Thursday Busyness

Snow flurries and overcast skies greeted me at sunrise; pretty much a raw morning as the wind is whipping around, making it feel much, much colder. The high temperature today is supposed to be 24, so the daily pattern of “break ice, fill with warm water, repeat” will continue so the sheep and chickens will have something to drink. Meanwhile, Lily is tending the fire for me while I make a pot of tea, and by tending, I mean napping upright on her pillow.

On my agenda for today, along with a mountain of laundry: cleaning up the last of the decorations and messes from Christmas, like the one I made in my sewing room while wrapping presents a couple of weeks ago. I’ve been able to put off dealing with that by just staying out of that room, but yesterday I couldn’t find my scissors in the midst of all the clutter, so its time. I also want to finish binding a small lap quilt I made for myself. The fabric has a Christmas theme and colors, but I used some really nice warm batting between the layers so I’d still like to use it for a little while, at least until spring. 

I’d also like to warp up a couple of my rigid heddle looms today... I have some really pretty yarn I’ve been holding on to for too long~ time to make something with them. I love the way this yarn feels... soft and squishy. I’m thinking about making a small scarf with it. 

These colors are gorgeous, and I love how fine and delicate it is... even though it’s probably not as warm as the other, I’m thinking maybe a scarf from these as well.

Okay, time to get off the computer and get busy.... until next time~ stay warm, dear friends! :)

Friday Farm Fotos: A Fall Favorite

"Come, little leaves," said the Wind one day. 

"Come over the meadows with me and play;

Put on your dresses of red and gold, 

For summer is gone and the days grow cold."

Soon as the leaves heard the Wind's loud call, 

Down they came fluttering, one and all;

Over the brown fields they danced and flew, 

Singing the sweet little song they knew.

"Dear little lambs, in your fleecy fold, 

Mother will keep you from harm and cold;

Fondly we've watched you in vale and glade, 

Say, will you dream of our loving shade?"

"Cricket, good-bye, we've been friends so long, 

Little brook, sing us your farewell song;

Say you're sorry to see us go; 

Ah! you will miss us, right well we know."

Dancing and whirling the little leaves went, 

Winter had called them, and they were content, 

Soon fast asleep in their earthy beds, 

The snow laid a soft mantle over their heads.

("Come, Little Leaves" by George Cooper)

Happy Friday, everyone.... it's nice to be back in Blogland!  :)

Friday Farm Fotos: September Morning

Happy Friday, everyone!

Monday Sunrise

Happy Monday, everyone!

Friday Farm Fotos: Beans and Greens, Quilts and Blooms

One of my little honey bees hard at work....

Can you see the pollen sac on her leg?

A couple of months ago I showed a picture of our little garden spot that Hubby was preparing for some fall greens...

Here is a picture of it now!

Kale and mustard greens are in the middle and to the right; green beans are coming up on the left. When Hubby went to the farm store to buy the seeds he found these green bean seeds on sale, so he bought them and planted them too. I know we are in a race against time for the beans to make anything before the first frost, but at least we're hoping the blooms will give our little honey bees something to work.

Speaking of blooms, here are some more random blooms around here...

This is our resident horticulture expert. 

She likes to chew sticks to determine which type of tree it came from.

Then she gets choked on them and I threaten to take her to the vet to have her stomach pumped.

This is one of my favorite quilts hanging out to dry after being washed... even though it's "store-bought" and not handmade, I still love it because it is so soft and the design is wonderfully simple. 

 It's a full-sized quilt so it is too small to use on our bed but I can't bear to part with it so it is now the "couch quilt"- it stays draped across the couch. In the event a nap comes on suddenly, it's conveniently close by to wrap up in... and it also to helps keep Lily's hairs off the couch so I won't have to vacuum it every day. 

Do any of you have a "couch quilt" or blanket?

(And by the way, Lily is not supposed to be on the couch- she has two dog beds

along with her demolished cushion on the love seat by the window- 

but whenever she is left at home alone there is evidence to support otherwise....)

Happy Friday, everyone!

Friday Farm Fotos: Summer Smiles

Just a few random pictures of some things that make me smile this time of year....

Honey bees getting a drink from the birdbath.....

My shade tree book-reading chair...

Happy hens.....

Curious hens....

An empty nest...

Not because it's empty, but because it means the trees 

have a few more birds in them than they did before....

Hubby and his tractor....

Long evening shadows....

Cecil crowing....

Fernando trying to out-crow Cecil.....

The sheep in the field......

Enjoying the view from the front porch in the evening....

I hope maybe one or two of these made you smile, too!

Happy Friday, everyone!

Friday Farm Fotos: Planning Ahead

Ever heard of a... "sheepish grin"?

Even though it is still very much summertime here in Tennessee, it's never too early to start making plans for the upcoming winter because it will be here before we know it.

You may remember a few months ago I mentioned that Hubby had decided sell all his hay equipment... 

(this was after the neurosurgeon told him he needed to go easy on his back from now on..)

and while I'm all for not having to be in a hay field in 100 degree weather, it does pose the problem of having to find enough good hay from another source to last all winter.

We finally found some this week, and I have to admit that after all the hard work that went into putting up our own hay last year; the cutting, fluffing, baling, and transporting all that equipment- 

it was mighty nice to not have to have to worry about anything other than stacking it..... 

Now that we are well stocked with quality hay, that's one less thing we have to worry about this winter.

Hubby also worked on getting our little garden ready 

so we could plant some kale and spinach for fall.....

And we need to move this stack of seasoned firewood to the front porch 

and cut some more to dry for next winter.....

The beehive is still a flurry of activity but soon we will have to help them 

get prepared for winter as well....

The list goes on and on!

But there is always time to snuggle up a baby fuzzy bottom... 

*tiny squeal*

This was one of several chicks that hatched from some very well-hidden Silkie eggs. 

(And not seen in this picture is one very smug Silkie hen, too.)

Happy Friday, everyone!