Thursday, September 29, 2016

Wooden soap racks

My husband and I finally made the soap racks. I've wanted to do this with the wooden boxes we had made before. They were just taking up too much room on the tables. And I've been trying to conserve space when I go to markets. Plus this way will take up less space in the car too. So now I have the 2 plus the wooden cabinet for soap. 17 different soaps in all 3.                                                                                                          Now to get more dryer balls made. And get all my knitted hats and cowls priced. And pack up the car. And probably the truck too. Gonna be a fun weekend!

Feeling like fall here!


Yesterday we turned the AC off and opened all the windows! It was pretty cool last night. And this morning, the curtains were blowing in the breeze. I love this! Only low 70's the next few days! Welcome, Fall!

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Some pig happenings...

This morning, on my way to Mrs. T's, I came across this peculiar sight. I thought it was 2 dogs walking down the street. But upon further inspection, (like I got out of my car to see if it actually really was what I thought it was) I realized it was a pig walking with a white dog.




Yes, a full blown pig. Maybe a pot belly pig? It was a male pig, not too awfully big.  The dog was very friendly. I tried to get a look at her tag, which had a bone tag with names on it, but the pig was too close. And I don't think the dog really liked the pig.





So she took off across the road, with the pig grunting after her. I sure hope they found their way home, where ever it is. Just another strange sight in the little town of Flintstone, Ga.  And that's the little fire hall with the tractor beside it. The elementary school is to the right behind the fire hall.





Speaking of pigs... here's my pig. I haven't been down to see him in several months. He's in the middle. They really aren't very big. They are long. But not fat. And I want a FAT pig! I mean, I want FAT on my meat when I get it. I want fat on the pork chops. I hate lean tough pork chops.  And fat in the sausage. I don't like having to add oil to the pan. I can hardly wait! And I want lots of bacon. And I want to make lots of lard too. So I want a fat pig.




I am trying to get ready for a big show this weekend at Cloudland Station. It's Sat. and Sun. I always do really good there. So I have lots of things to do the next 2 days to get it all ready. I'll be taking pottery, soap, and wool stuff. So excited!

Friday, September 23, 2016

A woolly week here.

This week, I have been working with wool. Lots of wool. I made a lot of dryer balls. Some of the wool I dyed turned into dryer balls. And some white wool too. As I was going through some of the wool, I was seeing really nice locks. From Amarrillo and even Adalaide. Then I went through a whole tote of Darla's wool from last year and got a lot more of really long locks from her. So had a nice basket full of good locks.



                                This is the basket full of beautiful locks. They are so soft and pretty.

                       
                      Some of the locks being combed into top. It's so soft and pretty like this.


This is a little bird nest all ready to spin into beautiful fluffy yarn. I'm still spinning alpaca, but will take some of this to the market with me to spin this afternoon. Do something different.
               

Thursday, September 22, 2016

58 summers



So 58 summers are behind me now. I've started thinking things like this. My 58th August. My 58th Labor Day. Or anything like this. I never did before. I am 58 years old and I was born in 1958. I think that's just amazing! How many people can say they are the same age as their birth year? Probably thousands of people who were born in 1958.

So here I go into my 58th fall. My 58th winter. My 58th Thanksgiving. My 58th Christmas... It feels different for sure. I've never been 58 before, so it's all new to me. But I'm looking at things in a whole new way. I like it.

Happy fall, y'all! I hope it's your best 30th. Or 50th. Or even 58th. Have a good one! Make it count!

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Last day of summer.


(Cameron was fascinated by my feet!)

Hanging out in the pasture with the sheep and alpacas this last full day of summer. It's a beautiful thing. Sheep munching grass. Birds chirping. Insects doing their thing. Seems like it's been a really long summer to me. Long and very hot and dry.

What are y'all doing this evening?




Thursday, September 15, 2016

Spraying


There is spraying of something across the road from me. There is a light breeze but it's blower away from us here. I sure hope the honey bees will be ok. They normally will fly out of the hive and them back behind us toward Lookout Mt. I have never seen them go across the road before. I hate this.Looks like an airplane.







Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Alpaca

This is about 3 years worth of my alpaca Misha's fiber. Do you think this will be enough to make myself a sweater?                    



Sunday, September 11, 2016

Day with the hubby...

Today, my husband and I went to town. There was a motorcycle gathering in Chattanooga and Coker Tire Co. down the road from the Chatt. market. We went there first and wandered around a little. Then went down to see the motorcycles.

I didn't even know this place was here. We got to go inside the building to the museum. And we were blown away by all the old cars and trucks. But the old motorcycles! Oh my goodness. There was a whole wall of them, 3 high, of really old Harleys. Even a Sears. And some Indians. And Cushmans. Oh my, it was amazing in there! And this is all free! They are open all the time and even give tours. This would be a perfect home school outing. I'll post more pics later. It takes so long to get them off my phone. But you can see the little blue bug. It's a 1957. I almost died. I want it. And behind it is a VW van. Oh please!



After this, we went to Outback Steakhouse. Our youngest daughter had given him a gift certificate for his birthday so we used it. That helped out a lot! It was good.

Then we went to Home Depot to look at refrigerators. I want a bigger one. I have always wanted one with the fridge on top with freezer on bottom, but the more I look at them, the smaller they seem to be. With at least 5-8 gallons of milk in the fridge at one time, I just don't see anywhere in those to put big jugs of milk.

So I asked the guy about commercial ones. He showed me some on line and I was amazed that they are so cheap. Like around $2200.00. I thought they would be so much more. I really want one now. They are about 48" wide. I could live with that. Now I will be looking on Craig's List.

My hubby got in an electric wheelchair. They are amazing! It really helps get around these big huge warehouse stores. I told him to not get too used to this though!



Then we came home. I sat out in the garden for awhile, just enjoying the peace and quiet out here. Not even any traffic going by. I love it out here. I took a short video but I don't know if it will show up. I had the gardens tilled yesterday. I sowed 4 1/2 pounds of buckwheat and a mixed clover mix. It only got a little over half the bigger garden. So I will go get more tomorrow and finish both gardens. I'll leave enough for planting kale, collards and turnip greens. We had a really good rain last night but I was too late home for planting. Ground is still wet though.



Friday, September 9, 2016

New "old" soap box display


This my new soaps box. It had 4 shelves but we added 3 more. So it holds 7 different soaps. I love it!


Yesterday...


I went out to the garden to get it ready for a tiller man to come til it up so I can plant Buckwheat and clover. I harvested all the big sunflower heads. While cutting them, I saw this one, full of the broken seeds from the birds. It's hanging down so made the perfect bird feeder for them.




I got about a bushel of seed heads to save for next year. I want to plant more than half the garden in sunflowers.




Then I went to the pear trees and got a big bucket of pears.  I cannot reach to the very top where there are lots more hanging. I guess I'll have to get a ladder later.




I canned 14 pints of ginger-cinnamon-cloves and honey pears. I used honey from my bees too. I love the color of these pears and I'm sure they will be so good.




I mowed the whole garden except the one row of dandelions and a round circle of wild daisies. He will be coming tomorrow to til.

I also pulled up all the stakes down where the tomatoes were. That was a job! There were so many tall weeds out there. Plus more than half was ragweed. But I've been having about a tablespoon of my honey every day now and I do believe that's helped with my allergies. So far anyway!

Then last night, before dark, I started putting wheel barrows full of that mulch around the garden shed. Then I decided to put some here where my garden chairs are. I'll add more tonight. It got dark so had to stop. I came out early this morning and sat here to watch the sun rise. Then started picking zinnias for market this afternoon.



This is the strawberry basil kombucha. It was SO good! I have another bottle. I will be making lots more of this.



I also spun more of the brownish-red alpaca from Misha. And trimmed some of the mugs and things I made the other day with that new clay. Not really sure how I like it yet. It was really hard to trim. I'll take all the things I've made to the studio tomorrow to get fired.

Have a great weekend y'all!

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Kombucha all over!



About 4 days ago I did some 2nd ferments with my kombucha. On the left is mango, next is strawberry mango, then blueberry ginger, and the last 2 are strawberry basil. I cannot wait to try each one! If anyone needs a scoby, I am starting over and have some every few weeks now. This is SO good!

Monday, September 5, 2016

More soap. And some flowers.

I made this soap yesterday. I put it in the freezer a few hours after I put it in the mold, hoping it wouldn't turn almost black the way this one usually does. It's Dragon's Blood, a fragrance oil blend.  Here is after cutting it last night.



And then this morning. It's already so dark. But smells amazing. This is a good seller for me.




This is a citrus soap I made Saturday. I love this one. It's got orange, lemon and lime EO's.



And Orange Clove made with Tazo Wild Orange tea and orange and clove EO's.




I was out in the garden yesterday evening while filling up the water trough. I noticed all these big beautiful zinnia flowers. They are SO pretty! The whole zinnia bed is looking good again with new and bigger blooms. I will pick some tomorrow for the market.



I have a number to call for a guy up the road who does tilling. I want my whole garden tilled so I can plant buckwheat and clover. Also need to plant kale and turnip greens.

There is a very different feel to the air these last few days around here. The mornings are so much cooler and also the nights. But the days are HOT! It even sounds different, with all the insects and birds. There were 2 birds out back this morning while I was hanging clothes. It sounds like they are saying "over here, over here, over here, over here" then the other one farther away will say the same thing. But they stay where they are. They never go over there.

I noticed the bees bringing in bright yellow pollen right now. I really need to see if I can harvest a little more honey from my big hive. Just need to find time in the afternoon to do it.

Y'all have a nice Monday and Labor Day!

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Shearing the sheep again.

Today, the sheep shearer came. I have never had the sheep sheared twice a year before. But as hot as it's been, I just felt like they could use another shear before winter. Their wool had grown pretty long. So I called and they were able to come today.

I waited til they were almost here to get the sheep where I wanted them. But, they knew something was up. And they didn't want any part of it. They would not go where I had it all set up for them to be. A good sheep herding dog would have been great to have right about then. I got my 2 dogs, Bubba and Stella, thinking they might scare the sheep into the penned area. But they were absolutely worthless!

So I just waited. I had the feed trough over there with feed and good alfalfa hay in it. They all finally went in and I get the fence shut. All but Darla. She didn't want to go to this party. We did finally get her though.

This is Darla. I love this picture. Someone said it looked like she was smiling. I really don't think she was at all. If you could have seen these sheep, they were not happy about this at all. But I know that after it's all said and done, they are happy. And they all look SO much better without all that dirty hot wool on. They look so clean and white. Well, except Cameron. I love her without wool. She's so black.




But do you see an odd ball sheep here? I do. Next year, Amarillo will be the very first sheep to be caught and sheared!  She is absolutely crazy! She was the last sheep in the pen and she didn't want to be. I tolf the guys they should get her before they get Adalaide. But too late. Amarillo got out. Then she went right through the 16' welded wire cattle panel and took it with her. She bent that fence in half. And she went over onto her neck, which I thought she broke. We got her out and she took off for the hills! Crazy sheep!

So she is the only one who didn't get sheared. And she's messing up the whole clean look of the flock. Ugh!



This is Annabelle. Her wool is what I've been dyeing.



And Adalaide. Her wool is really not good. It's so kinky. I can use it for felting or dryer balls though. She looks so good sheared and cleaned.




And my favorite baby, Campbelle. She's the sweetest one of the whole bunch.




Then the crazy ewe. She really is crazy. And she's Campbelle and Cameron's mother. How are they so sweet and nice and their mother is crazy?



So, 7 more bags of wool to add to the 30 something bags here in my studio. Oh my goodness, when will I ever get all this wool cleaned, carded and spun?? I am having so much fun spinning alpaca now too. I'm spinning Misha's reddish-brown fiber and thinking I might just knit myself a sweater with it. I just might have to.

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Some new pottery

I decided to take some newer pottery to the market yesterday. Had a lot of nice compliments. And someone bought a yarn bowl! I love this yellow. I've never used it before. I bought some half and half clay this time, so all the glazes will look totally different, without the specks. A more shiny smooth finish.





I really like doing these flowers. This is another yarn bowl. (Sorry it came up twice.)





And some taller mugs finally. I have 4 of these. And a little mixing bowl with a handle and spout.




These are all for sale, if anyone is interested.