tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806674237542930792024-03-12T22:57:33.773-05:00Yeller Dog RanchLife at the Nelson placeCarolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-76976366216197974802021-11-15T12:34:00.001-06:002021-11-15T12:34:47.062-06:00The Weaker Brother.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PlIwM5PmnM4/YZKoHhyse0I/AAAAAAAAGQI/V9VDdd1ss8cNXYmiY6zkOMDGN1Sq4BXiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1637001244086418-0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PlIwM5PmnM4/YZKoHhyse0I/AAAAAAAAGQI/V9VDdd1ss8cNXYmiY6zkOMDGN1Sq4BXiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1637001244086418-0.png" width="400">
</a>
</div>RC Sproul has been a "virtual" mentor to me for many years. There are several of his messages that persist in my thoughts over the years. This is one of them. <div><br></div><div>RC Sproul's Sermon on "The Tyranny of the Weaker Brother"<div><a href="https://youtu.be/_hX-ifma5-k">https://youtu.be/_hX-ifma5-k</a></div><div><br></div><div>I am so grateful for his heart for the gospel.</div></div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-8063637432537228472016-09-04T08:06:00.000-05:002016-09-04T08:06:38.886-05:00Harvest 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QVZd2cbFWck/V8tlXPodIlI/AAAAAAAAA38/-q1_UiWcgMAR-C2ig1P7f1_IH-mnW6utACLcB/s1600/20160903%2BOnion%2Bharvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QVZd2cbFWck/V8tlXPodIlI/AAAAAAAAA38/-q1_UiWcgMAR-C2ig1P7f1_IH-mnW6utACLcB/s640/20160903%2BOnion%2Bharvest.jpg" width="466" /></a></div>
This was our first year growing yellow onions. We've always had bunching onions, but this was new for us. We planted about a quart of tiny sets that cost about a dollar. We ended up with over 40 pounds. Great return on investment, right? We hope this will take us through most of the year. Next year it will be more. We have a bunch more still growing that we started from seed last winter. They are similar in size to these. I'm happy I've saved all my mesh produce bags which are very handy for onions.<br />
<br />
We've got over 220 pounds of chicken in the freezer now and are out of room, so the rest is getting canned. They were huge again this year, with the males averaging around 12 pounds. The pullets are about 8 pounds each. I'm thinking it will be wonderful to have canned chicken on hand this winter when I don't feel like cooking much.<br />
<br />
So I'm in the house canning the chicken while the rest of the family is harvesting tomatoes this evening. We're having another terrific harvest this year and as usual planted way too much of some things. I always seem to be optimistic in the spring, overwhelmed in the fall. We have hundreds of pounds of tomatoes out there. Friends can sure give me a call and come get some if they want! If you take some, I won't have so many to can. (I like to can several years worth at a time of any one thing. This harvest should take us through the next few years for tomatoes!)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OubqrHX6ZBg/V8tsaZl09eI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/HYE2qwmO51UoBNIX-4NFhvO6ovVftCOHACLcB/s1600/20160903%2BTomatoes%252C%2BBlack%2BBeauty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OubqrHX6ZBg/V8tsaZl09eI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/HYE2qwmO51UoBNIX-4NFhvO6ovVftCOHACLcB/s640/20160903%2BTomatoes%252C%2BBlack%2BBeauty.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
This is the first variety we're picking. They are Black Beauty. These were prolific! They grew into fantastic strong seedlings, then vines and matured earlier than all the other varieties. We began with these and we have 3 more varieties left to gather in.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-86982909924044250832016-06-29T14:56:00.000-05:002016-06-29T14:56:32.117-05:00The Mighty Broadfork<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The broadfork. I had heard about them but had never seen one in real life. They are used for loosening the soil waaay down deep which is exactly what's needed for carrots and some other root vegetables. It's also a low-tech grid-down muscle-ready substitute for a tiller.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dnj958DsLWk/V3Pug3Jw1uI/AAAAAAAAA2c/YVvcQfLhyscOAPtnPS11KbpfUa47kaG5gCLcB/s640/20160628%2BBroadfork%2Bname.jpg" width="360" /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Last year we bought ourselves one. It's a monster and it's not even the biggest they have. I was a bit concerned about using it myself because it was so heavy I wondered if I would be able to handle it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mha1aeTGCf0/V3PvcqfBFmI/AAAAAAAAA2s/hdbpqrA73lI6BBuw-vXSz_W6u6Xoe1bMwCLcB/s1600/20160628%2BBroadfork%2Bpose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mha1aeTGCf0/V3PvcqfBFmI/AAAAAAAAA2s/hdbpqrA73lI6BBuw-vXSz_W6u6Xoe1bMwCLcB/s640/20160628%2BBroadfork%2Bpose.jpg" width="360" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Turns out to be a piece of cake. Even though Tom is pictured here demonstrating it, I was the one who did a 14 x 6 foot section myself with hardly any effort. It couldn't have taken me more than 15 minutes. The toughest part was carrying it back and forth from the garden shed. It did a great job!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Wm-lNn5Css/V3QNpugPj7I/AAAAAAAAA3U/wK5p15j6jW8hCIqSzH6GCgfgVAaM_My3gCLcB/s1600/20160628%2BBroadfork%2Baction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Wm-lNn5Css/V3QNpugPj7I/AAAAAAAAA3U/wK5p15j6jW8hCIqSzH6GCgfgVAaM_My3gCLcB/s640/20160628%2BBroadfork%2Baction.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
Balancing on the crossbar I moved the handles slightly forward and back pushing it into the ground, then pulled back to lift the soil. It was quick and rewarding. The chunks that were left raked out easily.<br />
Tom plans to use it to loosen the soil for harvesting potatoes also. It worked great in preliminary testing. I love this thing and am grateful for it.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-36194205806682529042016-06-29T10:42:00.000-05:002016-06-29T10:42:07.354-05:00Harvesting MintBeautiful early summer weather, check. Lush growth, check. Absence of disease, check. Low insect burden, check. I kept tabs on my very small mint bed to find the factors for optimal harvest and I believe I did well this time. I have one small (18") circular bed of "Chocolate Mint" that I got as a small start from a friend last year. It's been prolific! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XW03kKs39CA/V3PlhEgiCaI/AAAAAAAAA1o/I2gpKAdD_mczFHpbWlvcB7jLYlgTdrgugCLcB/s1600/20160628%2Bmint%2Bharvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XW03kKs39CA/V3PlhEgiCaI/AAAAAAAAA1o/I2gpKAdD_mczFHpbWlvcB7jLYlgTdrgugCLcB/s640/20160628%2Bmint%2Bharvest.jpg" width="562" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I asked Isaac to cut it all down for me to 4 inches and gather it in. This is the haul. I thought it was pretty impressive for such a small patch.<br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rJGEo17lZeI/V3Pms5H33OI/AAAAAAAAA10/rHswpGrj6DIkHXK5EE6C_RkpV8xSmYDpQCKgB/s1600/20160628%2BMint%2Bprep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rJGEo17lZeI/V3Pms5H33OI/AAAAAAAAA10/rHswpGrj6DIkHXK5EE6C_RkpV8xSmYDpQCKgB/s640/20160628%2BMint%2Bprep.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I began by clipping off the leaves using a scissor but decided just
ripping those leaves off was much easier and faster. I used my trusty
garage-sale dehydrator for about half of it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G3wJYItvFWc/V3Pd4rzTs0I/AAAAAAAAA0s/i59DfT7SMUc0gm2FrvfzgIpiF8KeAhmwwCKgB/s1600/20160628%2BMint%2Bdehydrate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G3wJYItvFWc/V3Pd4rzTs0I/AAAAAAAAA0s/i59DfT7SMUc0gm2FrvfzgIpiF8KeAhmwwCKgB/s640/20160628%2BMint%2Bdehydrate.jpg" width="568" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The rest of them went on to these pizza pans (I picked up a bunch at auction a few years ago), then into the oven at 100 degrees. This temperature is reached by using a feature on my oven for raising bread dough. Very handy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G3wJYItvFWc/V3Pd4rzTs0I/AAAAAAAAA0s/i59DfT7SMUc0gm2FrvfzgIpiF8KeAhmwwCKgB/s1600/20160628%2BMint%2Bdehydrate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wtezgmPb1Qs/V3PnHm6Ai8I/AAAAAAAAA2A/JT3BCrIni9EOazgd_PIIOa5UufsRwyusQCLcB/s1600/20160629%2BMint%2Bfinished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wtezgmPb1Qs/V3PnHm6Ai8I/AAAAAAAAA2A/JT3BCrIni9EOazgd_PIIOa5UufsRwyusQCLcB/s640/20160629%2BMint%2Bfinished.jpg" width="372" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's the final product, after twirling in the blender for a few seconds. The scent is a really intense peppermint. I need to have about twice this much to get us through the winter with our homemade teas, so I'll either increase the patch size for next year or see if I can harvest a second time this summer. </div>
<span id="goog_1078031597"></span><span id="goog_1078031598"></span><br />Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-41395668856741825592016-06-24T19:22:00.001-05:002016-06-26T09:26:58.207-05:00Garden progress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7HrkyPjTpaw/V22TLG5HSMI/AAAAAAAAAyw/iyWMryN2zjI0-zA5FiDGIcKjOT1WpLmeACLcB/s1600/20160621%2Bgarden%2BIsaac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="616" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7HrkyPjTpaw/V22TLG5HSMI/AAAAAAAAAyw/iyWMryN2zjI0-zA5FiDGIcKjOT1WpLmeACLcB/s640/20160621%2Bgarden%2BIsaac.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Planting is mostly done and weeds are under control. We've been working hard on our garden but enjoying every minute. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyRqADjIMBE/V22SLlkclxI/AAAAAAAAAyc/mah-VDdFCSgKOF-jwJvsvauGD9JpYLnGwCLcB/s1600/20160622%2Bbeans%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyRqADjIMBE/V22SLlkclxI/AAAAAAAAAyc/mah-VDdFCSgKOF-jwJvsvauGD9JpYLnGwCLcB/s640/20160622%2Bbeans%2B2.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The pole beans are reaching for the sky and trellises are going in this weekend. These are Purple Podded Pole beans. I am trialing these because I thought it might be easier to pick beans that don't blend into the color of the leaves. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yofBWTXbnk8/V22TNaM5KII/AAAAAAAAAy4/2U8PWhIsfNMnfT_huBgoLoIdghR5zQnFgCLcB/s1600/20160622%2Bmilk%2Bfor%2Bthe%2Bpeas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yofBWTXbnk8/V22TNaM5KII/AAAAAAAAAy4/2U8PWhIsfNMnfT_huBgoLoIdghR5zQnFgCLcB/s640/20160622%2Bmilk%2Bfor%2Bthe%2Bpeas.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As usual, I have a pretty poor pea crop. I never seem to get them in early enough, sprouting was poor, and they succumb to powdery mildew every year. I saw a couple of plants going south this week so took raw milk mixed with water (33/66) and sprayed it on all of them. The enzymes are supposed to help the plants fight off the mildew. Last year I tried a baking soda mix with limited success. This year I also selected a variety (Kelvedon Wonder) that is supposed to be mildew resistant. We'll see how it goes. I sprayed the beans and squashes also since they would be vulnerable if the mildew continues to spread. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-BDGmJ4HrI/V22SpzF6I1I/AAAAAAAAAyk/SqEmvORDbtgRfFHk_j6NlTZwqeOxnM03gCLcB/s1600/20160622%2Bpeppers%2Band%2Btomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-BDGmJ4HrI/V22SpzF6I1I/AAAAAAAAAyk/SqEmvORDbtgRfFHk_j6NlTZwqeOxnM03gCLcB/s640/20160622%2Bpeppers%2Band%2Btomatoes.jpg" width="538" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The peppers and tomatoes are growing well. The larger tomatoes to the rear in this photo are "Black Beauty". I have been astonished at how well they are growing compared to all the other tomato starts I did this year. They were expensive and only 15 seeds to the pack, but wow, have they been terrific so far. I am excited to see how well they produce.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JRuD1_eurgc/V22TtytOEsI/AAAAAAAAAzI/rLGiuNxikygxw0sdeLlNHScfwO_HN06cQCLcB/s1600/20160622%2Bpotatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JRuD1_eurgc/V22TtytOEsI/AAAAAAAAAzI/rLGiuNxikygxw0sdeLlNHScfwO_HN06cQCLcB/s640/20160622%2Bpotatoes.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here are the potatoes you saw us planting a few weeks ago. They were in trenches and have now grown so much they have been hilled into, well, hills. They look incredibly healthy and strong. These are Kennebec.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XUxjwEDVo2Y/V23ICfZlqpI/AAAAAAAAA0A/WZ_TdIjRXoM4o0CLFOQBfnUlF70n6FklwCLcB/s1600/20160622%2Bonions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XUxjwEDVo2Y/V23ICfZlqpI/AAAAAAAAA0A/WZ_TdIjRXoM4o0CLFOQBfnUlF70n6FklwCLcB/s640/20160622%2Bonions.jpg" width="366" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm growing enough yellow onions to hold us for the year, I hope. Two 45 foot rows. This is my first time growing onions for storage. Every year we try to add at least one more food source to our little farm. This gardening stuff is fun!</div>
<br />Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-70265059100073640402016-06-14T09:15:00.000-05:002016-06-14T09:15:43.927-05:00Ready for Summer<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4KQZXGLtjs/V2AI7hi4K3I/AAAAAAAAAxk/prSecHqBSLEXzBzOgqY0lAGdUvxdj0PgACLcB/s1600/20160614%2BDeck%2Bpots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y4KQZXGLtjs/V2AI7hi4K3I/AAAAAAAAAxk/prSecHqBSLEXzBzOgqY0lAGdUvxdj0PgACLcB/s640/20160614%2BDeck%2Bpots.jpg" width="360" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The garden is in, the pool is finally up and filling, the deck pots are growing their herbs, greens, tomatoes and peppers. We've been eating some fine salads. I grew radishes for the first time this spring and am loving those right out of the garden. I never liked them as a child, but the palate improves with age. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There are a lot of advantages to older age, I'm discovering, and I don't mind growing older one bit. But I would like to be able to squat in order to better weed my garden. Note to youngsters. Practice squatting so you don't lose the ability. Even if you never seem to need it. Someday you might discover yourself in a lifestyle change that requires squatting.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-utWjPhscxNE/V2AJl13LN6I/AAAAAAAAAx0/fAhPo84WvdMV-Q74GcDNJE3RJVYsAZy9wCLcB/s1600/20160614%2BChicks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-utWjPhscxNE/V2AJl13LN6I/AAAAAAAAAx0/fAhPo84WvdMV-Q74GcDNJE3RJVYsAZy9wCLcB/s640/20160614%2BChicks.jpg" width="358" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The chicks arrived this morning. Thirty-five meat birds and twelve for the flock. This year we selected six Partridge Rock which fit well here due to their gentleness, foraging, and mothering abilities. Their brown color also helps protect them from aerial predators. We also selected three Araucana for their beautiful aqua and green eggs and, new to us this year, Whiting True Blue for their blue eggs. It's always fun to have a variety of colors in the egg cartons. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For our freezer, we chose Murray McMurray's "Cornish Roasters" again this year, as we have had great results with them, and they are capable of moving around, foraging, and living their lives well until the very last when it is time to butcher. We are well satisfied with these beautiful birds which produce a huge breasty carcass for the freezer.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ydwfR8QKR5g/V2AJh0_rjrI/AAAAAAAAAxs/JOQToABsEpwGzPjuA54E4IrPupZRIuA2wCLcB/s1600/20160516%2BRoot%2BCellar%2Bharvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ydwfR8QKR5g/V2AJh0_rjrI/AAAAAAAAAxs/JOQToABsEpwGzPjuA54E4IrPupZRIuA2wCLcB/s640/20160516%2BRoot%2BCellar%2Bharvest.jpg" width="360" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We've still been "harvesting" our 2015 garden from the root cellar. The potatoes are still holding out, and these beautiful "Cosmic Purple" carrots held up better than the "Danvers Half Longs", which began to go south in February/March. These are beginning to lose some of their sweetness and flavor, but are still fine for soups and such. I am trialing a few other varieties this year, aiming for storage ability. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We hold our carrots and beets in bins and layer them (not touching each other) with damp sand. The potatoes, once thoroughly dried in the sun go into mesh bags and are stored as they are. Any that begin to go bad need to be pulled out so they do not affect their neighbors. And they stink.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-60422518017448004932016-05-16T09:59:00.000-05:002016-07-11T09:54:05.259-05:00Potatoes and Canning Beans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BgKgINYv9G4/VznVeMV50_I/AAAAAAAAAwo/KPm45ex0n4QTSdkVrT8niaYLctFD2SO5QCLcB/s1600/Planting%2Bpotatoes%2B20160515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BgKgINYv9G4/VznVeMV50_I/AAAAAAAAAwo/KPm45ex0n4QTSdkVrT8niaYLctFD2SO5QCLcB/s640/Planting%2Bpotatoes%2B20160515.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
We planted potatoes yesterday. I'm grateful for a strong husband. This year we're using the Kennebec variety. Last year, even though we harvested a whopping 450 pounds, some of the larger potatoes had hollow hearts. My organic gardening book tells me that it indicates a shortage of phosphorous which can be alleviated for the long term with the application of granite meal. These seed potatoes indicated they were "hollow heart exempt" so we'll see if we can eliminate the issue. We may do the granite meal also.<br />
<br />
We planted 15 pounds of seed potatoes into 6 forty-five foot trenches so we're hoping for another bumper crop like last year.<br />
<br />
We replanted our Kelvedon Wonder peas as the first planting mostly failed. I did not soak the peas that time and we were hit with a very long cold rainy week. So we're trying again. We also planted 90 feet of onion sets on Friday. They are a yellow onion, bulk purchased but I do not know the variety.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_hBFDIFK1I4/VznVwrMrqFI/AAAAAAAAAws/TRTsQzYgwCUtlNf4Rxmsn7_uI4bMOIRwQCLcB/s1600/Canning%2BBeans%2B2%2B20160514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_hBFDIFK1I4/VznVwrMrqFI/AAAAAAAAAws/TRTsQzYgwCUtlNf4Rxmsn7_uI4bMOIRwQCLcB/s640/Canning%2BBeans%2B2%2B20160514.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I canned up 14 quarts of dried beans this weekend. The varieties I canned are some we grew and dried in the last two years, and some were purchased through Azure Standard. I used my tattler re-usable lids with 100% success this time. There is a bit of a learning curve with these lids, but once you understand what's required it's as easy as the single-use lids.Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-37968631347861312612016-05-08T20:23:00.000-05:002016-05-08T20:29:53.979-05:00Blossoms and Sheep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xOPxEDLCNPc/Vy_fTDuhC_I/AAAAAAAAAvg/kqMv3KEIyfw_xrIil5dgn__zVJhqkQF1wCLcB/s1600/20160508%2BApple%2BBlossom%2BTime%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xOPxEDLCNPc/Vy_fTDuhC_I/AAAAAAAAAvg/kqMv3KEIyfw_xrIil5dgn__zVJhqkQF1wCLcB/s640/20160508%2BApple%2BBlossom%2BTime%2B2.jpg" width="360" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love apple blossom time. The smell is pure delight. This one is a "Sweet Sixteen", a prolific bearer of sweet juicy apples. They are great for juicing or for applesauce. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The blush white apples and</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pCGi6S_kCIo/Vy_f2vQ-qXI/AAAAAAAAAvo/UswQ5UX3mX4SvZUf0ZzxiKucgebyMneLwCLcB/s1600/20160508%2BCrabapple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pCGi6S_kCIo/Vy_f2vQ-qXI/AAAAAAAAAvo/UswQ5UX3mX4SvZUf0ZzxiKucgebyMneLwCLcB/s640/20160508%2BCrabapple.jpg" width="360" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
the pink crabapples. This beauty (Spring Glory) is gearing up for a huge crop this year. We use the juice from these as well. The red cherry-sized apples from this one are so beautiful it is hard to harvest them and lose the view. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r9pruVJhsnE/Vy_f7I_zytI/AAAAAAAAAvw/GNXnQLsjT8sNgNIMLcVrOlDRrFuxGC3PACLcB/s1600/20160508%2BPresident%2BLincoln%2BLilac%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r9pruVJhsnE/Vy_f7I_zytI/AAAAAAAAAvw/GNXnQLsjT8sNgNIMLcVrOlDRrFuxGC3PACLcB/s640/20160508%2BPresident%2BLincoln%2BLilac%2B2.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The "President Lincoln" lilac rarely fails to perform. It is the most beautiful lavender blue and has a wonderful lilac fragrance. I bought it several years ago from a roadside stand. I wasn't sure if it would survive, it was so pathetic looking. But wow, it turned into a treasure! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0sJf6B3NXw0/Vy_hC0qkniI/AAAAAAAAAv8/Y_ZG-HPdF-oMwdQVIMpOdczD2Q_b46TrACLcB/s1600/20160508%2BFirst%2BShearing%2BAunt%2BBea%2Band%2BMavis%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0sJf6B3NXw0/Vy_hC0qkniI/AAAAAAAAAv8/Y_ZG-HPdF-oMwdQVIMpOdczD2Q_b46TrACLcB/s640/20160508%2BFirst%2BShearing%2BAunt%2BBea%2Band%2BMavis%2B3.jpg" width="508" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Aunt Bea and Mavis were sheared today. Tom did the job for me as I was having trouble getting a shearer to come out. It was not a professional job by any means, but the sheep are much more comfortable and I am relieved. They are much blacker underneath than I thought they would be, and I'm happy about that. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WFdYAVKrGdk/Vy_hNraQkoI/AAAAAAAAAwA/yne5NdsXAKE1hsTcnIw5hEs3DOUkEo_WACLcB/s1600/20160508%2BFirst%2BShearing%2BAunt%2BBea%2Band%2BMavis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WFdYAVKrGdk/Vy_hNraQkoI/AAAAAAAAAwA/yne5NdsXAKE1hsTcnIw5hEs3DOUkEo_WACLcB/s640/20160508%2BFirst%2BShearing%2BAunt%2BBea%2Band%2BMavis.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
They produced a LOT of wool. Most of it is really not suitable for spinning this time, but they will do much better on these warm days.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vd-EtilSucA/Vy_fa7k_JsI/AAAAAAAAAvk/Sw5BqqxSFWk9zzZvpAvNJ5HVq9uTQk2QwCLcB/s1600/20160507%2BRhubarb%2Bfor%2Bthe%2Bfreezer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vd-EtilSucA/Vy_fa7k_JsI/AAAAAAAAAvk/Sw5BqqxSFWk9zzZvpAvNJ5HVq9uTQk2QwCLcB/s640/20160507%2BRhubarb%2Bfor%2Bthe%2Bfreezer.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The rhubarb harvest is going great. This is only the second year for this new patch, a split into 12 from 3 very small plants. I've picked 3 times so far and already made a quart of concentrated juice, 2 desserts, and frozen 8 quarts raw.</div>
<br />Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-75370802506507137292016-05-03T16:32:00.000-05:002016-05-03T16:32:21.615-05:00Dandelions and Sugar Maples<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yYdsWysCH5Y/VykRkndHwAI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/VBvtOoe43QMb3NGoKm2lQ4Bs2znPU6N5ACLcB/s1600/WP_20160503_12_21_36_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yYdsWysCH5Y/VykRkndHwAI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/VBvtOoe43QMb3NGoKm2lQ4Bs2znPU6N5ACLcB/s640/WP_20160503_12_21_36_Pro.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's early spring in central Minnesota and gardens are only beginning to be planted with the earliest crops like peas, radishes, lettuce, and cole plants. Cheerful dandelions have sprung into bloom and the little plum trees as well. This is such a satisfying time of year as we re-energize with the now stronger sun. We love the useful dandelions that provide early pollen for the bees, blossoms for wine, leaves for salads, and roots for teas and tinctures. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7P-Un7lRQ_8/VykQ5awDNsI/AAAAAAAAAuM/ef2K0w5XULk4-4OmM5hgDtyVI0QLBjdpwCLcB/s1600/WP_20160503_12_20_50_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7P-Un7lRQ_8/VykQ5awDNsI/AAAAAAAAAuM/ef2K0w5XULk4-4OmM5hgDtyVI0QLBjdpwCLcB/s640/WP_20160503_12_20_50_Pro.jpg" width="432" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We planted Sugar Maples along the east side of the driveway this week. There are 25 of them, planted 30 feet apart and 3 feet in from the existing pasture fence. I've always admired Sugar Maples and am excited to see a line of them finally planted the way I envisioned it 20 years ago when I was buying this land. This planting is also a gift to the future owner of this home who will have an easy row of trees to tap for syrup, as well as a glorious fall display. </div>
<br />
<br />Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-37175537427688174402016-04-22T09:23:00.002-05:002016-04-22T09:23:46.465-05:00Ellie's Warning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SfLyTjMmkVM/VxoyurtNEbI/AAAAAAAAAto/ssD6iqaBM1EttHv51_X-ZkWFomH9NKfGACLcB/s1600/WP_20160422_09_07_16_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="592" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SfLyTjMmkVM/VxoyurtNEbI/AAAAAAAAAto/ssD6iqaBM1EttHv51_X-ZkWFomH9NKfGACLcB/s640/WP_20160422_09_07_16_Pro.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Tom was greeted with this note when he returned from work early this morning. Ellie had a dissection unit in her CC class yesterday and elected to bring the project home for further study. I suggested she warn her dad about what was in the refrigerator.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S5d-QNlgu78/Vxoy01UzzeI/AAAAAAAAAts/URe-8XgwwzMQYR3JENjnus37-osftA_SgCLcB/s1600/WP_20160422_09_06_29_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S5d-QNlgu78/Vxoy01UzzeI/AAAAAAAAAts/URe-8XgwwzMQYR3JENjnus37-osftA_SgCLcB/s640/WP_20160422_09_06_29_Pro.jpg" width="440" /></a></div>
We don't suppose he would have eaten it once he opened the bag and smelled the formaldehyde, but one can never be too careful! Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-23153672901520790692016-04-20T18:53:00.001-05:002016-04-20T18:53:28.648-05:00Planting Begins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ujqKyXe0Khs/VxgNZR0DAAI/AAAAAAAAAtA/AiQq41y56O0EFO4DDK2HFLrjqABBAywhwCLcB/s1600/Watering%2Bthe%2Bpeas%2B20160418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ujqKyXe0Khs/VxgNZR0DAAI/AAAAAAAAAtA/AiQq41y56O0EFO4DDK2HFLrjqABBAywhwCLcB/s640/Watering%2Bthe%2Bpeas%2B20160418.jpg" width="360" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Isaac waters the peas we planted a couple of days ago. There are two 50' rows of Kelvedon Wonder here. I am trying this variety because my peas (with the exception of field peas) have been succumbing early to powdery mildew. This variety is supposed to be resistant. I sure hope so. The same day we planted Early Scarlet Globe radishes - a salad variety and Pusa Gulabi radish, a "winter" variety that is new to me. It is supposed to store well if planted late summer and is harvested and used like parsnips they say. I'm trying them out and will replant later this summer if we like them. The orange fencing is protecting fifty new strawberry plants (Seascape) from the sheep, who are temporarily sharing the garden area.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FGsUhZQs_hI/VxgNVoBX9VI/AAAAAAAAAs8/NPO4a1-cwvEDmE-E-vJxdarL58JUx9g3QCLcB/s1600/Rhubarb%2Band%2Bsheep%2B20160420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FGsUhZQs_hI/VxgNVoBX9VI/AAAAAAAAAs8/NPO4a1-cwvEDmE-E-vJxdarL58JUx9g3QCLcB/s640/Rhubarb%2Band%2Bsheep%2B20160420.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
The rhubarb is growing like crazy. almost doubling every two days. It won't be long and we'll be enjoying rhubarb slushies, tea, sauce, crisp, and cake. It's the first fruit of every spring, and very welcome!<br />
<br />
Isaac has completed his regular classes for this school year and will concentrate this summer on getting through more math lessons and finishing his memorization of the multiplication tables - we've been a bit behind. He's also tearing through our collection of "Hank the Cowdog" books now that he has more free time.<br />
<br />
Ellie is finishing up her last two weeks of classes, and preparing for her "Blue Book" exams which will document what she has learned this year. Some of that will include a large freehand (from memory) drawing and labeling 700 major features of the world map, including countries. She will also be drawing, (also freehand from memory) 9 different human body systems with labels, including the eye, the circulatory system, etc. 116 points of information in all. The rest of the exam will cover latin, writing, and rhetoric, including logic. She's looking forward to a summer of only reading and math, like her brother.<br />
<br />
We're all looking forward to eating from the garden though, as the real highlight of the summer!Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-45684352330333331902016-04-18T09:21:00.001-05:002016-04-18T09:36:43.735-05:00Spring plantingThe garden is getting prepped and ready for planting. 16,000 square feet here in the main garden. We neglected to plant our cover crop in most of the garden late last summer so we'll be fighting a lot of weeds this year. We have the garden divided in half with a walkway down the middle to facilitate rotation and to have a "field crop" on the opposing side every year. Things to grow there are flint corn, sweet corn, field peas, sorghum, grains, etc.<br />
This summer though, it will be successive plantings of buckwheat to choke out weeds and improve the soil. That's a row of roses on the left that have to be moved to the front of the house. Lots of plans, but the laborers are few. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wkwAMli4Wqg/VxTp2QEGHVI/AAAAAAAAAr4/-oQWE9dm7PcJG9Na92jNO73yzxzBZptyACLcB/s1600/WP_20160416_08_44_29_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wkwAMli4Wqg/VxTp2QEGHVI/AAAAAAAAAr4/-oQWE9dm7PcJG9Na92jNO73yzxzBZptyACLcB/s640/WP_20160416_08_44_29_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Speaking of laborers, the chickens are assisting in scratching out weeds around the rhubarb. The raspberries behind them are slowly coming to life.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LBM5UXkThvs/VxTqARgrLfI/AAAAAAAAAsA/LJv8yxuuxtY9dG6U-_eQzY3zlRRB4rlJgCLcB/s1600/WP_20160416_08_44_09_sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LBM5UXkThvs/VxTqARgrLfI/AAAAAAAAAsA/LJv8yxuuxtY9dG6U-_eQzY3zlRRB4rlJgCLcB/s640/WP_20160416_08_44_09_sm.jpg" width="580" /></a></div>
We planted five more apple trees, another grape, and an apricot tree this weekend. It was a perfectly beautiful spring weekend.<br />
<br />
<br />
I also repotted all the pepper seedlings into larger pots.
I'm not quite ready to trust the weather to plant them outside covered
yet. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AGYPTctcnmE/VxTs1Kgp1EI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/XoPDZGIOOhkYnEJjerktlWzyPO8fIspuACLcB/s1600/WP_20160418_09_12_11_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AGYPTctcnmE/VxTs1Kgp1EI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/XoPDZGIOOhkYnEJjerktlWzyPO8fIspuACLcB/s640/WP_20160418_09_12_11_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I'm running out of room by the window. Looking forward to a
greenhouse next year. It's coming along!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kj0cih1JjOU/VxTtLvMw-1I/AAAAAAAAAsc/5-JXowSnXNs-wZovejGdem-7NjCDmhJegCLcB/s1600/WP_20160418_09_13_35_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kj0cih1JjOU/VxTtLvMw-1I/AAAAAAAAAsc/5-JXowSnXNs-wZovejGdem-7NjCDmhJegCLcB/s640/WP_20160418_09_13_35_Pro.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-65056367295787675072016-04-06T18:23:00.001-05:002016-04-06T18:23:47.320-05:00Aunt Bea and Mavis have Joined the Ranch!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9x1NxkQJJ30/VwWaNVbLt6I/AAAAAAAAArg/nxKv3XgwpqURYJuegKriTucPTXUUonEaA/s1600/Aunt%2BBea%2Band%2BMavis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="630" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9x1NxkQJJ30/VwWaNVbLt6I/AAAAAAAAArg/nxKv3XgwpqURYJuegKriTucPTXUUonEaA/s640/Aunt%2BBea%2Band%2BMavis.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-10434790715982617362016-03-28T22:28:00.001-05:002016-03-28T22:30:47.102-05:00Spring is Coming to MinnesotaIt took me a few missteps, but I am finally able to consistently sprout all my own seedlings.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--HQhJUKoDZU/VvnsMXJAnfI/AAAAAAAAApw/27_5gqbXo3gQ0ji-t3O4AkiqZtLni8RUg/s1600/WP_20160328_16_12_30_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--HQhJUKoDZU/VvnsMXJAnfI/AAAAAAAAApw/27_5gqbXo3gQ0ji-t3O4AkiqZtLni8RUg/s640/WP_20160328_16_12_30_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I have peppers, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and herbs so far. I am trialing several new-to-me varieties of tomato and pepper. This year I'll also be canning up a lot of tomatoes and peppers to last a few years. I like to concentrate on bulk production of a few items for massive canning marathons which makes it easier for me.<br />
Our area has the average last frost at the end of May, so we have a while to go yet. I'll be getting radishes and peas in the main garden soon though. We're hoping for another great garden like last year's. Here are some images from that 2015 garden.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5cmrkfdEvYA/VvnvVVfS_7I/AAAAAAAAAp4/mEYVmDrL-oYwgwmD5H09dP8n3l6FvNV4A/s1600/2015-07-20%2B006%2Bsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5cmrkfdEvYA/VvnvVVfS_7I/AAAAAAAAAp4/mEYVmDrL-oYwgwmD5H09dP8n3l6FvNV4A/s640/2015-07-20%2B006%2Bsm.JPG" width="608" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7O0sEVq8bII/Vvn1xylre9I/AAAAAAAAAqs/r3etUfzlMDobVpEAZUICBeYrL0E-ZQGjQ/s1600/planting%2Bpeas.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7O0sEVq8bII/Vvn1xylre9I/AAAAAAAAAqs/r3etUfzlMDobVpEAZUICBeYrL0E-ZQGjQ/s640/planting%2Bpeas.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NaNb-0ii0iw/VvnvmRWjF9I/AAAAAAAAAp8/9XFXmhO69F82-2nbL3pxV4a6oCENpoYvA/s1600/2015-07-08%2B001sm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NaNb-0ii0iw/VvnvmRWjF9I/AAAAAAAAAp8/9XFXmhO69F82-2nbL3pxV4a6oCENpoYvA/s640/2015-07-08%2B001sm.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XyV1jr6LSCI/VvnvssPuVoI/AAAAAAAAAqA/8Gx0gaDfxks84pm037S9pLB_R8OspwxpA/s1600/Cabbage%2B2015-08-03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XyV1jr6LSCI/VvnvssPuVoI/AAAAAAAAAqA/8Gx0gaDfxks84pm037S9pLB_R8OspwxpA/s640/Cabbage%2B2015-08-03.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WJ7UgSUFPYM/Vvnz7a5wiuI/AAAAAAAAAqg/oAq51ouR_b88JOSeX9i9vFwMwa0GIxsaw/s1600/first%2Bcabbage%2Bsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WJ7UgSUFPYM/Vvnz7a5wiuI/AAAAAAAAAqg/oAq51ouR_b88JOSeX9i9vFwMwa0GIxsaw/s640/first%2Bcabbage%2Bsm.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XsCVx4wvhx4/Vvny9vjlWpI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/H2JVmNFx5hoQVw_CTux_kMEmbBBUrNxwA/s1600/Ellie%2BAli%2BBaba%2BWatermelon%2Bsm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XsCVx4wvhx4/Vvny9vjlWpI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/H2JVmNFx5hoQVw_CTux_kMEmbBBUrNxwA/s640/Ellie%2BAli%2BBaba%2BWatermelon%2Bsm.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PcHDSnRglSo/VvnzqAosx1I/AAAAAAAAAqY/hx12KWUkxjIG3RH7_q1v_9e7W5YWKTvww/s1600/Isaac%2Bcarrots%2B1%2Bsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PcHDSnRglSo/VvnzqAosx1I/AAAAAAAAAqY/hx12KWUkxjIG3RH7_q1v_9e7W5YWKTvww/s640/Isaac%2Bcarrots%2B1%2Bsm.jpg" width="368" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dP2QB87KJw/VvnzOIxsUnI/AAAAAAAAAqU/jlkKCSmvM8837lr-0BqPX8Ggg5LVBqEKQ/s1600/Isaac%2Bcarrots%2B2%2Bsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2dP2QB87KJw/VvnzOIxsUnI/AAAAAAAAAqU/jlkKCSmvM8837lr-0BqPX8Ggg5LVBqEKQ/s640/Isaac%2Bcarrots%2B2%2Bsm.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<br />Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-85730216984740547272016-03-07T10:50:00.000-06:002016-03-28T21:39:48.508-05:00Fiber ArtsFeeding my need to dabble in artsy stuff, I have been exploring the world of fiber arts for the last several years. Here are some of my more recent creations, rag rugs. I am a new weaver and learning fast.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r5L45asUtWo/Vt2qlcvq9ZI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/oJNn4OLaHss/s1600/2015-04-10%2B003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r5L45asUtWo/Vt2qlcvq9ZI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/oJNn4OLaHss/s640/2015-04-10%2B003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first little rug attempt. It's a denim rug from old jeans. I learned a lot doing this one.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJ2XszZKyVM/Vt2qu_lgKjI/AAAAAAAAAmU/PDXGbg9YqZY/s1600/2015-07-20%2B001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJ2XszZKyVM/Vt2qu_lgKjI/AAAAAAAAAmU/PDXGbg9YqZY/s640/2015-07-20%2B001.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like this rug much better. My warp spacing was much improved and I like the warp striping. I made this one from old sheets.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X_IFFJBtYk4/Vt2qRTdW2RI/AAAAAAAAAmE/o3ofcIbb16g/s1600/Family%2BRoom%2BRug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X_IFFJBtYk4/Vt2qRTdW2RI/AAAAAAAAAmE/o3ofcIbb16g/s640/Family%2BRoom%2BRug.jpg" width="409" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made on my newly acquired Cranbrook countermarche loom. Much easier to make a rug on this loom. This one was for the family room. We had to rip up the carpet and have cement floors right now. This rug was made from old T-shirts (cotton knit)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KHsjn9_NdG0/Vt2rybb6yZI/AAAAAAAAAmo/dQVjXT1hK4M/s1600/WP_20151209_21_17_19_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KHsjn9_NdG0/Vt2rybb6yZI/AAAAAAAAAmo/dQVjXT1hK4M/s640/WP_20151209_21_17_19_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a matching pillow. I like this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SN7qWuPKar8/Vt2shXDhiLI/AAAAAAAAAm4/r-ZFv0BteDY/s1600/WP_20151221_22_16_29_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SN7qWuPKar8/Vt2shXDhiLI/AAAAAAAAAm4/r-ZFv0BteDY/s640/WP_20151221_22_16_29_Pro.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A boot rug for my daughter. There were a couple of mis-threadings in the warp, visible here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iql4taTJ9M0/Vt2tGSlpTcI/AAAAAAAAAm8/YYAZN4h1v_c/s1600/WP_20151221_22_17_00_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iql4taTJ9M0/Vt2tGSlpTcI/AAAAAAAAAm8/YYAZN4h1v_c/s640/WP_20151221_22_17_00_Pro.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like this rug. Especially the color. Made from old sheets.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_1996650805"></span><span id="goog_1996650806"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3jDPChS63J4/Vt2vzQadMqI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/6z1MrLNiyV0/s1600/WP_20160210_08_07_53_Pro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3jDPChS63J4/Vt2vzQadMqI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/6z1MrLNiyV0/s640/WP_20160210_08_07_53_Pro.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This rug is also from old sheets. Tom picks them up at garage sales for me. I did this one with doubled strips so it is thicker.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-24204468473086347542011-10-07T23:57:00.000-05:002011-10-07T23:57:46.802-05:00What Have We Been Up To?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6L-LfDt29Nk/To_Sj7Jtq7I/AAAAAAAAAbo/a7n6grFX6eg/s1600/DSCF3283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6L-LfDt29Nk/To_Sj7Jtq7I/AAAAAAAAAbo/a7n6grFX6eg/s320/DSCF3283.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Loosing teeth... The tooth fairy keeps forgetting to visit. The kids understand that she is forgetful about teeth but always makes it up to them by increasing the compensation to make up for her neglect. In fact, Ellie was overheard counseling Isaac that if he did not remind mother, he'd make out better financially. What a racket!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-irfoLdk6Fe0/To_SeC1ZbiI/AAAAAAAAAbk/M4aqrkOZknM/s1600/DSCF3281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-irfoLdk6Fe0/To_SeC1ZbiI/AAAAAAAAAbk/M4aqrkOZknM/s320/DSCF3281.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We studied the bubonic plague this week. Ellie particularly enjoyed playing the part of a rat with fleas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xttn7QLgo4Q/To_SWkSzG2I/AAAAAAAAAbg/8cLktp2hNUc/s1600/DSCF3279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xttn7QLgo4Q/To_SWkSzG2I/AAAAAAAAAbg/8cLktp2hNUc/s320/DSCF3279.jpg" width="320" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have been doing a little knitting for some sweet new babies...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtfV_fP18bU/To_SIDD-KBI/AAAAAAAAAbY/6xpiD62TCNU/s1600/DSCF3256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtfV_fP18bU/To_SIDD-KBI/AAAAAAAAAbY/6xpiD62TCNU/s320/DSCF3256.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My garden went in rather late this year but we managed to haul in a whole bunch of tomatoes before the first frost. They have been busy ripening, spread out in the basement. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-klGEeENWqdY/To_SNglWCtI/AAAAAAAAAbc/vx15b-4s3uM/s1600/DSCF3278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-klGEeENWqdY/To_SNglWCtI/AAAAAAAAAbc/vx15b-4s3uM/s320/DSCF3278.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> Some major canning going on. This is the spaghetti sauce on the wood stove. That has gone beautifully, but I am wishing I was done at this point... 34 quarts done, 14 left to go. Then there will be some stewed tomatoes to can and a bunch of pumpkin. Most of the pumpkins (And we have dozens!) will store in the basement for most of the winter, but it will be handy to have some already cooked and canned. I suspect Tom may be expecting some pumpkin treats... If any friends nearby want some pumpkins, even LOTS of pumpkins, stop by and get some! ...please....Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-90712444806918799502011-03-15T18:55:00.001-05:002011-03-15T18:58:40.548-05:00Settled In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZA-2xBiboEQ/TX_3bJpMdvI/AAAAAAAAAa0/YdvpRJB9xD0/s1600/DSCF3034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZA-2xBiboEQ/TX_3bJpMdvI/AAAAAAAAAa0/YdvpRJB9xD0/s320/DSCF3034.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We finished the installation of our wood cookstove and I cooked my first meal on it this winter. I browned pork steaks on the stovetop and finished them in the oven along with potatoes and carrots using a dutch oven. It was easy and went very well. I am not convinced bread will be so easy, but it helps that the oven has a thermometer so I don't have to go by "feel". We're very pleased with our new stove.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n0zLEavLzCM/TX_3j5iEuJI/AAAAAAAAAa4/hsiRydoIH9M/s1600/DSCF3101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n0zLEavLzCM/TX_3j5iEuJI/AAAAAAAAAa4/hsiRydoIH9M/s320/DSCF3101.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Leaving our dining room and going into Mom's apartment we pass through a short hall. There is a large closet on the left that holds some pantry items and school books and supplies. This area used to be a bedroom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-s4kk2-x1Y6w/TX_3tpbk-RI/AAAAAAAAAa8/xHmRqeq4xE8/s1600/DSCF3102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-s4kk2-x1Y6w/TX_3tpbk-RI/AAAAAAAAAa8/xHmRqeq4xE8/s320/DSCF3102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's Mom's living area. She's all moved in. We have not completed some details like shades and her divider curtain, but it's already quite comfortable and I think it feels like home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-VMVjsF-TQ-4/TX_37Hrm3kI/AAAAAAAAAbA/iapkibXjPGk/s1600/DSCF3103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-VMVjsF-TQ-4/TX_37Hrm3kI/AAAAAAAAAbA/iapkibXjPGk/s320/DSCF3103.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is the view looking back towards our part of the house. She has her entry and kitchenette here. I think it's working out very well. It's a lovely, comfortable space.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NrpqPQ5MOuI/TX_4GVxY2xI/AAAAAAAAAbE/qA4ehKFSNcQ/s1600/DSCF3104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NrpqPQ5MOuI/TX_4GVxY2xI/AAAAAAAAAbE/qA4ehKFSNcQ/s320/DSCF3104.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's Mom in her usual spot saying "Hi". I am so happy how this all worked out. I am very glad that Mom has a home with us. What a good thing it is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JnxXPY6bZJw/TX_3S6tTzRI/AAAAAAAAAaw/mCJ89pZb0Gg/s1600/Dazzle+2011-02-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" q6="true" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JnxXPY6bZJw/TX_3S6tTzRI/AAAAAAAAAaw/mCJ89pZb0Gg/s320/Dazzle+2011-02-23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mom's dog Dazzle is also very content. She has Joey to keep her sociable and the kids to keep her hoppin'. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I thought you might enjoying seeing how things turned out.</div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-85467657410803176942010-11-15T13:49:00.001-06:002010-11-15T13:52:47.351-06:00Almost There... and Some Art and Stuff<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TOGBxouIpuI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/kNbI2YD0jes/s1600/2010+10+31+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TOGBxouIpuI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/kNbI2YD0jes/s320/2010+10+31+015.jpg" width="187" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Catching up here. Halloween was cold. Note Ellie's expression. She was a princess and Isaac was Spiderman. He told me yesterday that "Batman is silly but Spiderman is COOL!"</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="268" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TOGBUZ3cfeI/AAAAAAAAAZo/ZTQxR7Q_toM/s320/2010+10+11+022.jpg" width="320" /></div>Ellie and I completed our first weaving project. It was a very enjoyable mother-daughter project and easy to make a very attractive piece of fabric. I was a bit surprised at how quickly Ellie took to it. Here she's doing a twill pattern. She's a natural.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TOGBe9qtwRI/AAAAAAAAAZs/Yx23g3fmEtk/s1600/2010+10+16+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TOGBe9qtwRI/AAAAAAAAAZs/Yx23g3fmEtk/s320/2010+10+16+021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Sissy paid us a visit and made scarecrows with the kids. We look forward to her visits.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TOGBo6CFBlI/AAAAAAAAAZw/ovsumaMOa6A/s1600/2010+10+23+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TOGBo6CFBlI/AAAAAAAAAZw/ovsumaMOa6A/s320/2010+10+23+019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Isaac has been working on his art a lot lately. This drawing shows our front porch railing leading into Mom's addition. The big red square on the right is the dumpster that's been parked in our front yard. Joey is the yellow dog (yellerdog) standing in front of it. Then, from the left, there is Ellie (in pink of course), Daddy (looks like he's shakin' his booty), Isaac (looking pretty muscular), and (me) Mom (shown while barking orders I guess!) What I found particularly intriguing about this drawing is the detail of the pattern in the dress I was wearing at the time. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TOGCEaljbDI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/ElUbRJx1dbA/s1600/2010+11+13+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TOGCEaljbDI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/ElUbRJx1dbA/s320/2010+11+13+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Here's the apartment update. This is the view from the porch window living area. Her bed will be between the two windows, her bathroom is the open door and her closet is on the left.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TOGCN2IOhbI/AAAAAAAAAaA/RX23HodW6cU/s1600/2010+11+13+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TOGCN2IOhbI/AAAAAAAAAaA/RX23HodW6cU/s320/2010+11+13+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the view from the same location, pivoted leftwards. This is the kitchenette and hallway to the rest of the house. Her outside entry is on the left, across from the counter.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TOGCX1E6sOI/AAAAAAAAAaE/qN1Ep30kIio/s1600/2010+11+13+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TOGCX1E6sOI/AAAAAAAAAaE/qN1Ep30kIio/s320/2010+11+13+011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We're very glad that things were sealed up prior to this weekend's snow. There's not much left to do, mainly some finishing work in the basement, and the completion of painting, plumbing fixtures, and electrical fixtures.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TOGB6iZD_BI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/LqeJ_Tk5c54/s1600/2010+11+07+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TOGB6iZD_BI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/LqeJ_Tk5c54/s320/2010+11+07+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Tom got us a deer for the freezer! Glad to have some venison chops. We sure missed them last year.</div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-91302757526032063792010-09-29T19:52:00.000-05:002010-09-29T19:52:58.097-05:00Apartment Status and Some Creativity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TKPbtQkiPBI/AAAAAAAAAZY/_JAe7Uv5wjA/s1600/DSCF2971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TKPbtQkiPBI/AAAAAAAAAZY/_JAe7Uv5wjA/s320/DSCF2971.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the apartment progress. Deck is going on, windows going in, very fun!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TKPb00oS7QI/AAAAAAAAAZc/P3Q08oow79c/s1600/DSCF2972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TKPb00oS7QI/AAAAAAAAAZc/P3Q08oow79c/s320/DSCF2972.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Ellie and Isaac have been doing some whiteboard pictures. Since we don't have a place right now for school supplies during the remodeling the easel (among other things) is sitting in the livingroom. Apparently a new location gets the creative juices flowing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TKPb8vtXtaI/AAAAAAAAAZg/YqZIZSO5Pfw/s1600/isaac+and+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TKPb8vtXtaI/AAAAAAAAAZg/YqZIZSO5Pfw/s320/isaac+and+art.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And here's Isaac's. This one is Toy Story themed. There's been a lot of that lately.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TKPcDG60L8I/AAAAAAAAAZk/jKIqILysW-w/s1600/loom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TKPcDG60L8I/AAAAAAAAAZk/jKIqILysW-w/s320/loom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">WhooHoo! This is my new toy. I found this loom on Craigslist for a very good price and snatched it up. I have dreamt of weaving since I was a child and would see my Great-Aunt Hazel's loom that sat in the middle of their living room. Now I am figuring out how. I've already taken it apart and put it back together once because that's one of the ways I learn . The other is with books. I've been studying, and will be ready to try it as soon as I get a couple of needed accessories, like a shuttle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh, and I still need to find a place for it. Right now it's in the kitchen!</div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-81785548592319684952010-09-18T14:41:00.000-05:002010-09-18T14:41:53.121-05:00Mom's Inspection and Extra Help<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TJUKFXCLJBI/AAAAAAAAAY4/v3E_3Q6hXMo/s1600/DSCF2922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TJUKFXCLJBI/AAAAAAAAAY4/v3E_3Q6hXMo/s320/DSCF2922.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's Mom's sitting room window as seen from the general kitchenette area. Since this was taken, most of the partitions have been put in. They're going to try to place trusses again on Monday. They tried earlier this week but the area once known as our front yard was too soft with all the rain we've been getting. The lift truck got stuck twice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yesterday I suggested to my DH Tom that when Mom visited later she may want to crawl through the house window with the kids and I so she could walk around the apartment with the partitions in. He thought I was nuts, that she would be too "frail" to do so. I mentioned this to her and that was all it took. She must have considered it a challenge, and promptly crawled through the window. It was fun getting a feel for the space. She had some silly fun with her grandchildren too, practicing living there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TJUKK37pC1I/AAAAAAAAAZA/BD8pKJDZGyQ/s1600/DSCF2923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TJUKK37pC1I/AAAAAAAAAZA/BD8pKJDZGyQ/s320/DSCF2923.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the view with her porch entry door on the left, sitting area in the middle, and a bedroom window on the right. The basement will be mostly unfinished except for a bedroom for Isaac, which replaces the bedroom that had to be removed for the addition.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TJUKRIPF4tI/AAAAAAAAAZI/pj6MTPMkD94/s1600/DSCF2925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TJUKRIPF4tI/AAAAAAAAAZI/pj6MTPMkD94/s320/DSCF2925.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today, our contractor Tom brought some fine young men for extra help for cleanup and pounding nails.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TJUKWEyhWUI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/V_I_fd9ZPT0/s1600/DSCF2926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TJUKWEyhWUI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/V_I_fd9ZPT0/s320/DSCF2926.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think we're in good hands.</div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-39535653807779458532010-09-18T13:30:00.000-05:002010-09-18T13:30:53.764-05:00Footings and Beginnings of Walls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Catching up on my documentation of progress here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TJUDDZj0rGI/AAAAAAAAAYg/qiNZtXUq7ew/s1600/DSCF2904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TJUDDZj0rGI/AAAAAAAAAYg/qiNZtXUq7ew/s320/DSCF2904.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Footings were poured last week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TJUDI8dWzFI/AAAAAAAAAYo/xCLT18m4Ge4/s1600/DSCF2914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TJUDI8dWzFI/AAAAAAAAAYo/xCLT18m4Ge4/s320/DSCF2914.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Walls began going up this week. First the basement walls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TJUDP_sKB7I/AAAAAAAAAYw/WUw0Mdd5uJY/s1600/DSCF2918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qx="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TJUDP_sKB7I/AAAAAAAAAYw/WUw0Mdd5uJY/s320/DSCF2918.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the first glimpse of Mom's main level apartment!</div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-4663699325698463942010-09-03T22:14:00.000-05:002010-09-03T22:14:59.526-05:00Progress Report and Aliens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TIG0vLheIFI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/oRfaE0tVrXY/s1600/Day+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TIG0vLheIFI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/oRfaE0tVrXY/s320/Day+2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had quite a crowd here today. A few cement trucks, roofing materials delivery, Porta-Potty delivery, dumpster delivery, and this giant insect-like arm unfurled itself, stretched over our house and vomited cement into the prepared foundation wall forms. There was a guy standing on the ground controlling the thing with something that looked like a large joystick. (Gamers, there's a career option for you!) One false move and we could have lost a roof - not that I expected it. These guys really know what they're doing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our yard is a mess. It was a rainy week, a cement truck got stuck, and it's pretty amazing how bad it looks right now. Oh well, no surprise there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TIG03IffFzI/AAAAAAAAAYY/3qP7EKyqZPE/s1600/Isaac%27s+Aliens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TIG03IffFzI/AAAAAAAAAYY/3qP7EKyqZPE/s320/Isaac%27s+Aliens.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the home front: Little Isaac's current obsession is the "Toy Story" movies. He has made it his goal to create any characters that are missing from his collection. These are the alien toys. He struggles to get the colors just right, and mixed homemade play-dough blue and red to try to get purple. He was dissatisfied with the result, but I think they are really cute!</div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-46632095524043390162010-09-02T21:59:00.001-05:002010-09-03T22:15:45.722-05:00We've Launched!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TIBfbtCINaI/AAAAAAAAAYA/pMCA9LhMIQQ/s1600/DSCF2892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TIBfbtCINaI/AAAAAAAAAYA/pMCA9LhMIQQ/s320/DSCF2892.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The "Dirt Guys" were out here today and dug the hole for the basement and footings under Mom's apartment. It's a relief to be starting. It has been such a long wait and we're finally seeing something tangible. The pipe you see in the foreground is the electrical line running out to the barn. The larger pipe further back close to the Track-Hoe (That's what I'm told those digger-thingies are called) is our septic line. They hit it while digging. Oops. I'm sure they didn't enjoy that at all. That's a brand-new shiny white pipe repair there. They were working on it when we got home. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The kids and I spent a few hours today with my sister and mother at Home Depot, picking out flooring, cabinets, counter tops and lighting fixtures. None of us are big shoppers, so we ramrodded through as quickly as we could. Mom is keeping most of her furniture so we worked on integrating some of her colors and selected this rug over hardwood flooring for the living room. We were very pleased with what we found.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TIBfpuvKEOI/AAAAAAAAAYI/90_V-dSAjNs/s1600/living+room+rug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TIBfpuvKEOI/AAAAAAAAAYI/90_V-dSAjNs/s320/living+room+rug.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I will go back tomorrow or Saturday and actually order the cabinets, counters, and flooring that we selected. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We are told that the foundation block will be laid beginning first thing tomorrow morning. Yay!</div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-44231309789782819472010-08-31T10:27:00.001-05:002010-09-03T22:17:02.228-05:00Stay Tuned<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TH0QfhWlvcI/AAAAAAAAAXo/rKroW3hAWTY/s1600/side+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TH0QfhWlvcI/AAAAAAAAAXo/rKroW3hAWTY/s320/side+house.jpg" /></a></div>We have been working on a number of projects this summer. (Will my life ever slow down?) The most important project is an apartment for my mother. Mom is having an addition built on to the end of our house (site is shown above) which will be a bedroom, bath, sitting area (with kitchenette) and closet for my mom. We are very excited to get this done. <br />
<br />
Groundbreaking is scheduled for tomorrow! It should take three months. We have actually been working on this since May. I never imagined it would take most of the summer to get to the point where we would be ready to start! Drawing the plan, getting the informal plans done into technical blueprints, bids from four different contractors, then making a selection and negotiating a contract. Whew!<br />
<br />
I used Google's SketchUp for the initial design. It's a great program (and FREE!) and really helped us to work out how the space would look and what size we needed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TH0SlfTsxyI/AAAAAAAAAXw/HqIPzXHhVNg/s1600/Mom%27s+addition6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TH0SlfTsxyI/AAAAAAAAAXw/HqIPzXHhVNg/s320/Mom%27s+addition6.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's our sketch, with our house on the left and Mom's apartment on the right. She'll have her own entrance and porch area. I'm planning on sharing as we go.</div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280667423754293079.post-70098143801399666172010-08-12T23:24:00.001-05:002010-08-12T23:27:53.115-05:00Open House, Kitchen and Dining<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This week's open house:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>My kitchen and dining area</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">(A continuation of last week's home tour along with the ladies from <strong>4 Moms, 35 Kids,</strong> seen at <a href="http://heartkeepercommonroom.blogspot.com/2010/08/four-moms-kitchen-and-dining-room.html">The Common Room</a>, <a href="http://raisingolives.com/2010/08/4-moms-open-house-kitchen-dining-room/">Raising Olives</a>, <a href="http://inashoe.com/2010/08/4-moms-35-kids-kitchendining-room-linkup/">Life in a Shoe</a>, and <a href="http://www.smockityfrocks.com/2010/08/kitchen-4-moms-open-house.html">Smockity Frocks</a>. See their comments sections for more participant open houses.) Caveat: Like most of the other ladies in the "open house", I am showing my home as it is today, in an "unvarnished" state. Don't look too closely. Sorry Mom.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQPEfEw_tI/AAAAAAAAAWE/XnZhJiWxGp0/s1600/2010+08+12+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQPEfEw_tI/AAAAAAAAAWE/XnZhJiWxGp0/s320/2010+08+12+002.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is the first thing you see when entering my home from the side door. This is the door closest to the driveway and garage. DH's lunch box is parked on the island waiting for me to empty its contents. The island counter often has more clutter than this and occasionally less. In the background you can see the former classroom. It is being emptied out in preparation for some remodeling.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQPPrlxXgI/AAAAAAAAAWM/uqvYY4yBkH4/s1600/2010+08+12+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQPPrlxXgI/AAAAAAAAAWM/uqvYY4yBkH4/s320/2010+08+12+003.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Proceeding further in, you see that we are in the midst of adding a wood cookstove to the end of the dining area. (New Kitchen Queen cookstove seen at the left, occupying valuable floor space while it's waiting for installation.) We're laying a slate flooring pad and will be working on the back wall next week. The stove will be in place as soon as we can get someone to do the chimney for us this month.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQPZqTg96I/AAAAAAAAAWU/OonLoaSKfPc/s1600/DSCF2783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQPZqTg96I/AAAAAAAAAWU/OonLoaSKfPc/s320/DSCF2783.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is where my recent bulk purchases of various grains are being staged. I am adding them, one at a time, to the freezer for a few days so the flour weevil eggs (that are in all grain products - including flour from the grocery store) will be killed before I put them into containers for storage. I do this with all grains and flours that I buy.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQO6JWvmRI/AAAAAAAAAV8/6zKdXV8nAMs/s1600/2010+08+12+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQO6JWvmRI/AAAAAAAAAV8/6zKdXV8nAMs/s320/2010+08+12+001.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The kitchen. Several plates on the soffit are parts of sets I have and a few are heirloom pieces. Over the microwave is a set of porcelain chickens my mother bought when she was young, and a cookie jar from the depression era that belonged to my great-grandmother. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQPjx5g7pI/AAAAAAAAAWc/CagnsNkO0i0/s1600/DSCF2784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQPjx5g7pI/AAAAAAAAAWc/CagnsNkO0i0/s320/DSCF2784.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Next to the refrigerator is a spider plant that I received from my son for mother's day (a school project) in 1997, the week we moved into our new home here. My son was a sweet little eight year-old then, he's a still-sweet 21 now and I've managed to keep the plant alive all these years. Behind that is the obligatory homeschooler's children's chore chart.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQPslm2OGI/AAAAAAAAAWk/LAzGXDVaohM/s1600/DSCF2785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQPslm2OGI/AAAAAAAAAWk/LAzGXDVaohM/s320/DSCF2785.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">My view at the sink. Something about this little bird is very appealing to me. I love pots, glaze, and glass, so the little guy fits right in.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQRQtJsCGI/AAAAAAAAAWs/3J8O9lHaHuI/s1600/DSCF2786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQRQtJsCGI/AAAAAAAAAWs/3J8O9lHaHuI/s320/DSCF2786.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Mounted on the wall is the knife block my dad made for me many years ago. Most of the knives are still in the dishwasher. (Horrors! I know they aren't supposed to go in the dishwasher, but I do it anyway. The knives have been going in the dishwasher for 13 years and they are still fine. I like to simplify housework.) The utensil pots and the salt dish are heirlooms also. I like old stuff.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQVNyt4RJI/AAAAAAAAAW8/bYlp8o-8fmw/s1600/DSCF2788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQVNyt4RJI/AAAAAAAAAW8/bYlp8o-8fmw/s320/DSCF2788.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I like young stuff too, like little Isaac here, hard at work coloring. The table? Heirloom too. My in-laws rescued it from someone who was "modernizing" in the 1960's. My mother-in-law refinished it back then, and it's really beautiful, I think. The chairs are not heirlooms yet, but I bought them at a hospital's remodeling sale in the early 1980's. The lazy susan was a gift from my daughter last Christmas.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQVgrpx_KI/AAAAAAAAAXM/Rmih8-Bb_hM/s1600/DSCF2792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UbdZnENYWEo/TGQVgrpx_KI/AAAAAAAAAXM/Rmih8-Bb_hM/s320/DSCF2792.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">These are my dad's bread pans that I've been using. Dad passed away a bit over a year ago and Mom gave me these recently. He loved making bread, and really excelled at it. He was a remarkable man in many ways.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank for visiting! I enjoyed putting this post together.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917386285594576612noreply@blogger.com9