Mmmmmm...marmalade

The last time I was at Goodwill, I found an old book on preserving. I really love it, if just for the coolness of the typeset and illustrations. But I actually made a recipe from it. The grapefruit marmalade. Oh, my, it is really yummy. I do understand that it doesn't take a genius to make a jelly. You just add sugar and boil. But you feel like you are doing something special because you have to wait 3 days for it to be done. Okay, I cheated and did it in two days. Anyway, I am ready to make somemore. I have jarred up some to take to Christmas Eve at the in-laws. I have also been busy making the Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Role recipe. The dough tastes delightful! I will bake those tonight or tomorrow morning.

The presents are wrapped, save for some I need to get boxes for. So I guess I am ready, if I could get over this cold. I'm fine as long as I don't talk at all. My voice left me last night. On a date with JP. How convenient for him!! Okay, I must finish up last minute stuff and get a shower before the girls get home.

Merry Christmas!!

Getting Ready

This is the ornament I made designed by Alicia Paulson. I have two others, also. Yes, tree is finally up. I've been making goodies for tomorrow. We are having friends over. Unfortunately, Maddie and I have developed a cold, and I just want to crawl in bed. Too much to do. Today Maddie had a performance at school with her show choir group. It was really good. Then I came back home to get some work done, and then went back to the school for the afternoon Christmas parties. Tomorrow morn. we have to be at church for a practice, and then on to the store party. Then back here for more party. Then Sunday is the pageant and I think i am about done.

I've been working on some dolls for the girls for Christmas, and I would post a pic, but I'm afraid they would see it. Everytime Maddie plugs in her MP3 player to the computer it loads all my pics on it! I'm sure there is a way around this, but I have no idea.

The Miracle....maybe

I just can't seem to get into the Christmas/holiday mood. I thought I was, but then it left. I have Christmas music on, working on Christmas projects, I even made fudge. Maybe I am at an age (on the eve of 40!@!) where it ceases to be fun. I don't know. Maybe when we get a tree it will kick-start me. But even that might be boogered up. JP wants to go to Mt. Zion tree farm this year. YES, it is very convenient, only about 3 miles from our house, but they don't have the kind of tree I like. WAAAAA. I know. It is sad. No one else cares. I just don't want a prickly, unkind tree. But I have to be flexible, right?

I wanted to sing in the cantata at church, I have only gone to one practice. I give up on that. This week is busy with the kids programs at school, and their practices. It just really complicates things when MOM wants to do something. SOO, maybe I'll put on the Messiah, get out my book and serenade everyone. As their punishment. haha.

I have bread in the oven. For the simple reason that we didn't have any bread! So now we don't have any flour. Tomorrow, guys, I promise I will buy food. It's just that sometimes you have to make the choice, buy presents....or buy food....lately I've been doing the present thing. Hopefully I am done. I always feel like I'm sure I've done someone wrong, or something is not fair.

So I am praying for the miracle of Christmas spirit today.

I Am Lazy

That's all. Just wanted to share. I have been sitting by the fireplace for about 8 hours straight. I did take a break to sleep during the night. I should help in the kitchen, but, well, I'd probably just be in the way. So, I will continue to be lazy and work on a puzzle. This is the life.....

Over the River and Through the Woods...

Things to take to Paula's:

snow boots
coats
mittens/hats
long johns
slippers
sweatpants
socks
undies
sweaters (2)
t-shirts

crafty stuff i.e. knitting, ornament kits

food i.e. fresh eggs, bread dough, recipe book for rolls, Brussels sprouts,

candle for Paula
music cd's
camera
video camera

Oh, the fun we will have! I have it all planned. Crafts beside the fire. Walks through the woods. Sledding on the snowy hills (please snow!), eating toasted homemade bread with melty butter, and many other sedentary activities that involve me sitting beside the fire. Oh yes, and eating turkey!! I do love turkey. Some people just eat it because you are supposed to, but I really do love it. Especially with gravy....mmmmmmmm.

Then on Friday, perhaps a jaunt into the little town of Purcellville to do some "black Friday" shopping at this awesome gift/drug store. They always have the best ornaments and decorations. Then my sister got some tickets for us to see some live music, bluegrass, I think.

Did I mention the roaring fire? My b-i-l is a superb fire-maker and fire-keeper-upper. When I am here at home I always have to get logs and keep things going. This will truly be a vacation. Plus I get to be with my favorite people. Except I will miss Rachel, who needs to be in Boston.

Bon Voyage!

First Snow Day!!!

Yippee!! The first snow day. And it is November! I used to love snow days. Now, not so much. I am challenging myself to not be a grump today and try to go with the flow. They had their snow clothes on at 7am. (deep breathe) And now they are raiding the kitchen and wanting hot cocoa and wanting a fire and wanting breakfast, and "hey mom, look at this!" and messing up my kitchen!! But it is fine...I am cool and calm. Despite the fact that I have to clean house and get ready for Maddie's birthday on Wednesday. And I realized that I am out of sugar! I can't believe it. That has never happened. How am I supposed to bake a cake with no sugar? Plus, I don't have cream cheese for the icing. I guess I will wait until this evening when JP can bring me my supplies. In the meantime, there is plenty to do.

We had a nice time when Mom visited. Unfortunately, she left early on account of the snow coming. It is a good thing she did!! Maddie had a class assignment to interview an "older" person. So we (me) decided to video-tape it. I'm so glad we did. I plan to take the camera to Thanksgiving, also. It has been ages since we used the camera. I don't really know why. Life gets hectic, I guess. But we had so much fun looking at old movies, so I'm going to try harder.

It is so pretty outside. Dear God, give me patience to be a good parent today.

Puttering

I'm sitting here at the computer with my daughter's "blankie" wrapped around me because the house is cold. It is 70 outside, so I can't turn on the heat, but I could get a sweatshirt, I guess. I'm taking a break from housework and a semi-failed sewing project. Project was supposed to solve all my gift-giving dilemmas, and not bankrupt me for Christmas. Maybe I can get it to work. I love the IDEA of giving handmade gifts, but it takes so much time!!@ I guess that is the point...

I have started getting gorgeous green eggs. I've gotten 3 so far. I haven't eaten one yet, they are kind of small, so I am saving them up for the weekend. It is so satisfying to get an egg out of a nest. I am a city girl, never done that before! It is so thrilling. The girls have taken to arguing about who gets to actually pull the egg out. They can find ANYTHING to fight about.

The election is over, thank goodness. I am pleased with the results, and feel excited about the potential of our new president. I know not everyone agrees, but hopefully everyone can understand what a HUGE deal for our country this is. Okay, I'll shut up...

Now if only I could figure out what's for dinner. It seems that if I do a few big jobs in a day, I have no energy to cook in the evening. I'd better pull something out of the freezer, though. The kids will be home soon, and then it is hard to concentrate on anything besides homework.

Does anyone need a dog?

Courtney

EGG!!!!!

It finally happened! An egg appeared! Like magic!! Okay, I realize it is very small, so it came from one of the bantam girls. I am so proud of her.

Plus, we carved pumkins. Can you figure out which one carved which?

It's been in the 40's for the past couple days, but is supposed to be in the 60's by the weekend. How is a person supposed to plan her wardrobe? Oh right, I only wear jeans and tee-shirts.

So what do you think I should do with this little, perfect egg? Perhaps an appetizer omelet for four.

Last Rose of Summer

This rose isn't even one of my favorites. It is a generic rose, but it always puts out one last bloom in a shocking pink color. I really prefer the softer blushes and creams, but it always makes me happy to see this one flower every fall. The deer have discovered my perennial border, so all my other flowers did not do well. I was so excited about my anemones, they only start blooming in September, but the deer ate all but maybe two of those. Plus, the deer ate all the leaves off my sedum. Left the flowers, but ate the succulent leaves. So the plants look really strange.

Tomorrow is Children's Sabbath at church. Maddie is singing a solo "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing", otherwise known as the "Coke song". She picked it out from a very groovy songbook from the seventies called Getting It Together. My mom plays this song on the autoharp, which is why I think she picked it. I tried to get Mom to come and accompany her, but no dice. Anyway, I am going to church tonight to inflate tons of balloons with helium to fill the sanctuary. It should actually be fun.

I spent a day this week working on the mosaic around our fireplace. It has only been bare for about 9 years. THIS IS THE YEAR....I WILL complete some projects!!!! I'm also TRYING to finish my rug-hooking, so I can post a picture here and then start my Christmas sewing. In my mind, this will be the ULTIMATE hand-made thrifty Christmas, with meaningful gifts, aside from the Nintendo DS that my daughter wants. I am normally anti-technology, but she has wanted this for Christmas for 6 months or more. Plus she wants the "Cookin' Mama" game. All she wants...Now for Maddie, I have no ideas. She is a reader, so probably lots of books. And probably art supplies. She did mention she wanted "real" drawing pencils. I am getting in a Christmas mood. Don't tell my husband, but on my weekend at Paula's we...listened...to...CHRISTMAS MUSIC. I highly recommend Patty Loveless' album, can't remember the title. She has such a pure, sincere voice. Now I have the idea to make a list of Christmas music recommendations. I consider myself somewhat of an expert in the field, have been collecting Xmas music since junior high. Actually, sister Rachel is probably the high-priestess of Xmas music. By the way, my pastor told me that using "Xmas" is not neccessarily a bad thing. In Greek, the "X" stands for Christ. So I refuse to feel guilty for abbreviating it any longer. gulp. right?

The reason for such a long entry is because my kids are not here!! They spent the night with a friend so JP and I could go on a double date with some friends. What a quiet, peaceful Saturday morning. Except for the mess they made yesterday when we had friends over. don't even get me started...Why is there SUGAR all over the counters? Why is there popcorn all over the floor? Paper everywhere? Crayons in the couch? Glitter on the dining table?

Time to go hooking...a rug, that is.

Are We Going Downtown?????

Well, I've done it now. We had a small car accident last night. I rear-ended a pick-up truck (with a tow hitch) and busted my fender and headlight. I have noone to blame but myself. I feel like a turd. I had the girls with me, and they were pretty freaked out. Especially when the police came. And then a K-9 unit stopped as well. ?????? I don't know. But the dog was barking his head off. Maddie was panicked, and at one point she said, "are they taking us downtown?"!! We watch too much 70's tv. So I am upset with myself, kicking myself, thrashing myself. It's not like we don't have enough bills right now. JP is out of town, so I had to call him and tell him. He took it pretty well. I wish I could take it as well.....

Here are some photos of the garden taken last week. Also, one of Sugar Daddy looking over my shoulder.

Soooo....money is REALLY tight for all of us. I'm trying to be as frugal as possible. I got on this website that gives you tips and advice, but I was already doing most of that stuff anyway!! How much more frugal can I be? I do not buy magazines anymore, or makeup, or clothes, or anything fun. I don't even go to Goodwill to buy - they are too expensive!! Even the Penny Pincher thrift store in town has raised their prices.

I'm starting to panic for Christmas.

I'm tired of this...so I will now switch to positive mode.

Yesterday I canned 6 jars of tomatillo salsa. It is really tasty on top of chicken and cheese enchiladas. I also made some borscht. I had roasted some beets last summer and then froze them to see how they would do. They did great! Retained their shape and flavor. I love this borscht soup that I make out of my Soup Cookbook. It has beets, carrots, cabbage, onion, garlic, and tomato. All in a chicken broth. I make some latkes to go with. My kids eat it up, I think because the beets turn everything a pretty pinkish-red, and they can't tell what all is in it. They super-love the latkes, which are just grated potato, a little flour, salt and pepper fried in a little oil, then kept warm in the oven. YUMMY. I pretty much cooked all day. But I did go to the garden and plant some lettuce and broccoli raab, just to see it it would do anything. I also planted some in my boxes, so if it gets too cold I can bring them inside.

Today is my one day out of the week. I need to grocery shop, take in recycling, drop off stuff for Goodwill. So, I better get started.....

Fashionistas

This is what happens when you let your kids use your camera. Yeah, and they use up about 50 pictures!!

Who's Your Daddy??

Sugar Daddy, that's who! Don't know if I told you, but our chicken Sugar Baby turned out to be a Sugar Daddy. This is him with another boy (no name yet)basking in the sun. There can be tons of trouble if you have more than one roo, so Sugar is probably going to stay, iffuns he don't get sassy!! Don't ask me what I'll do with all the bantam roos, they are so cute.

Coop Progress

The weekend was a relative success. We all managed to go to church and get some work done around the house. The chicken house, that is. I am posting some "in progress" pics. I am going to stain or paint the outside of it for now. I would like to put cedar shakes on it, but can't afford that now. So, I get to pick out a color for paint. I LOVE THAT!! I was thinking....green? What a shocker, yes my house is green and anything I can get my hands on turns green, including my piano. But I just love it, so green it will be. I want to go to Ace hardware and check out the B.M. historic colors. They have great colors. I love colors. Rainbows and ponies.....hmmmmm.

So, I also like chocolate. The dark chocolate box mix brownies by Giant Eagle. Yes, yes, I know it is loaded with chemicals. But I love it. Oh yes, and I love no-bake cookies, the kind with oats and peanut butter and CHOCOLATE. Plus, I love pumpkin cookies and banana bread with chocolate chips. I made a terrific recipe I got from Alicia Paulson's blog of her version of Nigella's b. bread. Oh my, we ate a loaf and a half in one evening. For real.

So I have decided no more paper napkins. So I sewed up some really easy fabric squares out of fabric I already had - just zig-zagged the edges. I have told everyone they get one per day. Does that sound gross? Well, if we have company I promise I will have clean napkins. My next quest is the paper towels. Of course, I already try not to use them. I have quite a rag-bag collected, but sometimes you just want to wipe up something gross (dog puke) and throw it away and never think of it again. I just can't stand myself being so green...geez I am really terrific. haaa. Seriously, I don't feel like I've had to change all that much. My mother was the original green earth mama. She always composted (neighbors thought she was a weirdo) and saved everything for multiple uses. She still has glass mayo jars from 1976 that stores leftovers. Just kind of kidding on that one. She is my model for living simply, and that kinda annoyed me when I was growing up. But now I appreciate it, in fact try to emulate her. She is my hero!!

What's Up, Doc?

I know, I know. You thought I was dead..but I'm not. I have just been so uninspired to write about my life. How many times can I say "I hate summer vacation" or "I can't wait for school to start"? Well, summer vacation is over and life can resume as normal, or not. It makes be feel bad that I like being by myself so much. I think I must be very selfish or something. I just love it when everyone is gone for the day and I can get my stuff done. It is the only time I can think! But to update on what is happening: Maddie started 5th grade and is completely stressed by the new responsibilities being required of her. Claudia is in 2nd grade and loving it. I have been cutting and laying tile in our screened-in porch. I need to grout (maybe today?). JP had his big truck show and it was a success. I have a strange rash that I thought was poison ivy, but I'm not so sure now. I have been rug-hooking in an attempt to finish that project, plus I am knitting on a wrap that Mom got me started on. You know, a row here and there. The musical "One Bad Apple" was fun and a great diversion from my summer activities. The chickens are now almost 12 weeks old, and I have a lot of roosters!! They love to start crowing at 5am. We lost crooked beak chicken. Okay, I might have had something to do with that. And Genevieve, the chicken Megan named, mysteriously disappeared. Truly. No sign of her since. I have some pictures to post, but honestly, it takes forever to upload them. I am considering doing away with the land line and using cell phones only. Then getting satellite for the computer. The money would probably equal out in the end. So, stay posted for more pics and what-have-you!!! (honestly!!)

Dial-up is stupid

I have been having so much trouble getting and staying online because of crappy dial-up. I know, I should pay the million dollars and get satellite or some new-fangled technology. It just hurts me to think about it. So, I have to gripe occasionally about my misfortune and then move on. Moving on..

Maddie is going on a NEW YORK ADVENTURE with my sister, Paula. They leave tomorrow on the train and will come back Sunday. Paula has is all planned out. They are going to Statue of Liberty, China Town, The LION KING (I am sooooo jealous), Empire State Building, Tavern on the Green, American Girl store, Toys R Us, and many other places. This is such a big deal for Maddie!! Although Paula seems pretty excited, too.

And am I nervous or worried??!!?? Sort of!!!!!!!

Chickens love Japanese Beetles!

Yes, it is true! I have the chickens outside in a modified, screened cagey thing. When they find a beetle, they go berserk, holding it in their mouths and running willy-nilly all over, all the while peeping crazily!! Of course, all the chickens follow and try to steal the beetle. In my opinion, if the dumb chicken would just act nonchalant, then NOBODY would even know she had something. HA HA. At any rate, they are getting big, so here are some pictures!

CRAZY

We have had Bible School this week, and I can't believe how stressed I get about it. I am the craft lady, so this means I have to prepare crafts for about 50 kids. Help me!! Tonight is the last night, thank goodness.....I haven't seen my husband for 2 weeks. It is pathetic. Tomorrow Rachel is coming for a visit. Hopefully we'll find time to talk and bond. Chicks are 2 weeks now and moved into a bigger brooder on the front porch. We lost the tiniest one. It just wasn't growing and thriving. Now we have a little cockerel with a crooked beak. ?????? This is actually kind of common. The poor guy may not make it. It makes it difficult for them to eat. I'll get some pics if I can. Chicks like it when I pick grass and put it in for them to peck at. I'm sorta worried about leaving them for our "vacation" over July 4. We have a neighbor who will hopefully keep an eye on them. We are going to Paula's for the weekend, and then will stay for the week and do day trips (zoo?) and maybe to the beach for a couple days. Oh, and the duck is still around and peeping outside the window when he/she is hungry. Oh, and someone dumped a load of kitties off on our road. So now we feed: 3 dogs, 6 cats, 26 chickens, 1 duck, 3 sheep. AND Maddie wants a lizard. Seriously, how did this happen??????

Pics of Chicks????

Chicks Have Arrived

We got a call at 8am on Sunday morning from the post office - The Chicks have Arrived!! Of course, I was not prepared, so I rushed getting things ready. I made a brooder from a Rubbermaid box. The instructions were in a chicken book I have. So, they made the trip and all 25 are well. I'm not sure how long they will stay in this box though. They grow pretty fast. I'm including some pictures, but they aren't very good. One of the chicks has a "puff-ball" on his head. His name is Gonzo. The bantam chicks are half the size of the others. So cute!!

We've been very busy with Maddie's play. She has a couple days off, and then more performances this weekend. Mom is coming on Thursday, so I'm getting the guest room ready and TRYING to keep the house clean. With the kids here is is a losing battle.

Oh, and we lost a duck, Theodore. He disappeared a couple weeks ago. But Google will stand below the porch and quack when he wants food. Then he goes to the creek to hang out. So, I feel kind of bad for poor Google. Should I get a ducky buddy for him?

Sick Claudia

I am home today with a sick child. Claudia has a sore throat, and has thrown-up once. The girls didn't have school today anyway, due to high water, so at least she is not absent from school. But...the boredom!! She hasn't left the couch, except when we had to take Maddie to meet JP. They have had a GREAT day! THEY went antiquing and out to lunch. BLAH... We, on the other hand, have watched 3 movies. It has been pouring, so I can't go outside for anything.

I'm planning to go to Mom's on Friday, providing we are well. My nieces from Utah are visiting, and I haven't seen them for like 2 or 3 years. So Claudia has to get better soon.

Ducks are out by the creek. I hope they don't float away. It is quite high and raging.

The Sun is Out

It's been awhile. Really, I should have blogged more. It has been rainy and cool for about a week, but now the sun is shining. I have been working on my rug-hooking, and I had some adventures in dyeing wool. It was lots of fun! It took a few tries to get the color I was looking for, but there are no mistakes. You just save the "wrong" color for another project, or "over-dye" it into another color, which is what I did with the day-glo orange color I created. I wanted a more antique color, so I over-dyed with a bronze, which gave it a greenish tint, therefore, deepening the orange color. Then I started hooking the pumpkin part of the rug. I really should take some pics of said rug. It's my first big project with hooking, and maybe I bit off more than I should have!

Yesterday was finally dry enough to garden. I planted out my leek transplants - hundreds!! I am still not done. I am out of space in the bed, so I will scatter some leeks around some rose bushes, I think. I put out tomatoes, but they look quite sickly - they need some sun and heat. Today I plan to put out peppers (sweet banana), do another planting of lettuce, seed some annual flowers throughout. I had to dig up some sedum from the per. border, and then planted in pots (thanks for the inspiration, Paula!). I also need to mow and rake, start cleaning out the future chicken pen and mulch, mulch, mulch.

Maddie has had play practice every night this week. I have enjoyed watching the practices. Pretty soon they will start rehearsals at the Fort. The kids are doing an amazing job. The whole play is choreographed and danced, so Maddie is on stage at all times, as are all the other members. It is a lot of work for them. JP and Claudia have had quality bonding time in the evenings. Last night they went to the parade for the "Three Rivers Festival", and then ate hotdogs.

Get this - tonight JP and I are going on a date!! We celebrated our 14th anniversary on Wednesday. He gave me beautiful earrings. Wow! I was not expecting that. But of course I had to go to the college for practice. Heather L. is having the girls spend the night tonight - it is not very often JP and I go out together. Its really difficult when my mom lives so far away. But I so appreciate it, Heather! We may even see a movie tonight! All this means that I have to get all my "dirty" work done and then cleaned up for the evening.

Okay, I have some pictures. For my sister Rachel, here is a photo of Grandma Sexton's ferns:

I honestly don't know why the photos don't go where I want them to. @@#$&%^$!!!

Sheep and wool festival was great fun. I have some pictures!! The weather was perfect for us - not too hot and very breezy. I purchased some dyes for my rug I am working on. I need an orange-y kind of rust color for my pumpkin. I am hoping to get it done so I can submit it at Jackson's Mill on Labor Day weekend. Anyway, we had good times at Paula and Joe's, and made it back safely.

Today is Saturday, and it is rainy and cool. I don't mind at all. I love the rain, and it is good for my seeds outside. I planted carrots, more lettuce and kale. The peas are getting about 8 inches tall. Strawberries have tiny green berries on them - need to get netting to protect them, and of course, STRAW!!!!! That really is all I want for Mother's Day. 3 bales of straw!!!

Ducks are growing like mad. I took them outside with me yesterday while I raked the HOLLY LEAVES (see previous posts). I did have to lock the dogs up. They are a little too interested in ducks. Misty duck-sat for me over last weekend, Thank you!! I've decided I will be upset if something eats my ducks. Even though they poop all the time, I do really like them.

JP had his lasik surgery, and all went well!! He can see! Aside from some minor irritation from the procedure, he is doing great.

Okay, I need to get some work done around here, but I am posting some various pics from last weekend and ducks and others.

Good News and Bad News

The good news is that I did get my chicken coop weeded and the roses planted. The bad news is that it is supposed to freeze tonight! Oh my goodness!! On the way to school this morning it was raining with snow mixed in. I told the kids to enjoy the flowers now, they might not be there in the morning. I guess I will have to protect my roses, but the peas should be okay, as well as the spinach and onions. I'm not sure about my strawberry plants. More good news, the grass is sure growing because of all the rain the past couple of days. Sheep are happy!

Bad news, Claudia has an ear infection, and a bad cough. Plus some itchy bumps all over in random places. I know the kids like to roll down the hill in the grass, so maybe that is the culprit. Anyway, I did send her to school today with some hard candy to soothe her cough,plus some cough meds and her antibiotic.

This weekend is the Sheep and Wool Festival in Maryland. I love this festival. So many things to see and eat. The sheep dog demos are really interesting, and the sheep are so cute. Even if it rains I suppose it will still be fun, at least it won't be so hot like it has in the past. I really must get my camera batteries for sure.

If my brother reads this, I need advice on a digital camera. I need one that has a considerable zoom, and good print qualities. I would love an SLR, but I think it is out of my price range. It is not urgent, of course, but I love experimenting with photos, and my current camera is pretty limited. I bought a tripod at a second-hand store, and it helps.

Temp. is 42 and rainy. Good duck weather. Too bad they are still in my bathtub.

Cheap Roses

My camera's batteries died, so I can't take pictures. I really meant to get those yesterday when I was at (bleh) Walmart. Forgot...but I did get some climbing roses for really cheap on clearance, so my dream of having a romantic chicken coop is becoming a reality. I just have to weed the area - ha!- and plant them. I also want to plant out carrots and leeks and maybe more lettuce today. But I feel so sleepy, or emotionally drained. But I need to re-charge because it is officially the weekend and let the fun begin.

My dilemma: I need to get 3 dogs and 3 cats to the rabies clinic all at the same time, and my girls, also. Last year I took just the dogs, and that was bad enough!! Capone almost bit the technician when she tried to lift his @#@** butt onto the table. He is getting so old. I noticed he limps for awhile after he gets up after a nap. That's a new thing. Clara, the youngest dog, insists on digging a
2 ft. hole to nap in. Any suggestions? And Homer, the co-dependent one just looks at me longingly all day. Ducks are good: eat,poop,eat,poop, etc.

Another beautiful day 80 and sunny. Put on your sunscreen and wear a hat!!

Quack

The ducks hatched!! They are so adorable (so far), and small and fuzzy. Maddie and Claudia just love to hold them and play with them. The dogs are VERY interested, maybe TOO interested! I have them in a plastic tub in the bathroom with a light on them, container of water and food. I lined the bottom with old towels and rags, to prevent slippage. It's very cozy.

I've been working outside this morning. Working some raised beds to plant beets and kale. The sheep are out grazing, and all I have going through my head is "Sheep May Safely Graze" by Bach?? Anyway, I'm trying to train Claradog not to chase them. She's been pretty good at listening to my voice, by she wants to run after them so badly, you can tell. I also weeded some in the border around the future chicken coop. Martha Stewart had/has roses growing around her chickens, and it looks so pretty. I want to copy that look, but in order to do that I must dig out all the weeds. I'm not sure what kind of weed it is, but it is like a rope with all these little plants on it, and the roots go on forever.

On a sad note, Maddie is getting a cavity filled today. We tried to get it done at the regular dentist, but she had a total panic attack. So we are trying it with happy drugs this time. I told her I will sit on her if I have to. She is a bear at the dentist, doctor, or anywhere where she in not in total control. Say a prayer for us both!!

It is heavenly outside: 65 and p/cloudy or p/sunny, depending on your mood!!

Here a Chick, There a Chick, Everywhere a Chick Chick

Well, we have finally lost it. For JP's birthday he wanted chickens. So I have just ordered 25 baby chicks. I have to say, I am very excited. I ordered all different varieties, Bantams and Large sizes. Now I just have to figure out what to do with them!! They will be delivered on June 16, so that gives me a little time to read up on how to not kill them. So - Happy Birthday to my husband of almost 14 years!!

Here are the pics of the baby goats. They really are cute. My friend Misty just got 2 baby goats, also, so I can't wait to see hers. I can't think of the name of the genetically small goats, dwarf? midget? little people goats? for goodness sake...anyway, that's the kind she got. I MIGHT consider a small breed. Maybe they'd be less likely to jump fences. Reminds me of another thing I MUST do. I have to call the lady to shear our sheep. They look so hot. It is 75 outside, and only April 9. I wouldn't want to wear a wool coat today, would you? I don't think I have mentioned the baby rabbits...long story, try to make it short. We had 3 bunnies originally. They grew up, and one died and two escaped. We were under the (mistaken) impression that they were males, but now we have babies in the barn. They are so cute, but I can't catch them. The girls are just out of their minds, they want to hold them so bad. If I could catch them we would put them in the cages again for another go. Then there are also the duck eggs, which are doing fine. They feel heavy, which I think is a good sign. I read that a couple days before they are scheduled to hatch you stop turning them. Maybe this really ticks them off and pushes them to peck out of the egg. Anyway, the due date is April 18, so I will definitely be very busy that day. Just standing. Looking. Waiting.....

I'm trying to finish laying the stone pathway. I'm running out of flat rocks. Need a round rock? We got 'em!! I've been scouring the creek bed and woods for suitable shapes. It doesn't even have to be really "flat". I noticed when I was outside that lots of flying things have hatched and are everywhere. My daughter Maddie will LOVE this. She is petrified of any buzzing sound. I'm always saying "It's only a fly". Well, the carpenter bees are out, and they are BIG. But the good news is that we love to hit them with badminton rackets.

I don't think I completely understand how to import photos to my blog. I'm sure Heather will help me with that....!!

This weekend is JP's birthday, you know what that means!! CLEAN HOUSE!! Yes, the in-laws are coming. I'll just leave it at that.

Mom, Watch Me Jump Rope

This is Claudia's new skill. We practice A LOT.


It is supposed to rain today, so perhaps I will do inside things. Like nap...

Happy Manure Dance

The duck eggs seem to be doing fine. You can see little dark dots moving around when you "candle" them, so I assume that they will hatch. Misty said that they will always have a home at her place, so this is good!
It is a Saturday...I don't like them. My kids seem to think that they should be doing really exciting, fun things with all their friends. I think that they should clean their room. In any case, we both want to go to Charlie's and see the baby goats, or kids, I should say. We used to have the females, but Charlie took them and bred them. Maddie's goat, Carol, had some kind of sickness while pregnant, and consequently her babies didn't make it. But the other goat, Ketchup, had 2 (3?) that are doing great. PLUS Charlie has horses, which means MANURE!!!! Yay, do the happy manure dance.

On the garden front, I erected 4 teepees made of the prunings from some over-grown shrubs. I have planted shelling peas around 2, and am going to plant snow peas around the other two. I also planted somemore spinach (the first batch didn't do anything), and planted onion sets. I amended the soil somewhat by adding sand from the creek banks. In my mind there should be lots of good organic matter in the sand,right?

I am going to take pics of the goats, so keep posted. I may even take some manure pictures!!

Last night was family game night in the household. Unfortunately, we played Monopoly. JP always wins. I guess I just don't understand this game. I always feel like a complete idiot by the end of it. I just went to bed, after he took all my money, but Maddie stayed up until 11 playing. We need some new games....We also played "Guess Who?" and that was fun. Before games we took a hike to the BIG ROCK and the kids found some grapevine to climb and swing from. I sometimes forget that there is more to explore and do...I seem to hole-up in the house and surrounding garden so much. But it is really cool out there. EXCEPT for the LITTER. I just don't understand why fisherpeople would throw junk and garbage out in nature. Aren't they trying to enjoy the beauty of the earth? For the beauty of the earth....lalalala. We found cigarette butts and nightcrawler containers, and some daffodils that they picked and just threw on the ground. WHY? It gets me so wound up. I want to print out flyers and put them all around, but I wonder if that would make it worse.

Anyway, I am taking a deep breath and doing my Happy Manure Dance once again.

Quack quack

My newest venture is hatching two duck eggs that were found at my friend Misty's house. They are in a styrofoam incubator that regulates the temperature, although I don't think it does a good job. I tried candling them last night to see if anything was happening, but I couldn't tell much. If this works it will be a miracle! And then of course I will have 2 ducks to deal with. I haven't thought that far ahead, but Misty LOVES ducks....

My dear friend Heather let me dig up tons of strawberries at her house, so I transplanted them 2 days ago. I have read that the first year you should pinch off all the flowers so that the root systems can really get going. I don't know if I can do this. I have enough trouble thinning out seedlings. I feel like a murderer. And the thought of juicy strawberries ... yummmmmmm.

I have added some photos, just to see if it works. In one of them, it is my shed that I want to put a greenhouse coming off the front. It will be fabulous!

Today it will be sunny but on the cool side, 40's and 50's, so I think I will plant out my onion sets ( I know - I am late doing this!!) I also want to seed more spinach. My last attempt did nothing. The "soil" in my raised beds is really poor. It was free stuff from my husband's store when they were excavating. Very clay and poorly drained. So I hauled some sand from the creek edge and mixed it in one area, just to see what would happen. It at least LOOKS better. But I have lots of soil improvements ahead of me.

My kids are bugging me for french toast, so I must go be a slave to the masses. That's okay, I like it too!!

Blew a Fuse, or something.....

It is late, for me at least. That would be 10:51 pm. I am such a baby. Geez..but I was trying to watch this movie I got from Netflix called "La Vie en Rose", but it just skipped like crazy. So I came here to complain to Netflix so they can send me a new one. I was really getting into it, too...
Well, I was trying to plug in another grow-light and I blew the whole operation. Must be too much wattage, or a bad light, according to JP. I am really bummed. I may have to move everything to a new locale where it won't blow a breaker, which entails me moving 10 thousand other things..Deep breathe in, blow it out...

Plants are coming along nicely, though. I seeded some lettuce and I'm going to plant it in the garden in really obsessive-compulsive ways. Very neat, orderly rows.

Spring break is almost over - I thought it would never end!! I love my girls like crazy, but keeping them entertained has worn me out. On the plus side, we have a 3 foot volcano that looks like a pile of "poo" (Maddie said that). But I think it will be really cool when it is painted more colors than just brown. PLUS we are putting actual "ash" on it. PLUS some moss. I should take a picture of this artwork.

Proof of my Ineptness???

I'm having one of those days. Everything gets on my nerves, and I can't stand to be with myself. Sometimes I just need total silence, and even that does not please me.



I've been reading Ekhart Tollie's book recently about finding your purpose in life. So far we have discussed the ego endlessly, and I still have trouble comprehending it completely. Sometimes I have a glimmer of understanding, and then it goes away. But I am trying to be conscious of what life is trying to tell me. I am constantly trying to figure out what I am supposed to be doing, and if I am already doing it. Or am I missing some divine sign about life's meaning, and I'm just too dense to get it? I feel tons of guilt about staying home, and why do I get to do this and other people have to work 10 hours a day and have long commutes and complicated lives. My life is really simple compared to all that. These are the things on my mind now-a-days. I will be 40 next year and I feel like I have not much to show for it. MIDLIFE CRISIS.



So, on the seed front, my basil peeped through, as did one little parsley. I sowed some Johnny-jump-ups and some coleus. It is pretty obsessive. Everytime I go to the loo I have to check the progress of my seeds, and I go to the loo a lot. I drink a glass of water every 1/2 hour!! We had a few days of warm nice springy weather, but now it is cold and rainy. I try not to get to excited, it is the middle of March for peep's sake!! I predict a snow storm for Easter. I won't be dissappointed if it does. I say that now......



I am going to up load some photos now. also, I might change over my blog to wordpress, because you can get your stuff bound into a book. I know this because I read Rebecca's blog about it. It sounds really cool.



On a funny note, while I was trying to organize some photos on the computer, I was finding all these photos that my daughter took of her Calico Critters in different scenarios. It was really cute.

Okay, I really tried to upload my photos, but they did not want to right now. Maybe tomorrow. Later!!!!

Birdy, birdy in the sky, Why'd you do that on my.....

The leeks are up!! At least some of them are. I can't figure it out. I believe I planted them all the same, but some haven't sprouted. Hmmm. I also started basil (sweet and spicy globe), cilantro and flat parsley. I want to start some curly parsley also, I think it looks so pretty in flower boxes mixed with other things. I also am trying to root a rose bush. Should be a learning experience. "Fair Bianca" is the name of the rose, and I am not sure if it is grafted onto another species or not. Who knows what I could be growing.

The grow area I have set up is 36" wide by 24" deep and I am not sure how tall. taller than me, at least. I positioned it in front of the bathroom window, so there is a blue-ish glow coming from the room. JP is concerned that people will think we are propagating illegal substances. I am not worried. If they come knocking, I will show my goods.

We had a busy weekend. Maddie is involved in a group called "Destination Imagination", and she had a competition on Saturday. Sunday we skipped church - my bad - and slept in. My sister Paula was visiting, so maybe that is a good-enough excuse. We joined up with the Gibson's and went to the MHS production of "High School Musical". I was impressed! It was enjoyable and the kids liked it. We then invaded the Gibson's to watch "Extreme Home Makeover". It is so strange to see local stuff on a national tv show. Then home and to bed. Today is a quiet day for me, so far, as everyone is back to school and work. I did work out, which felt good, but now I have "rubber leg syndrome". And then I ate cookies. Hey - the sooner they are gone, the sooner I can proceed to my healthy eating plan!!

There is a bird that flogs itself ALL DAY LONG against my mud room window. Maybe it is mating season? Maybe it is fighting with itself? Maybe it just wants to poop all over the windows, I do not know. But it does bring back memories of a certain song and all the creative verses that can be made...(Birdy, birdy in the tree, Why'd you do that on my Knee? On the line, in my wine? In the bush, on my tush? Do you remember that HILARIOUS song???!!!)

Another thing I've been looking at online is bathing suit patterns. I can never find a suit that I feel totally comfortable in. What I want is a 50's style 2-piece, boy-short bottoms with a halter top that extends down over the torso. It would be so cute in a gingham pattern. I am not that good a seamstress, though, and can see myself struggling with the fitting part. I will have to get my loverly sister Rachel to help me!! Hint hint, come visit soon.

I need to download some more pics of the garden. Maybe tomorrow.....

Poetic musings on a holly tree

I have officially begun my seed starting madness. I only have one flat of leeks so far, but have oh-so-many plans. The weekend and Monday was really beautiful, so I took advantage and pruned everything in my path. Hopefully the hydrangeas will still flower!! I just couldn't stop myself, all the while thinking, "is this the kind you prune in spring or fall?". I have many battle scars to prove the roses are done. All the brush is in a pile waiting to be burned. I saved a bit of a rose to try and propagate. I have never done roses, and the name of this one is alluding me right now. It was lovely to be outside, though. But while I'm working I am making a long mental list of things to do. Move this plant there, build a greenhouse there, expand the veg garden this way, dig holes for apple trees, get straw, plant grass, rake debris, edge beds, divide plants, on and on. And then I think "Why do I do this to myself? Why does ANYONE do this? It is tortureous, yet I cannot stop!!". Isn't that the way addictions work?

So this is a photo of the garden in the winter. I'm not sure the exact date, but it was in January. I took some photos last week that I will post later. The fenced in area in the background is the veg garden that I want to expand. I would LOVE to have a fruit patch. Now I have a corner inside the fence with raspberries (which I also pruned yesterday - ouch!), but they tend to grow into everything else.

I am keeping watch on the Lenten Roses, they have huge buds. I have lots of self-seeded tiny babies that I will pot up and perhaps plant under the dreaded holly tree. UGGGHH-- now that I mentioned it :

MY HATRED OF THE HOLLY TREE - Oh, how I hate you, horrendous holly tree. You are a confused freak of nature, the rock in my shoe. Your twisted, knarled branches drop spikey, sharp leaves that litter my lawn like so many yellow-colored spinefish. Poison spews forth from the suckers sent up that try to live!! HA! HA! I cut them down to the ground and spit on the remains.

So poetic, don't you think? Obviously, I have a problem with this tree. Just when I am ready to work in the perennial bed and do fun relaxing spring things, it drops its leaves everywhere,over weeks and weeks. And who rakes all these leaves so that we can have a nice green lawn?? ME of course, me. Husband likes this stupid tree because it is BIG. Big deal, I say. Then you rake. He won't, of course. enough for now. I will keep you posted on the comings and goings of this wart of a tree.

Weather: rainy, cloudy

Temp: 52 F

To Do...

We are home after a little R & R at my sisters. Back to reality....

I need to pick up the house and do laundry (the usual) but I also want to set up my seed-starting station today. I am going to put it in the bathroom this time. I thought the warm moist environment would be good.

First to start would be:

leeks, onions, basil and parsley, some annual flowers.

I think I will wait longer to start my tomatoes and peppers this time. It would help if I actually used a calendar and counted back from the frost date to determine this information. In fact, maybe I'll pick up a calendar today when I go into town.

I have so many half-done projects and projects in the wings right now. The promise of spring is giving me some motivation. Yesterday at my sister's in Virginia it was 72 and when we got back to Fairmont it was 32. A 40 degree drop!! Geez -

Am making mental list of things to do and things to buy.

Wake up ding dong!!

I am starting to get the "itch". The bug..the fever....of the gardening season. I have been thinking of putting up my starting lights and washing all of my equipment. It is the beginning of a new chapter in the year. I've been hybernating for months, and it is time to wake up.

I want to make a list of seeds to get.

pumpkins - white and orange

greens - kale and collards

spinach

lettuce

flowers ?? Not sure what kinds yet. Probably zinnias, sunflowers, annuals

tomatoes - it is so hard to choose. Hmmm.....I like brandywine and plums, and the strange yellow and green ones

peppers - I loved the bananas and poblanos

I am also so excited about my garlic I planted in the fall. I am usually DONE when fall comes. I'm ready to build a fire and nap, and even though I know I SHOULD be planting daffodils and other bulbs, I just poop out. BUT NO!!! I did plant garlic, and I can't wait to see what happens. Of course, I am now regretting not planting the beautiful daffodils. But I can enjoy other people's flowers. boo hoo.

So I want to take pics and post them as the season progresses. If I can figure out how to do this. I am so challenged. I am only almost 39, but I swear, if you do not use it you lose it. I used to be able to do all kinds of fancy stuff. On the computer that is.

Also - I wanted to document my favorite Avery's latest antics: She had her Wed. night church group pray for me, more specifically, "for my snotty nose and diarheas". Well then...I have not had any diarhea for 2 days now!! Now if only I could spell diarhea. So sad.

A long time

It has been a long time since I wrote anything. I am trying to find time to sit and do some sketching for some designs for punch-needle. I am thinking a little bag of some sort with a floral motif.