just thought this was so pretty of her with the bird house and the cement bird. I don't think she has ever hurt another creature.

 Look at the difference in these 2 eggs. I was at the feed store the other day and there was a guy with several dozen eggs he was selling. I bought a dozen. I have gotten eggs from them years ago and have seen their coops. They are cooped, which I forgot. I was just happy to see eggs from local chickens. And for $2.00. So this morning I fixed eggs and put one of theirs and one from my hens. Big difference. That's mine on the left. Theirs is at least darker than the store bought "free-range organic" eggs I have bought for $5 a dozen. But my 4 hens are all laying now so I get at least 3 eggs a day. Sometimes 4.

I took Adabelle home yesterday. And I got John Henry back today. He's out in the back yard with the 2 new does. Not much going on right now. But he sure does still stink!! So maybe there is still hope for a successful breeding.

It's been raining since last night. We are sopping wet. I mean everything is under water. We always get ponds when it rains like this. I used to have ducks and they would love to get to swim in the pond up front. They were the only animals that liked the rain around here.

Have a great first week of this new year y'all!

That was too close

This afternoon, my youngest daughter and her MIL and I went to see Les Miserables. I LOVED it. But not at first. I love the music. It was really good. And I hope everyone gets to go see it. And I cried.

When we got out of the theater, it was already dark. So had to hurry home and feed and milk goats. And dogs and cats too. So got all that done. I am pleased with Penelope Jane's progress and can't wait to start milking her. She is going to have a pretty big udder for a first freshener. Can't wait to see her kids soon.

Also the new doe Trudy is developing an udder too. I am happy with her progress as well. I am really not sure what she was bred with. It could have been either a Lamancha or a Boer. We shall see soon.

I need to get busy making some kidding stalls soon. I need more pallets first. It will be time to kid and I won't be ready for them. I hope to sell all the kids as soon as possible. I am not keeping any of the doelings. I'll castrate all the Boer cross bucks for meat.

After I came inside, I thought I better go check to see if there were any eggs. I got 3 yesterday! So 2 more started laying. I have 4 hens total. So grabbed the flashlight and went to see. And I saw 4 eggs!!!!!! 4! I was so happy to see all those eggs. I now have 1 whole dozen eggs hiden!

Then I started looking for my sheep. I heard the dogs coming up  the driveway. They had opened the gate. Got them in then looked over at the garden gate. It was wide open. My heart fell. I had put the sheep in the garden this morning. I ran in there and looked in the shelter. Nothing. I looked over in the barn yard and saw one of the ewes. Just one. She ran to the pasture. Then I pointed the flashlight toward the apple trees and saw eyes. I was SO relieved. I was about ready to jump in the car and look all over this valley for them. My poor sheep out there lost in the world. But then I started counting and they were all there. Adele and Fiona were over on the other side of the fence in the pasture. But the rest were down in the little orchard at the end of the garden. I was so happy to see them all. They looked a little spooked but all ok. I gave them some hay and shut the gate to the garden. I can't believe they were all still in the garden. I thought they had all left me. I am so thankful they didn't go out. Now if it had been goats... But they wouldn't have gone too far. Anyway, it all turned out good. I will be more careful and make sure gates are latched and tight before I leave again. I would be so sad to lose any of my sheep.

And Adabelle will be going home tomorrow! Her buck kids have been sold so it's safe for her to go back. And John Henry will be coming back tomorrow from his "job" in Hillsboro, Tn. So I can put Zeeboo in with him. Hope fully it won't be too late for that.

The 2 rams will be going to the butcher next Monday. So I can put the ewes back over there and get ready for lambs soon. I know I'll have 3 ewes due sometime in early Feb. Not sure about Darla. Maybe a few months later. Then all the littles will be due in May if Abraham has done his job.

As I was outside tonight, I saw the big huge full moon comeing up over Pigeon Mt. It sure is big and beautiful tonight. Go outside and see it for yourselves!

 Happy new year's eve!

Blue jean quilt

I have had a stack of old jeans in a closet, waiting for the right time to make a quilt out of them. Also had bought some demin fabric at a thrift store last year.

Today seemed like the day to get it started. I just cut out squares and rectangles and then put them together like a puzzle. I even used the pockets, front and back. I love the way this looks. I'll use the demin for the back.

I'll have to hand sew it all together because my sewing machine has had the tension all messed up for a few years now and I don't know how to fix it. I've tried every which way to change the tension, but nothing has worked. It's just a cheap little Singer I bought on sale one year at K-Mart the day after Christmas. I would love to get a good machine but will have to wait. And I don't mind hand quilting. Makes me feel like Caroline Ingels.

This is a side view showing the pockets. It looks so cute already.

I'll take pictures as I go along. I hope it won't take too long. I'm making this for my truck driving husband. It's cold out there in that truck all alone.

I just feel like I have to making something or I'm not being productive. And I can't get out in the garden right now. And it's too cold anyway.

Is anyone else making anything?

Bubba too

This afternoon, Bubba and Stella were sitting side by side. Looking at their kingdom together. I went to grab my camera and Stella heard me and came to the door. But Bubba stayed put. That is so funny. I have no idea what they are seeing or thinking. Just maybe meditating on a dog life. Or maybe this is just the best place to sit ever.

I wonder

what Stella is thinking? Sometimes she just sits right there and looks all around. Deep in thought. She'll turn her head and look in the other direction, then back that way. Just sits there and looks. She's such a good dog.

 Until I see her big pile of stuff just over to the left. Big pile of stuff, too. All hers. Bones and chewed up bowls. Sticks and branches from the wood pile. More bones. She's a mess, that Stella Bella Luna.